The Vikings

Raids

 

Raids were a big part of Viking society. These raids were recorded by educated clergy's who were often the victims of these raids. They described the raiders as "a most vile people". The raiders though, did not share the same opinion. To The Vikings raids were a normal and very desirable thing to do according to their society and religious views of the time.

To The Vikings, raiding was very different to theft. In fact, theft was loathed. According to Norse mythology, theft was one of the few deeds that condemned a Viking to a place torment after their death. But raiding,raiding was an honorable challenge, with the victor claiming all of the spoils.

Raiding was a very desirable occupation for a young Viking man. Raiding elevated ones status in the Viking society. Successful raiders would return home with wealth and fame. These were the two most important things needed to move up the social ladder of the Vikings.

​

​

Berserkers

​

Berserkers were the craziest,wildest and most feared Viking warriors. In medieval Norse history and folklore, the berserkers were described as members of an uncontrollable warrior gang that worshipped Odin. Berserkers were ferocious, and to intimidate their enemy, they would wear bear and wolf pelts when they fought, hence the berserker meaning "Bear Coat" in Old Norse.

The fury of the berserker would start with chills and teeth chattering, this would give way to the purpleing of the face, as the became 'hot-headed', literally, and then finishing in a great, uncontrollable rage accompanied by howls and grunts.

According to ancient legend, the berserkers were industuctable. No weapon could break their trance. These berserkers were described as being immune to fire and the sword. They would continue on their ramage despite injury. The Icelandic poet and historian Snorri Sturluson wrote this description of the Viking Berserkers. 

​

​

​

​

​

There are many theories as to how they induced this rage, some of them are; sorcery, demonic possession, the consumption of alchahol or drugs, or the ingestion of a plant known as bog myrtle which was commonly used in alchoholic drinks.

​

During A Raid

​

Viking raids were very succesful, There are a few reasons for their success. One reason is that the Vikings were great sailors and because of that, they could arrive without warning, giving the villages and monasteries no time to prepare any defences. The Vikings were also very skilled warriors and were relentless. They would attack with such force that people would have to try and surrender items of worth in order to try and save their lives, but because they are Vikings, they took their belongings killed the people then looted and burnt the rest of the village.

After looting a village or monestry they would often burn the place afterwards. I am not sure why but it is probably ether a warning to others or they  did it just for fun. Vikings would then take as much loots as they could carry back to their ships and then return home to be honored for successful raiding.