Viking weapons (35 photos). Viking armor and weapons Viking battle horn

At first, only a small proportion of the Vikings participating in the raids could afford expensive weapons and armor. The bulk of the participants in the raids were ordinary warriors (karls). armed only with an ax or spear and shield. They were free-born Scandinavians, owners of small plots of land, who had the right to bear arms. They voluntarily joined an expedition organized by a wealthy compatriot (hersir) or noble jarl (jarl). and later king. Many ordinary soldiers were associated with leadership of various kinds of obligations. For these poor peasants, a successful expedition meant real wealth. After deducting significant interest to the owner of the ship, the rest of the booty was equally divided among the participants.

The raiders armed themselves and equipped themselves. At the same time, the weapons were the simplest, often home-made. Archaeologists believe that each participant in the raid kept personal belongings in his own chest, which served him and the rowing can. In the absence of the owner, his wife and children, as well as other relatives and slaves, took care of the farm.

During excavations at the sites of battles and settlements, archaeologists discover many tips for spears of various shapes and sizes. Scandinavian arrowheads were usually long and narrow, like the two examples on the right, although their transverse projections are more characteristic of the Carolingian army. The leaf-shaped tip second from the left is characteristic of the Celtic culture. The shape of the spearheads remained unchanged throughout the Viking Age.	The Danish ax became the weapon that turned out to be firmly associated with the image of the Viking. Even in distant Byzantium, the Varangian guard was often called the guard with axes. This warrior, in addition to an ax, is armed with a sword, which is suspended from a sling over his right shoulder. His armor consists of a segmental helmet and chain mail worn over a woolen shirt.	Ax examples. In the center is the "Danish ax" or Breidox. Symmetrical axes (right center and bottom) of thick hardened steel, connected in a butt of softer iron. The other four are the so-called "bearded axes" or skeggox. Pay attention to the shape of the butt with protrusions, which provides a tight fit and protects the ax from destruction. It was the Vikings who popularized the ax as a weapon.

Steel arms

The convincing victories of the Vikings over the whole of Europe seem incredible from the point of view of a rather modest arsenal of winners. The Vikings did not have any superiority in the quality and quantity of weapons over their opponents. In the period from the 7th to the 11th centuries. weapons and equipment were roughly the same throughout Europe, differing only in minor details and quality. Viking weapons were simple, almost any weapon (with the exception of the sword!) Could also be used as a tool in the household. The ax served for chopping firewood, the spear and bow for hunting, and the knife as a multi-purpose tool. Only the sword served exclusively for the purposes of war.

Taken by surprise during the robbery, the Vikings took up defense. A warrior in a helmet and quilted gambeson parries a sword blow with an axe. In the background, the second Viking has a shield pierced by an axe. Having picked up the shield with the beard of an ax, the warrior tries to wrest it from his hands. That is, the ax was used not only for striking, but also acted as a hook.	Reconstruction of the Saxons found in England, Ireland and (bottom three) Scandinavia. The Saxon second from the left has a hilt with a guard, but it is too short to be used as a sword, the hilts are made of wood, horn or bone. Some of the Saxons in the picture have handles consisting of two cheeks, planted on rivets, while others have one-piece handles, mounted on a shank.	The warrior is armed with a sword and shield, but an ax is also stuck in the belt from the back. The Arab chronicler Ibn Miskawai describes the Scandinavian warriors who attacked the trade center in 943: each armed with a sword, but fought with a shield and a spear, and also had a knife or an ax on his belt. Pay attention to the short chain mail with a scalloped hollow. Helmet with chainmail aventail.
"Danish ax" with a long ax handle. The eccentric blade became widespread at the end of the 10th century. The cutting edge is 20 to 30 cm long, although there are references to axes with an edge of the order of 50 cm. The edge itself was often made of higher quality steel and welded onto the main part of the ax. Like swords, Viking axes sometimes got their own names, more often female ones. King Olif Haraldsson named his ax Hel after the Norse goddess of death. In the hands of a tall and physically strong warrior, the ax turned into a crushing weapon that could cut through any armor or knock the rider off the horse.	A group of warriors is armed not only with long spears, but also with shorter darts. In the drawings of that time, you can see warriors carrying but three or four darts. Throwing darts, the warrior took out a sword or ax, with which he continued the fight. Sometimes warriors are shown holding javelins in the same hand as the shield. Although the spear was a cheap weapon, this does not mean that only the poor were armed with it. Jarls and Khersirs could also have a spear, but rather decorated.	Although there are expensive and richly decorated swords, the typical Varangian sword was simple. Few warriors could afford swords with rich decoration. Swords were valued, first of all, by the quality of the blades, and not by the number of decorations hung on them.

Spears

Although historians and archaeologists continue to argue about which weapon was considered the main weapon throughout the Middle Ages, we can say with a high degree of probability that the spear was the main type of weapon. The spearhead requires relatively little iron, is easy to manufacture, and can be forged in large quantities. The shaft for the spear, in general, costs nothing and can be made by anyone at any time. Spearheads are found in almost every military burial. The tips had many applications and had different designs.

Light spears and darts were used for throwing. Warriors usually carried several darts to hit the enemy from a distance. The descriptions of the battle of Mallons in 991 say that the Vikings suffered losses from Anglo-Saxon darts that pierced chain mail. Apparently, the tip of the dart tore apart the riveted chain mail rings.

An even more powerful blow was delivered with a spear. The spear could be held with one or two hands. With a spear, it was possible not only to stab, but also to inflict cutting blows with a tip, beat with a shaft and block enemy blows with a spear. In the state of the Carolingians, the so-called "winged" spear, which had two protrusions at the bottom of the tip, became widespread. With the help of these protrusions, it was possible to cling to the shield of the enemy or the enemy himself. In addition, the protrusions prevented the spear from going too deep into the body of the victim and getting stuck there.

The length of the shaft varied from 150 to 300 cm. The length of the tip was from 20 to 60 cm. The diameter of the shaft reached 2.5 cm. Tips with a tulle could have different shapes: sticky and narrow, short, leaf-shaped, flat, round or triangular in cross section. Many of the spearheads discovered are made of welded steel, often with silver inlays. The most expensive tips are found in the graves of rich warriors. However, it does not follow from the above that the tips of the bowl were decorated most of all. If the spear was held with one hand, then the blow was usually delivered from top to bottom, aiming at the head or chest. Such a grip also made it possible, if necessary, to throw a spear without changing its position in the hand.

