Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Those two historical warrior archetypes are often pitted against each other in hypothetical scenarios. Of course it depends a lot on what kind of knight we're talking about... Armor and weapons evolved substantially over the course of the Middle Ages.
An early knight wouldn't be terribly different in equipment, and when you think about it, the Normans are a case of Viking settlers in France essentially turning into knights over time. So I'm thinking more high / late medieval, and it seems the common depiction of knights in popular fictional media is some sort of fantasy amalgamation of 14th and 15th century armor anyway.
Could the brutal ferocity and supposed size of a Scandinavian warrior prevail over the superior armament of a fighting nobleman? Let's talk about it!
*** Sources / Credits ***
Italian suit of armor, ca. 1450
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/22003
German armor, end of 15th, start of 16th century
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/24814
Italian armor, 1550 - 1575
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/35936
The Three Estate in Medieval Society
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Lord_assigning_duties_to_the_three_estates_PK-P-100.159.tiff
Definition of “vikingr”
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/v%C3%ADkingr
manuscriptminiatures.com/tags
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hjemkomst,_which_means_%22Homecoming%22_in_Norwegian,_is_a_replica_Viking_ship.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Viking_ship_in_Stockholms_strom.jpg
cmmons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dublin_-_Dublinia_-_20190809102938.jpg
https://w.wiki/D4SG
https://w.wiki/D4SF
https://w.wiki/D4Sb
https://w.wiki/D4U9
https://w.wiki/D4Z3
https://w.wiki/D4wF
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yarmhj%C3%A4lmen_(hj%C3%A4lmbrynja).png
Average height
vikinganswerlady.com/vikheight.shtml
eprints.soton.ac.uk/418382/1/Heights_across_2000_years_ACCEPTED.pdf
Helmets
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/34272
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/24849
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/23213
hurstwic.org/history/articles/manufacturing/text/viking_mail.htm
Varangian Guard by Fr0stm0urne on DeviantArt
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Viking_swords.jpg
ruralhistoria.com/2023/10/10/king-alfred
Outro music:
"Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records
theslantedroom.github.io/steve.yee
Used with artist's permission
*** Merch ***
bonfire.com/store/skallswag
If you want to join Bonfire to start selling your own merch: bonfire.com/welcome/07bb14169c804
*** Support the channel ***
Help fund future videos, get bonus content and access to an exclusive Discord server:
patreon.com/skallagrim
youtube.com/channel/UC3WIohkLkH4GFoMrrWVZZFA/join
Other ways to support the channel by shopping through affiliate links:
Kult of Athena, my favorite online store for reproductions of historical arms and armor, fantasy swords, etc:
kultofathena.com/?koa=259
Where to get HEMA gear and practice swords:
woodenswords.com/?Click=1799
GamerSupps powdered energy drinks and other stuff (I particularly like the SUS snack bars):
gamersupps.gg/Skall
I highly recommend the balms and oils from Beard Sorcery:
beardsorcery.com/?ref=0UEFtHWvZEmtD
Books about history, martial arts, swords, knives, video/audio equipment, and other stuff I recommend:
US - amazon.com/shop/skallagrimnilsson
Canada - amzn.to/2HeOCMA
*** Other social media ***
https://bsky.app/profile/skallagrim.bsky.social
facebook.com/SkallagrimYT
instagram.com/skallagrim_yt
#skallagrim #history #viking #vs #knight #medieval #middleages
Those two historical warrior archetypes are often pitted against each other in hypothetical scenarios. Of course it depends a lot on what kind of knight we're talking about... Armor and weapons evolved substantially over the course of the Middle Ages.
An early knight wouldn't be terribly different in equipment, and when you think about it, the Normans are a case of Viking settlers in France essentially turning into knights over time. So I'm thinking more high / late medieval, and it seems the common depiction of knights in popular fictional media is some sort of fantasy amalgamation of 14th and 15th century armor anyway.
Could the brutal ferocity and supposed size of a Scandinavian warrior prevail over the superior armament of a fighting nobleman? Let's talk about it!
*** Sources / Credits ***
Italian suit of armor, ca. 1450
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/22003
German armor, end of 15th, start of 16th century
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/24814
Italian armor, 1550 - 1575
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/35936
The Three Estate in Medieval Society
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Lord_assigning_duties_to_the_three_estates_PK-P-100.159.tiff
Definition of “vikingr”
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/v%C3%ADkingr
manuscriptminiatures.com/tags
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hjemkomst,_which_means_%22Homecoming%22_in_Norwegian,_is_a_replica_Viking_ship.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Viking_ship_in_Stockholms_strom.jpg
cmmons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dublin_-_Dublinia_-_20190809102938.jpg
https://w.wiki/D4SG
https://w.wiki/D4SF
https://w.wiki/D4Sb
https://w.wiki/D4U9
https://w.wiki/D4Z3
https://w.wiki/D4wF
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yarmhj%C3%A4lmen_(hj%C3%A4lmbrynja).png
Average height
vikinganswerlady.com/vikheight.shtml
eprints.soton.ac.uk/418382/1/Heights_across_2000_years_ACCEPTED.pdf
Helmets
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/34272
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/24849
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/23213
hurstwic.org/history/articles/manufacturing/text/viking_mail.htm
Varangian Guard by Fr0stm0urne on DeviantArt
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Viking_swords.jpg
ruralhistoria.com/2023/10/10/king-alfred
Outro music:
"Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records
theslantedroom.github.io/steve.yee
Used with artist's permission
*** Merch ***
bonfire.com/store/skallswag
If you want to join Bonfire to start selling your own merch: bonfire.com/welcome/07bb14169c804
*** Support the channel ***
Help fund future videos, get bonus content and access to an exclusive Discord server:
patreon.com/skallagrim
youtube.com/channel/UC3WIohkLkH4GFoMrrWVZZFA/join
Other ways to support the channel by shopping through affiliate links:
Kult of Athena, my favorite online store for reproductions of historical arms and armor, fantasy swords, etc:
kultofathena.com/?koa=259
Where to get HEMA gear and practice swords:
woodenswords.com/?Click=1799
GamerSupps powdered energy drinks and other stuff (I particularly like the SUS snack bars):
gamersupps.gg/Skall
I highly recommend the balms and oils from Beard Sorcery:
beardsorcery.com/?ref=0UEFtHWvZEmtD
Books about history, martial arts, swords, knives, video/audio equipment, and other stuff I recommend:
US - amazon.com/shop/skallagrimnilsson
Canada - amzn.to/2HeOCMA
*** Other social media ***
https://bsky.app/profile/skallagrim.bsky.social
facebook.com/SkallagrimYT
instagram.com/skallagrim_yt
#skallagrim #history #viking #vs #knight #medieval #middleages
