15 Violent Things The Vikings Did

The Vikings, notorious for their bloodthirsty raids and fearsome demeanor, have left an indelible mark on history. This article seeks to illuminate some of the most violent aspects of Viking culture, focusing on their most aggressive communities, acts, customs, and death rituals. Keep reading this article if you are curious about the most violent Viking groups. 

What Was Violence in Viking Culture?

Violence in Viking culture was a frequent occurrence and a foundational aspect of their society, shaping their social, legal, and religious norms. The Vikings lived in a harsh and volatile environment, where resources were often scarce, and survival was uncertain. This context, coupled with their warrior ethos, meant that violence was often an accepted, even celebrated, aspect of life.

The Vikings were seafaring people renowned for their raids across Europe. These violent incursions were driven not only by a desire for wealth and resources but also by a quest for honor and reputation. Warriors who demonstrated prowess in battle were revered, their deeds immortalized in the sagas and poems of the time.

However, violence was not confined to the battlefield. It permeated all aspects of Viking life. Disputes were often settled through duels, and punishment for crimes was harsh, ranging from fines to mutilation or death. The Vikings also practiced slavery, with captured enemies or bought individuals being subjected to hard labor and often brutal treatment.

Violence also played a significant role in Viking religious practices. The Vikings believed in a pantheon of gods who often displayed violent and inconsistent behavior. Sacrifices, which could sometimes include humans, were made to appease these deities and ensure good fortune.

Despite this emphasis on violence, it is important to remember that it served a purpose in Viking society. It was a means of establishing social order, enforcing justice, and appeasing the gods. It was a reflection of their environment and the challenges they faced rather than a gratuitous celebration of cruelty.

In the Viking worldview, life was a struggle, and death was inevitable. Their rituals, customs, and laws revolved around this understanding, leading to a culture that was often harsh and violent but also resilient and adaptable.

Were Vikings More Violent Than Romans?

Comparing the levels of violence between the Vikings and the Romans is a complex task due to the differing contexts and values of their respective societies. Both cultures exhibited significant levels of violence, but they manifested in different ways.

The Vikings, known for their seafaring raids and battles, often used violence to acquire wealth and status. Their society valued martial prowess and personal bravery, and violent practices were embedded in their social, legal, and religious customs. Still, the Vikings were also traders and settlers, and their fierce reputation should not overshadow these aspects of their culture.

On the other hand, the Romans built an empire that spanned three continents, and this expansion was inherently violent. Conquered peoples were often enslaved or subjected to Roman rule. Within Rome, violence was institutionalized in the form of gladiatorial games, where enslaved people, prisoners of war, or condemned criminals fought to the death for public entertainment. Rome’s legal system also employed violent punishments, including crucifixion.

In essence, the Vikings and Romans were products of their time, with societal norms that accepted and glorified violence. To label one as more violent than the other oversimplifies the multifaceted nature of their respective cultures and histories.

Most Violent Things Norsemen Did 

1. Brutal Raids

The Vikings are perhaps best known for their relentless raids. From the late 8th to early 11th century, no European coastal town was safe from their onslaught. They would attack without warning, burning villages, looting valuables, and taking captives as slaves or for ransom.

2. Pillaging Monasteries

The Vikings were particularly fond of raiding monasteries. These religious institutions were usually situated in remote locations and were thus easy targets. The monks, committed to a life of peace and service, were no match for the Viking warriors.

3. The ‘Blood Eagle’

The ‘Blood Eagle’ is one of the most notorious and controversial torture methods associated with the Vikings. As described in the sagas, it involved carving an image of an eagle into the victim’s back, then severing the ribs from the spine and pulling the lungs out through the opened back to form ‘wings.’ Despite its grim depiction, there’s an ongoing debate among scholars about the authenticity of this ritual. Some argue it’s a literal historical practice, while others suggest it could be a metaphorical description of death in battle or even a mistranslation from the original texts.

