Swords were so valuable that they were passed down from generation to generation or buried with chieftains as grave goods. While the mighty double-edged sword is considered to be the poster child for Viking military might, the reality is that very few Viking warriors actually owned one.ĭuring the Viking Age, swords were very expensive to make, so only the wealthy and powerful fought with them. Such was the case with metals like iron and steel, from which the business end of swords and axes were typically made. The biggest reasons that Vikings are so closely associated with axes are that these implements were practical, functional, and, perhaps most importantly, affordable.ĭuring the Middle Ages, certain materials were either very scarce or very expensive.
Why are Vikings so Closely Associated with Axes? replica of Viking axe See The Viking shield: Why is it round, wooden and painted? to learn more.
Cool battle axe crack#
With a single blow, a Viking axe could dismember armored limbs and crack shields and helmets in two.īattles were half won by the mere sight of a battalion of fearless Viking warriors advancing forward with their battle-axes raised.īesides an axe, a shield was critically important in Viking combat. Were it not for the humble axe, the Vikings’ fighting style would have been much different, and quite possibly, their battles would have ended with less favorable results. Viking axes were also instrumental in building the famed Viking longboats. The axes used for combat were light enough to swing with one hand but still capable of delivering a mortal wound.
Much of their success can be attributed to their hardened Norse mindset, fierce fighting style, elite combat skills, and their distinct weaponry.Īxes were the weapon of choice for the common Viking warrior who could not afford to carry a sword into battle.
Through their raids and military campaigns, they conquered new lands and eventually settled in many of them. From the end of the 8 th century through the middle of the 11 th century, the Vikings were a dominant force in Northern Europe.
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