The Vikings were the peoples who inhabited Northern Europe (more precisely Scandinavia) during a period known as the Viking Age . This period began in 793, when the monastery of Lindisfarne, in northern England, was attacked by the Vikings, and lasted until 1066, when the Normans conquered England during the Battle of Hastings.
The term “viking” has a direct relationship with one of the main activities practiced by the Norse of the Viking Age:naval expeditions . The origin of the term may be related to the term “Vikingr ”, which in Old Norse was used to refer to sailors who committed acts of piracy. However, there are other hypotheses to explain the origin of this word. To learn more about the etymology (origin) of the term viking, access this text.
Was war important to Viking society?
Yes, war was very important to the Vikings. It often reinforced political alliances between different kingdoms, and in society it could bring status to warriors who fought and won battles (those who fell in battle also gained fame), as well as bringing wealth from the goods obtained in looting.
In religious matters, war also had its meaning, as the Vikings believed that warriors who died in battle would join Odin (the most powerful god to the Norse) in his hall called Valhalla . The Vikings believed that soldiers killed in battle were chosen by the Valkyries (mythical figures and handmaidens of Odin) to join Odin.
In Valhalla (translation of the expression means “hall of the dead”), the soldiers were called einherjar and they would spend the ages celebrating and fighting each other until Heimdal's horn sounded announcing the Ragnarök (chaotic event that would mark the end of the rule of the Norse gods and the end of the universe for the beginning of a new era).
Also visit :Viking Religion
For the Vikings, every man, as long as he was free, had the right to bear arms and become a warrior. Viking warrior training it was something carried out within the family itself, but in the case of the jarlar (nobles), the training was specialized and more intense due to the better economic condition of this group.
From the studies conducted by historians, some groups of warriors formed by the Vikings became known as the Varangian Guard and the Great Danish Army . In other cases, specific groups of warriors stood out, as was the case with the berserkir .
The Varangian Guard was a group of elite warriors of Viking origin who were commissioned to carry out the protection of the Byzantine Emperor. The Great Danish Army (also known as the Great Heathen Army) was a gigantic army formed by the Danes that invaded and attacked the Saxon kingdoms (East Anglia, Wessex, Mercia and Northumbria) in the territory of present-day England, in the 9th century.
The berserkir they were a specific group of warriors that became very famous for fighting madly and without any kind of protection on the body. The “madness” is directly linked to the shamanic cult performed on Odin (a cult characterized by trance or ecstasy), and the name of this group may be related to Old Norse terms that mention a bear or the expression “shirtless”. /P>
Weapons of the Vikings in battle
Many believe that the Vikings exclusively used the axe in war, however, in addition to the axe, they also used the sword a lot. Other important weapons (but not as important in relation to the sword and the axe) were the knife, the spear and the bow and arrow. For their protection, the Vikings used wooden shields, helmets for the face and chain mail to protect the torso of the body.
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Sword: it was the most important weapon for the Vikings. In addition to its warlike importance, the sword also brought great status to its bearers. However, not everyone had access to this rm because of its high value. The better the financial condition of its bearer, the more decked out the sword.
Warriors who carried swords often attributed sentimental values to them and therefore named them. Most of the swords used by the Vikings were produced in Scandinavia itself, but there is archaeological evidence that suggests that the Vikings also used swords produced by the Franks.
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Axe :was more widespread among warriors, mainly because it was a cheaper object. As the use of the ax was present in the daily activities of the Vikings, many warriors had great skill in the handling of this weapon. The axes could be used both in melee combat and being thrown from a distance.
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Spear: it was a weapon of very great religious symbolic importance, as, before each battle, the Vikings would throw a spear as a way to gain Odin's favor. This was because Odin was the god associated with war, and furthermore, Odin's main weapon was a spear called a Gungnir .
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Knife :was used in close combat.
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Bow and arrow :was used in pillaging attacks and during naval battles.
The main Vikings' form of defense in war it was the shield made of wood . Viking shields were also reinforced with metal bars. For face protection, the Vikings wore a metallic helmet conical in shape with a protective band that extended to the nose. It is important to emphasize that Viking helmets did not have horns or wings as it is commonly portrayed in popular culture (films, comics, games, etc).
Could women be warriors in Viking society?
In popular culture, the idea of Viking women becoming warriors and achieving great status in battle is widespread, but in real life the sources are conflicting and there is a lot of uncertainty about that. The legendary records written by the Norse depict a number of women who fought, but the historical records written by the Norse have no facts to prove this.
Furthermore, the archaeological and osteological evidence (study of bones) also doesn't bring much evidence about viking warriors. This leads historians to conclude that there were indeed some women who became warriors, but it was not a common behavior for women within Viking society.