Vikings

Viking; What They Were Really Like.

• Scandinavian raiders
• Sailers
• Farmers
• Families

Raids

• 793 AD, invaded Nothern England, specifically Lindisfarne Monastery
• Learned monasteries held the most wealth, thus making them the biggest target.
• Earliest recorded invasion was carved in stone and used as a grave marker.
• Monasteries held the most wealth, thus making them the biggest target.
• Religion did not play a part in these raids.

Raids

• Raiding was very distinct from stealing.
• Thievery could secure position of torment after death, so it was believed.
• Raiding was a challenge, good were fought for honorably and kept by the victor.

Battles

• Monasteries were a favorite target because they had weak defenses and were the most wealthy.
• At first, raiding took place in single ships every other year or so, but after 835, fleets of more than three hundred would attack Europe
• Those attacks would last constantly for the next 30 years.
• Treasure and slaves were the main goal, but if a village refused to surrender, they would destroy it.

Battles Of Maldon

• A well known battle was the battle of Maldon
• August 991, Essex
• Ealdorman Brihtnoth shouted his refusal.
• Vikings couldn't break Saxon defense line.
• Asked to be let through to join battle, to prevent future attacks, Brihtnoth agreed.

Battle of Maldon

• Vikings focused attack on Brihtnoth himself, killing him.
• Saxon defense dissipated.
• Vikings suffered just as much a loss; couldn't carry out assault on Maldon

Ragnar Lothbrok

• Famous Viking: Ragnar Lothbrok
• Raider from youth, also farmer.
• Claimed to be descended from Odin
• Married 3 times, one was famous shield-maiden, another was a princess.
• Sailed up the Seine and beseiged Paris, but to no avail. Plague fell on his men.

Ragnar Lothbrok

• After years of mroe raiding, he was shipwrecked in Northumbria.
• Captured by King Aelle, who ordered his execution.
• Before his death, its said he proclaimed he was proud to be going to his place at Valhalla.
• His execution consisted of being thrown into a pit of poisonous snakes.

Sailing

• Shallow ships, 57 feet to 118 feet long.
• Crew of 25-60 me, typically. Occasionally more than a hundred.
• Bench seating and open decks.

Religion

• Polytheistic
• Common misconception of hatred toward Christianity, but some even embraced the christian god alongside their own.
• Chieftains often held positions as priests
• Rituals contained animal sacrifices, but not much more is known.
• Had parallels to Christianity.

Religion

• Many gods and goddesses, but most famous are Odin, Thor, and Loki.
• Odin, Allfather and god of warfare.
• Thor, god of thunder. Had a dwarf-made hammer called Mjollner.
• Loki was the trickster and could change shape and sex.

Grooming

• Practiced grooming and hygiene
• Women were bound y law to wear their hair long, men wore beards and hair trimmed.
• Combs and tweezers are commong archaeological finds in viking villages or settlements.

Grooming

• Hot baths were used regularly.
• Either natural or made by piping in hot and cold water.
• Many still used today.

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