Making a Warrior

A 60m-long Viking-Age wooden hall reconstruction in Lejre, in green surroundings

A 60m-long Viking-Age wooden hall reconstruction in Lejre, in green surroundings

A decorated internal archway in the Viking-Age wooden hall reconstruction in Lejre

The main internal space in the Viking-Age wooden hall reconstruction in Lejre, with various furnishing surrounding a central firepit.

Checking out the Viking-Age hall reconstruction in Lejre, Denmark

A medieval manuscript page from the tenth century, on vellum. Text in black ink and red rubrication using Carolingian miniscule.

A marginal annotation on a manuscript, containing the (abbreviated) Latin sentence: 'Eodem anno destructum est monasterium sancti winualoei a normannis' (translation: 'In the same year, the monastery of saint Winwaloe was destroyed by Northmen').

Very happy to finally see this in the flesh today: the remains of an early tenth-century calendar from Landévennec, Brittany, whose entry for the year 913 contains an annotation that the local coastal monastery of Winwaloe was attacked by vikings during that year.

Copenhagen, KB Thott 239 2°, f.10r

A low angle of a runestone in front of a medieval church building, with the church spire rising from behind a tree in the background.

A large decorated runestone replica in front of a brick wall

Today's vikingism: the replica of the Jelling runestone of Harald Bluetooth that was gifted to Utrecht University (Netherlands) in honour of its 300-year anniversary in 1936.

A low angle of a runestone in front of a medieval church building, with the church spire rising from behind a tree in the background.

A large decorated runestone replica in front of a brick wall

Today's vikingism: the replica of the Jelling runestone of Harald Bluetooth that was gifted to Utrecht University (Netherlands) in honour of its 300-year anniversary in 1936.

The festival ground of Wilde Furda, Elewijt , Belgium, featuring a range of tents, crafts, and reenactors on a green, sunny field

A white dog outside a tent at a viking reenactment festival

The Great Viking Survey is at the Wilde Furda festival in Belgium today, catching some final summer sunshine. ☀️ Don't be a stranger!

YouTube video by Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song (Official Audio)

Today's vikingism: the widely popular 'Immigrant Song', from Led Zeppelin's third studio album (III), released in late 1970. Its lyrics famously reference themes from Norse mythology and describe viking groups journeying overseas ('from the land of the ice and snow').

The Relocation of the Oseberg Ship Is Underway - Museum of the Viking Age Finally, the day has come for Norway's most spectacular moving project: The Oseberg Ship is entering the new museum building. This article will be updated regularly throughout the day.

At a breakneck speed of 0.008 knots (or 25cm/min), the Oseberg ship is once again on the move today, for the first time in almost a century.

Tents and reenactment at the Ishøy Viking Market

Tents and reenactment at the Ishøy Viking Market

The Great Viking Survey strikes again! This time at the sunny Ishøy Viking Market near Copenhagen 🇩🇰 Come have a chat about vikings if you're around today!

A life-sized Isle of Lewis chess game rising from the floor, being a large set piece for UK spy thriller 'Deadlier than the Male' (1967).

A close up of some of the pieces of the life-sized Isle of Lewis chess game featuring in spy thriller 'Deadlier than the Male' (1967).

A life-sized Isle of Lewis chess game rising from the floor, being a large set piece for UK spy thriller 'Deadlier than the Male' (1967). Actor Milton Reid is visible in the background.

Today's vikingism: the life-sized, voice-controlled Isle of Lewis chess game that served as the set piece for a confrontation between Richard Johnson and Nigel Green in the Bond-inspired UK spy thriller 'Deadlier than the Male' (1967).

Poster for a talk at 'Midgard Talks 2025' on Thursday 14 August: Text: Christian Cooijmans - Postdoc, Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo. 'The Endless Viking Age: Global Perspectives on a Premodern Past' Abstract: The Viking Age fascinates globally, often romanticised or politicised. Yet few studies explore its worldwide perception. Drawing on the Great Viking Survey with over 10,000 responses, this talk reveals new insights into how Vikings are viewed and reimagined today, showing their enduring cultural impact across diverse modern audiences. For more information and ticket prices visit our website: Midgardvikingsenter.no'

This week, our project member Chris Cooijmans will be revealing some initial results from the Great Viking Survey as part of the Midgard Talks series in Borre. Do come along if you find yourself in the area, especially if you're already at Midgardsblot next door!

vestfoldmuseene.no/midgard-viki...

The medieval manuscript containing the Dane saga of Breda.

Alongside my article on the 'Dane saga' of Breda in MLC, I wrote a little companion piece for the Royal Historical Society (@royalhistsoc.org) blog, introducing this capricious, clumsy, and charming work of premodern imagination.

#medievalsky

blog.royalhistsoc.org/2025/08/12/d...