4. Slavery

Slavery was a pervasive and violent aspect of Viking society. Slaves, known as ‘thralls,’ were often captured during Viking raids or bought in slave markets. They were property used for hard labor such as farming, domestic work, or crafting. Thralls had no personal rights and were subject to their masters’ whims. They could be sold, traded, or even killed without legal repercussions. Although some thralls could gain freedom through various means, the majority lived and died in servitude. Slavery was a brutal component of Viking life, highlighting the stark inequalities within their society. 

5. The ‘Holmgang’

The ‘Holmgang’ was a traditional Norse duel intended to settle disputes. The combatants would fight until one surrendered or was killed. This violent custom reflected the Viking’s staunch belief in personal honor.

6. Viking Berserkers

The Berserkers were warriors who fought in a trance-like fury. They were known to bite their shields and charge into battle without armor, displaying a level of violence and fearlessness that terrified their enemies.

7. Viking Torture Methods

While the Vikings are not typically renowned for their use of torture, some records and sagas suggest various brutal methods. One of the most infamous is the Blood Eagle, allegedly performed on high-ranking enemies. This involved cutting the shape of an eagle into the victim’s back, severing the ribs from the spine, and pulling the lungs out through the wounds to resemble wings. Another alleged method involved the ‘fatal walk’ where the victim’s abdomen was sliced open, and their intestines pulled out and tethered to a tree, forcing them to walk around it until their insides were fully unwound. 

8. Viking Siege Warfare

Viking siege warfare was a spectacle of orchestrated violence and strategic prowess. Vikings would surround and isolate their targets, typically towns or fortresses, employing tactics of fear and attrition. They would cut off supplies, forcing inhabitants into starvation and desperation. These sieges could last for weeks or even months, with Vikings relentlessly pressuring their enemies into surrender. Despite their reputation for blind savagery, Viking siege warfare demonstrated their capacity for strategic planning, patience, and understanding of psychological warfare, ultimately underlining their multifaceted approach to violence and conquest.

9. Forceful Colonization

The Vikings were not just raiders; they were colonizers. They often forcefully seized territories, driving out or subjugating the local populations. The Viking settlement of Britain, particularly the Danelaw region, serves as a prime example of their violent colonization practices. 

10. Viking Ship Burials

Viking ship burials were grand, violent ceremonies reserved for individuals of high status. The deceased was placed in a ship or a ship-shaped burial mound alongside their possessions, ranging from everyday items to weapons and treasures. In some instances, servants or slaves—known as ‘thralls’—were violently sacrificed to accompany their master in the afterlife. The ship, symbolizing a vessel for the voyage to the afterlife, was buried underground or set aflame. These elaborate funerary practices reflected the Vikings’ beliefs about death and the afterlife, underscoring the inherent violence of their society.

11. Sacrificial Rituals

Sacrificial rituals were a significant part of Viking religious practices. These ceremonies often involved the sacrifice of animals, but there were instances where humans were sacrificed, particularly in times of crisis or significant events.

12. Infanticide

It was not uncommon for Vikings to commit infanticide, particularly if a child was born with deformities. This violent practice was largely due to the harsh conditions and the need for every community member to contribute.

13. The Viking ‘Too Violent’ Even for Vikings

Ivar the Boneless, a Viking leader, was said to be ‘too violent’ even for his fellow Vikings. He was known for brutality and is said to have tortured King Ælla of Northumbria to death using the ‘blood eagle’ method.

14. The Ritual of the ‘Blót’

The ‘Blót’ was a pagan sacrifice to the Norse gods or the spirits of the land. This ritual could involve the slaughter of animals and, in some instances, human beings. Participants would then feast on the meat, believing they were partaking in sacred communion with their deities.

