The Viking ethos and knowledge (continuance of ‘The Viking way’)

Koen de Vette

Why were the Vikings so effective in achieving their objectives? A variety of reasons is crucial to understanding this. The mentality accompanying the war-waging Vikings was that of honour; “Theirs was the heroic Germanic ethos of reciprocal loyalty between group members and their chieftain, even unto death, with utter contempt for cowardice” (Montgomery, 2000). While it does not seem honourable to raid and plunder, the Viking attitude towards that was very different; “In the mind of the Norse people, raiding was very distinct from theft. Theft was repugnant. Raiding, on the other hand, was an honourable challenge to a fight, with the victor retaining all of the spoils.” (Montgomery, 2000) Aside from honour, the faith in destiny was also deeply rooted in the mentality of the Viking, which is perfectly captured in the following quote:

“The father asked his son: ‘How would you act if you were engaged in battle and knew beforehand that you were destined to be killed?’ ‘Why should I then shrink from striking right and left?’ ‘Now suppose someone could tell you for certain that you would not be killed?’ ‘Why should I then refrain from pressing forward to the utmost?’ ‘In every battle where you are present, one of two things will happen: you will either fall or come away alive. Be bold, therefore, for everything is preordained. Nothing can bring a man to his death if his time has not come, and nothing can save one doomed to die. To die in flight is the worst death of all.” (Montgomery, 2000)

This ethos must have been predominant when they were fighting their battles, explaining a large part of their success. However, there were other reasons that proved vital.

Central Europe was vulnerable after the collapse of Rome and the migration of populations following it. The political conflicts divided and weakened European countries, which provided opportunities for the Vikings. At the same time however, (as mentioned by Icelandic sagas) King Harald the Fair-haired tried to unify the Norwegian chieftains, which more or less repelled them from their homes to expand their horizon. (Montgomery, 2000)

The means of initiating this expansion ‘project’ were readily available; They like no other had knowledge of shipbuilding and seafaring. Viking raiders and traders depended on the superiority of their ships. They could land their ships at any place they wanted thanks to the manoeuvrability and shallow draft of the ships. (Montgomery, 2000)

For those familiar with the serie Vikings, enjoy the Floki joke, for those who don't know it, let this be an incentive to start watching ;) (NB this is no adequate representation of a Viking, there were neither bikes nor whining vikings in the Viking age)

References

Montgomery, J.E. (2000). Journal of Arabic and Islamic Studies 3: Ibn Fadlan and the Rusiyyah. Cambridge.