Early in the Viking Age, the most common weapon was not the sword, instead it was the ax. Being a necessary tool for all farmers, axes were a go-to weapon for the farmer-warrior class. Swords were a weapon more for the noble class, and elite warriors, being much more expensive. Despite the somewhat humble beginnings, through the Viking Age, the utilitarian ax would evolve into different types of battle axes.
Before diving into the research for this article I’ll admit I had not really thought much about battle-axes and their origins. Nor had I realized how common they were, not only in everyday life, but also in the sagas. In this article I am first looking at the early axes that were more dual purpose. Then I will explore different types and examples of the later specialized weapons of war that axes became.
Axes Early in the Viking Age
In the late 8th century, at the start of what we know as the Viking Age, most Scandinavians were farmers. Even people who might have some more specialized trade, like a smith or a boat builder, would likely also be farmers.
The Farmers Axes
If you imagine a Viking Age farmer’s life, you quickly realize that it would be very difficult without an ax. From clearing forests for a new field, to building houses, boats, furniture etc. the ax would be everywhere. The early axes were also clearly intended as a tool for farmers, and the design reflects that.
Below is an illustration of an early ax from Jan Petersen’s 1919 book “Norwegian Viking Swords”. While more than a hundred years old, it is still the authoritative book on all Viking Age weaponry.
These utilitarian axes are recognized as Type A in the book, and might come in slightly different sizes. I have a modern day version of a Type A ax which is great for hiking and chopping up firewood. However, I would not use one if I was to take down a whole tree, for that it’s too small and light.
There have also been found some older axes that were more specialized for woodworking, like planing and shaving wood for planks etc. Examples of these are found in the Type B axes, seen in the illustration below. With a light head, but longer cutting edge, this was likely great for woodworking. In an age with hardly any saws (only a very few have been found) planks would be crafted with an ax.
The primary use of these axes was as a tool. However, at times men were called upon by their chieftain to join in some warring party. Then the ax was obviously an easy choice for many.
Pattern Welding
The above-mentioned axes were simpler to create than later types, and most smiths could likely make them. Using a process called pattern welding, the smith would forge pieces of iron with slightly different properties into one finished piece. In this way you could have an ax that was strong and resilient against damage, made from common iron. Then add to it a finer edge made from a higher quality iron that could easily be sharpened.
Later in the Viking Age, battle axes became more specialized, and highly valued weapons of war. That evolution also brought with it a much greater level of details and decorative elements in the designs.
The Battle Axes of the Viking Age
With the beginning of the Viking Age, going on raids, and possibly into larger battles in Scandinavia became more common. Likely driven by this change, we also see a larger separation between the farmers axes, and more specialized battle-axes. While some types likely saw dual use, specialized battle-axes became more the norm for warriors.
Skeggøx – The Bearded Ax
The one-handed bearded ax got its name from how the bottom part of the blade drops further down, like a beard. Asymmetrical in shape, the bearded ax was both a woodworking tool as well as a battle-ax. However, with more specialized use came small changes in style and function. In the illustration below you can see two different types of bearded axes.
The one to the left was likely created mainly as a woodworking tool. It has a somewhat straight cutting edge which is at the same angle as the handle. The ax to the right on the other hand shows several adaptations marking it as a specialized battle-ax.
First off, the cutting edge is a little more rounded. That probably makes sense if the main purpose was to cleave into someone’s helmet, rather than shaping and planing wood.Secondly, the angle of the edge is not parallel to the handle. Instead it seems to curve in towards the handle at the bottom. Again, but here I am speculating more, this might make sense if the ax is a weapon, rather than a woodworking tool.
If you imagine lifting either one of these over your head and striking a person, hypothetically. The right one would probably hit around the middle of the edge, while the left one might hit at the very bottom.
Finally, dropping off from the bottom of the “beard”, is a little tap, effectively extending the length of it. This feature was likely there to make it better suited to use the “beard” part to pull away an opponent’s shield etc.
Breiðøx – The Dane Ax aka. Broadax
The Dane ax, was known to the vikings as the breiðøx (Old Norse meaning broadax). The English name came from the Anglo-saxons from Britain who called most vikings Danes. It is a two-handed ax that sported both a larger head, as well as a longer handle than the bearded ax.
