Why would a reasonable person leave his home and risir an early and violent death in a faraway place? In 9th century Scandinavia a large part of the adult male population did just that. There was a tremendous outpouring of military, commercial, and colonial energy directed at nations with whom they had little previous contact. It's interesting to speculate on who the men were who engaged in the early viking expeditious, and what motivated them.

Why Those People at the Time?

We know that a change in the climate of northern Europe occurred at about this time. The average temperature rose by a few degrees, which may have allowed an increase in crop yields and a population increase. This region had always been ruled by a large number of petty kings. There was a consolidation of power in the 9th century into the hands of fewer rulers, and the people on the losing side of those conflicts were often dispossessed.

Perhaps the most important factor was the development of efficient oceangoing vessels. A large, displaced and mobile population needs only a victim, and 9th century Europe seemed made for the role of victim. Power was fragmented. In most of Europe the central authority was weak and society was divided along class lines. The prosperous minority was responsible for defense, and the majority of the population was unaccustomed to arms.

Leadership of a Viking Expedition

While the leaders of viking expeditions were generally people of wealth and social standing at home, viking expeditions are best understood as business enterprises and their leaders as capitalist entrepreneurs. Their capital was ships, reputation, and seed money. Their labor force (going a-viking was a labor intensive industry) were the warriors who functioned as free contractors.

The basic unit of any viking army was the individual ship with it's crew of 30-60 men. Larger numbers of men were sometimes packed on board larger vessels designed for coastal work only, but for overseas work the ships payload severely limited the crew size. A leader might be a wealthy farmer with a single ship, a local administrstor or ruler personally controlling a number of ships, or a regional figure heading up a cartel of large and small entrepreneurs, and so directing the operations of larger numbers of ships and crews.

The Men

The men who filled the ranks for overseas expedidons were modvated by economic, social and cultural factors. The economic issues were the most compelling. Wealthy men generally had numbers of adult males attached to their household. These men would work the land and perform other services in peace, and would follow the property owner to war. Few men were wealthy enough to mount much of an expedition from their own household, so it was common to fill up the rowing benches with men from the district willing to join in for an agreed on wage and/or a share of the profits.

Many of these volunteers were younger sons with no land of their own and few prospects. Scandinavian culture glorified war and bestowed lavish social rewards on successful warriors. Young men of an age when natural aggression was at its peak would be attracted by the chance to establish a reputation. Many were attracted by the prospect of settling down as a colonist on land conquered in some of the larger expeditions. Even established farmers from the home countries or the colonies could be attracted by the chance to make a little extra on the side with some seasonal viking work. A few were outlaws or other social outcasts. A few were men who preferred war to peace, either because they liked the lifestyle, or as an outlet for a violent nature stemming from a psychological disorder. That last group would likely be the source of the legendary berserks that were a feature of viking armies.

An Expedition

A master of one or a few ships might set out on his own account. If he intended to do business in a more challenging environment (steal from a more powerful or well prepared victim) he might join with others like himself in a sort of partnership. For really ambitious projects, any number of these groupings might coalesce under their most prominent or successful leader. These alliances were run more or less by committee. Individual contingents were always coming and going, depending on the season, and the skill, reputation, and luck of the men at the top. As many of the leaders were wealthy landowners, they would want to be home for planting and harvesting.

The Changing Nature of Expeditions

Greater political unity and organization at home, and stiffening opposition among their erstwhile vicdms brought a close to the entrepreneurial style of the early vikings. The later expeditions mounted by kings like Sven Forkbeard, Canute and Harald Hardrada were national armies pursuing dynastic objectives. The great days of the independent 'businessmen' were over.