Amon Amarth | The Berserker at Stamford Bridge (On-Screen Lyrics)

[@Parrtorias]

One of the best bands to vibe to in the gym

[@CREA7IION]

100% a vibe!!!

[@Parrtorias]

@@CREA7IION Damn right ser

[@Spartangod58]

He has Odins champion the gods will not let him go to helheim

[@hightechredneck8587]

Use a rowing machine while listening to put your back into the oar. you become a machine.

[@MrBlakeD82]

One of history's best "Come at me, bro" moments.

[@KnifeToSeeYou]

Not kidding lmao

[@Tula-cs1ef]

I think you and what army would be more preferable

[@blood-eagle4204]

"Fuck around and find out"

[@surrealhumor1235]

And history doesn't have many of those...

[@rudestdudest826]

If anyone deserves to enter Valhalla it's this man

[@KnifeToSeeYou]

Absolutely, this guy is a damn badass.

[@vouge6750]

Yeah, about that, I might have some bad news

[@Stavuste]

This Beserker has earned Valhalla

[@loganodinson4661]

youre right and if any non-norseman deserves to enter Valhalla its Alexander the Great

[@dakotadurham4788]

he fell in 1066, meaning more than likely, this berserker was a christian

[@Madashell1200]

By historical accounts one man held an army 15,000 strong at bay for the better part of an hour. His sacrifice was ultimately in vain, as the English defeated the Vikings. But this story has existed for almost a thousand years. Heroes live forever but a legend truly never dies.

[@eutropius2699]

It’s crazy too because the English still lose against the Normans. There really was no winners at the battle of Stamford bridge at least in the long term

[@boxtank5288]

@@eutropius2699 Except the Berserker, who died believing he bought enough time

[@chungus_khan]

A very similar story mirrored this in feudal Japan amongst samurai; *Saito Benkei* was the *sole* , *GIGANTIC* samurai standing guard at his shogun's crib; these samurai dudes surrounded 'em & was all like "Give up lol" & the solitary giant samurai *Saito Benkei* (who also was *fighting atop a bridge* imagine that) was all like "naw lol" so them samurai *RUSHED* big dude, & he chopped them bois down. So it became this standoff at this bridge leadin' to this head honcho shogun & these samurai are trying to get 'em but the bridge leadin' to dude is held off by this bigass samurai who slays a buncha samurai 'till the leader of the lil' dudes decides to rain arrows down on big man; where he eventually died propped up by arrows on the bridge. Yeah man, samurai *Saito Benkei* ; real dude; mirrored story 🤯 *FACT CHECK ME*

[@IsaacKing-dy3eb]

If remember correctly he was swedish

[@luxaeterna2486]

❤

[@marin4046]

He only died because Odin needed him on his side for Ragnarok

[@windigo1592]

@@jonescantfight4677 pagan power

[@ztamizzen]

And still everything ended. But as the books say, nothing last forever, not even the end. Everything started again.

[@philliphampton5183]

For those that don't know, this is based on ENGLISH accounts of how a lone giant Norseman wielding a giant axe held the Stamford bridge on his own delaying the English. The tale goes pretty much exactly as the song depicts it. Was it true or perhaps an embellishment of reality? Who can say for sure. But what IS factual is that this defeat of the Norsemen essentially ended the Viking Age. Perhaps somewhat poetically though, the Vikings did win in a way, as King Harolds army was greatly weakened in the battle, resulting in it being defeated just weeks later at Hastings when William the Conqueror invaded in the south. Harold was killed, England conquered, and William, who was himself a descendent of Rollo, ruled England for decades.

[@oohbootiga7649]

You asked if this could be an embellishment of reality, but the story is historically well known. This really did happen. I heard he killed many of the English before being attacked from behind. The English crossed under the bridge and flanked the berserker's position, and using spears, they managed to wound him enough for him to be overwhelmed. The English were afraid of this man, so the tale goes. They say he fought like an enraged animal, as did all the berserkers.