15. The Viking Siege of Paris

The Viking Siege of Paris in 845 AD is one of the most violent episodes in Viking history. Led by the chieftain Ragnar Lothbrok, a fleet of Viking longships sailed up the River Seine. The Vikings laid siege to the city, causing devastation through slaughter and pillage. Parisian defenders fought bravely but were vastly outnumbered. Ultimately, the Frankish King Charles the Bald paid a substantial ransom of 7,000 pounds of silver and gold to spare the city further destruction. This successful siege significantly enhanced the Vikings’ fearsome reputation and demonstrated their effective use of terror as a weapon.

The Most Violent Viking Community: The Jomsvikings

A notable subheading of this discourse on Viking violence is the Jomsvikings‘ place as the most violent Viking community. They were an elite mercenary group who were notorious for their brutality. Based at Jomsborg, on the Baltic Sea’s southern coast, they were bound by a strict code that required them always to demonstrate courage. They were forbidden from showing fear or fleeing in the face of the enemy, regardless of the odds.

The Jomsvikings were not merely violent but disciplined, strategic, and utterly fearless. Their rules of conduct were stringent, emphasizing bravery and stoicism in the face of danger. They were forbidden from showing fear or retreating in the face of the enemy, regardless of the odds. Even becoming a Jomsviking was grueling, necessitating a test of strength and combat skill to prove one’s mettle.

The reputation of the Jomsvikings was such that their mere presence could incite terror in their foes. They were skilled fighters who thrived in battle, seeing it as the ultimate test of their honor and courage. Their violence was not mindless; it was a tool wielded with precision and purpose, serving to conquer their enemies and uphold their stringent warrior code.

Yet, the Jomsvikings were not invincible. Their commitment to their code could sometimes lead them to fight battles they could not win. Yet, even in defeat, they remained unflinching, embracing death as the final act of a warrior’s life.

The Jomsvikings exemplify the harsh reality of Viking society, where violence was not just a part of life but often its defining feature. Though shrouded in violence, their legacy also attests to the Vikings’ unwavering strength, bravery, and dedication to their warrior ethos.

Viking Violent Customs 

Viking culture was deeply steeped in violence, not merely as a means of conquest but also as a way of life. This was particularly evident in their customs, reflecting their harsh lifestyle and their unforgiving environment. Violence, for the Vikings, was a survival tool, a method of maintaining social order, and a spiritual practice deeply ingrained in their religious beliefs.

One such custom was the ‘Holmgang,’ a Norse form of dueling designed to settle disputes. Contests could be over matters of honor, property, or even love interests, and the combatants would fight until one yielded or died. This was not mere brawling but a regulated and ritualized form of combat, an accepted part of Norse legal tradition.

Another violent custom was the institution of slavery. The Vikings regularly took captives during their raids, who were then enslaved and referred to as ‘thralls.’ These individuals were made to perform hard labor, and their treatment was often brutal. The Vikings’ acceptance of slavery as a part of daily life underscores the inherently violent aspects of their society.

Ritual sacrifice, or ‘Blót,’ was another custom that underlined the Vikings’ violent tendencies. These ceremonies, designed to appease the Norse gods or the spirits of the land, often involved the violent sacrifice of animals and, in some instances, humans. The belief was that these sacrifices would ensure fertility, prosperity, and victory in war.

The Vikings’ violent customs shed light on a society where might often be made right, where the strong dominated the weak, and where survival was a daily struggle. Yet, these customs also served to bind their society together, forming the backbone of their laws, spiritual beliefs, and communal identity.

Viking Death Rituals That Were Violent

The harsh realities of Viking life extended into their perceptions of death and the afterlife, with rituals that were often as brutal as they were poignant. Viking death rituals were a complex blend of mourning, celebration, and violence, reflecting their deeply ingrained warrior ethos and religious beliefs.

Among the most iconic and violent of these rituals was the ship burial. Reserved for individuals of high status, the deceased was laid in a ship or a ship-shaped burial mound along with an array of grave goods. These offerings often included weapons, jewelry, and everyday items, which were believed to accompany the deceased in the afterlife. Still, the violence of this ritual came in the form of human sacrifice. Thralls, often captured during Viking raids, were sometimes killed and buried alongside their master to serve them in death as they did in life. 

