Infopanel 28

The crown of Viking society

The social structure of Viking society varied greatly in terms of geography and time, as major changes took place during the Viking Age, not least due to increased contact with other countries. 

During the Iron Age, Scandinavia was fragmented into numerous very small domains and principalities, which expanded rapidly during the Migration Period. The petty kings who ruled over parts of the later Scandinavian empires usually bore the simpler title of jarl due to their limited influence. These included the jarls of Hlaðir in Tröndelag, Norway, and the jarls of the Orkney Islands, who still held this rank centuries later, even though they were subordinate to the Norwegian king.

Jarle, chieftains, and free farmers

When Harald Fairhair in the 9th century and Harald Bluetooth in the 10th century set out to unite the various small kingdoms in Norway under one rule—modelled on Charlemagne's Carolingian Empire—the jarls developed into a princely class below the kings. Below them was a class of chieftains who held local power but were subordinate to the king and developed into the function of herses, or district chiefs. In Iceland, power was initially shared among 39 members of this class, who were known as godar. 

The next lower class was that of the free farmers. At the beginning of the Viking Age, they actually still lived very free from the power of the petty kings. Later, under the central monarchy, they became liable for taxes and, in the event of war, had to bear the brunt of the leiðangr, the fleet and army mobilization.

Servants, maids, slaves, and outlaws

Below the free peasants were the numerous farmhands and maidservants who lived and worked on the farms. They were dependent on the peasants, even though they were allowed to change jobs twice a year. 

Slaves formed the next lowest social class. They were the personal property of the peasants or princes and could only be bought free. They had no rights whatsoever, and killing them was punished as property damage.

Wandering beggars, who were considered nothing more than a nuisance, and outlaws or outcasts were at the very bottom of the social system. The latter were outlaws and could be killed with impunity, if there was not already a bounty on their heads.