Axes

At the beginning of the Viking Age, two types of axes were most common: the cleaver and the small "bearded". Axes were available in any household, so the poorest warriors were primarily armed with them. Later, the ambition turned into a symbol of the Viking, inspiring fear in opponents. The ax had a handle 60-90 cm long. The cutting edge of the ax reached a length of 7-15 cm. The Francis throwing ax, invented by the Franks, was also found among the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings.

Later, the famous "Danish ax" appeared - a military weapon with a long cutting edge. Apparently, the Danish ax appeared as a response to the wider distribution of chain mail.

With a handle length of 120-180 cm, the ax had a large semilunar ax handle, the length of the cutting edge of which reached 22-45 cm. In the hands of a strong warrior, the Danish ax made it possible to knock down a rider or cut a shield with one blow. An ax could also foam a shield and destroy a wall of shields.

Saxons

The sax, like the ax, was an everyday tool that could also be used as a weapon. Almost every warrior had a sax. Excavations in York uncovered about 300 Saxons. Although these are Anlo-Saxon finds. York has long been the center of the Vikings. As the name of the knife implies, the Saxon was a Saxon knife, but neighboring nations also used them.

Saks - a knife sharpened on one side from 7.5 to 75 cm long. Two types of Saxons are known: short, up to 35 cm long and long, from 50 to 75 cm long. Initially, short Saxons were an everyday tool, which, if used as a weapon , then only to finish off wounded enemies. The long sax was originally designed as a weapon, but could also be used as a machete. Some long Saxons are equipped with hilts like swords. Such Saxons have been found in Viking graves in Ireland at Kilmanham Eilsndbridge.

The blades of the Saxons were straight and with only one cutting edge. The butt of the blade was often made wide, and the tip sharp, which made it possible to inflict stabbing blows with the Saxon. Sometimes in Scandinavia they find a Saxon with a sickle-shaped blade. The sax was carried in a leather scabbard, which was often decorated with a chalk, bronze or silver, depending on the wealth of the owner. As well as spears, axes and swords, the Saxons were sometimes decorated with silver inlay.

Two reconstructed sword hilts. Complex patterns are visible on the crosshairs and head. The left hilt corresponds to a find made in Jutland. The original was decorated with silver and brass inlays. The right handle is a copy of a find from the south of Sweden, although the sword itself was forged in England around 1000. The crosshair and head are decorated with gold, silver and black. On the right, the decoration of the scabbard of the sword, also very complex but in its design.

The Viking in the foreground has a helmet, chain mail, sword and shield. His outfit matches that found in a burial in Gjermundby, Norway. It seems that this is the burial of a wealthy Viking, dating back to the 10th century. A horse harness was also found in the grave.

swords

Swords were the most expensive type of weapon. The handles and crosshairs of swords were often finished with copper inlay or silver niello. Unlike an ax or a sax, a sword was not a very practical thing. There was a belief among warriors that each sword had mystical properties. The swords were given their own names. In a small area of ​​Haitaby, where excavations are underway, about 40 swords of various quality were found.

The Varangian sword had a double-edged blade 72-82 cm long and about 5 cm wide. The length of the handle was 7.5-10 cm. Over time, the length of the sword increased. The hand was covered by a short crosshair. As the length of the blade increased, the mass of the handle head, which served for balancing, increased. Failing to swing a sword with a mass of order

At the beginning of the Viking Age, the best blades were forged from several welded strips of steel. This complex technology involved welding strips of pure and carbon iron by forging. The result was a flexible and at the same time solid blade, in addition decorated with a pattern. Some blades had a welded core with hard steel cutting edges. One English source of the X century. reports that the price of the sword reached the foam of 15 slaves or 120 bulls.

In the ninth century the European market for swords was firmly held by Frankish blacksmiths. King Charles the Bald tried to ban the export of "strategic weapons". The Franks have found that the best results are obtained by using phosphor steel. The manufacture of phosphor steel required special knowledge, but was faster than the previous welded forging. Scandinavian blacksmiths, who did not know this secret, imported blade blanks from France, and then brought them to mind. Frankish blades have been found in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Baltic States, England and Ireland.

The scabbard was made of wood and covered with leather. Inside the sheath usually had an oiled lining that protected the blade from corrosion. The coccyx of the scabbard was covered with metal fittings. Sometimes the mouth of the scabbard was also reinforced with metal fittings. Initially, the scabbard was hung on a sling over the shoulder, which was passed under the waist belt. Later, the sheath began to be hung directly from the waist belt.

The Vikings held swords in one hand, holding a shield or sax in the other. When striking at the enemy, they tried to avoid hitting the enemy's sword. Although the blades differed in quality but by the standards of the early Middle Ages, when steel on steel struck, the blade could easily break.

Three reconstructed sword hilts, showing the most common variants. The left and middle handles are covered with silver, like the handle of an expensive sword from Haitaby. Pay attention to the wooden cheeks of the handle. The right handle has a five-lobed head decorated with twisted silver wire. The shape of the hilt corresponds to that of a sword hilt from a ship burial near Haitaby dated to the middle of the 9th century, although the original is more elaborately decorated.

A helmet, a sword and chain mail made up a fortune, a complete warrior who had a complete set of equipment was very wealthy - a hersir. Due to the high cost, the sword and chain mail were rarely placed in graves. The chain mail length reaches the middle of the thigh and has short sleeves. The chain mail is fastened on the back with a leather strap threaded through the holes. Pay attention to the design of chain mail. Each ring is connected to four neighboring ones. In the chain mail reconstructed today, the ends of the split rings are not connected by rivets or welding in order to save time.

Wealthy warrior (Khersir)

This warrior is called Hersir - a wealthy landowner who has the status of a local leader or clan leader. At the beginning of the Viking Age, the Hersirs were the organizers and leaders of the Viking raiding and colonization detachments. Their influence gradually decreased until the end of the X century. Monarchies did not develop in Scandinavia. From that time on, the Hersirs became the king's local representatives.

