Round shields



The round shield was the most common means of defence for Viking warriors. Sagas specifically mention linden wood for shield construction, although finds show mostly other timbers, such as fir, alder and poplar. These timbers are not very dense and are light in the hand. They are also not inclined to split, unlike oak. Also, the fibers of the timber bind around blades preventing the blade from cutting any deeper unless a lot more pressure is applied. In conjunction with stronger wood, Vikings often reinforced their shields with leather or, occasionally, iron around the rim. Round shields seem to have varied in size from around 45 – 120 cm in diameter but the smaller and more manageable 75 – 90 cm is by far the most common.

Most shields are shown as being painted a single color although some have a design painted onto them; the commonest designs are simple crosses or derivations of sun wheels or segments.

Longships have places for shields to be hung on its railing and the shields have holes along the rim for fastening some sort of non-metallic rim protection. These were called shield lists and they protected ship crews from waves and the wind.

The shield fort, or skjaldborg (shield wall in England), was a main formation in which accomplished Viking warriors would create a line of interlocked shields and thrust spears at adversaries. Other notable tactics included swine order, or svinfylking, in which warriors would create a wedge configuration and attempt to burst through the front line of nearby foes.

The size, appearance and use of round shields is one of the few things Lars Erikson and the Viking Movement got correct.