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Home , North Sea Empire, Viking art

THE THE VIKINGS

1 TABLE DES MATI RES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Artistic Direction WHO WERE THE VIKINGS? Sylvain Lapointe Who were they?...... 4 Where did they come from?...... 5 Text Pier-Luc Lasalle When did they live?...... 5 Sailors...... 6 Music Explorer-pirates and bandit-tradesmen...... 7 Enrico O. Dastous How did one turn Viking?...... 7 Mode of government...... 8 Staging Eloi ArchamBaudoin Trade...... 8 Viking currency...... 9 Authorship of the Pedagogical Document Agriculture...... 9 Aude Le Dubé DAILY LIFE IN THE VIKING ERA Translation Gaëtan Chénier Tasks...... 10 Housing Cover Illustration Food...... 11 Ève Chabot What did Vikings look like?...... 12 Clothing...... 13 Design and Layout Michel Bérard Nümoov communication inc. CULTURE IN THE VIKING ERA numoov.com Religion...... 14 Language...... 14 Sagas...... 15 www.vikingssymphonique.com Folk tradition ...... 15 Writing...... 16 Music...... 17 and handicrafts...... 18

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY The Viking spy...... 20

THE DRAGON-KILLER...... 22

2 3 WHO WERE THE VIKINGS

WHO WERE THE VIKINGS? WHERE DID THEY COME FROM? Though all Vikings did not (formerly Byzantium, today dinavia was very different Vikings were men. There were originate from the same place, Istanbul). The Byzantine at that time. The region no Viking women, children, or they did all come from what are covered what is currently South- had developed in a sort of elderly people. Vikings were today’s Scandinavian countries, ern Italy, Greece and Turkey. isolation, since it was lo- neither farmers nor blacksmiths. namely , , The other empire of the time was cated outside of the Roman Vikings were neither a people and Finland. From the that of Charlemagne (Charles Empire’s most northern nor a tribe. Vikings were pirates. most remote eras, historians of the Great), of the limits, around the modern- While the etymology of their Antiquity only ever spoke of a and Emperor of the West. It day Netherlands. Of course, name is uncertain, it may stem single people occupying this extended over all of the territo- ’s climate was from an Old- word region, which seems never to ries currently known as France, much rougher than in the meaning “sea inlet”, describing have been invaded. It should be , Switzerland, Northern rest of Europe, and its their place of origin. To prove pointed out that, since part of the Italy, Belgium and the Nether- geography less suited to their strength and courage, Vikings’ ancestry consisted of lands. farming: the mountainous Vikings would carry out raids on —who were feared landscape found in places as neighbouring territories. It was throughout Europe—, invaders For the most part, the peoples of well as the coastlines’ steep called going “I vikingr”, which probably thought twice before these regions had converted to profile and numerous fjords represented a kind of rite of taking up arms against them! and lived in rela- made for very little farm- passage. tive peace. They benefited from land. And while the region WHEN DID THEY LIVE? centuries of Roman influence was covered in forests that that had favoured agriculture, contributed to the isolation What is called the Viking era transport and trade, and im- of its peoples, these same begins around the year 800 and posed a system of government forests also formed vast comes to an end in 1050. The which had come to be adopted reserves suitable for Vikings’ most important period as normal local practice. Indeed, building boats. So the Scan- of influence therefore took place Europe in the Early Middle Ages dinavians turned to the sea between the 9th and 10th cen- was civilized, while secular that surrounded them and tury of our era. The influence and culture were beginning to became skilled fishermen. of Rome had ended 3 centuries flourish. Under the influence of What’s more, they had at prior to that time. The Roman Charlemagne, a single currency their disposal the iron that Empire itself had not entirely had appeared in his Empire, and was found in the bogs and disappeared but it was now writing was imposed as a means that served in making tools, known as the Byzantine Em- of spreading knowledge. weapons and armour. pire, the centre of which was no However, the situation in Scan- longer Rome, but Constantinople