Apparently, the Khersir in the picture is a dual-believer, on his chest he wears a combined amulet, which is a combination of a cross and Thor's hammer. Such an amulet, dated to the 10th century, was found in Iceland. The plot on the shield goes back to Siorri Sturlusson's "Elder Edda": two wolves chase the moon and the sun across the sky, causing a change of day and night. When the wolves catch up with their prey and devour it. there will come a ragna-rek of a pen of light but of Scandinavian mythology. Then the fallen warriors left Valhalla and entered into their last battle on the side of the gods of Asgard against the giants. The death of the gods will lead to the final destruction of the world. Perhaps this hersir was even baptized. Vikings were often baptized to improve their ability to trade with Christian nations. Sometimes they were baptized for gifts, in other cases they were baptized at the request of the king. At the same time, there was ambivalence. On land, the Viking demonstrated his belonging to Christianity, and at sea he continued to make sacrifices to pagan gods.

Hersir carries a sax and two pouches for small accessories on his waist belt. His helmet is complemented by a chain mail aventail, and the sword hilt is a copy of a find made in Hedemarken (type 5 according to Peterson).	Over chain mail, this warrior wears a lamellar shell that protects the torso. Lamellar armor appeared in the Middle East. The lamella plates from which the shell was made could be of different shapes. The warrior's helmet is solid forged from a single piece of iron, but the nose plate is a separate piece. The helmet has a chain mail aventail with a leather lining. This design became popular in the 11th century. Pay attention to the difference in the diameter of the rings and the thickness of the wire. Archaeological finds testify to a wide variety of rings.	Reconstruction of a helmet from Gjermundbu, whose Varangian origin is beyond doubt. It has a chain mail backplate and a domino-shaped mask. The crosshair of the reinforcing plates is equipped with a small spike. The details of the helmet are connected with rivets. Apparently, the helmet belonged to the Varangian leader of the 10th century. Chain mail and a sword were found next to the helmet.
Leather boots fastened with wooden or horn buttons. Additional leather strips are sewn into the outsole for better traction. The boots were sewn in the same way as the "inverted shoes", but had a higher top.
Scalloped chain mail floor. This detail had no practical purpose, but served solely as an ornament. Under chain mail, the Khersir wears a woolen shirt and a quilted leather jacket or gabmenzon stuffed with hair, wool, or even hay.	T-shaped chain mail, characteristic of the 8th century. The floors reach the hip and are decorated with scalloped bottoms. Usually, a quilted gimbeson was worn under the chain mail, which softened the blows. In order not to hinder the movement of a warrior, holes were left under the armpits, which, of course, reduced the protective properties of chain mail.	Gambenson with diagonal stitching. Side slits make walking easier. Thick leather gambenzones themselves protected well from chopping and cutting blows. Gambenzones of the 11th century are known, sewn from the skin of the Lapland reindeer, comparable in strength to chain mail.

Armor and helmets

Vikings and their opponents, at least those who could afford it, could wear one of several types of armor. Armor was a very valuable acquisition, as wounds from bladed weapons often caused infection and death in the absence of hygiene and rudimentary knowledge of medicine. Blood poisoning or tetanus were common. Armor made it possible to avoid many injuries, which dramatically increased the likelihood of survival.

Popular opinion claims that the Vikings necessarily wore armor. In reality, this is not so. Mail (brynja or hringserkr) was expensive armor. therefore, in the VIII - X centuries. only a few Vikings could afford it. Archaeological excavations and surviving images show that in the VIII century. Viking chain mail had short sleeves and reached only the upper thigh. For example, in Gjermundbu, 85 fragments of chain mail of the 9th century were found.

During the 11th century the chain mail of the herd is longer. The Bayeux Tapestry depicts Norman and Anglo-Saxon warriors who participated in the battle of Hastings in 1066, most of them wear chain mail that reached the length of the knee (hauberk). The floor of the chain mail has a slit in front and behind, reaching the crotch, allowing you to ride in chain mail on horseback. During this period, simple T-shaped chain mail became more complicated. To it was added a mail balaclava and a face flap that covered the warrior's throat and lower jaw.

Depending on the size of the knees and the length of the chain mail, one chain mail took from 20,000 to 60,000 rings. The rings were of two types: flat, cut from a megalithic plate, and bent from wire. Wire spools were also divided into two types: open and closed.

Structurally, the chain mail fabric is divided into groups of five rings, in which four solid rings are connected by one open ring, the shocks of which are connected by a rivet. The mass of chain mail of the 11th century, which reached the knees and had long sleeves, was about 18 kg. In order to make such a coat of mail, the work of a master was required for a year. Therefore, only a very rich warrior could buy chain mail for himself.

It is difficult to say how common chain mail was in reality. Very rarely chain mail is found in burials. With careful care, the service life of chain mail is practically unlimited, they were passed down from generation to generation. Chainmail was too expensive a thing to simply lose or leave on the battlefield. During the Middle Ages, chain mail became widespread, but was still extremely rare in burials, especially since Christianity does not recognize "gifts from the grave."

Those who could not afford chain mail made do with one quilted gambeson. Gambenzones are depicted on stones, tapestries and wooden figures. They are easily distinguished by the lines of stitches that form a rectangular or rhombic pattern. In this case, the gambenzone is made of cloth with a rectangular stitch.	The manufacture of chain mail was a very laborious process, but it required relatively few tools and could be carried out in almost any forge. The manufacture of chain mail began with wire drawing in a cold or hot way. The wire was wound in a spiral onto a rod, and then it was cut along the rod. The resulting rings were passed through a cone so that the ends of the ring converged. The ends of the ring were red-hot, and then welded by forging. For other rings, the ends were riveted to a flat state and punched through with a punch. Later, a seal was inserted through this hole.	This re-enactor has T-shaped mail with a straight hollow, he is armed with a Saxon sword. Fragments of such chain mail were found in Gjermundbu along with a helmet. The rings were about 8.5 mm in diameter, with about 24 rings per square inch. Please note that the sleeves are integral with the rest of the chain mail.

Under chain mail, a warrior could wear a gambeson of his role, a two-layer shirt made of cloth, leather or linen with a lining of sheep's wool, horsehair or other suitable material. The layers were quilted to keep the padding from bunching up. Gambeson softened blows and did not allow chain mail to scratch the body. The leather gambeson served as a good protection in itself, it was often worn as an independent armor.

