The Viking shield wall: tactics and psychology on the medieval battlefield

#shieldwall #vikings #medievalhistory In this episode, Hendrik and Carmen show you how the legendary Viking shield wall really worked! Modern experiments reveal surprising weaknesses of this famous formation and explain why only deep formations survived on the battlefield. From the Battle of Hastings in 1066 to the mysterious boar snout formation (Svinfylking) – we dive into the tactics and psychology of medieval warriors. Discover why exhaustion was the greatest enemy, how shield bosses stabilized the formation, and what role painted round shields played in psychological warfare. Plus: The transition from the Viking round shield to the Norman kite shield and what this reveals about changing combat styles. Based on archaeological finds like the Gokstad shields and practical reenactment experience, we bring you closer to the fascinating world of medieval battle formations. Learn how terrain selection decided victory and defeat, and why the shield wall was much more than just standing side by side. Enjoy, and see you next time! 😍 #medievalhistory #battletactics #hastings #reenactment #warfare Battle-Merchant: https://www.battlemerchant.com/en/ Battle-Merchant Blog: https://www.battlemerchant.com/en/blog/ Blog post for this episode: https://www.battlemerchant.com/en/blog/the-viking-shield-wall-tactics-and-psychology-on-the-medieval-battlefield TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@battlemerchant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/battlemerchant Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/battlemerchant Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.de/battlemerchant/