4 5 EXPLORER-PIRATES AND Optimum”, which lasted from the no other means of subsistence than SAILORS BANDIT-TRADESMEN 10th to the 13th century and gave stealing and pillaging. In no time, access to regions that ice floes had exiled outlaws were teaming up The farming seafarers, now turned until then rendered impassable. with pirates to scour the seas in Vikings designed ships that were Their collapsible mast reached pirates, began launching their legions. Vikings became greedy. revolutionary for their era. These from 18 to 20 metres high (the attacks from Scandinavia, where The quality of their ships and their flat-bottom rowboats are best height of a five-story building) they would return with their loot. HOW DID ONE TURN ability to navigate facilitated the known as drakkars, a Swedish and carried a rectangular sail of Little by little, they established VIKING? attacks. They stole everything they term meaning dragon, in over 100 m2 that allowed trading posts in the countries they could carry away: money, cattle, reference to the figurehead upwind sailing. There were invaded, such as Ireland and Vikings weren’t the only ones spices, works of art and raw that decorated the many types of ships. The smaller , which allowed them to attacking and pillaging their materials. They probably did not ships’ bow (front) and stern boats, the “bátr”, were powered launch increasingly distant attacks. neighbours, but they would do so desire these things any more than (back). The ’ main by sail and oars with up to four Vikings eventually ended up more often than others did, and other nations and could well have feature was their symmetry. benches of 10 to 12 rowers. These trading as much as they were more violently. Scandinavians acquired them by trading, but quite Since their bow and stern were were still being used in Norway pillaging. Under the name of happened to live on islands or simply, the terror which their no different, the ships could in the 19th century. Among the “Normans” (men of the North), peninsulas, which did not leave reputation inspired just made the change directions without merchant ships were the “skúta”, they settled in the French region of much room for expansion. The task that much easier. Indeed, as having to turn around. Their keel the “eptirbátr” (dinghy), the Normandy, which the King of the period of climactic warming led to Vikings approached, their victims was all in one piece and “karfi”, and the “knørr” for the Franks granted them provided they larger harvests and consequently to would often surrender without consequently required very tall high seas. As for the warships, or convert to Christianity. It wasn’t a demographic boom. The opposing any resistance and the trees, which were plentiful in “herskip”, they were divided into long before they assimilated population having increased in Vikings could just help themselves. Scandinavia. Their flat the “snekkja”, with twenty peacefully with the local number, its territory had to expand, In the meantime, written traces bottom and shallow benches of rowers, and the population. and invasions were one solution. have reached us from the men of draught allowed them to “skei•” that served as a They went searching around them letters of that era, generally navigate in low water and to run heavy battle cruiser. Vikings scoured all of the European for places to colonize or to clergymen. Since Vikings often aground anywhere during raids, coasts as far as Spain, Portugal and conquer, as well as for places targeted churches for their even on beaches. They also had Italy. They secured entire regions where they could plunder resources plundering, it’s no wonder that the access up rivers, allowing them of England and established a that did not exist in their oppressors have not always been to attack important cities that North-Sea empire for some time. homelands. As a matter of fact, shown in a favourable light by their were often built on They sailed up rivers to the heart of carrying out raids was a tradition victims. Viking attacks were surely riverbanks. While Viking Eastern Europe, , the Black among Scandinavians, who would terrifying, but they represented ships could reach up to 80 Sea and even Constantinople. The go “i vikingr” to prove their only one aspect of the metres in length, most most famous Viking, , courage. Some came to enjoy it, Scandinavian culture from which measured about 24 discovered and then turned it into a job and became they stemmed. metres (the length of a , and in the year 1000, pirates. Little by little, the tradition tennis court). his son Leif Eriksonn discovered became widespread to the point America by being the first to set where practically all Scandinavian foot in . Viking men aged 18 to 50 rallied the exploration in the North Atlantic Viking ranks. Also, laws of that was helped by climactic warming time required that condemned called the “Medieval Climactic criminals be exiled by boat, with

