Enjoyable reality: most of what we find out about Vikings comes from what was written by their enemies.
This type of is sensible once you learn concerning the brutality of particular person Viking leaders. Perhaps the rationale why they by no means recorded something was as a result of they have been too busy spreading their badassery throughout Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, the Center East, Central Asia, and even the New World.
Listed here are a number of the most ruthless Vikings of all time.
1. Eric Bloodaxe
The favored son of Harald Fairhair, the primary King of Norway, Eric obtained his cheerful nickname by trying to cease his father’s bloodline at himself by murdering two of his personal brothers. The one brother that remained, Hakon, drove Eric out of Norway, however Eric quickly discovered a brand new land to rule because the King of Northumbria in what’s now northern England and japanese Scotland.
2. Ragnar Lodbrok
This warrior made a reputation for himself by conquering villages throughout England and France. One French king even paid Ragnar to not raid his land. He’s additionally recognized for fathering many sons with hilarious names, like Ivar the Boneless, Björn Ironside, and Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye. Sadly, he’s in all probability principally recognized for his final second on Earth, throughout which King Ælla of Northumbria threw him right into a pit of snakes.
three. Berserkers
It is stated that there existed a Viking preventing type referred to as “berserker,” which required warriors to make use of religious magic and work themselves into trancelike frenzies, making them impervious to damage. The Bersekers, as they’re now recognized, additionally ignored all widespread battlefield techniques of the day, selecting as an alternative to base their technique on brute power, which often ended favorably for them. Christians significantly feared the Berserkers, they usually even characterised them as being Satanic.
four. Freydís Eiríksdóttir
When Erik the Pink is your father and Leif Eriksson is your half brother, there’s a variety of strain to make a reputation for your self. That being stated, it is exhausting to overlook the identify Freydís Eiríksdóttir. Whereas touring to Vinland, she was caught up in a battle between her associates and the locals. Whereas the locals chased her band away, the then-pregnant Freydís grabbed certainly one of her fallen comrades’ swords, uncovered her breast, beat her chest, and gave out a battle cry that despatched the Vinlanders operating. In the long run, the Vikings took command of the village and Freydís killed all the native youngsters.
5. Egill Skallagrímsson
There aren’t many individuals who can declare to be each a Viking warrior and a poet, however Egill Skallagrímsson was each. He wrote his first poem when he was three and made his first kill when he was seven. He killed many extra individuals earlier than lastly being exiled from Norway to Northumbria, the place Eric Bloodaxe dominated. Bloodaxe understandably needed Egill lifeless, as a result of Egill had killed his son, however when Egill learn him certainly one of his poems, Bloodaxe was so moved that he spared the poet’s life.
6. Ivar the Boneless
Ivar’s creation of the nickname “Boneless” was his means of creating osteogenesis appear fairly badass. Regardless of having the bones of an eighty-yr-previous lady, Ivar conquered large areas of England and Eire, and he did so with fierce brutality. He famously took revenge on his father’s killer, Ælla of Northumbria, by performing a “blood eagle” on him. He did this by chopping his again open, pulling his ribs away from his backbone, and forming “wings” together with his lungs.
7. Erik the Pink
Maybe probably the most well-known Viking of all time, Erik the Pink found Greenland principally as a result of he had a homicide drawback. The dude beloved to homicide individuals. After his father was exiled from Norway for committing manslaughter, Erik took up the household mantle in Iceland and killed two males who had killed his slaves. He was henceforth banished from Iceland, which then impressed him to discovered Greenland.
However these are simply the soldiers of the Viking individuals. Researchers say that the typical individuals in Nordic lands at that time have been peaceable farmers and tradesmen. Sadly, the dangerous apples of the Vikings have been excessively dangerous.
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