Success of the Vikings in battle

[bailey_187]

i have to write an essay on the source of Viking military success. from some research i have found a number of different ideas, but the books dont go into much detail

The most popular reason for military sucess given is their skill as sailors and the mobility of their boats etc.

Another reason is the weak state structures that were present in much of Europe int he Viking age. This does not seem to be mentioned explicitly, but when reading about the vikings at war lots of factors seem to indicate this.

Another reason given is the hit and run strategy of the vikings (which also ties in with the strenth of their sailing skills and boats), and when engaged in head on battle, often lost.

The weakest reason i have seen given is the "warrior mentality" of Scandanavian culture at the time

What other reasons are there? What reasons above are correct/incorrect?

Is there any specific reading which would address my question in more detail that u know of?

[Red Future]

Importantly you should mention how they were able to often intervene in a situation of disunity like the fragmented Anglo-Saxon Britain and turn this to a key advantage.They also were successful colonizers in places such as Russia and Scotland where military strength allowed for successful expansion.In my view i wouldn't emphasize the warrior culture aspect too much as the Saxons and other Germanic tribes also had this cultural mentality.

Hope that helped:)!

[Noinu]

There are also a few completely different theories, for example less Atlantic herring and thus less food or colder years and thus less food. Basically most of the theories are about the Vikings not having enough food and having to go and steal from others (not that that explains in any way the burning and the raiding).
Anyway, the Vikings were a lot more than just warriors, they had trading relations with most of Europe and they had an extremely rich culture, which both can easily have contributed in them succeeding in changing a lot of Europe.
The word 'viking' was for a long time only used for what we might no call pirates, and not for all early Scandinavians, which it nowadays means.

[piet11111]

Weak state structures in europe seems most likely as by the time a serious counter force could be gathered the vikings would be long gone.

[Comrade Wolfie's Very Nearly Banned Adventures]

Weak state structures in europe seems most likely as by the time a serious counter force could be gathered the vikings would be long gone.

This is true, as you see the decline of the Viking age you begin to see the rise of organized feudal states across Europe, perhaps the best example of this perhaps the battle of stamford bridge, where the once poweful Norse Viking armies are decisively defeated by an organized feudal state (Saxon England), this battle marks the last large scale invasion by Vikings.

[Rafiq]

I would say it had more to do with Mentality.

Society is usually dominate in one's actions.

Usually

[chegitz guevara]

I think it was largely due to the fact that they hit soft-targets. Taking out a bunch of monks and villagers isn't the hardest thing to do. Also, they could hit anywhere close to water that connected to the sea ... Paris for example was raided. And, when they started their raids, there were no castles.

[Amphictyonis]

Their entire culture was centered around violence/war. Even their religion. "Weakness", to them, was a great sin. (weakness as defined by a culture of violence). Somewhat like the Spartans. They were focused on violence but not for defense their means of production was largely plunder.

[Tavarisch_Mike]

@bailey_187

You pretty much said it yourself, by using theire sailing skills combined with hit and run tacktic and the weak organisation of military defence in the European countries, is the main factors i think. But the possibility of that theire warrior menthality played a role, isnt to abstract since the emperior of Constantinople wanted a special force of vikings. Dont forget that they where mainly merchants and that their raids and wars mostly took place in scandinavia or around the Baltic Sea.

[Fawkes]

Also, their reputations preceded them. They were known for brutality, cunning, ruthlessness, and unpredictability, and potential opponents would often surrender, run, or give up just at the sight of Viking sails.

[Noinu]

Also, their reputations preceded them. They were known for brutality, cunning, ruthlessness, and unpredictability, and potential opponents would often surrender, run, or give up just at the sight of Viking sails.

The bad reputation they got went around between monasteries and churches through out Europe, but there are places in Europe where there weren't that strong of a church presence and this reputation did not go to those places.
The biggest reason for the bad rep was the fact that they were pagans and the churches didn't like them having good trade relations with the other people of Europe. The stories themselves were often exaggerated.

[ComradeOm]

This is true, as you see the decline of the Viking age you begin to see the rise of organized feudal states across Europe, perhaps the best example of this perhaps the battle of stamford bridge, where the once poweful Norse Viking armies are decisively defeated by an organized feudal state (Saxon England), this battle marks the last large scale invasion by Vikings.The counterpoint to this, and the idea of them "hitting soft targets", would be the ability of the Normans to first devastate and then colonise northern France. The points raised by the OP are all very acute but the martial reputation of the Northmen, and other Vikings, was still well deserved

[chegitz guevara]

It's no coincidence that the Viking raids began to diminish once Europe finished rebuilding its castles.

[Kamerat]

The vikings did shroms and went berserk, thats why thay had such a success.:tt2: Its true that they ate Psilocybe semilanceata (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybe_semilanceata) before battle, but i doubt thats the reason. Its more likely as mention before that they hit soft targets, and then fled before the 'cavalry' arrived.

I key reason the viking raids stopped, was because christianity was forced upon the people by the king and the pope prohibited any christians to take fellow christians as slaves.

Is there any specific reading which would address my question in more detail that u know of?
I would suggest you go straight to the main source on this and read Heimskringla (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heimskringla) by Snorre Sturlason. Its very fun and easy to read, maybe not all facts, certainly not the earliest parts of the book (the later parts is pretty much historical correct). But it will give you a great deal of information. Its about 500 pages so its not that long.

You will also understand who J.R.R.Tolkien ripped of/got his inspiration from, and where the song "London bridge is falling down" got is origins from.

[Blackscare]

The vikings did shroms and went berserk, thats why thay had such a success.:tt2: Its true that they ate Psilocybe semilanceata (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybe_semilanceata) before battle, but i doubt thats the reason. Its more likely as mention before that they hit soft targets, and then fled before the 'cavalry' arrived.

I key reason the viking raids stopped, was because christianity was forced upon the people by the king and the pope prohibited any christians to take fellow christians as slaves.

I would suggest you go straight to the main source on this and read Heimskringla (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heimskringla) by Snorre Sturlason. Its very fun and easy to read, maybe not all facts, certainly not the earliest parts of the book (the later parts is pretty much historical correct). But it will give you a great deal of information. Its about 500 pages so its not that long.

You will also understand who J.R.R.Tolkien ripped of/got his inspiration from, and where the song "London bridge is falling down" got is origins from.


dude i just stared at your avatar for like a solid 2-3 minutes

[Tavarisch_Mike]

The vikings did shroms and went berserk, thats why thay had such a success.:tt2: Its true that they ate Psilocybe semilanceata (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybe_semilanceata) before battle, but i doubt thats the reason. Its more likely as mention before that they hit soft targets, and then fled before the 'cavalry' arrived.

I key reason the viking raids stopped, was because christianity was forced upon the people by the king and the pope prohibited any christians to take fellow christians as slaves.

I would suggest you go straight to the main source on this and read Heimskringla (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heimskringla) by Snorre Sturlason. Its very fun and easy to read, maybe not all facts, certainly not the earliest parts of the book (the later parts is pretty much historical correct). But it will give you a great deal of information. Its about 500 pages so its not that long.

You will also understand who J.R.R.Tolkien ripped of/got his inspiration from, and where the song "London bridge is falling down" got is origins from.

The shroom thing is a myth (fly agaric to be more specific). The intoxication didnt make you wild and agressive, but rather tired, slow, dissy and sometimes you spontainiously started puking, or got diarrea.