6 7 MODE OF GOVERNMENT TRADE VIKING CURRENCY AGRICULTURE

In their country of origin, Once they had set up trading Vikings specialized in the trade Contrary to what was common Many foreign coins have been When they weren’t leaving on an Vikings established a form of posts in the regions they had of luxury products, particularly practice in other countries of the found in Scandinavia, which the expedition, Scandinavians of the primitive democracy. Each invaded, Vikings proved to be amber, walrus fur and ivory, of medieval world, Vikings did not Vikings had obtained while Viking era lived off cattle kingdom was divided into excellent merchants and which Europe’s nobility, higher use a coin-based currency. doing business abroad. To them, breeding and agriculture, with districts within which all free administrators. They opened clergy and rich merchants were Instead, they bought and sold in the coins had no value other than some added hunting and fishing. men (not slaves) would meet in new trading routes that allowed very fond. Viking trading posts two ways: either with precious their precious-metal weight. The Norwegians were mainly an assembly called a “”. them to deal with Africans, were also supplied with slaves metal or through bartering. When Vikings eventually started fishermen while the and , nobles, rich men, Arabs, Japanese, Chinese and who were simply considered as Metal was evaluated by its striking their own coins, these were farmers and warriors, merchants and Indians, long before Marco Polo. merchandise. They consisted of weight and Vikings therefore bore crosses indicating where breeders. However, in all cases, peasants had equal votes during In the 9th century, Swedes the men and women captured often carried with them folding they could be cut to make small the “bonder” (independent deliberations on politics, on established colonies in Central during raids in the Orient or in scales for evaluating the metal change. It should also be pointed farmers) made up the majority of conflicts over property and on Russia. They founded the towns Slavic countries. being exchanged for out that in England as on the the population and bred cattle, criminal judgments. An official of Kiev and Novgorod which merchandise. They exchanged mainland, leaders of countries sheep, pigs and poultry, even who was either named or elected became the most important silver and gold jewels as well as that were under the threat of beyond the Arctic Circle. They took on the role of impartial trading points of that era. The foreign coins. To define a metal’s Vikings would often hand over grew mainly rye, barley, oats and judge and led the debates. Slavs called the Swedes “Rus” weight in the transaction, it was colossal sums to be left alone. cabbage. However, certain rich members (redheaded), which is the origin not molten but rather chopped “Making peace” was a polite had a greater influence than of Russia’s name. with an axe, which explains the expression for designating the others, which limited the presence of various metal operation that consisted in democratic process. When a fragments and jewels in Viking paying the Vikings for them to go conflict could not be resolved in treasures and tombs. as far away as possible! the assembly, members sometimes turned to duelling or to judgment tests known as ordeals. In the course of an ordeal, the accused could be asked to walk on water or fire, or even to grasp a white-hot iron. If the person survived without injury, he or she was declared innocent as being under the protection of the gods.

8 9 DAILY LIFE IN THE VIKING ERA

TASKS HOUSING Vikings left on expeditions in with one or more concubines. the summer and came back in The children took on various When they weren’t away on an Among Viking food specialties the fall, in time for the harvest. tasks very early. Girls took care expedition, Vikings lived on their were “thorrablot”—traces of During their absence, families of weaving, housework and farms. Their buildings were which can still be found in the had to support themselves on cooking. Boys had to plough the made of cob (a mixture of straw tripe dish à la mode de Caen, their own, not knowing if the fields, chop wood, hunt, fish and and clay) laid over a wood frame. dear to the people of today’s head of the household would take part in boat building. It measured about 12 metres in Normandy—, chitlings sausage, return safe and sound. Women length and had but a single room. raw-milk cheese and ran the farms and therefore had Along the walls ran seats that “smalahove”, consisting of heavy daily responsibilities. also served as beds. The house charred and smoked lamb’s head Vikings also practiced polygamy, sheltered the entire family, that served with rutabaga. which means that in addition is to say husband, wife, Scandinavians drank beer and to their wife, they lived concubines, all of the children, mead (a fermented drink of servants and slaves. water, honey, malt and yeast) as well as wild-berry wine. Vikings FOOD did not drink from their enemies’ skulls, as legend would have it. It The Scandinavians of the Viking is a matter of the word “horn” era prepared two meals a day, having been badly translated. In eating oatmeal porridge as well , one would say “the as beef, mutton, goat and curved branch of the skull”. It horsemeat, either roasted or was cows’ horns that served as stewed. All of the animals, except drink containers at feasts. for the strongest, were slaughtered at the end of fall. Their smoked or salted meat was eaten throughout winter, as was the meat of reindeer, bear and hare. Vikings also ate fresh or dried saltwater fish as well as salmon and trout.

10 11 WHAT DID VIKINGS LOOK LIKE?