[@a-human-interface4991]

Just a small correction, the army that fought at Stamford bridge is not the same army that was defeated by William the Bastard. The only elemets that went south to meet the Normans at Hastings were Harold Godwinson himself and his housecarls. The English crown at the time lacked the ability to compell the northern earls to provide supplies for the whole army to be marched back south. Instead once the king made it back he called out the Fyrd and formed a new army.

[@wigletron2846]

@@oohbootiga7649 he killed 40 englishmen and he was defeated when one stabbed him in the groin from under the bridge

[@eatalots7773]

The other Vikings were able to form a shield wall while he was holding the Englishmen back

[@stewelsby666]

He held the bridge frustrating the English killed around 40 men according to what the English wrote Down, I believe it was a pikeman that managed too get under the bridge and stabbed him into groin, guessing a few times which allowed the English too take the bridge... Stamford Bridge isn't far from Jorvik (york) so was a good stronghold.. We was lucky finding the place leaving scarborough , there's a notice telling the story of the battle and where a new stone Bridge now stands, the original was a wooden bridge.

[@Spinosaur101]

Damn, I barely get over a 1:1 K/D ratio in Battlefield and this man held up a whole ass army and chopped up 40 men in about the same amount of minutes! What a badass!

[@Wildcat144]

You know that Berserker was like the best friend of every Norseman in the army. And as he marched out, he said his good byes to every friend he ever knew. Parting with a "See you on Valhalla.." And marched, knowing his stand will buy his brothers time to get organized.

[@BeardedSkull]

See you IN Valhalla

[@lucifermorningstar1415]

Yeah in Valhalla

[@thorolf60]

When you read and listen ... you feel the battle! This is Amon Amarth!

[@shawnluzier5940]

Straight facts. Skál

[@FrostTheRedeemed]

The strength of the berserker lies in his spirit and will to fight and draw blood. Never heard of a tale more poetic than this.

[@marekmihok220]

Best of all is that this realy hapenned

[@KnifeToSeeYou]

That's one of my favourite parts about the song, I went on a tangent while making this of looking up facts of it lol

[@excessiveone9952]

It's not confirmed to be true

[@vyllenor6928]

@@excessiveone9952 yeah, many nations make up tale of heroes, but this one is likely to be true, considering it was found in english records

[@MedicMuffin]

@@excessiveone9952 the English wrote about this, not the Vikings. Granted, the English monks who kept records in these times had a habit of embellishing the Vikings to make them seem monstrous and evil, but some variation of this almost certainly happened.

[@finn2139]

I'm from Norway and even though the berserker at stamford bridge might be just a legend, it makes me proud... and sad

[@KnifeToSeeYou]

It is an amazing story nonetheless, the Berserker's legend has been upheld for quite some time and deserves to be

[@matthewmcarthur8748]

Even soldiers have killed 15 men in a single conflict today..I believe some of the legend

[@mikeweppner8865]

As a history buff I do believe that the berserker at the Battle of Stamford Bridge is true. The battle was spoken of in both England and Scandinavia at the same time. But in the end the English victory at Stamford Bridge was anglo saxon England's last victory ever. The Norman Conquest took place three weeks later, led by William the Conqueror, a direct descendent of Rollo, first Duke of Normandy, who was a Viking.

[@gilnao9826]

@@mikeweppner8865 and then the Viking age comes to an end

[@Erowens98]

Its true, maybe exaggerated. But as far as viking age legends go, it has more evidence than most.

[@EnormousBoss]

Those 7 dislikes are from the grand - grandchildren of the Englishmen who died that day from the berserker's mighty axe.

[@Full_plate_of_armor_and_food]

At 1:25, before I read the lyrics, I thought it sounded like "with peanut shells firm in his mighty hands"; the mental image of the cover art, but the berserker is holding peanut shells, lives rent free in my brain

[@spicymeatballs2thespicening]

lol

[@SapigoDraw]

😅

[@nabcunion]

He's in Valhalla knowing people STILL sing songs about him.

[@vouge6750]

yeah, about that... maybe not

[@scuffedcovers2031]

Mans not in Valhalla he is Valhalla I know realize how stupid that sounded after typing it

[@NorthernNorthdude91749]

@@vouge6750 Yes, he is.

[@vouge6750]

@@NorthernNorthdude91749 how comes? By the time of the battle, it's more than likely the guy was a believing Christian.

