1. How would you become a Viking warrior?
Any Viking -- whether chieftains or farmers -- could organize a group of men for the purpose of raiding. Plundering expeditions such as the one in Lindisfarne were carried out by only small groups of men transported in three to six ships. Some of these foreign raids had royal approval, but for the most part these men acted on their own initiative for personal economic gain.
Viking warriors also served as volunteers in royal armies called lid in wars of conquest abroad or in neighboring lands. However, kings or local royal agents could gather men as part of levies for military campaigns at home.
2. What were the tactics of Viking armies?
Vikings did not have a professional standing army and their tactics and discipline were basic. They did not fight in organized formations and there was no formal weapons training; young Vikings learned how to use weapons through hunting. This is often the reason why Vikings were more successful in surprise attacks than in battling large, skilled armies.
The Vikings, however, still had tactics they used in battle. A frequent defense tactic was the shieldburg, or shield wall. Warriors lined up and overlapped their shields to protect themselves from spears. The warriors then threw their own shower of spears, followed with hand-to-hand combat. Vikings also formed what were known as svinfylking or a "boar formation" -- a wedge formation of 20 to 30 warriors to overcome their enemies.
3. How would a warrior become an army leader?
A warrior could become a leader by virtue of noble birth or military prowess. Viking warriors skilled in the use of all weapons -- swords, axes, and spears -- and those who proved themselves in battle could become commanders of small units. Frequently, however, Viking leadership positions were held by those of noble birth -- kings, earls, or clan chieftains. Viking kings commanded armies through their unit commanders of earls or chieftains.
4. When and how often would Viking warriors go on raids?
Viking raids began in the 790s and continued for decades. These surprise attacks were planned all throughout winter and were executed in the summer. The frequency of the raids ranged from once every few years to every year. Nomadic armies such as the Great Army that invaded England in 865 could travel for years plundering England and France.
5. Could women Vikings become warriors?
Yes, there were women warriors in Viking society! Although for the most part, Viking women stayed home and ran the farm while their husbands were away, some women went along in Viking raids. Freydis, the sister of explorer Leif the Lucky, led an attack against natives in Vinland (now Newfoundland) and overpowered her two other brothers for control of the Viking colony. Apparently not one for competition, she even used her axe to kill all the women in their settlement.
6. Who were berserkers?
Berserkers were Viking warriors who went into a frenzied state during battle. During this state they felt no pain, had superhuman strength and believed they were actually wolves or bears. These rages are thought to have been possibly initiated by hallucinogenic mushrooms, self-induced hysteria or epileptic seizures. Berserkers fought without concern for their own personal safety. Groups of berserkers -- often brothers and their sons -- were chosen to make the first attack against the enemy whom they shocked with their bravery and brazenness.
7. What happened to warriors who died in battle?
Viking warriors believed that Valkyries, warrior daughters of the principal Viking god Odin, presided over battles and chose those who were to die. Valkyries then brought the souls of the dead heroes back to Valhalla, Odin's banquet hall in the heavenly realm of Asgard. These warriors then became members of Odin's army, Einherjar who were then served beer and mead by the Valkyries in a feast. Chief among the Valkyries, and Odin's favorite was Brunhild, usually represented as riding through the air on horse, wearing a helmet and carrying a spear.
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