The image of Vikings as shaggy- CLOTHING haired, barbaric and dirty is exaggerated. Archeological Scandinavians wore woven Every Viking was constantly excavations have shown that homemade clothes that were armed with an ax, a dagger and a these warriors used many made (depending on the season) sword. Women wore a long shirt grooming instruments for of linen or wool, and were down to their feet, over which personal hygiene, such as combs decorated with braids. Men and they slipped on a straight, rather and tweezers. They made their women alike protected short tunic, a robe consisting of own soap and even dyed their themselves from the elements two sections held together at the hair to keep it as blond as with a cape that was lined with shoulders with fibulas (metal possible. In those distant times, it was not fur or wool, and sometimes even ), and a shawl, the point commonplace to be clean, but quilted with down. They wore of which fell in the middle of the Vikings washed their face and mittens and, in the cold of back. Nothing prohibited women hands every morning and before winter, wool overmitts. Men from wearing pants. Maidens every meal. They took a bath wore a shirt under a long-sleeved kept their hair loose whereas every week and often changed tunic held in place by a belt to married women wore their hair their clothes, which was which hung a purse and a either in braids, in a ponytail or considered excessively stylish in drinking horn. Their breeches in a bun. They all wore a scarf the regions they colonized. (pants belted at the waist) were that was tied at the neck and In the Viking era’s society, only covered with strips of fabric that sometimes a band that was slaves had short hair. Free men criss-crossed from the ankles to decorated with bronze spirals. had hair down to their shoulders the knees, and their feet were and let their beards grow to shod with wool or felt booties. As whatever length suited them to their head coverings, they best. were made of wool and fur in Vikings rarely wore the famous various shapes and forms. horned helmet popularized by comics but wore instead a metal or leather helmet that included a nose-guard extension. Horned helmets did exist but they were ceremonial helmets, worn to display their owner’s wealth.

12 13 CULTURE IN THE VIKING ERA

RELIGION LANGUAGE SAGAS FOLK TRADITION

Originally, Vikings were (the god of thunder) and Although Vikings stemmed from There aren’t really any written The folktale is a specialty of Scandinavian tales often had a pagans who worshipped Frejya (the goddess of various parts of Scandinavia, traces of the Vikings’ history Scandinavians in general, who wandering anecdote, in that the many gods. Around 829, fertility and beauty). they were very good at before their conversion to are excellent storytellers. In same story would be told from they started converting to They went about communicating among Christianity. Their heroic deeds olden times as today, a guest one country to another, but in a themselves thanks to the were transmitted orally thanks would tell a tale at the end of a different fashion. They included uniformity of their language, to sagas which were told by meal to thank the hostess. similar themes such as a hero or Old Norse, from which today’s bards called “”. Sagas were Everyone thus had an ample heroine and supernatural Scandinavian languages very long, epic poems in prose repertoire of stories for every elements. They followed a few originate (except for Finnish). that recounted the life, the deeds occasion. unchanging rules: the number 3 Christianity, but they did among giants, elves and Many English words come and the actions of Viking heroes, While ancient Nordic literature was omnipresent, as was so much more slowly than dwarves, who were their directly from Old Norse. They kings and lords. These stories began with sagas that are too metamorphosis. They were other European peoples. enemies. Warriors who are often linked to nautical told of their lives from birth to long to be considered tales, such crude, naïve tales in a real-world Their religion did not died in combat were vocabulary and to the sea in death, and omitted neither their is not the case with the “ þættir ”, setting, without any great magic include places of worship admitted to Valhalla general. Among the most ancestors nor their descendants. stories of about a dozen pages or elegance. nor any centralized (Valhöll: “the hall of the common are: awe, axle, bag, Battle descriptions could be focusing on one character or The supernatural was a very Church, and religious slain”) where they could bait, cast, crab, dirt, down, East highly detailed, and historical event. The origins of storytelling important element in these traditions were not in eternally wage war and (West, North & South), accounts would often be are linked to the Scandinavian stories but it intervened writing. Consequently, the feast by the side of Odin equipment, float, flood, geyser, peppered with supernatural regions’ dispersed habitat in naturally, without there being Scandinavians’ religion and his women warriors, girth, hangar, harpoon, iceberg, interventions. The heroes were which towns and villages as we any boundary between the real could vary from one place the Valkyries. In reality, ill, keel, kid, leather, loose, sometimes struck with warring know them did not exist. Large world and the imaginary world. to another and evolve Viking women did not maggot, mast, Norman & fury that gave them superhuman get-togethers would only happen Ancestor worship, as well as more rapidly than other take up arms. Theirs was a Normandy, oaf, outlaw, plough, strength. Some sagas were for weddings and funerals. The family and clan worship, is a religions. According to Viking patriarchal society in which raft, reindeer, scale, skiff, take, written but most of them have rest of the time, everything was fundamental value of beliefs, the gods lived in a women had few political and Thursday (“’s day”), ugly, been lost over time. done to fight off loneliness—and Scandinavians, and it is reflected kingdom called Asgard that economic responsibilities. Upon until, Viking, wave, wing, Yule… evening gatherings of in most folktales, as are communicated with the land of dying, the most powerful Vikings storytellers helped in doing so. hospitality and the duty of mortals by means of a rainbow- were burned on a boat with their lending travelers a helping hand shaped bridge. The best-known possessions or buried in a vast in a rough climate. gods of the Viking Pantheon were tomb, accompanied by their pets Odin (the principal god), Thor and by slaves killed for the occasion.

