8th–11th centuriesReputable sourceWell documented
Viking Warfare and the Berserkers
On the timeline · around 8th–11th centuries ·
What happened
Viking warriors fought with axe, sword, spear and round shield, protected at most by mail and iron helmets — never the horned ones of legend. Sagas tell of berserkers, fighters who worked themselves into a trance-like battle fury.
Why it matters
Mobility, surprise and ferocity — not numbers — made the Vikings so feared, letting small warbands terrorise kingdoms far larger than their own.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Viking Warfare · Reputable source