Mention should also be made of lamellar armor, little known in the West, as they were invented in the Middle East. But the Vikings, who in their raids reached Byzantium and even visited Baghdad, undoubtedly knew about such armor. The lamellar shell consists of many small iron plates called lamellae. Each plate has several holes. The plates were stacked in layers, partially overlapping each other, and connected with a cord. Lamellae of various shapes and sizes have been found in Birka, a trading town in central Sweden. Although studies have shown that these plates were scattered and did not constitute a single armor. apparently they were kept as blanks.

Banded bracers and greaves were another type of armor. This armor was assembled from metal strips about 16 mm wide and of different lengths. The plates were attached to leather belts. The ancestors of the Vikings also wore shells built according to this principle, as evidenced by the excavations in Velsgård, Sweden of the cultural layers of the 6th-7th centuries.

Helmets

The reenactor in the "helmet of St. Wenceslas", equipped with chain mail aventail. The helmet is forged from a single piece of metal, the nose plate is attached with rivets. The prototype dates from the 10th century. The decorative nose plate suggests that the helmet is of Nordic origin.	The picture shows helmets of various types found in Europe during the Viking Age. On the left is a reconstruction of the helmet of St. Wenceslas, which differs from the prototype in a more modest finish. In the center - a frame helmet with "eyebrows" and a chain mail backplate. On the right is a reconstruction of a helmet from Gjermundbu. Helmets are lined with cloth or leather and have a chinstrap. Sometimes helmets were additionally equipped with shock absorbers stuffed with wool or rags.	The so-called helmet from Getch, dated to the 9th century. The helmet consists of four triangular segments connected directly to each other. A holder for a plume is installed in the upper part, and a strip is launched along the bottom. Helmet of Slavic origin, has chain mail. Helmets of this design could be worn by the Eastern Vikings (Rus), such helmets could also end up in Scandinavia as a result of trade. The reenactor also wears a lamellar shell.

Only one example of a Varangian helmet has come down to us, discovered in Gjermundbu and dated to the end of the 9th century. The helmet consists of a forehead band, to which two curved bands are attached. One stripe goes from the forehead to the back of the head, and the other from ear to ear. There. where these two stripes intersect, a small spike is installed. These three strips form a frame to which four triangular segments lean. The owner's face was partially covered by a mask resembling a domino mask, decorated with inlaid "eyebrows". A chain mail aventail was originally attached to the back of the helmet. All parts of the helmet were interconnected with rivets.

Although this is a single find, documentary evidence has shown that such helmets were ubiquitous. Apparently, helmets of this type were a simplified version of a more complex helmet of the Wendel era. Several of these richly decorated helmets of the pre-Varangian era were found in Welsgård. They have a mask and chainmail aventail. The helmet cup is made of several small plates forming a hemisphere.

Around 900, another type of helmet became widespread among the Vikings, already common throughout Europe. This is the so-called segmental helmet (spangenhelm). These helmets featured a conical cup and a straight nose plate that protected the face. The images on the runestones indicate that this type of helmet was worn by many Vikings.

Shortly after the spread of the segmental helmet, a one-piece forged helmet appeared. Good examples of one-piece forged helmets are the helmet from Olomouc and the "helmet of Wenceslaus" from Prague. Both have a nose plate, moreover, in the helmet from Olomouc, the plate forms a single unit with the helmet, while in the helmet from Prague, the nose plate of the cruciform shape is made as a separate piece, attached to the cup with rivets. In addition to these basic types, there were various transitional forms. There were also helmets that consisted of only four segments connected directly to each other, without any frame.

The internal details of the helmets cannot be reconstructed on the basis of archaeological finds. But, most likely, there was a leather or cloth lining inside the helmet, riveted to the helmet. The helmet also had a chin strap. Many warriors wore cloth balaclavas, which softened blows to the head. Although the helmet was cheaper than mail, it was an expensive item that every Viking could have. Hats made of thick leather or fur, which are also often found on images from rune stones, served as cheap replacements for the helmet.

If the helmets of the pre-Varangian era were richly decorated, then the Viking helmets were simple. Even rich helmets had decorations only on the frame stripes, nose plate and mask. It is also known from the texts that colored marks (herkumbi) were often made on helmets, which served as signs of quick identification in battle.

Finally, it should be noted that the Vikings did not wear horns on their helmets, so that Hollywood artists would not think about this in costumes. This common misconception stems from mis-dating of earlier finds from other European cultures, as well as misinterpreted crude images dedicated to Odin. Odin was usually depicted as a raven on a helmet. The left and right wings of the raven were taken for horns.

Many Vikings wore a segmental helmet and a gambeson. During the 11th century segmental helmet (spangenhelm) was the most common type of helmet in Europe. On runestones, warriors are depicted wearing conical headdresses, which can be either segmental helmets or solid forged helmets like the helmet of St. Vsntseslav. It is also possible that leather caps were depicted in this way.	Reconstruction of a segmented helmet with "eyebrows" above the nose plate, typical for helmets of Scandinavian origin. Although archaeologists have not found this type of helmet, “eyebrows” are found on many other Varangian helmets. The helmet has a leather lining, the edge of which is visible along the lower edge of the helmet, and chain mail. Pay attention to the long nose plate, which protects not only the nose, but also the mouth.	Segmental helmet (spangenhelm) with temporal plates and chain mail aventail. The temporal plates are suspended on rings. Pay attention to the large hairpin that fastens the cloak. This Varangian hairpin dates back to the 8th-9th centuries.

Wendel-era helmet discovered in Valsgård, Sweden. The exact dating of the helmet is impossible, we can only say that it appeared 100-200 years earlier than the beginning of the Viking Age, that is, around the 6th-7th centuries. The similarity with the helmet from Gjermundbu is clearly visible: a chain mail backplate and a domino mask, in this case with bronze “eyebrows”. This example is richly decorated and has a more complex design than the Gjermundbu helmet. Plates decorated with chasing are inserted into the cells of the lattice. The plates depict warriors carrying shields and spears, dressed in shirts. The "horned" helmets are actually the raven-winged helmets of the god Odin Hugin and Munyia. A chain mail backplate and a mask are suspended along the edge of the helmet. The helmet from Gjermundbu also has holes along the bottom edge.