[@windigo1592]

@@scuffedcovers2031 he was so macho he died the most macho way posible

[@deathincluded3706]

hail to one of histroy's greatest last stands

[@adambroz3047]

Sad that sabaton don't have him on Last Stand album

[@saroknir8157]

@@adambroz3047 lmao

[@rolo1052]

Hardly a last stand when they were the aggressors.

[@kornaros96]

@@rolo1052 hill 3853

[@not_Medalin]

@@rolo1052 In this scenario the hunter did turn into the prey.

[@doggish412r]

That berserker couldn't imagine that one day he would be in a song and would be a legend for us all!

[@shannonnolan2184]

And how can a man die better, Than facing fearful odds, For the ashes of his fathers, And the temples of his gods?

[@vouge6750]

"his gods" oof

[@vouge6750]

@Shyguystreams AKA sentient 096 one could say the Norwegians were cowards too for not joining the guy on the bridge ;)

[@vouge6750]

@Shyguystreams AKA sentient 096 Well hey, if you find a way to get closer to victory, why not use it? What's coward in that? The spearman did this, as well as the guy on the bridge :p

[@vouge6750]

@Shyguystreams AKA sentient 096 vikings took advantage of Christian holy days to attack settlements when they were less prepared instead of fighting battles like men. Those guys clearly had no balls See, it works in both ways My point is, there's no honor in battle. Find a way to win with more ease, and who cares? Trap your ennemies on a hammer/anvil move, thats not "dishonorable". Use Pikemen against cavalry, that's not "dishonorable" Stab a guy holding back your army, that's not "dishonorable"

[@PiracyandDumbbells]

@@vouge6750 The English also did the same on Saturdays or Laugardagur. Not arguing with you, just adding on to that.

[@MrHo0ly]

berserker, the human mind bend to enjoy the screams of the dying, the sound of death. i could not think of something i would fear more than to face such a man, willing to put everything he is on the line on a whim. one could call them primitive, i call those man ascended. they left behind fear and any care for themselfes or other ppl, weapons they have become.

[@austinhensley6553]

Combat is not a place where you can die, it does happen, however that is not the purpose. Combat is where you go to see if you get to continue living, and there is no stronger feeling of life than that.

[@deathincluded3706]

odin saw that and was probably be like: im totally going to recruit this guy when he gets here

[@vouge6750]

Thing is he probably never did, because it's most likely he was a christian

[@KarakTo]

@@vouge6750 The viking berserker who stood against an army of Englishmen was likely a Christian? Whatever you been smoking, stop. It's clearly fried your brain.

[@vouge6750]

@@KarakTo first of all, we have absolutely no evidence he was a berserker. Second, Berserkers were most likely not what you imagine them to be (which I assume is what's portrayed. By the cover of this album) Thirdly, due to the social context of Norway in 1066, I believe it is improbable that someone personally accompanying the king of Norway, who was a devoted Christian himself, would not be Christian. The least I imagine was that he, assuming he did exist, believed in both christianity and whatever form of Norse paganism his surroundings believed in, if they still did. Norway got highly converted - though not in its entirety, I'll give you that, but very minimally - by Saint Olaf, Norway's kings who's reign ended in 1030. I am persuaded that if the guy did exist, he most likely lived and grew in a christian society where he could have *known* about paganism, but maybe not believe in it

[@delonbaber1131]

Lol

[@vouge6750]

@Mighty Fist Of Zeon! dude I posted this months ago what the fuck you talking about

[@ronaldrapaj2481]

For all those who are brutal and listen to death metal a lot This song touches their souls *including mine sure*

[@PiracyandDumbbells]

Definitely.

[@EnormousBoss]

The best song to listen to when going to the gym, i imagine myself becoming this strong one day so i can protect all i love and care about.