The cutting edge on the Dane ax was around ten to twelve inches, typically weighing between two to four lbs. The head was large, however it was also quite thin. Thus making it easier to swing and wield than a heavy wood cutting ax would have been. Handles were typically three to four feet long, clearly making it a two-handed weapon.
The below illustration is of a broadax found in a Viking Age grave in Langeid in Norway. Believed to be from the early 11th century, it was found along with a magnificent sword, known as the Langeid sword. Having been buried along with these magnificent weapons, the viking in the grave was likely a great warrior.
Decorative or Ceremonial Axes
Just as with swords from the Viking Age, as axes became valued weapons, they were more often decorated and customized. Furthermore, some axes were likely not even intended for use in combat. Instead they were so valuable and finely decorated they were a status symbol.
One such example might be an ax found in Mammen in Denmark, known as the Mammen ax. It was found in a grave believed to be from the late 10th century, possibly the AD 970s. The ax was made from iron, but it has extraordinarily detailed decorations inlaid with silver. Seeing how beautifully crafted it is, having it survive a thousand years in the ground is quite remarkable.
Battle Axes from Viking Age History and the Sagas
Naturall, as battle axes became a well regarded and vicious weapon, their popularity grew in the stories of the vikings. While there are quite a few stories of swords that I knew, I had a hard time remembering any axes. However, having taken a deep dive into the sagas and stories, it turns out there are quite a few.
Battle of Stamford Bridge
The Battle of Stamford Bridge took place on September 25 in AD 1066. Outside the village of Stamford Bridge just east of the city of York. The vikings, in their invasion of Britain led by king Harald Hardrada, were taken by surprise by a larger Anglo-Saxon force under king Harold Godwinson. The vikings had captured the city of York just days before and expected to have a meeting about the future rule of the city. Instead, king Harold Godwinson surprised them, advancing towards them from the west, on the other side of the bridge crossing the River Derwent.
At this moment, to slow down the Anglo-Saxons and allow the vikings more time to organize their defense, a lone berserker warrior armed with a broadax stepped upon the bridge. Legend has it he killed at least twenty men, maybe many more, until someone got him by attacking him from underneath the bridge.
Olaf the Holy’s Broadax Hel
Olaf Haraldsson, who came to be known as Olaf the Holy after his death, was a great warrior. Befitting a battled-hardened viking, he naturally had an ax. Interestingly though, despite having converted to Christianity, his ax was named Hel, after the Norse goddess of death.
The ax is made famous in a verse from the Saga of Magnus the Good, his son and heir to the throne. Set to describe how king Magnus stepped into battle at the Battle of Hlyrskog Heath.
Ch. 29 Battle of Hlyrskog Heath
“His armour on the ground he flung
His broad axe round his head he swung;
And Norway’s king strode on in might,
Through ringing swords, to the wild fight.
His broad axe Hel with both hands wielding,
Shields, helms, and skulls before it yielding,
He seemed with Fate the world to share,
And life or death to deal out there.”
Egil’s Saga
In the great saga of Egil Skallagrimsson, called Egil’s Saga, there are quite a few mentions of axes. There are axes used with devastating force in battle, and there is one inlaid with gold and given as a great gift. With few mentions of swords, it seems either the poet, or Egil and his men really appreciated the ax.
I’m including a short part from the saga where an ax is involved below.
“When Kveldulf came aft to the stern-castle, he brandished high his battle-axe, and smote Hallvard right through helm and head, so that the axe sank in even to the shaft; then he snatched it back towards him so forcibly that he whirled Hallvard aloft, and slung him overboard.”
Nafnaþulur – List of Names
The last part of Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda poem Skáldskaparmál is called Nafnaþulur, meaning list of names. In it we find particularly rich and fascinating lists of names skalds could use for all manner of items, beings or gods. Among them is a verse only for names used for axes.
52. An Ax
Ax, earth-horn
and iron-blade,
opener and sideways shover,
cutter and hatchet,
power-span, Gnepja (jutter),
ogress and Fála (frightener),
spiked and bulging,
barbed ax and Vígglöð (battle-bright),
chopper and extended,
there is the wretch’s horn,
this is called the last word
of the names of axes.
Featured image part of the Bayeux Tapestry. Image in Public Domain.
