Viking Society Sources

When a [Viking] Chieftain dies, slaves and servants are asked who will die with him. The one who volunteers cannot alter the decision. In this case it was a woman who was treated with great courtesy while the burial was being prepared…

After she performed various rituals, she was raised three times above something that looked like a door frame and said “I see my master sitting in paradise, and it is beautiful and green and with him are men and youths and he calls me. Lead me to him”. Then she killed a hen, was taken to the ship, took off her jewellery… and finally taken to the tent of her dead master where she was killed. The closest relatives now lit the firewood under the ship...

Context statement:

Ahmad ibn Fadlan was an Arabic theologian in the Muslim Abbasid Caliphate. In AD 921, he was part of an embassy sent from Baghdad to the ruler of the Volga Bulgars. The Bulgars had recently converted to Islam and ibn Fadlan was sent to teach them how to follow the Islamic faith. While there, ibn Fadlan interacted with the Volga Vikings (called the ‘Rusiyyah’ in his writings), and he made notes on their culture and practice. 

Reference:

Fadlin, I. (c. 10th Century). Chronicle.

Copyright: Public Domain

Things have not gone well [for the English people] now for a long time at home or abroad, but there has been devastation and persecution in every district again and again, and the English have been for a long time now completely defeated and too greatly disheartened through God’s anger; and the [Vikings] so strong with God’s consent that often in battle one puts to flight ten, sometimes less, sometimes more, all because of our sins... we pay them continually and they humiliate us daily; they ravage and they burn, and they plunder and they rob and carry on board; and lo, what else is there in all these events except God’s anger clear and visible over his people? 

Context statement:

Wulfstan was an Anglo-Saxon archbishop of York. This sermon was delivered to the people of England at a time when Viking activity in England was renewed.

Reference:

Wulfstan II of York. (c. AD 1014). Sermon of the Wolf to the English People.

Copyright: Public Domain