The Viking Warrior
The Vikings were some of the greatest warriors in history. But even though the Viking name is very well known, most people know little about the real Viking warriors. Many people still think of horned helmets and barbaric brutes. Reality of course is that they did not wear horned helmets and were a very civilized society.
The Vikings lived in a very difficult time period. It is important to realize that the stories of raping and pillaging were common for the time. It was not just the Vikings doing these acts. These things were done by all the Viking Age warriors. Also please note that much of the history was written by their enemies, which gives much of it a great bias.
Some people are also under the belief that the Vikings just attacked easy targets and were not involved in great battles. This is not correct at all as they were in many great large scale battles. Sven Forkbeard conquered England in 1013. His son Cnut the Great later conquered England in 1016. The Rus (Swedish Vikings) attacked Constantinople in 860. In 974, Emperor Otto II of Germany attacked Denmark, but failed to conquer them. Vikings also conquered Ulster and founded Dublin. These are just a few examples.
What would a Viking Warrior look like?
Viking figure available at Viking Shield
The Vikings lived in a very difficult time period. It is important to realize that the stories of raping and pillaging were common for the time. It was not just the Vikings doing these acts. These things were done by all the Viking Age warriors. Also please note that much of the history was written by their enemies, which gives much of it a great bias.
Some people are also under the belief that the Vikings just attacked easy targets and were not involved in great battles. This is not correct at all as they were in many great large scale battles. Sven Forkbeard conquered England in 1013. His son Cnut the Great later conquered England in 1016. The Rus (Swedish Vikings) attacked Constantinople in 860. In 974, Emperor Otto II of Germany attacked Denmark, but failed to conquer them. Vikings also conquered Ulster and founded Dublin. These are just a few examples.
What would a Viking Warrior look like?
Viking figure available at Viking Shield
Sources
Harrison, Mark. Viking Hersir 793-1066AD. Osprey Publishing: Oxford, 1993.
Heath, Ian. The Vikings. Osprey Publishing: Oxford, 1985.
Peirce, Ian and Ewart Oakeshott. Swords Of The Viking Age. Boydell Press: Suffolk, 2004.
Griffith, Paddy. The Viking Art Of War. Greenhill Books: London, 1995.
Heath, Ian. The Vikings. Osprey Publishing: Oxford, 1985.
Peirce, Ian and Ewart Oakeshott. Swords Of The Viking Age. Boydell Press: Suffolk, 2004.
Griffith, Paddy. The Viking Art Of War. Greenhill Books: London, 1995.