14 15 WRITING MUSIC

Vikings had writing, called opportunity to mix with many Archeological excavations in “”, the origins of which go civilizations and quickly adopted Scandinavia have determined back to the so-called writing supports such as paper, that Vikings played music and “Hallristinger” writing, which papyrus, parchment and vellum, made various instruments. The would date from the end of which they used to do their first were wind instruments prehistoric times. According to bookkeeping and to keep track of made of bone and wood, which the ancient Roman historian their transactions. Unfortunately, resembled flutes. Vikings also Tacitus, the Vikings’ forefathers Scandinavia’s humid climate has played a sort of five-note Pan’s were already carving runes on prevented their conservation. flute made from a block of wood wood, bone, ivory, stone and What’s more, after the Vikings’ with holes bored into it at various bark, even on the leaves of fruit conversion to Catholicism, many depths. Flutes made from cows’ trees. In the beginning, runes runic documents were destroyed horns, which are somewhat had a symbolic meaning that by the clergy, who deemed them similar to our ocarinas, have also somewhat brings to mind satanic. The only manuscripts been found. Egyptian hieroglyphs but, over written in runes that have On the basis of a famous 1070 time, the characters were reached us are those whose tapestry from Bayeux enriched with Greek, Latin and authors were monks, all other (Normandy), Vikings had brass Arab influences and ended up documents being suspected of instruments that looked like taking on the appearance of a harbouring magical and ancient trumpets as well as a 24-letter alphabet that more or diabolical formulas. This “lur”, a sort of straight, wooden less corresponds to our own. explains the evil reputation of trumpet that is still used today Since Vikings were tradesmen this alphabet that is often used among Scandinavian shepherds. and explorers, they had the by sorcerers and other followers At the time, these trumpets might of occult sciences. have been used to rally soldiers and sound the charge. Also found on archeological excavations are lyres, viols and various percussion instruments, while sagas mention the harp being used by Scandinavian gentlemen. It all makes us wonder what Viking music may have been like, but we may very well never know. No sheet music has reached us to this day, although experts have been able to imagine Scandinavian melodies of the Early Middle Ages on the basis of medieval music from other parts of Europe.

16 17 ART AND HANDICRAFTS

The first traces of date bring to light the richness of from the 7th and 8th centuries. their colours and motifs that we They consist of jewels found in had previously imagined as the central part of Sweden. Like roughly executed. the Celts of the same period, We have also found stelas dating Scandinavians were skillful from the end of the 8th century silversmiths and goldsmiths. and bearing reliefs depicting They found their inspiration in themes of everyday Viking life as animal motifs as well as in well as life at sea and at war. mythological scenes that However, Viking art’s Golden disappeared upon the advent of Age was the 9th century, as Christianity. Such jewellery was shown by the tomb of Queen Åsa, most often made of silver but in Oseberg, near the Norwegian also of gold and bronze. It capital of . Like many Viking consisted of medallions, fibulas, chiefs, the queen was buried in a pendants, pins and buckles boat loaded with lavishly crafted representing extremely complex furniture, weapons and tools. intertwined motifs. Necklaces of The ’s elegance and braided silver wire are luxury are a precious testimony masterpieces of technical to the sophistication of Viking virtuosity that prove the artists and craftsmen. Animal creativity of Viking craftsmen. sculptures of horses, snakes, Unfortunately, wooden swans and dragons that decorate sculptures from before the 12th the boat reveal a know-how that century have not survived, is expressed on all everyday This original art was probably except in a royal Norwegian objects, but more richly so on not the work of warriors tomb, and there are only a few those of the ruling class. yearning for expeditions but it traces that remain in the form of does reflect the existence of archeological documents. specialized and seasoned Likewise, we only have rare craftsmen (carpenters, engravers specimens of fabrics and and sculptors) who enjoyed embroidery from the Viking era, respect and consideration in but recent studies have helped Viking society.

