VIKINGS

The Vikings are a Scandinavian people who, from the end of the 8th century, made numerous invasions and plundering expeditions in eastern, western and southern Europe. Vikings reached the area of today's Baltic countries, Russia, Great Britain, France, Spain, Italy, but also the medieval Caliphate of Baghdad! It is assumed that the period of increased expansion and Viking invasions took place from around 800 to around 1050. It is also assumed that they made the first invasion of Western Europe in 793, and the target of their attack was the Lindisfarne monastery in England. The Vikings achieved their successes primarily by acting by surprise, relying on their height of mobility and the great possibilities offered by their long boats - the drakkaras. In the field, they most often used the tactic known as a shield wall. Their battle zeal, courage and good melee fighting skills have gone down in legend. Most often they used as offensive weapons, a spear, an ax and a one-handed double-edged sword. Throwing weapons, especially bows, were used as additional weapons. The main defensive weapon is a nasal helmet or the so-called eyepiece and a round target. It is worth adding that the Byzantine emperors, appreciating the combat value of the Vikings, took them on their pay as the so-called Wareska guard. On the other hand, in Ruthenia, the Varangians were the progenitors of the Rurykowicz dynasty that ruled until the 16th century. It is a complete misunderstanding to attribute "mass" use of helmets with horns to Vikings - this is an invention from the 19th / 20th century, not finding any coverage in the sources.