Making a Warrior
@makingawarrior.bsky.social
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Research project @Oslo/Uppsala/Reykjavík/Copenhagen Examining viking warriorhood and its representations past and present Project info: https://www.khm.uio.no/english/research/projects/making-a-warrior
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Today's vikingism: the replica of the Jelling runestone of Harald Bluetooth that was gifted to Utrecht University (Netherlands) in honour of its 300-year anniversary in 1936.
A low angle of a runestone in front of a medieval church building, with the church spire rising from behind a tree in the background. A large decorated runestone replica in front of a brick wall
makingawarrior.bsky.social
Today's vikingism: the replica of the Jelling runestone of Harald Bluetooth that was gifted to Utrecht University (Netherlands) in honour of its 300-year anniversary in 1936.
A low angle of a runestone in front of a medieval church building, with the church spire rising from behind a tree in the background. A large decorated runestone replica in front of a brick wall
makingawarrior.bsky.social
The Great Viking Survey is at the Wilde Furda festival in Belgium today, catching some final summer sunshine. ☀️ Don't be a stranger!
The festival ground of Wilde Furda, Elewijt , Belgium, featuring a range of tents, crafts, and reenactors on a green, sunny field A white dog outside a tent at a viking reenactment festival
makingawarrior.bsky.social
Today's vikingism: the widely popular 'Immigrant Song', from Led Zeppelin's third studio album (III), released in late 1970. Its lyrics famously reference themes from Norse mythology and describe viking groups journeying overseas ('from the land of the ice and snow').
Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Led Zeppelin
www.youtube.com
makingawarrior.bsky.social
The Great Viking Survey strikes again! This time at the sunny Ishøy Viking Market near Copenhagen 🇩🇰 Come have a chat about vikings if you're around today!
Tents and reenactment at the Ishøy Viking Market Tents and reenactment at the Ishøy Viking Market
makingawarrior.bsky.social
Today's vikingism: the life-sized, voice-controlled Isle of Lewis chess game that served as the set piece for a confrontation between Richard Johnson and Nigel Green in the Bond-inspired UK spy thriller 'Deadlier than the Male' (1967).
A life-sized Isle of Lewis chess game rising from the floor, being a large  set piece for UK spy thriller 'Deadlier than the Male' (1967). A close up of some of the pieces of the life-sized Isle of Lewis chess game featuring in spy thriller 'Deadlier than the Male' (1967). A life-sized Isle of Lewis chess game rising from the floor, being a large  set piece for UK spy thriller 'Deadlier than the Male' (1967). Actor Milton Reid is visible in the background.
makingawarrior.bsky.social
This week, our project member Chris Cooijmans will be revealing some initial results from the Great Viking Survey as part of the Midgard Talks series in Borre. Do come along if you find yourself in the area, especially if you're already at Midgardsblot next door!

vestfoldmuseene.no/midgard-viki...
Poster for a talk at 'Midgard Talks 2025' on Thursday 14 August:

Text: Christian Cooijmans - Postdoc, Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo. 'The Endless Viking Age: Global Perspectives on a Premodern Past'

Abstract: The Viking Age fascinates globally, often romanticised or
politicised. Yet few studies explore its worldwide perception. Drawing on the Great Viking Survey with over 10,000 responses, this talk reveals new insights into how Vikings are viewed and reimagined today, showing their enduring cultural impact across diverse modern audiences.

For more information and ticket prices visit our website:
Midgardvikingsenter.no'
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Alongside my article on the 'Dane saga' of Breda in MLC, I wrote a little companion piece for the Royal Historical Society (@royalhistsoc.org) blog, introducing this capricious, clumsy, and charming work of premodern imagination.

#medievalsky

blog.royalhistsoc.org/2025/08/12/d...
The medieval manuscript containing the Dane saga of Breda.
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Beyond excited that my study of the medieval 'Dane saga' of Breda is finally out (OA 🔓) alongside a first English translation! This anachronistic oddity of devotional/literary storytelling posits how a group of 'vikings' arrived and troubled the city for years.