[@Ltbubbabear]

ONLY REASON WHY I LIFT

[@Claymann71]

I remember hearing about this legend. He held the bridge alone for more then 20 minutes, killing 2 men per minute for somewhere between 40-50 men. & not only did it take 4 men stabbing him from beneath, they also had to demolish part of the end of the bridge just to get at him from behind. & they threw the spears instead of engaging in combat. Point is, took 4 men (at least) to demo a hole in the bridge big enough to stab the Beserkir in the feet & throw spears into his back to finally mortally wound him & kill him. 15,000 English vs 13,000 'Norsemen' & 1 incredible Beserkir. The most deadly weapons of medieval warfare was the Throwing Spear & Arrow. Less manly then axes & maces, but extremely effective at bringing down anything short of an elephant. (Who were brought down by sending pitch-covered pigs at the elephants & then setting them on FIRE, either to scare the elephants or burn them as well, sending them into a frenzy that their Handlers had to kill them themselves)

[@Parrtorias]

His story was amazing, beast of a man, probably my favorite song of the album lol, pretty much why I made this video

[@mw7068]

Words can not explain....how good this song is.

[@BraceFace-ef1gd]

Whats cool is that this song is based on a true story. There was actually a berserker at stamford Bridge if u look up the battle on Wiki

[@toeknee4301]

Imagine how tough it is to fight and kill one armored and trained shoulder. Now imagine 40+

[@KnifeToSeeYou]

Yea that Berserker must've been ripped af

[@MrBrico-dg2ls]

955 years ago today, what a Legend!

[@Ozzman6662]

The 7 dislikes were saxon soldiers slain by the berserker

[@PaperMakersAdeludedbroad]

My favorite history lessons... like listening to an audible book but more soothing to the ears

[@matthias1031980]

Leonidas : we hold this with 300 Berserker : hold my beer

[@dangerdash4393]

You mean mead.

[@justinbass4033]

Beserker: Raise your horns.

[@emporororretargds8601]

300 and more then a thousand others

[@barringtonwilson4794]

@@dangerdash4393 While they did drink mead ale was also very common. All depended on the season and ambient temperatures.

[@elasolezito]

He was probably a veteran from the eastern roman empire, heavily armored and being cut off from his unit during their retreat, he tried to hold as much as possible. That's how i picture it, add to that some exaggeration and you get a nice story.

[@germanredneck4414]

i have him in my heart..all glory to his courage and strength!

[@ScarTissue-1]

"Alone he stood, against all foes."

[@alejandroseetal]

Youre tryna tell me. THIS MAN ANNIHALATED 40 PEOPLE. Does anyone understand. How much 40 people is. SURROUNDED BY AN ARMY. BRUH PEOPLE CAN BARELY FIGHT 1 MAN ALONE THIS MAN MURDERED 1 AND PROCEEDED TO KILL 39 MORE. WHAT THE ACTUAL F#CK 🔥😱

[@KnifeToSeeYou]

People used to be made tougher and stronger in those days lol

[@rickardoramchand6466]

Hey Indian kings can kill over 100 men if they're not skilled enough

[@Lord_Nagafen]

This was just a rough estimate.. other accounts of this myth tell that he may have killed even more, and the way that he did so gave birth to what we call a "werewolf" because of not just his attire, but also the way he swung that axe around like gigantic claws

[@supersaiyandiclonius3056]

He met them on a bridge where they could only stand 4 men abreast and the dane ax was the perfect for exactly this kind of fight. The simple act of swinging it to and fro was all he needed.

[@ambivertsorcerer5644]

The best part is the Berserker's theme

[@SamritpalSingh]

The Battle Of Stamford Bridge (1066 AD). The vikings lost but they gave a good fight. Berserker alone took out 40 of the Englishmen before he died.

[@RJTrezise1983]

Man the lyrics are powerful

[@shawntco]

I spent a great deal of 2021 listening to this song because it's SO GOOD. I love how it's a telling of a battle. It alternates between the English and Norse perspectives, with an interlude by the Berserker himself. A really cool way of telling the story, I wouldn't mind if more music had this kind of style.

