Viking Age arms and armour
Our knowledge about arms and armour of the Viking age (8th to 11th centuries Europe) is based on relatively sparse archaeological finds, pictorial representation, and to some extent on the accounts in the icelandic sagas, recorded in the 13th century.
The main offensive weapons were the spear and the sword, and sometimes the battle-axe. The main defensive weapons were the shield, typically round, and the helmet, sometimes combined with a chainmail shirt.
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Offensive weapons
Spear
The main offensive weapon in battle, spears consisted of iron heads on ashwood shafts of 2–3 m length. The heads could measure between 20 cm and 60 cm, with a tendency towards longer heads towards the later Viking age. Spear heads with wings are called krókspjót (barbed spear) in the sagas. The spear was used both as a throwing weapon (lance) and as a thrusting weapon. They were used one-handed as well as two-handed (the shield could be slung to the back to free the left hand).
Sword
To own a sword was a matter of high prestige. A sword mentioned in the Laxdæla saga was valued at half a crown, corresponding to the value of 16 milk-cows. The viking sword was for single-handed use to be combined with a shield, with a blade length of typically 80–90 cm. Its shape was still very much based on the swords of the Dark Ages and on the Roman spatha, with a tight grip and no pronounced cross-guard.
Battle-axe
Based on the everyday tool for splitting wood, axes specialized for use in battle evolved, with larger heads and longer shafts. In the later Viking era, there were axe heads with crescent shaped edges measuring up to 45cm, called breið-øx (broad axe).
Bow and arrows
Bows were used both for hunting and in battle. They were made from yew, ash or elmtrees. The draw force of a 10th century bow may have reached some 90 pounds force (400 N), resulting in an effective range of at least 200 m. A unit of length used in icelandic law (the Grágás) called a bowshot (ördrag) corresponded to 480 m.
Defensive weapons
Shield
The viking shield was typically round, with a diameter of ca. 80–90 cm and a thickness of 1–2 cm, made of planks of coniferous wood (fir, pine) or linden. Towards the end of the Viking age, the Norman kite shield came into fashion.
Helmet
Simple round helmets, some with noseguards or masks, or cheekguards and chainmail neck protection. The Vikings did not use horned helmets, contrary to myth.
Mail shirts
T-shaped with short sleeves, thigh-length.
Archaeological finds
- Thorsberg bog
- Gokstad ship burial
- Oseberg
- Sutton Hoo
Saga accounts
Battles
- Sea battle of Olaf Tryggvason in the year 1000, told in the Heimskringla.
Duels
- Kormakssaga, holmgang of Kormak and Bersi
Images
External links
- Viking Age Arms and Armor (hurstwic.org)
- Arms and Combat in the Íslendingasögur
- Viking Weapons and Warfare (bbc.co.uk)
- The 'Viking Shield' from Archaeology by Peter Beatson
Categories: Weapon stubs | Middle Ages weapons | Viking Age