Why Viking shields were really fragile and easily broken

  • Aug 27, 2021
Surely many people remember such a film as " 13 Warrior". There was an episode with a duel between two Vikings. For a ritual battle, each of the fighters was given three shields, allegedly because they break easily. Despite the fact that in the film adaptation of the travel notes of the Arab traveler Ibn Fadlan, almost everything that was possible was distorted, the authors literally hit the bull's eye with the shields. The Viking shields were indeed very fragile, which would seem to many not too logical in relation to the thing on which human life directly depends.
Surely many people remember such a film as "13 Warrior". There was an episode with a duel between two Vikings. For a ritual battle, each of the fighters was given three shields, allegedly because they break easily. Despite the fact that in the film adaptation of the travel notes of the Arab traveler Ibn Fadlan, almost everything that was possible was distorted, the authors literally hit the bull's eye with the shields. The Viking shields were indeed very fragile, which would seem to many not too logical in relation to the thing on which human life directly depends.
Surely many people remember such a film as "13 Warrior". There was an episode with a duel between two Vikings. For a ritual battle, each of the fighters was given three shields, allegedly because they break easily. Despite the fact that in the film adaptation of the travel notes of the Arab traveler Ibn Fadlan, almost everything that was possible was distorted, the authors literally hit the bull's eye with the shields. The Viking shields were indeed very fragile, which would seem to many not too logical in relation to the thing on which human life directly depends.
instagram viewer

1. What is the Viking shield?

Looks cute. | Photo: goodfon.ru.
Looks cute. | Photo: goodfon.ru.
Looks cute. | Photo: goodfon.ru.

Fortunately, archaeologists have found a huge number of Norman shields from the 8th-10th centuries so that we could judge with a high degree of accuracy what exactly a given element was equipment. They are found from the Scandinavian Peninsula to the north of Africa and from Russia to the Pillars of Hercules. A Viking shield in good condition was recently discovered in Russian Gnezdovo. All finds are very similar and made using the same technology.

The device is not complicated. | Photo: livemaster.ru.
The device is not complicated. | Photo: livemaster.ru.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, the Viking shield was made of thin planks with a thickness of 6 mm to 1.5 cm. Cut out boards from coniferous wood: spruce, pine, fir. In written sources, there are references to the fact that shields were also made from linden. The assembled planks were often covered with leather, which made the shield more durable. The skin was also stretched along the perimeter of the item of protective equipment. In the center of the shield, a round cutout was made for a metal umbon, in which there was a fist handle.

Such shields are quite fragile. | Photo: Pinterest.
Such shields are quite fragile. | Photo: Pinterest.

Also, the umbon acted as an element that increases the strength of the structure. Rivets or nails went through it. On the back of the shield there was a rail, which acted as a stiffener. Leather straps were often attached to carry the shield behind the back or on the shoulder. Even from this description, it should be clear: this piece of equipment in the Viking performance was an extremely uncomplicated thing.

2. Why is the Viking shield so bad?

Such a shield could have been made by a Viking himself. | Photo: urlaubsguru.de.
Such a shield could have been made by a Viking himself. | Photo: urlaubsguru.de.

In fact, the answer is frighteningly simple: the Vikings had no need for others. The Germans (which include the inhabitants of Northern Europe) had a military tradition. They knew very well about the existence of much more complex and heavy shields. However, there was no need to do others, for example, in the manner of much more civilized Franks or Arameans. The Viking shield is a fist-type defense and is intended for an active fighting style, when it is used not only to parry attacks, but also to deliver blows.

Buckler should be lightweight. | Photo: fiord.org.
Buckler should be lightweight. | Photo: fiord.org.

Fist-grip shields are very comfortable and effective in combat, but they have a terrible drawback - they are extremely difficult to hold for a long time. The Vikings, who primarily practiced raid warfare in small gangs, relied much more on personal skill than on the coherence of the formation. Hence the specificity of the equipment used.

>>>>Ideas for life | NOVATE.RU<<<<

Moreover, such a shield takes up little space. ¦Photo: Pinterest.
Moreover, such a shield takes up little space. ¦Photo: Pinterest.

Not the last word in all this was played by the lack of a centralized supply. The Vikings needed the simplest equipment that even a warrior himself could, if necessary, make. The complete opposite is the ancient Roman war machine. The Romans also used fist shields. However, they were much heavier, more difficult to manufacture and stronger. At the same time, the Roman shield was a real work of art: a set of multi-layer plywood. These were produced in special workshops, after which they were sent to the legions along with the carts.

Finally, the Vikings quite clearly preferred light shields also because they took up very little space. This is also extremely important when it comes to traveling by ship.

If you want to know even more interesting things, then you should read about 9 types of bladesthat have proven their effectiveness over the centuries.
A source: https://novate.ru/blogs/120321/58160/

IT IS INTERESTING:

1. "Fu, barbarism": how the ancient Romans dressed in cold weather

2. Why do American men wear a T-shirt under their shirt?

3. Berezin machine gun: famous and unknown at the same time