[@KnifeToSeeYou]

It's really great, love the perspective changes too mid-song, really give you an idea of what it'd have been like in that situation for all involved

[@gutsusama2671]

this man was the most badass person that has ever lived. The way the singer repeated the line FROM BENEATH was like him saying that every single englishman in that battle was beneath this man. A true legend

[@benanderson4639]

One of the most epic songs ever

[@olaoincorreto6152]

Hell Yeah 🔥

[@hadleybirkett]

This is literally the most metal song i have ever heard

[@elbowdestruction3653]

The most brutal song for me. Although there are some other tracks from these guys that excite my soul

[@KnifeToSeeYou]

Same, love it when this one comes on in the car

[@Ancall103]

I love the Amon Amarth's riffs so bad.

[@rickardoramchand6466]

Not a Viking but I feel something when I hear this track as if a minor part of history is connected somehow just cannot describe it though it's bigger than that feeling of payday or a great gift

[@doggish412r]

By the way, the line "Englishmen, I am waiting here" gives me goosebumps every time!

[@Emil_Stoltz]

0:25

[@asmirkingg]

one man stood against 15.000 for his king and his people he knew death awaits him but he didnt care

[@blindg7092]

"In late February, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on social media , according to a translation, that one of the country's soldiers had detonated a bridge - killing himself in the process - in an effort to prevent Russian tanks from advancing."

[@KnifeToSeeYou]

Very honourable that is

[@blindg7092]

@@KnifeToSeeYou Yes. I see one difference though. Were the Norsemen the ones who came and attacked? I am not sure how it was exactly.

[@SomeKrieger]

@@blindg7092 the Norse were kinda just doing their own thing until the English showed up. Idr the original intent of the Norse but I do know the leader of both the English and Norse armies were brothers or atleast related and the English one wanted the other dead.

[@Mr_Business2433]

iirc there is a story of a Soviet nurse who destroyed a tiger 1 by grabbing grenades and crawling under the tank blowing herself up. I'm not sure if it's true but it would be a heroic tale

[@WolfmanHowlz]

What a fucking badass Holds back an entire army for over an hour and they only take him down by sending some cheap bastards to stab him in the balls What a madlad

[@gabrieli4734]

What if the Valkyries flew to music like this, what if Oden's voice was like this in the ears of his believers... what did this one man and other Berserkers hear in their minds as they were taking heads and limbs? whew.. I'm back now... these guys are great...

[@SomeKrieger]

I doubt anything considering Berserkers we’re usually high off psychedelics and had adrenaline for blood. Not to mention they were seeing red most of the time.

[@Cryingdevilsam]

Berserker: Dies Odin: At least, The greatest viking join my army.

[@vouge6750]

Yea no, he was not a berserker and more than likely Christian

[@El-Gato69]

One part of all of this that people forget, are how berserker got their name. Drenched in blood, half naked, drugged out of their fucking minds, swinging axes like madmen, because they were mad. Berserkers historically were terrifying to face on the battlefield.

[@vouge6750]

There's actually no evidence about this imagery. The historical sources actually point to the exact opposite, having them be armor-clad warriors. The drug thing is an early modern attempt at interpretation that is not based on any evidence at all

[@ronanmurphy6966]

Just got the album

[@KnifeToSeeYou]

One of the best from them in my opinion

[@SammehEatWorld]

the lyrics being in all caps feels appropriate

[@MakeItTakeItOutdoors]

Alone stood the berserker Axe held at ready Foes fall and Valhalla earned

[@trulsemiljohansen4884]

When a Norwegian man drinks too much mead

[@DaryanPrescott-vy4ss]

The best fuck aprind and find out moment in history

[@swenner64]

don't piss off the Scythians you'll be sorry!!!!

[@EliteWarrior13]

I bet they woke him up and he was hungover

[@angelemanuelriverosandrian3321]

History tell that his foes stinged him from beneath, but we all know that in fact the bridge couldn't hold the weigth of his masive iron balls, it went down and the berserker drown in his enemys blood.

[@larserik8899]

Why am I crying and consoling a massive erection at the same time

[@SomeKrieger]

Imagine your shock troop upgrades himself to the tank class sigma male style

[@gilgamesh3887]

This man died in 25.9.1066 and I was born 25.9.2004

[@vikings3799]

🍻👍

[@matus8862]

Harald Hardrada sent me here

[@clanmacgillgallowayscotlan5017]

Were they English or Anglo-Danes?