18 19 EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY

THE VIKING SPY

With the help of the runic alphabet below, write your name in runes on a piece of paper. Fold it and put it in a box with those of your classmates. Mix them up. Try to decode the names and their authors.

20 21 – Woman, what is causing you so much sorrow?, human skulls with their tops off that had been asked Björn. made into drinking glasses for very strong beer. In THE DRAGON KILLER – My son, Hott, he left one day to find work at one corner was a suit of armour, riddled with One-Eyed Hrolf’s. But Hrolf’s warriors made fun of arrows, which must have served as a target for Norwegian tale. Anonymous author. him. Since my son is fearful and not very skilled in games of skill. In another corner stood a kind of combat—he’d rather flail grain than flail any man—, low wall made up of bones of different sizes, from Hrolf’s warriors have made him their whipping which distressed and inconsolable sighs could be Once upon a time was a Viking chief named Björn, From the strong smell of droppings, he knew it was boy! They’re keeping him against his will to be heard. Björn approached it. This grotesque rampart which means “bear” in the language spoken by the the home of ragged, penniless peasants. They must entertained at his expense during the banquets. was protecting a dirty, tattered young man who let men of the North. No one quite knew why he had all have been starving, for he heard two or three – That’s not very honourable!, Björn exclaimed. out a cry upon seeing Björn. been given that name: some claimed it was because rabid cows mooing in the stable located a bit – One day, continued the old woman while stirring – Don’t kill me! Don’t kill me! I beg of you, don’t of his character, others because he was fond of further. her soup, I went to Uppsala to see how he was throw bones in my face! At least wait until the feast honey, and his wife because he slept all winter Björn knocked at the dilapidated house’s door. A doing. I saw the strange and cruel game they play begins! long. rather old man answered. One could see from his with my son: they throw in his face the bones, Björn obviously knew he was dealing with the That day, Björn was returning from hunting, hands and hunched back that he had worked the sometimes very large, of wild boar, deer and cattle peasants’ son. followed by his faithful dog Affald. On his way, he land all his life. Björn removed his helmet and that are left over at the end of their feasts. In so – You’re Hott, aren’t you? encountered peasants who were hurrying toward politely asked this man if he could offer him shelter doing, they sometimes injure him badly. If you go – Yes, that’s me. But don’t kill me! Don’t throw Uppsala, a large town where powerful warriors had for a night. The peasant answered that he never to Hrolf, help my son, I beg of you! bones in my face! repeated a snivelling young Hott. gathered together. The king of Uppsala, One-Eyed shut his door to a stranger. And the old woman fell to the ground, exhausted Björn took him by the hand and led him into the Hrolf, had organized a tournament that was to – But you’ll have to make do with our ordinary fare: by her pain. The old man, to bring her to, gave her a courtyard. He had him wash up in a well and lent reward each participant’s strength according to his stone soup and thistle salad. spoonful of soup. The old woman’s eyes rolled and him some clean clothes. Since meal time was merit. – Fret not my brave man, Björn answered she came to. Björn kneeled by her side, took her nearing, he returned to One-Eyed Hrolf’s with the Björn was himself a daring man whose vigour enthusiastically, for I have often waged war in hand and whispered into her ear: boy, who sat at his side. equalled that of the best swordsmen. He decided England! 1 I’m used to such meals! – Woman, what you are saying saddens me. That Hrolf’s guests entered one by one into the great he too would go to King Hrolf’s town and compete Björn stepped inside. The peasant asked his wife to game is not worthy of valiant combatants. Calm hall, furtively making eyes at Hott-the-Fearful. A for honour and blood. But before getting underway, bring dry clothing and he offered it to his guest. down. Tomorrow, once I am at Hrolf’s, I will see to few of them were smiling wickedly and pretending he prepared a message to inform his wife: “I’m Björn thanked him and asked many questions it that no one brings any harm to your son. I give to be throwing bones at him. At every fake, Hott leaving for Uppsala. Back in a few days. Your big about King Hrolf and his tournament. He also you my word. would let out a strident shriek and start bawling, or bear.” He tied the note to his dog’s neck and sent wanted to know if he was nearing Uppsala at all. They ate and went to bed. Björn did not sleep well: would huddle up to Björn’s side. In the hall, people him home. – Less than a day’s walk, sighed the old man. So he was sharing his straw mattress with two or were laughing and pointing their finger at them. Björn had been walking North for a while. Night you’re going to One-Eyed Hrolf’s. three mice and at least three thousand fleas. “Shame on you, coward that you are!”, thought fell and a thick fog covered the moor. A nasty – That is indeed my intention, replied Björn. At dawn, he thanked his hosts and, scratching Björn irritably. drizzle was soaking his clothes. Björn was cold and – You will be well greeted there, as usually is every himself, hurried on to Uppsala. Everyone had finally taken their place according to he no longer knew where he was. He was trudging warrior with a solid arm and a bull’s chest. When he arrived, around the end of the day, he their rank in relation to Hrolf and no one had yet along in a desolate area when a faint light from a At that very moment, the peasant’s wife, who had headed right away for a large building, the most addressed Björn. The feast started. After a whole thatched cottage slowly shone out of the darkness. been preparing the soup in silence, burst into tears. imposing of them, which was where One-Eyed beef and three muttons had been eaten, their bones Björn thanked the travelers’ god! He had started to She moaned and groaned and collapsed with a sob. Hrolf lived. He entered and, without asking were stripped clean of the remaining flesh and fear this place where he risked dying from permission, made haste to the banquet hall. people started throwing them forcefully toward exposure, or worse, from being swallowed up in The walls of the hall were covered with shields Hott and Björn. some bog. 1. Vikings often fought in England, and taken from the enemy and with tapestries evoking He came upon the doorway of a poor, tumbledown Ireland. They even founded towns there: York and Hrolf’s exploits. On the great oak tables, which house with walls of dried mud. Dublin, for example. were already laid out for a feast, rested a few

