![]() ![]() Karls were common soldiers who made up the majority of fighters. Jarls operated as warlords or generals in times of war. Jarls and karls participated in war but had different roles. James Ward (1851-1924), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons While this was true of raiders, it does not provide a complete picture of Viking society. Writers from Ireland and Britain depicted the Vikings as brutal and savage. Illustration of Vikings landing in Dublin. The influence of the hersir would diminish in the 10th century as kings took control. Hersirs gathered able-bodied men of their particular region to fight. The hersir was a military commander who organized overseas raids. How would a farmer know when it was time to serve? Each region under the control of a jarl would also have a hersir. Farmers and blacksmiths would set aside their work when called to raid. Most Viking karls and jarls served as warriors when needed. Vikings simply did not need to have a complicated ranking system for warriors as was necessary in later centuries. ![]() Groups of Viking warriors usually numbered as many as 1,000, which by modern standards is very small. Viking armies were not organized using modern methods. The social distinction between kings, jarls, karls, and thralls extended in some ways to the military. en:User:Bogdangiusca, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Viking Social and Military Ranks A map showing the voyages of the Vikings around the European continent and as far as present-day Canada. While a general hierarchy still existed, people of all occupations and backgrounds had more of a voice within this alternate system. Vikings in these areas met to discuss issues and resolve conflicts. Interestingly, the social structure of far-flung territories like Iceland and Greenland had much more democratic social rules. It is important to note that the social class system described here is related to Vikings in Norway and surrounding areas. Kings controlled much larger territories and the jarls worked under kings to control regional lands. Wolfgang Sauber, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commonsīy the end of the Viking Age in the 10th and early 11th centuries, kings took over much of the power of the jarls. A Viking interpreter wears standard clothing. Most people were born into this class but others became thralls after losing assets. These slaves had no freedom and very limited mobility within the social hierarchy. The final and lowest class of people were the thralls. They worked as farmers, carpenters, blacksmiths, and fishermen. Karls made up the majority of Vikings society and lived under the rule of jarls. They held regional power and controlled petty kingdoms. The jarls were the highest ranking class for several centuries. During much of the Viking Age, society was divided into three main classes. Like other societies in the early medieval world, the Vikings lived in highly stratified culture. Nationalmuseet – The National Museum of Denmark from Denmark, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Social Structure and Status in the Viking Age Examples of clothing, jewelry, and other valuables belonging to noble Vikings. While “Viking” is a modern name and not always preferred, we will continue using it in this article because of its familiarity with most readers. The article concludes with an overview of some elite Viking warrior groups. We examine the social structure of the Vikings and the influence it had on warriors. The goal of this article is to provide a brief but accurate picture of life as a Viking. The berserker is one such category of warrior that is oftentimes misunderstood. Myths surrounding specific types of Viking warriors also warp our understanding of how the Vikings participated in battle. Kennedy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons ![]() An illustration depicting the sea voyages of the Vikings. While it is true that the Vikings fought and raided areas in Europe, not all of their time was spent wreaking havoc. Historical documents from the Viking Age that tell of this fierce group were written not by the Vikings themselves, but by those who were often the victims of raids and violence.īecause of this, much of what we know about Viking warriors and military campaigns is skewed. The Vikings are commonly thought of as purely warriors and raiders. ![]()
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