1. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN SCANDANAVIA

2. Duke Rollo Ragnersson of Normandy, having been a Viking and the partiarch of the Montgomerys of Normandy, England, and Scotland, formed a strong tie between the Lowry ancestors and Scandanavia Because of the Viking incursions into England, Scotland, and Ireland in the 9 th and 10 th centuries, numerous other ties were created as Vikings intermarried with the English and Scots

3. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN DENMARK Agricultural communities began in Denmark around 12,000 BC at the end of the last Ice Age By the 9 th century Viking cultures had emerged, specializing in shipbuilding and sailing Danish raids occurred primarily along the eastern coast of England, which came to be called the Danelaw In 911 Rollo Ragnersson (28 th GGF of Tom Lowry), who had been ravaging France for years, became the first Duke of Normandy Gorm the Old (30 th GGF of Tom Lowry) was the first king to solidify most of Denmark and brought Christianity to the Danes Sweyn II Estridsson (30 th GGF of Tom Lowry) was king of the Danes in the 11 th century, and had five sons who succeeded to the throne Canute IV Svendsson (29 th GGF of Tom Lowry) led repeated raids in England in the early 11 th century, later canonized as St Canute, patron saint of Denmark

4. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN DENMARK Valdamar I ‘the Great’ Knudsen (24 th GGF of Tom Lowry) refuted the authority of the Holy Roman Emperor over Denmark His son, Valdamar II Valdamarsson ‘the Victorious’ (23 rd GGF of Tom Lowry) brought written laws to Denmark (the Land Book) and established a parliament Following the death of Valdamar II the Victorious, Erick IV ‘Plowpenny” became king, but was quickly assassinated by his brother (22 nd GGF of Tom Lowry)

5. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN NORWAY Eysteinn Halfdansson (37 th GGF of Tom Lowry) was one of the early Viking rulers of Norway Gudrod the Hunter (39 th GGF of Tom Lowry) was a good warrior but a bad drinker, and was easily assassinated on his ship Halfdan the Black (34 th GGF of Tom Lowry) drowned while riding his sleigh across thin ice Olaf I Tryggvesson (30 th GGF of Tom Lowry) led one of the early Viking invasions of England (951) He was baptized in England, and carried Christianity back to Norway Olaf II Haraldsson (32 nd GGF of Tom Lowry) was defeated and killed in battle by Canute of Denmark Magnus I Olafsson (Magnus the Good) (31 st GGF of Tom Lowry) spent his youth in exile in Russia, but returned as an adult to kill those who had killed his father and become king of Norway

6. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN NORWAY Harald III Sigurdsson (Harald Hardraade) (28 th GGF of Tom Lowry) commanded the Danish Vikings in Constantinople during the Crusade, and died battling Harold Godwinson in England (Battle of Stamford Bridge) Olaf III Haraldsson (28 th GGF of Tom Lowry) ruled Norway jointly with his brother, Magnus II Haraldsson (28 th GGF of Tom Lowry) Magnus III Olafsson (Magnus Barefoot) (27 th GGF of Tom Lowry) completed three raids into Scotland and ruled the Orkney Islands, the Isle of Man, and the Hebrides. He is credited with killing the Earl of Shrewsbury (a Montgomery) with an arrow through the eye, but soon met his own death in battle in Ireland Sigurd I Magnusson (29 th GGF of Tom Lowry) was the first European king to go on Crusade, and helped to wrest Sidon from the Muslims Harald Gille (26 th GGF of Tom Lowry), illegitimate son of Magnus III, laid claim to the throne of Norway, and survived the ordeal of fire to prove his worthiness

7. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN NORWAY Sigurd Haraldsson (25 th GGF of Tom Lowry) followed his father, Harald Gille, only to be assassinated by his brother Haakon IV (22 nd GGF of Tom Lowry) was rescued as a child by two warriors on skis, an event still celebrated as the Birkenbeiner Ski Race His reign marked the beginning of the Golden Age of expansion for Norway Magnus VI the Lawmender (21 st GGF of Tom Lowry) reformed the legal system of Norway and established hereditary nobility

8. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN SWEDEN Ragnar Lodbrock (33 rd GGF of Tom Lowry) was an early Swedish Viking who raided Paris in 845 with 120 ships, extracting a ransom of 7000 pounds of silver His son, Bjorn ‘Ironside’ Ragnarsson (35 th GGF of Tom Lowry) continued the raids on France King Stenkil Ragnvaldsson (29 th GGF of Tom Lowry) tolerated Christianity, but refused to convert His son, Inge the Elder Stenkilsson (28 th GGF of Tom Lowry) was the first Swedish king to convert to Christianity, but failed to convert his subjects, and was overthrown and sent to exile Inge returned to reclaim the crown, killing the current king by setting his house on fire and slaying him as he fled, after which the Swedes opted to convert to Christianity Magnus III Birgersson (27 th GGF of Tom Lowry) established an hereditary nobility