Another violent death ritual involved the ‘Blood Eagle,’ a horrific method of execution allegedly performed on high-ranking individuals. According to the sagas, the victim’s back was sliced open, the ribs severed from the spine and spread apart to resemble wings, and the lungs pulled out through the wounds, offering a horrible spectacle of a bloody eagle with spread wings.

The funeral pyre was another common Viking death ritual. The deceased was placed on a wooden structure and set alight. This cremation was believed to release the spirit, aiding its journey to the afterlife. However, in some accounts, animals and even human beings were added to the fire as sacrificial offerings, adding a violent element to this final farewell.

These violent death rituals underscored the Vikings’ acceptance and even glorification of death as a natural and significant part of life, serving as a stark reminder of the brutality and harshness of the Viking Age.

What Were the Sacrificial Rituals of the Vikings?

Sacrificial rituals, or ‘blóts,’ were an integral part of Viking religious practices, serving as a means to communicate with their pantheon of gods and the spirits of the land. These rituals were often violent, involving the sacrifice of animals and, in some instances, humans.

Animal sacrifices were common and could involve a variety of species, including horses, pigs, and cattle. The animals were slaughtered in a sacred space, often an outdoor altar or temple, and their blood was collected and sprinkled on the participants and the altar, a practice known as ‘blooding.’ The meat was then cooked and consumed in a communal feast, believed to foster a connection with the divine.

While less common, human sacrifices were reported in historical accounts and sagas. These rituals were typically reserved for significant events or times of crisis. The victims, often slaves or war captives, were killed in a variety of ways, including decapitation, strangulation, or stabbing. It was believed that these human offerings could appease the gods, averting disaster or ensuring success in war.

One of the most significant blóts was the ‘Great Blót’ held at Uppsala, Sweden, every nine years. This grand event lasted for nine days, and nine male creatures were sacrificed each day, potentially including humans. The bodies were hung in a sacred grove adjacent to the temple, creating a chilling spectacle.

Despite their violent nature, sacrificial rituals were more than mere displays of brutality. They were a deeply spiritual aspect of Viking culture, symbolizing the reciprocal relationship between humans and the divine. The act of sacrifice was seen as a gift to the gods, offered in hopes of receiving their favor and protection in return. These rituals, therefore, served not only as a means of religious worship but also as a way of maintaining social cohesion and expressing communal identity among the Vikings.

How Often Did Vikings Sacrifice Humans? 

The frequency of human sacrifices among the Vikings is a subject of much debate among scholars. While the sagas and historical texts suggest that human sacrifices occurred, outsiders, such as Christian monks, often wrote these accounts, which may have been biased against the pagan Vikings. Moreover, archaeological evidence supporting widespread human sacrifice is limited, adding to the uncertainty.

Despite these challenges, it is generally agreed that human sacrifices were likely not an everyday occurrence but were reserved for significant events or times of crisis. For instance, during the ‘Great Blót’ held at Uppsala every nine years, it’s believed that human sacrifices may have been included among the nine male creatures sacrificed each day.

In times of extreme duress—such as famine, disease, or impending war—the Vikings may have also resorted to human sacrifice in an attempt to appease the gods. The victims were often slaves or captives, viewed as expendable within Viking society.

In conclusion, while human sacrifices were part of Viking religious practices, they were likely not a frequent event but a drastic measure taken during extraordinary circumstances or significant religious festivals.

Summary

In conclusion, the violent acts, customs, and death rituals of the Vikings paint a picture of a harsh and brutal society. But it’s essential to remember that they were also traders, explorers, and settlers who made significant contributions to the cultures they encountered. Their multifaceted legacy reflects their violent tendencies and capacity for exploration, innovation, and cultural exchange.