00 The Last Viking Battle

The Last Viking Battle

Overview

  • Author: Magnús Fjalldal, University of Iceland

  • Source: Scandinavian Studies, Vol. 87, No. 3 (Fall 2015), pp. 317-331

  • Published by: University of Illinois Press on behalf of the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study

  • URL: JSTOR Link

Introduction to the Debate

  • In Spring 2014, the British Museum held an exhibition titled Vikings: Life and Legend.

  • The exhibition led to significant media attention and debates, particularly in The Independent.

  • The debates included discussions on Viking representation as seafaring warriors and brought forth historical criticisms of Viking scholarship.

Review of the Exhibition

  • Review Title: “The Vikings: Why Do the Seafaring Warriors Still Intrigue Us?” by Boyd Tonkin.

  • Key interviews: Gareth Williams (Curator at the British Museum) elaborated on how Vikings were misunderstood and compared their historical reputation to modern world events and terrorism.

  • The review highlighted the shift in Viking portrayal from violent marauders to a more cultivated image with roots in the 1980s.

Backlash Against the Revisionist View

  • Patrick Cockburn, in response, published an article titled “The Vikings Were Feared for a Reason.”

  • Cockburn criticized recent revisionist perspectives, claiming they overlooked historical evidence of Viking brutality, drawing parallels with atrocities committed by the SS during WWII.

  • He asserted that the Vikings were indeed ruthless, with narratives woven from eyewitness accounts largely dismissed by historians.

  • His critique emphasized the still-present stereotype of Vikings as bloodthirsty warriors, which is debated in public and scholarly circles.

Viking Atrocities and Cultural Misconceptions

  • Cockburn referenced Patrick Wormald’s work regarding gruesome Viking execution methods, linking it to broader historical evidence of Viking savagery.

  • Cockburn argued that the exhibition's assessments were inconsistent, emphasizing a cultural tendency to romanticize or downplay Viking violence.

  • The mythical blood eagle execution was discussed as a cultural artifact, yet its actual historical validity remains debated among scholars.

Cultural Imagery and Its Origins

  • The discussion delves into how the Viking aesthetic (e.g., horned helmet) has been romanticized in contemporary culture despite archaeological evidence suggesting Vikings did not wear them.

  • Roberta Frank’s research highlighted misconceptions perpetuated by incorrect translations and medieval interpretations.

Hygiene and Viking Society

  • The exhibition and subsequent discussions also contradicted some cultural stereotypes about Viking hygiene.

  • Expert analyses, including accounts from Ibn Fadlan, painted a negative image of Viking hygiene; however, historical artifacts demonstrate their grooming practices.

Conclusion on Viking Scholarship

  • Scholarship on Vikings has evolved with ongoing disputes between pro-Viking and anti-Viking perspectives.

  • Recent studies underline the Vikings as complex figures, arguing against the binary view of them as mere savages or cultured individuals.

  • Major modern works re-evaluate past interpretations, emphasizing the need to examine primary sources critically.

Key Citations

  • Works Cited:

    • Adam of Bremen (History of the Archbishops)

    • Martin Arnold (The Vikings: Wolves of War)

    • Patrick Wormald’s critical essays bring to light competing views on Viking history.

    • Discussions between Roberta Frank and Bjarni Einarsson on the blood eagle controversy remain pivotal in the field of Viking studies.