[@KnifeToSeeYou]

The Vikings? Northerners, not English

[@Agreus-WolfsbaneYT]

I womder how many more that berserker would have killed if the saxons disnt send those four men I wager that one warrior could have killed half or all of their army

[@fingolfinthefirsthighkingo823]

also this is pretty damn metal

[@jakecalleja2791]

If that berserker isn't in Valhalla I don't know how to enter He is a god walked in midgard

[@dimosden1630]

Is exactly after king Harald hadrada had died on English soil and the army was retreating from the English army. . history of Nordic and English war

[@vvteufelvvsemperfi6965]

Englishman Come at Me, I Will Not Flee!

[@StevenSagerIsSuperEpic]

The Anglo Saxons turned to treachery to kill him. The boat of spearmen was dishonorable imo. Stab a man from below where he can't see. They knew they couldn't take him head on.

[@Edwin-iw8gb]

Yup bunch of cowards

[@gold_phantom__5402]

While it may be a underhanded tactic it was still a valid strategy and when you think about it a truly brilliant one at that. The berserker held the bridge for somewhere around 20 minutes. It only took them that long to not only think of this plan, but also to find a boat and assemble soldiers to go underneath and kill him. Truly a brilliant tactic when you think about. But also I can't help but imagine how many more soldiers the berserker would have killed had the English not thought of that plan

[@vouge6750]

There is no dishonorable move in warfare. If you find a way to win more easily with fewer losses, you take it.

[@Edwin-iw8gb]

@@vouge6750 that's true

[@KnifeToSeeYou]

Reckon that's wrong, since 1897 Trench Guns were banned in WW1 as was chemical warfare in pretty much every war since WW1 also. In theory, sure, win by whatever means necessary, but that's also not true since we have the Geneva Convention

[@AL-tb3us]

[@toraguchitoraguchi9154]

....It should have been "Norse Axe", these were Norsemen, not Danes. Harald Hadrada was from Norway. Just like the 300 Spartan won't call their shields "Athenian" a self respecting Norseman will not call his axe "Dane axe".....Especially since Harald Hadrada had been at war with Denmark and attacking it until 1064 (Stamford Bridge was 1066). I really doubt Harald's army at Stamford Bridge had a Dane Berserker there who called his axe "Dane Axe".....that's just ridiculous.

[@KnifeToSeeYou]

I didn't write the song, also, the Dane Axe was used by Vikings, Primarily during the transition between the Viking age and Middle ages.

[@toraguchitoraguchi9154]

@@KnifeToSeeYou The Berserker who fought at Stamford Bridge was from Norway, so he would be carrying a "Norse Axe"....

[@KnifeToSeeYou]

@@toraguchitoraguchi9154 there's no definite distinction on main articles of Dane Axes, just that they were used by Vikings in general. Not to mention, Dane Axe sounds better in song than Norse axe

[@toraguchitoraguchi9154]

@@KnifeToSeeYou Yeah true, but I really doubt a Norseman would call his Axe a Dane Axe😁

[@KnifeToSeeYou]

@@toraguchitoraguchi9154 Probably not, but Amon aren't norse Vikings😂

[@ot5269]

My Dad hahaha

[@matthewmcarthur8748]

The two dislikes are from a soy boy and his boyfriend

[@vouge6750]

Or from people with actual historical knowledge

[@matthewmcarthur8748]

@@vouge6750half of writing history is hiding the truth the other half is manipulating the truth to the benefit of whomever.

[@vouge6750]

@@matthewmcarthur8748 Funny, because by saying the guy was a pagan Berserker, Amon Amarth are manipulating the truth to their benefit.

[@matthewmcarthur8748]

@@vouge6750 please refer me to outlet where I can research more about this..