22 23 Björn wasn’t reacting. For his part, Hott was – I don’t think my wife would like moving to King Hrolf then spoke: shaking so much that he was unable to eat the Uppsala! On the other hand, if you accept that we – I forbid you all to confront the monster. I have – Hey, have I not eaten of your mother’s soup?, least piece of meat or swallow the smallest sip of be seated closer to you than had been the warrior I already lost too many valiant men to this beast! grumbled Björn to encourage him. beer. sent to Hel 2, I will make a brave warrior out of With his right hand, Björn caressed the pommel of “What a bold man”, thought Hott while looking at Suddenly, upon seeing an enormous joint of beef Hott. Dainsleif, his sword that had been forged by Björn. And so, not wanting to disappoint his streaming through the air, Hott warned Björn: – I doubt that you can turn that coward into a dwarves and that sliced open such wounds as were companion, and remembering the family soup, he – Look out! A huge bone is flying our way! valiant combatant. But I agree to having you impossible to close. He was planning to kill two ate the dragon’s heart and drank its blood. Hott Impassive, Björn seized the bone in full flight and nearer to me, retorted One-Eyed Hrolf. Stay in my birds with one stone: killing the beast and finally immediately exclaimed: cast it right back at the thrower’s head. house until the end of the tournament. If, by then, making a true warrior out of Hott. – From this day on, I will no longer be afraid of The man took it right between the eyes and Hott has not become a warrior worthy of the one In the middle of the night, while everyone either anyone! dropped dead. you killed, I will put him to death myself. was sleeping or had fled town to avoid – Now that is worthy of a brave warrior! concluded This unexpected retaliation provoked a Björn and young Hott changed places. Hott was encountering the dragon, Björn got up. He grabbed Björn joyously. But we now need to convince Hrolf commotion that drew King Hrolf’s attention to still hanging on to Björn, terrorized by the Dainsleif, put on his helmet, then woke up Hott and his men of your valour. them. drinkers’ looks and shouts. and dragged him into town in search of the Björn and Hott-the-Fearless—as he would be called It was explained to him that the stranger had just Time went by. The tournament was in full swing horrifying beast. from then on—propped up the monster: they killed one of his warriors and that, consequently, but Björn was doubting more and more every day Hott’s eyelids were still heavy with sleep when he leaned it against an oak tree, shoved stakes into its he should be put to death at once. However, Hrolf that he would be able to breathe courage into caught site of—the dragon! He was about to scream limbs, straightened out its neck and spread its wanted to know how things had happened, and Hott’s heart. Could he one day make an intrepid when Björn covered his mouth with his hand: wings. This way, the dragon looked like it was still when he learned what a stupid game had been soldier out of him? Björn thought of the old – Not a sound, you big chicken! Hit the dirt and alive and ready for combat. They then headed back played at the expense of a stranger, a guest in his peasant woman’s tears and sighs. Were he to fail, don’t make a single move! to town and went back to bed. At the first light of home, he had a terrible fit. He demanded to speak she would never see her son again! One-Eyed Björn stealthily approached the dragon, ready to dawn, a guard sounded the alert, announcing that with Björn. Hrolf would kill him. Another