Viking Warriors
According to their contemporaries, Vikings were powerful warriors. Ibn Fadlan, a famed Arab traveller, had this to say about a group of Rus Vikings (originating from Sweden) that he encountered in the Bulgar Capital:
‘I have never seen more perfect physical specimens, tall as date palms, blond and ruddy. Every man is tattooed from finger nails to neck with dark green, or green or blue-black, trees, figures etc.’
The equipment of Viking warriors varied from man to man. Wealthy warriors might wear a chain-mail hauberk whilst less fortunate fighters made do with armour of leather or metal platelets sewn onto a cloth or leather backing. Most warriors would own a conical helmet, sometimes with a protective nasal bar attached. All would carry a large circular shield, often of stout limewood, with a heavy iron boss in the centre.
Although warriors doubtlessly honed their skills through training and experience, the emphasis in battle was on strength. A strong blow could smash through armour to crush the vulnerable flesh and bone beneath. This attitude was reflected in the design of Viking weapons.
Viking swords - which were quite rare - were between 80 to 90 centimetres long, straight, double-edged and heavy to wield. The most common weapon was the spear, usually with a shaft of ash. Another weapon for which they were notorious was the long ‘bearded axe’, so named because of the curvature of the blade. Designed for fighting, modern replicas have shown that it was not as heavy and cumbersome as some believe. In the hands of a skilled warrior, a single blow could decapitate an ox.
The Viking warrior was an infantryman. Scandinavian horses were inferior to European breeds and as they spent much of their time sailing to different destinations the use of horses was impractical. Most Viking armies were relatively small and thus they did not seek open battle willingly - they preferred sailing along a stretch of coast , raiding, looting and enslaving before disappearing over the horizon. Their best weapon was the advantage of surprise.
Viking Warfare
If forced to stand and fight, Viking warriors would draw up a formation known as a skjaldborg, or shield-fort. The bravest and best equipped warriors would occupy the front rank, shields overlapping whilst they presented a bristling hedge of spears towards the enemy.
A commander would try to position his skjaldborg on the best ground available, such as a hill or with his flanks protected by marshy ground. Men would often get drunk on ale or mead to summon the courage required to advance against an opposing skjaldborg. The two sides would crash together, spears thrusting, shields ramming, axes swinging. The side that broke first would suffer the heaviest slaughter when they turned to flee.
Berserkers
Much has been written of the fearsome Viking berserker, or baresark. These were warriors who may have drunk ale infused with potent hallucinogenic mushrooms such as Fly Agaric before going into battle. They were greatly feared for their frothing, maniacal fury in the heat of battle and their disregard of wounds. It is also likely that many of these men suffered from a predilection for psychopathic violence. One particularly famous Baresark was the renowned skald (poet) Egill Skallagrimsson, who composed his first poem at three years old.
Viking Ships
The key to the Vikings astonishing military successes were their ships.The hull was built first, using overlapping planks of clinker construction. These planks were split from tree trunks with wedge and mallet - no saws were used.
Once the hull was built, the keel and ribs would be added. Planks would be fastened together with iron rivets and seams caulked with twisted horsehair. Viking ships were propelled by oars and a single rectangular woollen sail. Reconstructions have revealed that, under sail in a steady following wind, Viking ships were capable of reaching speeds which would do a standard modern yacht proud.
Viking marauders would make use of the shallow draught and excellent sea-keeping abilities of their ships to penetrate far inland via rivers and coastal estuaries. As most European powers possessed no effective navies at this time, they were largely powerless to prevent such piracy.
The Vikings had a reign of terror that lasted for roughly 300 years before disappearing from history.
Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings, John Haywood
Penguin 1993
Fury of the Northmen: 9th and 10th Centuries (History of the World)
Editors of Time Life Books
Time Life UK 1989
