Vikings are often portrayed as savage warriors in popular culture, but is this reputation accurate? According to Daniel Melleno, an associate professor of history, Vikings were indeed violent, but their actions were not necessarily out of the norm for the violent era in which they lived. The Viking Age, which lasted from A.D. 793 to 1066, was a time of wars, slavery, and raids, and the Vikings were experts at launching surprise attacks from their fast longships.
One of the Vikings’ first raids was on the monastery in Lindisfarne in A.D. 793. Monasteries were often targets because they were poorly guarded and filled with riches. The Vikings, initially pagan, were seen as particularly abhorrent and ungodly by their Christian victims. However, it is important to note that much of the written evidence of Viking violence comes from their victims or from sagas written by their descendants, which may have been embellished over time.
Despite their reputation for brutality, the Vikings were not the only group raiding and conquering towns in medieval Europe. Muslim raiders called “Saracens” and the Magyars from Hungary also carried out attacks, while Charlemagne, king of the Franks, waged wars of conquest that resulted in mass killings and pillaging. The difference, according to Melleno, lies in the fact that the Vikings were stateless people committing acts of violence, making them appear more unpredictable and barbaric to their victims.
In conclusion, while the Vikings were indeed violent, their actions were not necessarily more brutal than those of other groups in medieval Europe. It is important to consider the context of the time in which they lived and the biases present in the written accounts of their actions. The image of the Vikings as bloodthirsty savages may be more a product of exaggeration and embellishment over time than an accurate portrayal of their true nature.
Margaret Osborne, a freelance science journalist and writer, provides valuable insights into the historical context of Viking violence and challenges the myth of the Vikings as uniquely barbaric. Her research sheds light on the complexities of Viking history and the need to critically evaluate the sources of information about this fascinating group of people.