[@vouge6750]

@@matthewmcarthur8748 I believe it is very unlikely that by 1066 a Norwegian would not be christian (with some exceptions, such as the most isolated regions, but those are very minimal). This is due to the fact that there has been various conversion campaigns in Norway: it starts with Olaf Tryggvason who, after being christianised in Ireland, tried implementing Christianity as the official religion of his kingdom. He had some little success, but his successor Haakon Jarl reinstaured paganism (though it didn't work globally obviously). Later, Olaf II (who would later become Saint Olaf) took the power from Haakon Jarl in a civil war and reinstaured, some say brutally through pillage and torture of reluctant lords, christianity, nearly eradicating paganism by destroying temples to replace them by churches and bringing to Norway priests and bishops. If we come back to the ''berserker'' of Stamford Bridge, his parents may have lived the transition, but I think it is fair to assume that he was born and raised christian and in a christian society. he could have *known* about paganism, but probably didn't believe in it. For the Berserker thing, Anders Winroth, in his book The Age of the Vikings, explains that the modern concept of Berserkers, half-naked warriors with a bear pelt over their shoulder, going into battle completely frenzy and crazy, actually comes from the 13th century, when norse scholars started writing down orally-transmitted (and a few written) myths and legends. He explains that the misconception would come from the fact that the scholars interpretated the sagas too litteraly, those texts being filled with metaphors and unclear imagery. The theory advanced is that Berserkers were actually heavily armored warriors, wich were rare due to the extensive cost and difficulty of making of iron in the early medieval era. A warrior heavily armored, and nearly impossible to kill, would have been very imposing and intimidating on a battlefield, thus creating the myth of the Berserkers. The term ''Bear-Shirt'' would then be a metaphor for the armor those champions or bodyguards would wear, and not to what they would litteraly be wearing. There are some sources of battle frenzy from the middle age, but nearly all of them are depicting a PRE-battle frenzy and not during the battle. Yet, describing all of this misconception is useless in the case of the Stamford Bridge guy, because there is absolutely no evidence saying he was indeed a ''berzerker''. The only evidence we have of this guy, as a matter of fact, comes from the anglo-saxon chronicles, only describing him as a ''large norwegian''. In conclusion, untill further evidence showing the opposite, the guy was *not* a berserker as the title says, and was most certainly *not* a pagan as the lyrics implies (or he was at least half-christian as was common) medieval-europe-paris-2007.univ-paris1.fr/S.Nordeide.pdf historicengland.org.uk/content/docs/listing/battlefields/stamford-bridge/ I also used the work of Régis Boyer, the french expert in early medieval Scandinavian cultures who wrote various books on this matter. his most notable one is called ''Le Christ des Barbares'' (''The Christ of the Barbarians) and talks about the christianisation of the Scandinavian people

[@henkmeerdink2088]

I wonder how the people from Norway Sweden and Denmark would have felt about the Celts invading their countries......

[@adambroz3047]

That is not point here...nobody is happy, but point here is that this guy was badass...And not all vikings was just invaders, lot of them were mercenaries...so they just fight in someone else wars...And there was lot of worse invaders, like Hitler, or british empire in asia...

[@andyventures6574]

The Celts were long gone in England. Anglo-Saxons .

[@mikeweppner8865]

The Celts were wiped out in England long before the Vikings set foot there. You can blame the anhilation of the Celtic tribes of England and Espania on the Roman Empire. Rome was quite fond of going on genocidal rampages. The Vikings...not so much.

[@rolo1052]

@@mikeweppner8865 They weren't wiped out in genocides. They lived amongst their Roman occupiers, who were only there for the resources of the land. After which they interbed and more importantly, culturally integrated, with the various Germanic peoples who migrated over, untill their culture had faded out of existence. The average English person today still carries a fair amount of celtic dna.

[@essedrako5143]

😠

[@KnifeToSeeYou]

Lmao

[@proto-indo-europeanisanato5033]

Vikings are so incredibly overrated, mainly because of Hollywood, but in reality they never did anything worthy of praise, and got kicked around by the Mediterraneans and Middle Easterners and got their butts handed to them so hard by Native Americans armed with only Bone, wood and stone weaponry, that the Vimings invented the legend of the "Skraeling" LMAO!!!

[@gundalfthelost1624]

I might have taken your comment seriously but the last "lmao" just proves you're a kid and a trolling dumbass.

[@spicymeatballs2thespicening]

lol

[@Helloheyhi1295]

Everyone talks how brave the lone viking was, imagine the poor Englishmen and how brave they would have to be to engage this absolute chad on the bridge