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.

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 sixteen 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 weight of a 10th century bow may have reached some 90 pounds, 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

• Runestones
• Bayeux tapestry

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