The reconstructed helmets are not of Scandinavian origin, but the Vikings may well have had them. Top left and right are helmets of the type from Olomouc, but with the tip curved forward. Although the helmet from Olomouc dates from the 9th century, these examples date back more to the 12th century. In the center - a front view of a Slavic helmet, which could be worn by the Eastern Vikings and Varangian guards. The helmet is equipped with a horsehair plume holder. Below, left and right, are two reconstructions of the helmet of St. Wenceslas. Below in the center is a frame helmet, the parietal plate is clearly visible, covering the connection of the frame elements.

The Viking Age, which, roughly speaking, lasted from 750 to 1100, is usually regarded as a separate era, although historically it is a natural continuation of the Migration Age, its political results are grandiose.

Viking swords, or sword of the Carolingian type, as a rule, is longer, thicker and heavier than its predecessors from the era of migration of peoples. viking swords, in view of the fact that during the period under review, the shape of their blades changed little, it is customary to distinguish and classify according to the shape of the handles. However, the situation here is somewhat more complicated than with the swords of the era of the migration of peoples, since many scientists involved in the archeology of weapons invented competing classification systems.

Classification of Viking swords

Jan Petersen in 1919 in his book "De norske vikingesverd" in the main typology identified 26 different forms of handles (here you can advise the interested user the excellent monograph "Swords of the Viking Age"). The most important types in 1927, R. Wheeler (R. Wheeler) combined into seven categories. Wheeler's typology was completed by Ewart Oakeshott in the sixties. Oakeshott added two more categories that characterize the transition from the Viking sword to the knight's sword.

In 1991, Alfred Göbig, in his work Beitrage zur morphologischen Entwicklung des Schwerts im Mittelalter, proposed another well-thought-out taxonomy of the Viking sword.

For Viking swords, the Guybig system is more interesting, and for knightly swords, Oakeshott's systematics, as before, remains unsurpassed.

While most Viking swords are double-edged, contrary to popular belief, none of them were. Naturally, single-edged specimens also appeared. Unlike later sabers, their blades were mostly straight, more like a machete. These blades were usually made during the transitional period from the Migration Period to the early Viking Age. Most of them can be classified as Type II swords. A characteristic feature of single-edged Viking swords is that they do not have a fuller. With a blade length of 80-85 centimeters, they are significantly longer than the double-edged swords of the same period. But the single-edged sword could not surpass the double-edged sword. With the methods of fighting from the early Middle Ages, two blades gave a clear advantage: when one blade became dull or covered with notches, the sword was turned in the hand and the other blade was put into action.

Let's start with the head, in this case the one that has adorned my office's gun safe for many years. Whoever and whenever one of my friends or “brothers in arms” looks in, everyone takes her for the head of a real Viking. And... they are mistaken for at least a thousand years. Helmets with horns before the Viking Age (from the 8th to the 11th centuries) were worn by their ancestors, but the Vikings themselves never wore them. Cuckolded by their modern advertising services and some ignorant filmmakers.

Viking helmets were much simpler and more practical and, in my opinion, most realistically presented in the film by S. Rostotsky "And Trees Grow on Stones." If the specimens found during excavations of burial ships dating from about 800 are made in the style of the late Roman Empire from iron covered with silver or copper plates with decorative ornaments, then the helmets of the Viking era were without any decorations.

It was not possible to find completely preserved Viking helmets in Scandinavia, only fragments of them were found. But in several places at once, well-preserved conical helmets were found in Russia, which were probably brought here by merchants from Scandinavia or made in the likeness of Viking helmets. The Viking helmet is also known, carefully, as a relic, stored in Prague, in memory of the patron saint of the Czechs - St. Venceslaus.

At first glance, a rider in a helmet and with other attributes of a warrior, depicted in the figure, may seem like a Viking. But this is not a Viking, but one of the Swedish leaders who lived a couple of hundred years before the Viking Age. The shield, weapons and horse harness are decorated with gold and semi-precious stones, but the beautiful sword is not as durable and functional as the Viking swords that appeared later. One of the secrets of the combat effectiveness of the Vikings lies precisely in the fact that in the choice of weapons they were not constrained by old traditions, but adapted it to their needs or created its new forms, which significantly differed in strength and functionality and surpassed the weapons of their closest neighbors.

But the rider in full dress uniform is a real Viking, and the weapons and clothes he uses, as confirmed by archaeological excavations and scientific data, are genuine attributes of the Viking Age. This is what the bits of the bridles on a horse looked like, borrowed by the Vikings from the Magyars, and stirrups - adopted from the Germans. Oriental-type wide trousers can be seen in the images of the Vikings on painted stones, still preserved on the island of Gotland. The silk camisole of the Viking is tied on the chest with transverse ribbons, which a millennium later migrated to the uniforms of the hussars well known to us, and the buttons of the hussar uniform are very reminiscent of those discovered by archaeologistsduring the excavation of the Viking camp on the island of Birka.

The weapons of the Vikings were not only significantly different, but also in many ways superior to the weapons of their predecessors. Before the Viking Age, swords with massive bronze hilts were used, copying the early gold hilts that became fashionable after the sack of Rome by the Vandals in 445. In any case, in Denmark and Sweden, such swords of the "golden age" were in use until 800. But it was only at the turn of the Viking Age that a new type of sword began to emerge. The hilts of the new Viking swords were already made of iron and did not break during the battle. More durable damasked blades appeared on them, forged from soldered iron bars of varying degrees of hardness. Some of them had the personal brands (names) of the Frankish blacksmiths of the times of Charlemagne, that is, these swords were borrowed by the Vikings, but were used more effectively against their creators. Swords of just such a Frankish style were brought by the Vikings to the territory of Russia.

The finds, designated by archaeologists under the general name "spearheads", depending on the diameter of the landing neck, were two types of weapons - a dart and a spear. The first, lighter, is a throwing spear, and the second, heavier, was intended to defeat and throw the enemy off his horse. The types of Viking spears shown in the picture are decorated with silver ornaments in a typical Scandinavian style. The neck of spear No. 3 on the left has a kind of guard, the purpose of which is unknown, but, according to the assumption, it served to ensure that the spear could only penetrate to a depth sufficient to defeat the enemy and so that it could be easily and quickly removed. For a thousand years of lying in the ground, the tree of their shaft, of course, rotted, and the tips were pretty rusty, but still retained the elegance of the outlines. The tips of the Viking spears, as well as swords, were forged by the best blacksmiths using Damascus technology, borrowed by the Vikings from the Franks. During the battle, the Vikings used light wooden shields as the main cover weapon, the only metal part of which was a small pommel in the center of the shield (umbon). Such knobs have been found in most Viking burials, while the wooden shields themselves naturally rotted away. Only the shields fixed along the side of the Viking ship from the burial place in the town of Gokstad in Norway have been completely preserved. In hand-to-hand combat, such shields could not serve as reliable protection and were mainly used only for shelter from arrows.

