The impact of the Norsemen

Vikings. “The Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin immediately comes to mind when I hear that word or maybe even the 13th Warrior. The Norsemen have been given a bad rap over the course of time and labeled “Barbarians”. These people made cultural landmarks in addition to being magnificent warriors. Most of the worlds major ports were settled by Vikings. Newfoundland in Canada, The British Isles are a legendary point of conquest for the Norsemen not to mention integrating themselves into the English monarchy when William the Conqueror took over England in 1066. He held the formal title of Duke of Normandy but he clearly came in and kicked everyone’s teeth in and said ,”Hey I’m the boss now”. Russia and France were other countries that still exude Viking influence. They also attacked Constantinople three different times. I think by now everyone is familiar with Leif Ericsson, in my opinion the true discoverer of North America, not that rogue Chris Columbus that seems to be so celebrated here in the United States. The Norsemen clearly made monumental steps in international trade and naval navigation. Now we come to the real deal… Viking warfare. Short of the Roman Legions, I don’t think that there has ever been a more fierce band of killers. Forget the horned helmets and other mythological imagery, nothing is more menacing than a man raging toward you with a battle axe or sword in hand and you know that he means business. These men were huge too. In the countries that they were from, gardening was not always plausible, so they ate a lot of meat. For anyone that knows anything about bodybuilding and nutrition, you know that consuming massive amounts of protein and lifting heaving swords and shields and handling ship oars will make you a strapping lad indeed. They were experts in the art of war. Archery was a vital part of combat, with crossbows being mentioned in the seven Viking romances. Throwing spears were utilized The spear heads were designed to break off or bend upon impact so that the enemy cant throw them back at you. Their swords were made of high carbon steel blades as evidenced by over 2,000 swords having been found in Scandinavian lakes. Then we come to the battle axe. The hallmark of Viking weaponry. It was a very common weapon and was given its own name and decoration making each individual axe a Vikings own. It is mentioned extensively in “Sagas of the Norse Kings”. It was designed for heavy blows and was a very uncompromising weapon. The Vikings also very adept at “Saga Warfare” which was small scale blood feud stuff. Things like dueling and hall burning. What is now known as “Royal Household Action” was also utilized. Really, this is just the king kicking a little ass to keep the people in line. Lets not forget the cinematic favorite, to “go a Viking”(read: freelance plundering conducted by Norsemen on land and sea). Bottom line, they strongly used strategic mobility to concentrate their Berserkers against thrown together amateur troops and in the process decimated them. I firmly believe that during their time they set the standard of what others have since followed and they should be given the proper respect accorded them.


Source: The Viking art of War by Paddy Griffith