You
may think that this heartfelt prayer has come down to us unchanged across
centuries to give an accurate picture of the terror that the Vikings inspired
in the Saxon people of England, but as evocative as it is, all of the
evidence points to a more modern source - the phrase was used in the introduction
of his book "The Vikings" by Johannes Brøndsted (Harmondsworth/Penguin,
1960), but there is no evidence for it before this time. Indeed, as the
knowledge of historians and archaeologists improves year by year, the
image of the Viking Age as a time of abrupt violence is becoming merely
a footnote, and the enormous cultural heritage of what is known as the
Viking Age is coming to the fore.
Founded in 1971, The Vikings are the oldest and largest Dark Age re-enactment
society in the UK, and probably the world. With over 700 members throughout
Britain, and others in Europe and the US, The Vikings are the premier
society presenting re-enactments of the Viking Age. While the Society
concentrates mainly on the 10th Century, some events are set in the wider
period from 790 to 1066, with the appropriate modifications to dress and
equipment used. Our aim is to provide an accurate and educational portrayal
of the Viking period, with an equal emphasis on the daily life of the
period, and on the more warlike aspects of life in what was a formative
period in European history.
Our events are renowned for the high standard of presentation, historical
accuracy and attention to detail, and for the scale and impact of our
combat displays, as well as for our extensive static displays which present
a cross-section of life in the tenth century. Whether you are interested
in booking The Vikings for your event, coming to watch our displays, joining
the ranks of our membership, or studying the Viking Age in either an educational
or personal setting, we hope to present information on these pages which
you will find useful.