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Warmatrix

War Matrix - berserkers

Viking Age 800 CE - 1066 CE, Armies and troops

Berserker chesspiece
Berserker chesspiece
Berserkers were a special brand of fighters found among the Vikings.
The name "berserker" means 'bear-shirt' and refers to the bearskins that they sometimes wore. There were also wolfskin and boarskin warriors. These animals represented strength and aggression and were also attributed to Odin, the first warrior god of the Vikings. Many vikings believed that berserkers were were-creatures, capable of taking on the shape, mind and strength of the animals.
Before battle, berserkers worked themselves up with battle-frenzy. A set of chess pieces depicts them gnawing their shields in anticipation of fighting. In battle, they attacked enemies madly, without regard for their own safety. This was called a berserkergang. Though it made them vulnerable to counterattack, their ferocity struck fear into the hearts of their opponents. Possibly because they ignored pain, many men believed that they were invulnerable to weapons or fire, which increased the dread that they could inspire. Berserkers tended to fight until no enemy was left standing and when the battle was over, fell into a state of exhaustion and lethargy that could last several days.
It is unclear whether this battle-rage was caused and/or helped by battle trauma, fasting, alcohol or hallucinogenic herbs. Berserkers were known to be aggressive and troublemakers, at times going berserk from hard labor instead of the heat of battle. Some of them challenged strangers to duels, which those men had to accept or be branded as cowards. Because of this they where despised and shunned as much in peacetime as they were valued during war. During the 11th and 12th centuries CE berserker gangs were outlawed and disappeared.