Saga Of The Volsungs: Why Were The Vikings Such A Threat?

Saga of the Volsungs: Why were the Vikings such a threat?

Saga of the Volsungs gives an in depth look at the Viking culture, how they interact with each other, and the world around them. The epic stories in this text provides a glance at what they value, what valor meant to them, and what family means in their society. The Nordic people became a horrific reality to the European Christian society that was still developing in the early Middle Ages. This text, Saga of the Volsungs, reveals many things about Viking culture, but more importantly, it reveals why and how the Vikings had such a disastrous effect on Europe. After evaluating early Nordic culture, it can be concluded that the Vikings had a deep-set belief in mythology, the supernatural,

prophecy, fate, and destiny. Each of these facets of their belief system had a very real effect on the way they started to migrate south, east, and west. With evidence in the Sage of the Volsungs, the Viking devastation was a result of the Nordic desire to gain land, wealth, power, and victory over all enemies.
Firstly, it is important to mention what the Vikings looked like.

Research and archeological evidence have revealed the Vikings were a race of tall, blonde, imposing figures that lived predominantly in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway before the Middle Ages. The Vikings were a race of war mongering peoples. They conquered and then conquered each other to gain more victory and prowess in battle. On page forty, we can find King Volsung himself offering: “I have fought a hundred times… it will not be reported that I either fled or asked for peace.” (Saga, 40.) Their society was based in monarchs and Vikings lived in kingdoms rules over by many different kings, all fighting for dominance and resources. As these resources depleted over the years, along with the available land, the Vikings pushed each other south and out of the Nordic

lands.
Viking society was tumultuous at its best, bloody and uproarious at it’s very worst. On page fifty-three, the narrator speaks of Sigmund fighting in his old age: “Both his arms were bloody to the shoulder.” (Saga, 53) The mention of this detail reveals just how violent the Vikings could be just within their own society, fighting each other. However, when the Vikings were not at war with each other or outside forces, there was plenty of time for them to gather together and feast, drink, and tell stories. “Using the best provisions, the king made ready for the feast.” (Sage, 38) This mention of bringing together the best provisions shows the Nordic people believed in giving a grand feast when they pooled together. War faring and Partying only portrays two of the many facets of Viking culture.
Next, the cultural ideals family should be considered.

Once of the important aspects of family to review, is kindship. Kinship to the Vikings was a loyalty forged bond created either by blood relation, or by marriage. Families fought valiantly for each other in Nordic culture, and Vengeance, which will be discussed later, will take a pivotal role in that familial loyalty. On page thirty-nine, Signy is shown arguing with her father, against her marriage to Siggeir: “I do not wish to go away with Siggeir, nor do my thoughts laugh with him…This union will bring us much misery.” (Saga, 39) Her father replies to her, “You should not say such things, daughter… It would be shameful for us both…We could neither have his trust nor bind him in friendly alliance.” (Saga, 39) It was integral to forge marriage bond to keep the betrayal low, and the loyalty high among the Kings of the

Vikings.
The idea of blood ties is proven multiple times in the Sage, however, perhaps not in such a way as when Signey reveals who her son truly is: “Sintjotli is our son. Because of this he has so much zeal; he is the son of both a son and daughter of Volsung.” (Saga, 47) Blood is powerful to the Vikings, especially blood from a great King. The idea that blood could create perfect fighters led Signey to commit incest with her twin brother, but it allowed her to succeed in her plans of assassinating her husband. This leads to the third topic, vengeance. Revenge is a very large topic in the Saga of the Volsungs epic. It can be found multiple times where a son avenges a father, or a wife to her husband as Signey did to King Siggier. The text even has a mention of revenge on the first few pages: “…not stopping until he had killed all his father’s slayers.” (Saga, 36) There were few things as important as revenge to the Vikings, but honor and valor were among the few things they valued above all else.
The actions of the Vikings relied heavily on their belief in honor and valor. Even the actions of revenge, was a way for them to seek a restoration of honor in their own families. When it came to honor, it rode alongside with wealth and victory in battle. We can see Regin speaking to Sigurd on page fifty-six: “You have too little wealth… But I can tell you where there is a great wealth to be had. And it is likely that there would be honor in seeking it and glory should you acquire it.” (Saga, 56) Even at a young age, the Vikings believed their kinsmen should be waring, acquiring wealth, and gaining glory in battle. This is in part due to their religion. It was believed that should a Viking die gloriously in battle, he would be risen by the Valkyries to Valhalla where he should forever relive his glory in battle so that Odin himself may watch endlessly. This belief was a driving force in their need for conquest and bloodthirsty nature towards war.