But the Vikings themselves were good with bows and arrows. Usually archers started the fight, which then developed into hand-to-hand combat. The most formidable Viking weapon was the battle axe. The ax had a long wooden handle, and only a foot warrior and two hands were able to wield it. Such an ax was used most effectively to defeat the enemy's horses.

Like other military equipment of the Vikings, sword hilts, spears, stirrups and spurs, axes were decorated. Judging by the finish of a well-preserved battle ax found in the town of Mammen in Denmark, the Vikings already then mastered the technique of inlaying and tasting with gold.

In the town of Beyeux (Vaueih) in NormandAnd a carpet half a meter wide and 70 meters long, made in honor of the victory of the Duke of Normandy William over the British at the Battle of Hasting in 1066, has been preserved. This is one of the most reliable sources that clearly illustrates the tactics of infantry and cavalry in battle, all types of weapons used by the Vikings.

And here is what the “forge of war” of the ancient Viking looked like. According to the traditional set of tools, and even the execution, it differs little from the modern one, in particular, from the anvil, tongs and hammer, which the author of the article uses at a dacha near Moscow.

The medieval Viking had three main values ​​that testify to his social position - vehicle (horse or ship), outfit and, of course, the weapon that he always kept with him. The weapons of the medieval Scandinavians were very diverse, for every taste and for every situation, as you can see for yourself.

Attributes of a real warrior

As we all know, the Vikings were very warlike. By the way, they put a negative connotation into the word “Viking” itself - after all, not all medieval Scandinavians were called that before, but only those of them who were engaged in maritime robbery.

Nevertheless, in the event of an attack, not only warriors participating in campaigns, but also small landowners (bonds) protecting their allotment, household, slaves and servants could stand up for themselves and their families. Moreover, even a simple Scandinavian peasant or shepherd in the VIII-XI centuries. (this period in history is called the Viking Age) knew how to fight.

Therefore, there were many weapons. He was always kept with him. And it got to the point that, sitting down at the table at home, the Vikings put the sword next to them at arm's length. You never know.

A beautiful and solid weapon was a source of pride, they could well have been killed for it. After all, the property of the vanquished passed to the winner. There was also the concept of “ancestral weapons”, which were inherited. And if the weapon was presented as a gift, then this gift was assessed as very generous. Wealthy people decorated it - gilded, silvered, they also decorated the walls. Indeed, why hang carpets when you can hang shields or spears on the wall? Therefore, the profession of a blacksmith was considered prestigious, and even rich people, but what are people, even gods in the Scandinavian pantheon, could forge swords at their leisure. In the Elder Edda, for example, the wizard-blacksmith Völund is mentioned, a magnificent craftsman who also flew on wings made by himself.

About glorious swords

The most common Viking weapons were swords and spears. There were a great many swords - the researchers count up to 26 types, distinguished by the shape of the handle. Among them were swords with long blades (sverd), and with short ones, intended for close combat (skalm), and a heavy sword - sax.

Swords at the Viking Museum in Hedeby, source: wikimedia

They also differed in the number of blades. There were both with one blade and with two. All, however, were united by a similar length of the blade - from 70 to 90 cm, and the weight of the sword - from 1 to 1.5 kg. The blades, as a rule, were wide and narrowed slightly only towards the tip, mainly for chopping blows.

In addition, Scandinavian swords have valleys - special grooves on the blade that lighten its weight. On the valleys, it was customary to put the mark of the master-manufacturer. Swords were decorated with twisted handles, images or runes etched on the blades.

Interestingly, Swedish swords were valued more than Icelandic or Norwegian ones: it was all about the quality of the steel. But the Frankish ones were considered the best, they are also called "Carolingian type" swords.

Judging by the hallmarks, every third sword was of Frankish origin, which, however, is highly debatable. Thus, researchers believe that local craftsmen often stylized their products as fashionable imported swords and forged hallmarks.

Spears, axes and other tools of the militant people

Now about the spears, which also had many varieties. Some were distinguished by a wide leaf-shaped tip, which could be both stabbed and chopped. Such spears were very heavy and long - the shaft of the Scandinavian spear reached a length of about 1.5 m. Other throwing spears were lighter and more meek, with a relatively narrow tip. They are still easy to recognize by the metal ring, which helped to correctly indicate the center of gravity during the throw. Spears could be made with plumage, as well as fetter the shaft with iron (such a spear was called a stake in armor). Sometimes the tip itself was supplemented with a hook like a harpoon. It turned out to be a very practical device if you need to attack a ship or pull an enemy off a horse.

The Vikings were also very fond of battle axes, including axes, axes with a semicircular blade, sharpened on the outside. In particular, during excavations of mounds in Norway, 1200 axes are found for 1500 swords.

Battle axes differed from ordinary ones in their smaller size, greater lightness and narrower blade, so that if necessary it could be thrown. There were also more massive axes, the so-called "Danish". Wide axes with a long thin blade, and sometimes with a hook, were valued. They held the ax with both two and one hand, which was much more common.

A little more about weapons, or Everything was used

In general, in addition to spears and axes, a lot of other things were thrown at the enemy. For example, darts or stones. There were even special belts for throwing stones - they were convenient during the siege. They could crush the wall or shields, for example. They also used bows, both heavy and light, made from one piece of wood (ash, elm, yew), with a string of tightly woven hair. Arrows, or rather their tips, were different. For battles - narrower and thinner, and wider for hunting. A knife hung around the neck all the time - they were also used to cut meat during dinner, or to practice manual dexterity in their free time.