week went by, filled face it. Hott was biting the dust and his fingers the dragon was at the town’s gates. All of the men – Whose son are you and why are you here? asked with games, feasts and tournaments. On the eighth were digging into the ground. He did not want to armed themselves but none of them dared step Hrolf. day, Björn noticed that the men had taken on a watch how the dragon was going to kill his outside the walls… None, except Hott! He sprang – I just heard your men nickname me “Hott’s- somber demeanour. No one was talking or protector! forward, gave three swings of a double-edged Guard”, but I am Björn, son of Harald, rich with laughing at the meals anymore. Hott heard the typical sounds of the battle: Björn’s sword and chopped off the head of the beast, which cattle. I came to take part in your tournament. He asked Hott what the reason was, who sword slicing through the air, the man getting out collapsed to the ground in a heap. Impressed, – You are unquestionably a strong man, for you to explained to him with a trembling voice: of breath, the dragon yelping. Then a muted One-Eyed Hrolf congratulated Björn: be able to kill a person by throwing a single bone – For two years now, on the nights of a full moon wailing, dreadful in the darkness, came to Hott’s – It looks like you have successfully taken up my at him. However, according to Viking custom, you that precede the festival of Jol, a terrible winged ears, followed by a great silence. challenge by having turned this coward into a will have to compensate me, for you have killed creature appears at the gates of our town. He raised his head, certain of seeing Björn fearless man and a warrior beyond reproach. one of my own. – Do you mean a dragon? asked Björn. drowning in his own blood. Yet it was just the Several days of feasting followed, with much – That man only got what he deserved, fittingly – That’s exactly it, answered Hott as he hid under opposite! Björn was quite alive and pulling singing about the achievement of Hott-the- retorted Björn. the table. Dainsleif from the winged monster’s belly, itself Fearless, to the point that the tournament was – Nonetheless, insisted Hrolf, you owe me the – It flies above the fields and destroys the crops, it reduced to a grotesque and bloody carcass. forgotten! In the end, Björn was given a horse so he equivalent of what he was worth. Do you want to devours our herds and massacres whoever – Hott, over here! ordered Björn with a thundering could get back to his wife and to Affald, his canine enter my service and become my soldier? opposes its brutal strength, went on a warrior voice. companion. Passing by the peasants’ house, he Björn enjoyed his freedom too much—going sitting in front of Björn. No weapon can injure this The young man was tottering, paralyzed with fear. reassured Hott’s ageing mother by telling her the hunting with Affald and sleeping all winter long— monster and no champion can slay it. We now – Now you will drink this blood and eat this heart, story of how her son had brought down a dragon. to be forcing military discipline upon himself. He dread its return tonight, for it is the full moon. Björn ordered him. Its strength and its courage will Before he rode off, the old woman thanked him by answered wisely: be yours and, henceforth, none of Hrolf’s warriors sliding a bit of her clog roast with weeds into his will be your equal. saddlebag. Hott gave a pout of disgust. – A little snack for the road! she confided with a 2. Hel: The Viking goddess of the dead, queen of the Underworld. toothless grin.

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