Norsemen

Norsemen, also known as Vikings, are humans from the Scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland although they also had great influence in Russia, England, Ireland, France, and Greenland; even conducting raids to Constantinople and North America.

The Viking Age

The Viking Age, or the golden age, lasted between 793 (the raid of Lindisfarne) until the Battle of Hastings in 1066. However raiding predated 793 during the Vendal Period. These raids were sponsored by powerful war chiefs to gather wealth and glory for themselves as well as their followers. If a chief was defeated or showed weakness his warriors would likely desert him. The Norse valued strong, independent leaders who balanced the law of the land alongside the individual's personal freedom. When Harald Finehair first united Norway under one kingdom in the mid 9th Century, many people left to settle in other lands to preserve this freedom. Men and women had equal vote during meetings called Things where grievances from the past year were settled according to a strict law. If someone had committed a crime they were tried by the people and convicted to a appropriate punishment. If a Norseman or woman had committed murder they could compensate the victim's family with money or trade goods called a geld. There were Things held annually but a Thing could be called at any time of the year to speak on important matters.

Religon

The Norse were pagans with a very colorful cast of gods and goddesses. The Asatru faith was deply inspired by Germanic religions and could date back as far as 10,000 BC. The Norse saw their gods around them every day whether it was Odin's ravens or the rumble of Thor's lightning. Many of the gods are known to wander Midgard, the realm of man, and are constantly meddling in the affairs of all the denizens of Yggdrasil - the World Tree - that holds up all the Nine Worlds.

Every nine years a Blot would be held by local chieftains who would hold a great feast for his followers and neighbors. At the blow sacrifices would be made including prisoners. It was considered an honored death to be sacrificed to the gods. Other honorable deaths included execution for crimes that could not be compensated for. Both would only allow the dead access to Valhalla if the dead faced it with strength and courage - two valuable Viking principles. The greatest death a Viking warrior or Shield maiden (if a woman) could hope to attain was to die victoriously in battle and be carried away by the Valkyries to Odin's hall or Freyja's (called Folkvang) in Asgard - the realm of the Aesir.

Weapons and Armor

Our knowledge about arms and armor of the Viking age is based on relatively sparse archaeological finds and pictorial representation.

According to custom, all free Norsemen owned weapons, as well as carried them at all times. These arms were also indicative of a Viking's social status. A wealthy Viking would have a complete ensemble of a helmet, shield, chainmail shirt, and animal-skin coat, among various other armaments.

The spear and shield were the most basic armaments of the Viking warrior. Other common weapons were the axe and seax knife. The seax knife was a long knife or short sword many Norse would wear horizontally on the back of their belt. It was a practical utility knife as well as a good close-quarters weapon. The sword was a very rare and powerful item reserved for huscarls and royalty.

Daily Life

Not everyone who lived in a Norse country was a Viking. Only a hand full could afford to go risk life and limb for glory. Instead all Nordic peoples became skilled in blacksmithing, hunting, fishing, and wood working (most notably the building of their amazing ships).

Rituals for Battle

Fighting Tactics

There are many misconceptions of how a Viking fought.