The Brutal Reality of Viking Raids

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Viking berserkers rush into a town and villagers scatter. Many are cut down with axes, spears, and arrows. From Lindisfarne to Seville, these lightning raids are unpredictable, brutal, and strategically aimed at vulnerable targets. For many coastal regions, Vikings raids bring an inevitable massacre. Today, we look at how best to survive a Viking raid.

Whether fighting for mere earthly plunder or glory in Valhalla, the #Vikings were situated in a Scandinavian society that offered unique conditions and motivations for raiding. We use as a case study the Viking attack on Moorish Spain and Portugal as an illustration of the drivers and vulnerabilities of Viking raiders. We lastly ask what happened to the Vikings? Were they mere assassins? Did the fearsome Norse raiders disappear in one final, Ragnarok-esque battle? And yes, we produced this history documentary in anticipation of the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla!

An enormous thank you to all of our wonderful Patreon supporters, especially
-ThemeFinland
-Nicholas Koval
-Ramrod Jonhson
-Sean!

SOURCES

Brink, Stefan, and Neil Price, editors. The Viking World. Routledge, 2008.

Ogg, Frederic Austin. A Source Book of Mediæval History: Documents Illustrative of European Life and Institutions from the German Invasion to the Renaissance. American Book Company, 1907.

Stefansson, Jon. “The Vikings in Spain from Arabic (Moorish) and Spanish Sources.” Saga Book of the Viking Club for Northern Research, vol. 6, 1909, pp. 31–46.

Winroth, Anders. The Conversion of Scandinavia: Vikings, Merchants, and Missionaries in the Remaking of Northern Europe. Yale University Press, 2012.

MUSIC

Gealdyr

Danheim

[HistoryDose]

What's your go-to strategy to survive a Viking raid? 🤔

[daniel-zhnjyny]

When a viking wants to attack you, you point to the sky and say "Is that one of Odin's ravens ?". When he looks up, you kick him in the gonads.

[monarchblue]

This channel is far too underated. The artwork is just gorgeous and its education presented in an excellently appealing way. 10/10

[dpeasehead]

I enjoyed seeing the Viking menace with a different set of eyes outside of the usual and familiar christian and northern European locations. The long reach of the Vikings at their peak (all the way down to and around the Mediterranean is amazing and frightening at the same time. The ability of their long ships to handle the open ocean as well as shallow inland waters made them far more mobile and far faster than most of their land bound opponents.

[HirachieOfSociety]

I think it's crazy to think that a few men said fuck farming and decided to set sail to lands that MAY or may not exist... Imagine the balls you'd have to have to basically abandon that to go to far away lands that you've only heard rumors about and PRAY to Odin that you'd make it.

[shevrianobillet]

Why this channel doesn't have a million subs is mind blowing. The story telling is Poetry, the animation is artistic. Just 10 / 10, well done!!

[DunceCapSyndrome]

I wish you would’ve released this the day assassins creed Valhalla came out. So that the YouTube algorithm would favor your video. Your channel is too good for only 65k subs

[charlesnostrant]

Who wrote the script for this episode has the mastery of creating a vivid image. I could see the raids in full action by their choice of words and the art presented is immaculate

[ledfloyd]

I love the anglo saxon, viking conflicts. So many heros showed themselves, it's amazing what war can bring out in men, both the good and the bad.

[VosperCDN]

When you recognize the music even before seeing the credits ... loving all this Norse music and the videos about their lifestyle.

[mikegrossberg]

They forgot to mention that the main base for the Viking slave trade was Duhb-Lyn("black pool/hole), which was founded by Vikings, and is now known as Dublin, Ireland

[antonioussykas]

"Vikings who take tribute will always come back for more"
The Byzantines "Come take all you want. It's a drop in the bucket. Heck why not stay and we'll show you riches beyond your imagination"
And thus the Varangian Guard was born.

[paulroese]

odd thing about Vikings is they never had to deal with counter attacks from the countries they attacked and invaded. it wasn't until 1940 when a European nation attacked and crushed the Viking homelands. it is also ironic after attacking countries at will for centuries the Vikings missed out on the Age of Discovery and watched their former victims like France, England and Russia become major powers. meanwhile Scandinavia became an insignificant backwater.

[oscar-dptu]

the animations in these videos and the storytelling is amazing, im suprised you dont have more subscribers

[conmara]

Certainly well worth the wait! I look forward to seeing more content in future

[rishavchatterjee]

Brilliant illustrations, narration, and historical accuracy! This channel is really underrated at the moment but I have a feeling if you keep at it you're gonna go places ✨

[emperorxin]

Land full of people

Vikings: it's free real estate

[TheGeneral_LUFC]

I live in the oldest town in Ireland. Vikings settled my town 1000 years ago. The Vikings history is amazing.

[omairshafiq]

Another thing common in Mongol, Hun and Viking history is that the time of flourishing of such people lies during times of severe division of strong central power. Like at the collapse of the Roman empire for the Huns. Of the Abbasid caliphate and Chinese empire for the Mongols and a divided europe after Charlemagne for the Vikings

[avengr]

Vikings - "so you're telling me they just have big unguarded buildings full of valuables and precious metals?"