What Vikings Did to the Wives of Defeated Warriors Was Worse than Death

Summary

This script explores the dark and often overlooked side of Viking raids, focusing on the fate of women captured during these invasions. It details how Viking raiders systematically enslaved, trafficked, and brutalized women, from forced marriages and executions to ritual sacrifices. Through archaeological findings and historical records, the script sheds light on a chilling network of human trafficking, where women were commodified and exploited across vast regions. The narrative not only uncovers the violent practices of the Vikings but also examines their legal and cultural systems that allowed such horrors to persist for centuries.

Takeaways

• 😀 Vikings were not just raiders and warriors; their post-raid actions, especially towards women, were far darker and more systematic than commonly known.
• 😀 After Viking raids, the true nightmare for women began, as many were subjected to forced marriages, slavery, and horrific violence.
• 😀 Viking slave markets, particularly in Dublin, played a central role in the trafficking of women, with captives being sold based on their age, health, and condition.
• 😀 Women were treated as commodities, with specific prices for young women, mothers, and those injured during capture. This system was documented in Viking runic inscriptions.
• 😀 The Vikings didn’t just plunder wealth; they plundered people, with the main targets often being wives and daughters of defeated warriors.
• 😀 In some instances, Viking men engaged in ritualistic sexual violence and executions of women, sometimes as part of burial practices for their own warriors.
• 😀 Women were sometimes forced into brutal legal marriages upon their capture, and resistance often led to death or harsh punishment under Viking law.
• 😀 Archaeological evidence shows that Viking raids were part of an organized, systemic slave trade, with human trafficking networks reaching as far as Baghdad and beyond.
• 😀 Viking brutality was deeply embedded in their legal codes, including forced marriages, rape, and the killing of women who resisted or were deemed 'unfit' for service.
• 😀 Despite their violent legacy, some women, like Gunhild, fought back, leading successful raids against the very systems that enslaved them, highlighting resistance against Viking oppression.
• 😀 After the Viking age ended, the system of slavery and forced marriage continued under Norman rule, with many women from previous Viking raids being rebranded as indentured servants, maintaining the brutal cycle of exploitation.

Q & A

What were the Vikings primarily known for, and how does this perception differ from the reality of their post-raid actions?

The Vikings were traditionally seen as raiders and warriors, but the true aftermath of their raids involved the suffering of the women who survived. These women often faced horrific violence, slavery, and exploitation, which is rarely discussed in historical narratives.

What evidence suggests the Vikings' violent treatment of women after their raids?

Evidence from archaeological sites such as Dublin's slave markets, and the remains of women found in mass graves, shows deliberate patterns of violence, including executions and ritual sacrifices. Inscriptions and records indicate the brutal treatment women suffered, such as being sold as property, forced into marriages, or killed after capture.

How did Viking legal codes institutionalize the capture and exploitation of women?

Viking legal codes, like the Gragas laws from Iceland, explicitly stated that a warrior could claim a woman as his property after killing her husband. This legalized forced marriage and sexual violence, with the woman having no choice or escape, and children born from such unions were considered legitimate.

What role did Viking slave markets play in their economy?

Viking slave markets, particularly in Dublin, were major economic hubs, where women and children were captured, traded, and transported. The Vikings exploited human beings as commodities, with captives being sold for varying prices based on age and condition.

What is the significance of the evidence from the mass graves found in Viking settlements?

Mass graves, such as the one discovered in Repton, revealed that Viking families, facing defeat, chose to kill their own women and children to prevent them from being captured and subjected to the same violent fate they had inflicted on others. This act reflects the extreme measures taken by the Vikings in moments of crisis.

How were the Vikings' methods of slavery and exploitation of women linked to broader trade networks?

The Vikings engaged in large-scale human trafficking, with female captives being sent to various markets, including those in the Islamic world and Eastern Europe. The existence of mobile slave pens and the involvement of Viking merchants in these trade networks shows how systematic and organized this practice was.

What does the discovery of the 'breeding pens' in Viking camps reveal about their practices?

The 'breeding pens' found in Viking camps were designed to hold and transport women for reproductive purposes. These facilities were part of a larger system of human exploitation where women were used as tools for labor and reproduction, often under horrific conditions.

What was the fate of children born from these forced unions, and how were they treated?

Children born from forced unions were often seen as liabilities. In some cases, they were killed, as indicated by the high infant mortality rates in Viking-controlled areas. The few who survived were typically sold into servitude, continuing the cycle of exploitation.

How did Viking society’s views on women influence their treatment of female captives?

Viking society viewed women primarily as property, which is reflected in their treatment of female captives. Women's consent was not considered, and their bodies were used as tools for securing alliances, maintaining power, and sustaining the economy through exploitation and reproduction.

What was the significance of the 923 Frankish records mentioning Gunhild, and how did her actions impact Viking society?

Gunhild was a freed Viking captive who led raids against Viking settlements, systematically targeting and destroying Viking slave markets. Her ability to turn Viking methods against them demonstrated the fierce resistance of some women, though her actions were ultimately erased from the historical record after 930.