www.brepolsonline.net/doi/epdf/10....
The Dane saga of Breda: A Late Medieval Account of Viking Endeavour and Vernacular Devotion: The Medieval Low Countries: Vol 11
Found in the municipal archives of Breda (present-day North Brabant, Netherlands) is a conspicuous but ill-studied late fifteenth or early sixteenth-century codex, whose contents are deemed to have been composed within the late medieval town. Although characterised as a local cross legend, the Middle Dutch work is customarily referred to by its modern moniker of Denensage (i.e. Dane saga) due to the presence and pursuits of ‘viking’ mariners over the course of its verse narrative. By imparting how a group of Danes found their way to Breda and established a stronghold there – refashioning a prominent local tree into a cross in the process – the work occupies a distinct confluence of historiographical, devotional, and literary authorship. Situating the Dane saga in its sociocultural context, this article explores the wide-ranging narrative influences underpinning it, whilst determining its potential authorship and intended audience(s). Lastly, as well as furnishing a new edition of the manuscript, it offers the first English translation of this important, idiosyncratic text.
www.brepolsonline.net
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From last week's IMC paper, here is my handy general formula on the effects of vikings moving cattle by ship across long distances:
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Today's vikingism: the township of Viking, in Marshall County, Minnesota. Home to around 100 people, it was founded in 1884 and named by a Norwegian Lutheran pastor.
A green roadside sign for the township of Viking, Minnesota. Black lettering on the side of a white building for the 'Viking Covenant Church' Red-roofed building with the lettering 'Viking Diner & Antiques'
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Looking forward to discussions at today's Comparing Medieval Histories workshop, hosted at Voltaire's old haunt in Geneva 🇨🇭
A photograph of Voltaire's old house (Les Délices) in Geneva Poster of event, Comparing Medieval Histories
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Another week, another festival - in the Netherlands this time no less! Come find us at VikingFest in Eindhoven today!
A recreated late-medieval market square with visitors Recreated medieval buildings and tents in a green outdoor environment
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The Great Viking Survey is at the Birka Historical Tattoo Festival today! Don't be a stranger!
Birka Historical Tattoo Festival flag A viking style boat at a jetty in Birka, Sweden
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The Great Viking Survey closed with over 10,000 responses on the meter!

Thank you to the countless communities, clubs, colleagues, and other contacts around the world for taking part and sharing this study.

Keep an eye out for updates as we process, analyse, and eventually publish the results!
The Great Viking Survey logo superimposed onto a photograph of a fern leaf, along with the text 'Thank you for taking part!'
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Last call for the Great Viking Survey! 🛡️ Today is your final chance to take part, so find us at vikingsurvey.org if you haven't yet!
A collage poster of various images (viking ship, stone, forest, beach, northern lights) with the text 'FINAL DAY TODAY' overlaid. The Great Viking Survey logo is in the middle, with the text 'vikingsurvey.org' underneath.
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For those who speak Dutch, our project member Christian Cooijmans was recently on the 'Middeleeuwen' podcast to chat at length about vikings and their world, as well as our many modern (mis)conceptions of this history!
Vikingen: oorsprong, organisatie en overlevering
Middeleeuwen · Episode
open.spotify.com
makingawarrior.bsky.social
Last call for the Great Viking Survey! 🛡️ Today is your final chance to take part, so find us at vikingsurvey.org if you haven't yet!
A collage poster of various images (viking ship, stone, forest, beach, northern lights) with the text 'FINAL DAY TODAY' overlaid. The Great Viking Survey logo is in the middle, with the text 'vikingsurvey.org' underneath.
makingawarrior.bsky.social
We're at the brilliant Boyne Valley Viking Experience today (in Slane, Ireland)! Do come and talk to us about vikings if you're around!
A camp of tents in a river valley A badge for the great Viking survey
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We asked, and you 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 answered! Many thanks to the 10,000 people who've shared their thoughts on vikings with us so far.

It's not too late to take part: you can find us at vikingsurvey.org for a few more days!
The Great Viking Survey logo against a forested background with the words 'TEN THOUSAND RESPONSES' added above as if floating between the trees. The bottom of the image likewise states 'Final Week - Closes 19 May' and provides the url address: vikingsurvey.org.
makingawarrior.bsky.social
We can't say for sure just yet, as it'll depend on the final dataset, but we're hoping to publish over the next year. Updates to follow!
makingawarrior.bsky.social
We asked, and you 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 answered! Many thanks to the 10,000 people who've shared their thoughts on vikings with us so far.

It's not too late to take part: you can find us at vikingsurvey.org for a few more days!
The Great Viking Survey logo against a forested background with the words 'TEN THOUSAND RESPONSES' added above as if floating between the trees. The bottom of the image likewise states 'Final Week - Closes 19 May' and provides the url address: vikingsurvey.org.