For protection, the Vikings wore iron chain mail made of link plates, and under them thick quilted vests. Helmets were put on the head: just felt or metal, over the felt. The shields were wide, both oblong (the length of the warrior's height, so that the deceased could be carried on it), and smaller round ones. They were decorated with bright colors, coats of arms, and images from overlaid metal.

viking shield

As we can see, almost anything could serve as a weapon, even the butt of an ax or a club. For example, Thor, the most revered god of the ancient Scandinavians (despite the fact that Odin was supreme), generally had a Hammer. Visiting temples where it was forbidden to draw weapons, or coming to the place of the Thing (gathering of free people), the Vikings tied the scabbards on the “strings of the world”, but they still kept their weapons with them. They took care of him, loved him, decorated him (with silver and gold, protective runes, gems) and even gave their names - for example, in the medieval sagas, the ax Star, the spear Gray blade, the armor of the Principal, Emma's chain mail and the completely ridiculous ax of the Beetle or Boar are mentioned.

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Vikings... This word became a household name several centuries ago. It symbolizes strength, courage, courage, but few people pay attention to details. Yes, the Vikings won victories and became famous for them for centuries, but now they got it not only due to their own qualities, but primarily through the use of the most modern and effective weapons.

A bit of history

The period of several centuries from the 8th to the 11th centuries in history is called the Viking Age. These Scandinavian peoples were distinguished by militancy, courage and incredible fearlessness. Courage and physical health inherent in warriors were cultivated in all possible ways at that time. During the period of their unconditional superiority, the Vikings achieved great success in martial art, and it did not matter at all where the battle took place: on land or at sea. They fought both in coastal areas and deep in the continent. Not only Europe has become for them the arena of battles. Their presence was also noted by the peoples of North Africa.

Excellence in the details

The Scandinavians fought with neighboring peoples not only for the sake of booty and enrichment - they founded their settlements on the reclaimed lands. Vikings decorated weapons and armor with a peculiar finish. It was here that artisans demonstrated their art and talent. To date, it can be argued that it was in this area that they most fully revealed their skills. The Viking weapons belonging to the lower social strata, the photos of which amaze even modern craftsmen, displayed entire plots. What can we say about the weapons of warriors belonging to the higher castes and having a noble origin.

What were the weapons of the Vikings?

The weapons of the warriors differed depending on the social status of their owners. Warriors of noble origin had swords and various kinds and forms of axes. Viking weapons of the lower classes were mainly bows and pointed spears of various sizes.

Protection features

Even the most advanced weapons in those days sometimes could not fulfill their main functions, because during the battle the Vikings were in fairly close contact with their opponent. The main defense of the Viking in battle was the shield, since not every warrior could afford other armor. He protected mainly from throwing weapons. Most of them were large round shields. Their diameter was about a meter. He protected the warrior from knees to chin. Often the enemy deliberately broke the shield in order to deprive the Viking of protection.

How was the Viking shield made?

The shield was made of boards 12-15 cm thick, sometimes there were even several layers. They were fastened together with specially created glue, and ordinary shingles often served as a layer. For greater strength, the top of the shield was covered with the skin of dead animals. The edges of the shields were reinforced with bronze or iron plates. The center was an umbon - a semicircle made of iron. He protected the hand of the Viking. Note that not every person could hold such a shield in their hands, and even during the battle. This once again testifies to the incredible physical data of the warriors of those times.

Viking shield - not just protection, but also a work of art

So that the warrior could not lose the shield during the battle, a narrow belt was used, the length of which could be adjusted. It was fastened from the inside on opposite edges of the shield. If it was necessary to use other weapons, the shield could easily be thrown behind the back. It was also practiced during transitions.

Most of the painted shields were red, but there were also various bright paintings, the complexity of which depended on the skill of the craftsman.

But like everything that came from ancient times, the shape of the shield underwent changes. And by the beginning of the XI century. the warriors had the so-called almond-shaped shields, which favorably differed from their predecessors in shape, protecting the warrior almost completely to the middle of the lower leg. They were also distinguished by a significantly lower weight compared to their predecessors. However, they were inconvenient for battles on ships, and they happened more and more often, and therefore they did not receive much distribution among the Vikings.

Helmet

The warrior's head was usually protected by a helmet. Its original frame was formed by three main stripes: 1st - forehead, 2nd - from the forehead to the back of the head, 3rd - from ear to ear. 4 segments were attached to this base. On the top of the head (where the stripes crossed) there was a very sharp spike. The warrior's face was partially protected by a mask. A chain mail mesh, called aventail, was attached to the back of the helmet. Special rivets were used to connect the parts of the helmet. From small metal plates they formed a hemisphere - a cup of a helmet.

Helmet and social status

At the beginning of the 10th century, the Vikings had conical helmets, and a straight nose plate served to protect the face. Over time, one-piece forged helmets with a chin strap came to their place. There is an assumption that a fabric or leather lining was fastened inside with rivets. Cloth comforters reduced the force of a blow to the head.

Ordinary warriors did not have helmets. Their heads were protected by hats made of fur or thick leather.

The helmets of wealthy owners were decorated with colored marks, they were used to recognize warriors in battle. Headdresses with horns, which abound in historical films, were extremely rare. In the Viking Age, they personified higher powers.

chain mail

The Vikings spent most of their lives in battle and therefore knew that wounds often became inflamed and the treatment was not always qualified, which led to tetanus and blood poisoning, and often death. That is why the armor helped to survive in harsh conditions, but to afford to wear them in the VIII-X centuries. only wealthy warriors could.

Short-sleeved, hip-length chainmail was worn by the Vikings in the 8th century.

Clothing and weapons of different classes differed significantly. Ordinary warriors used and sewed bone and later metal plates for protection. Such jackets were able to perfectly reflect the blow.

Particularly valuable element

Subsequently, the length of the chain mail increased. In the XI century. cuts appeared on the floors, which was very welcomed by the riders. More complex details appeared in chain mail - this is a facial valve and a balaclava, which helped protect the lower jaw and throat of a warrior. Her weight was 12-18 kg.

The Vikings were very careful about chain mail, because the life of a warrior often depended on them. Protective robes were of great value, so they were not left on the battlefield and not lost. Often chain mail was inherited.

Lamellar armor

It is also worth noting that Oni entered the arsenal of the Vikings after raids in the Middle East. Such a shell is made of iron plates-lamellae. They were laid in layers, slightly overlapping each other, and connected with a cord.

Viking armor also includes banded bracers and greaves. They were made from metal strips, the width of which was about 16 mm. They were fastened with leather straps.

Sword

The sword occupies a dominant position in the arsenal of the Vikings. This For warriors, he was not just a weapon that brings inevitable death to the enemy, but also a good friend, providing magical protection. The Vikings perceived all other elements as required for battle, but the sword is a separate story. The history of the family was associated with it, it was passed down from generation to generation. The warrior perceived the sword as an integral part of himself.

