Viking Shields for Offense and Defense

A Viking shield was more than a wall between a warrior and a blade. It was also a weapon, a signal, and a work of art. Most Viking shields were round. Makers built them from planks and sized them to their owner, from about 24 to 38 inches across, balancing protection against weight. They probably edged or faced many with rawhide, which shrank tight as it dried and helped stop the wood from splitting under a blow.

Viking Shield Law

In Norway, laws dictated the way makers built shields. The Gulaþing and Frostaþing laws state that wooden shields should include three bands of iron attached with iron nails. Lawmakers later amended these laws. They required makers to build the shields from double planks of wood and paint them red and white.

Round Viking Shields

A round shield covered a warrior from neck to knees, so attackers aimed for the head and legs. It spread the force of a blow across its face, and a blade that bit into the wood could stick fast, letting the defender wrench it away or snap it. The shield’s rim and boss also made a brutal punch against an unwary opponent.

The center of the shield had a grip, and an iron dome, or boss, covered it to protect the hand. This type of grip was less stable than shields that a warrior strapped to the forearm, but it allowed for greater reach and maneuverability. Shields probably had leather straps so the warrior could sling the shield onto his back and use both hands to wield a weapon like a spear or a two-handed axe. They may have also been hung over the shoulder, especially when traveling.

Uses of Viking Shields

Vikings likely decorated many shields. They made paint from minerals, including iron oxide for red, malachite for green, and vivianite for blue. The paint would protect the wood from the elements and tell others about the allegiance of the Norseman wielding the shield. They could also use colorful shields to decorate longhouses.

Viking longships carried shield racks that let the crew hang the shields off the side of the longship. Shields placed there would provide some protection against missiles shot at the ship. However, they would also inhibit the operation of the ship. Crews likely hung the decorated shields from the racks only to make a spectacle when leaving or entering a harbor and when combat was imminent. The Gokstad ship burial included 64 shields, painted yellow and black, hung along its rails.

Kite Shields

Late in the Viking age, kite-shaped shields appeared. They were long and tapered to protect a rider’s leg. They saw relatively little use in the North, where most Vikings fought on foot and used horses mainly for travel. For what went on the warrior’s head, see Viking Helmets: Did They Have Horns?

We hope one day to let visitors hold a replica shield and feel its weight for themselves. Until then, join our newsletter for more Norse history.