The Dane saga of Breda: A Late Medieval Account of Viking Endeavour and Vernacular Devotion: The Medieval Low Countries: Vol 11 Found in the municipal archives of Breda (present-day North Brabant, Netherlands) is a conspicuous but ill-studied late fifteenth or early sixteenth-century codex, whose contents are deemed to have been composed within the late medieval town. Although characterised as a local cross legend, the Middle Dutch work is customarily referred to by its modern moniker of Denensage (i.e. Dane saga) due to the presence and pursuits of ‘viking’ mariners over the course of its verse narrative. By imparting how a group of Danes found their way to Breda and established a stronghold there – refashioning a prominent local tree into a cross in the process – the work occupies a distinct confluence of historiographical, devotional, and literary authorship. Situating the Dane saga in its sociocultural context, this article explores the wide-ranging narrative influences underpinning it, whilst determining its potential authorship and intended audience(s). Lastly, as well as furnishing a new edition of the manuscript, it offers the first English translation of this important, idiosyncratic text.

Beyond excited that my study of the medieval 'Dane saga' of Breda is finally out (OA 🔓) alongside a first English translation! This anachronistic oddity of devotional/literary storytelling posits how a group of 'vikings' arrived and troubled the city for years.

www.brepolsonline.net/doi/epdf/10....

From last week's IMC paper, here is my handy general formula on the effects of vikings moving cattle by ship across long distances:

A green roadside sign for the township of Viking, Minnesota.

Black lettering on the side of a white building for the 'Viking Covenant Church'

Red-roofed building with the lettering 'Viking Diner & Antiques'

Today's vikingism: the township of Viking, in Marshall County, Minnesota. Home to around 100 people, it was founded in 1884 and named by a Norwegian Lutheran pastor.

A photograph of Voltaire's old house (Les Délices) in Geneva

Poster of event, Comparing Medieval Histories

Looking forward to discussions at today's Comparing Medieval Histories workshop, hosted at Voltaire's old haunt in Geneva 🇨🇭

A recreated late-medieval market square with visitors

Recreated medieval buildings and tents in a green outdoor environment

Another week, another festival - in the Netherlands this time no less! Come find us at VikingFest in Eindhoven today!

Birka Historical Tattoo Festival flag

A viking style boat at a jetty in Birka, Sweden

The Great Viking Survey is at the Birka Historical Tattoo Festival today! Don't be a stranger!

The Great Viking Survey logo superimposed onto a photograph of a fern leaf, along with the text 'Thank you for taking part!'

The Great Viking Survey closed with over 10,000 responses on the meter!

Thank you to the countless communities, clubs, colleagues, and other contacts around the world for taking part and sharing this study.

Keep an eye out for updates as we process, analyse, and eventually publish the results!

Paulton's Park announces new £12m Viking-themed world Paulton's Park announces Realm of the Vikings will be ready in 2026 as it opens new indoor dark ride.

Today's vikingism:

A collage poster of various images (viking ship, stone, forest, beach, northern lights) with the text 'FINAL DAY TODAY' overlaid. The Great Viking Survey logo is in the middle, with the text 'vikingsurvey.org' underneath.

Last call for the Great Viking Survey! 🛡️ Today is your final chance to take part, so find us at vikingsurvey.org if you haven't yet!

See @middeleeuwen.bsky.social for the podcast page!

Vikingen: oorsprong, organisatie en overlevering Middeleeuwen · Episode

For those who speak Dutch, our project member Christian Cooijmans was recently on the 'Middeleeuwen' podcast to chat at length about vikings and their world, as well as our many modern (mis)conceptions of this history!

A collage poster of various images (viking ship, stone, forest, beach, northern lights) with the text 'FINAL DAY TODAY' overlaid. The Great Viking Survey logo is in the middle, with the text 'vikingsurvey.org' underneath.

Last call for the Great Viking Survey! 🛡️ Today is your final chance to take part, so find us at vikingsurvey.org if you haven't yet!

A camp of tents in a river valley

A badge for the great Viking survey

We're at the brilliant Boyne Valley Viking Experience today (in Slane, Ireland)! Do come and talk to us about vikings if you're around!

The Great Viking Survey logo against a forested background with the words 'TEN THOUSAND RESPONSES' added above as if floating between the trees. The bottom of the image likewise states 'Final Week - Closes 19 May' and provides the url address: vikingsurvey.org.

We asked, and you 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 answered! Many thanks to the 10,000 people who've shared their thoughts on vikings with us so far.

It's not too late to take part: you can find us at vikingsurvey.org for a few more days!

We can't say for sure just yet, as it'll depend on the final dataset, but we're hoping to publish over the next year. Updates to follow!

The Great Viking Survey logo against a forested background with the words 'TEN THOUSAND RESPONSES' added above as if floating between the trees. The bottom of the image likewise states 'Final Week - Closes 19 May' and provides the url address: vikingsurvey.org.

We asked, and you 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 answered! Many thanks to the 10,000 people who've shared their thoughts on vikings with us so far.

It's not too late to take part: you can find us at vikingsurvey.org for a few more days!

The Great Viking Survey logo overlaid on a foggy mountainous background.

Only a few days left to take the Great Viking Survey! Find it at vikingsurvey.org ⛵️

The Great Viking Survey logo overlaid on a foggy mountainous background.

Only a few days left to take the Great Viking Survey! Find it at vikingsurvey.org ⛵️

The Great Viking Survey logo overlaid on a sunset seascape in Scandinavia, with the words 'Final week! Closes May 19' likewise included.

This week will be your final chance to take part in the Great Viking Survey! 🪓⛵️ You can still find us at vikingsurvey.org!