Viking weapons are often found in warrior graves. The reconstruction allows us to get acquainted with its original appearance.

At the beginning of the Viking Age, patterned forging was widespread, but over time, thanks to the use of better ore and the modernization of furnaces, it became possible to make blades that were more durable and lighter. The shape of the blade has also changed. The center of gravity has moved to the handle, and the blades taper sharply towards the end. This weapon made it possible to strike quickly and accurately.

Double-edged swords with rich handles were the ceremonial weapons of wealthy Scandinavians, and were not practical in battle.

In the VIII-IX centuries. Frankish-style swords appear in the arsenal of the Vikings. They are sharpened on both sides, and the length of the straight blade, tapering to a rounded point, was a little less than a meter. This gives reason to believe that such a weapon was also suitable for cutting.

The hilts on the swords were of different types, they differed in hilts and the shape of the head. Silver and bronze in the early period, as well as chasing, were used to decorate handles.

In the 9th and 10th centuries, the handles are decorated with copper strips and pewter. Later, in the drawings on the handle, one could find geometric figures on a tin plate, which were inlaid with brass. The contours were emphasized by copper wire.

Thanks to the reconstruction on the middle part of the handle, we can see a handle made of horn, bone or wood.

The scabbard was also wooden - they were sometimes covered with leather. The inside of the scabbard was lined with a soft material that still protected from the oxidation products of the blade. Often it was oiled leather, waxed cloth or fur.

Surviving drawings from the Viking Age give us an idea of ​​how the scabbard was worn. Initially, they were on a sling thrown over the shoulder on the left. Later, the sheath began to be hung from the waist belt.

Saxon

Viking edged weapons can also be represented by the Saxons. It was used not only on the battlefield, but also in the economy.

Saks is a knife with a wide butt, in which the blade is sharpened on one side. All Saxons, judging by the results of the excavations, can be divided into two groups: long ones, the length of which is 50-75 cm, and short ones, up to 35 cm long. It can be argued that the latter are the prototype of daggers, most of which modern masters also bring to the status works of art.

Axe

The weapon of the ancient Vikings is an ax. After all, most of the warriors were not rich, and such an item was available in any household. It is worth noting that the kings also used them in battles. The handle of the ax was 60-90 cm, and the cutting edge was 7-15 cm. At the same time, it was not heavy and allowed to maneuver during the battle.

The Viking weapon, the "bearded" axes, were mainly used in naval battles, as they had a square ledge at the bottom of the blade and were great for boarding.

A special place should be given to an ax with a long handle - an ax. The blade of the ax could be up to 30 cm, the handle - 120-180 cm. No wonder it was the favorite weapon of the Vikings, because in the hands of a strong warrior it became a very formidable weapon, and its impressive appearance immediately undermined the morale of the enemy.

Viking weapons: photos, differences, meanings

The Vikings believed that weapons had magical powers. It has been kept for a long time and passed down from generation to generation. Warriors with wealth and position decorated axes and axes with ornaments, noble and non-ferrous metals.

Sometimes the question is asked: what is the main weapon of the Vikings - a sword or an ax? The warriors were fluent in these types of weapons, but the choice always remained with the Viking.

A spear

Viking weapons cannot be imagined without a spear. According to legends and sagas, northern warriors greatly honored this type of weapon. The acquisition of a spear did not require special expenses, since the shaft was made by themselves, and the tips were easy to manufacture, although they differed in appearance and purpose and did not require a lot of metal.

Any warrior could be armed with a spear. The small size allowed it to be held with both two and one hand. They used spears mainly for close combat, but sometimes as throwing weapons.

Particular attention should be paid to the spearheads. At first, the Vikings had spears with lancet-shaped tips, the working part of which was flat, with a gradual transition to a small crown. Its length is from 20 to 60 cm. Later, spears with tips of various shapes from leaf-shaped to triangular in cross section were encountered.

The Vikings fought on different continents, and their gunsmiths skillfully used elements of the enemy's weapons in their work. The weapons of the Vikings 10 centuries ago have undergone a change. The spears were no exception. They became more durable due to the reinforcement at the point of transition to the crown and were quite suitable for ramming.

In fact, there was no limit to the perfection of the spear. It has become a kind of art. The most experienced warriors in this matter not only threw spears from both hands at the same time, but could also catch it on the fly and send it back to the enemy.

Dart

To conduct combat operations at a distance of about 30 meters, a special Viking weapon was needed. Its name is a dart. It was quite capable of replacing many more massive weapons with skillful use by a warrior. These are light one and a half meter spears. Their tips could be like ordinary spears or similar to a harpoon, but sometimes there were petiolate with a two-thorn part and socketed.

Onion

This common weapon was usually made from a single piece of elm, ash or yew. It served to fight at a great distance. Bow arrows up to 80 centimeters long were made from birch or coniferous trees, but always old ones. Wide metal tips and special plumage distinguished Scandinavian arrows.

The length of the wooden part of the bow reached two meters, and the string was most often braided hair. Great strength was required to work with such weapons, but it was for this that the Viking warriors were famous. The arrow hit the enemy at a distance of 200 meters. The Vikings used bows not only in military affairs, therefore, arrowheads were very different, given their purpose.

Sling

This is also a throwing weapon of the Vikings. It was not difficult to make it with your own hands, since you only needed a rope or a belt and a leather "cradle" where a rounded stone was placed. A sufficient number of stones were collected when landing on the coast. Once in the hands of a skilled warrior, the sling is able to send a stone to hit the enemy a hundred meters from the Viking. The principle of operation of this weapon is simple. One end of the rope was attached to the warrior's wrist, and he held the other in his fist. The sling was rotated, increasing the number of revolutions, and the fist was unclenched at the maximum. The stone flew in a given direction and slew the enemy.

The Vikings always kept their weapons and armor in order, as they perceived them as part of themselves and understood that the result of the battle depended on it.

Undoubtedly, all of the listed types of weapons helped the Vikings to gain fame as invincible warriors, and if the enemies were very afraid of the weapons of the Scandinavians, then the owners themselves treated him very respectfully and reverently, often endowing them with names. Many types of weapons that participated in bloody battles were inherited and served as a guarantee that the young warrior would be brave and decisive in battle.