Historian Critiques Depictions of Vikings in History Channel Series

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For a lot of people, the TV show Vikings is the most well-known depiction of Viking life. While the show is critically acclaimed, a historian specializing in the Viking age isn’t convinced of its accuracy.

Historian William Short reviewed the TV show Vikings and shared how accurately it portrays real Viking history. Sadly, the show didn’t fare well when compared to historical reality.

Historian Criticizes Vikings

Historian Dan Short pointed out an inaccuracy in an episode of Vikings. He questioned a scene where Vikings silently approached a castle to attack, saying, “That kind of sneaking up on the castle probably wouldn’t have happened.” According to Short, Vikings generally preferred a more straightforward, direct approach in battle.

He then points out that the show’s portrayal of the shield wall tactic is inaccurate. He says, “The shield wall we see in this…”

I’ve been fascinated by Viking combat, and I recently learned something surprising from Short. Apparently, what we often see in movies – that unbroken, constantly-held shield wall – isn’t really accurate! He explained that the real ‘skjaldborg,’ as they called it, wasn’t meant to be a permanent fixture. It was more of a temporary, mobile defense – a way to shield the king so he could see the battle and give commands, before being lowered to allow the fighting to continue.

He explained that shield walls were designed to be quickly built and dismantled for temporary defense. Because of this, it’s unlikely archers would have been positioned directly behind the shield wall. However, archers positioned further back from the main line of soldiers were very common.

Short criticizes how Viking ships are often depicted in media. He explains that the common image of Vikings carrying their ships over mountains to reach Paris is inaccurate. Instead, they skillfully sailed up rivers, taking advantage of their ships’ unique design. Viking ships were incredibly advanced for their time, particularly their shallow draft – meaning they didn’t need deep water to navigate. This allowed them to easily sail up rivers, making the journey to Paris quite feasible.

Vikings Exist in a “Fantasy World”

So how did Short rate Vikings overall? Not well. Short awarded the show a 4 out of 10.

He gave it a four-star rating, explaining that while the show Vikings incorporates real historical figures, names, and locations, many of the details feel like they’ve been placed in a fantastical, rather than historically accurate, setting. It’s as if Viking characters are simply existing in a world that doesn’t really reflect Viking culture.

Vikings is a historical drama series created and written by Michael Hirst. It first aired on the History Channel in 2013 and was inspired by the stories of the Norse hero Ragnar Lodbrok. The show lasted for six seasons, ending in 2021.

I was completely captivated by ‘Vikings,’ especially Travis Fimmel’s portrayal of Ragnar Lothbrok. The cast was incredible overall – Katheryn Winnick, Clive Standen, Jessalyn Gilsig, Gustaf Skarsgård, Gabriel Byrne, George Blagden, Donal Logue, Alyssa Sutherland, Linus Roache, and Alexander Ludwig all brought such depth to their characters. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re in for a treat – it’s now available to stream on Netflix!

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2026-04-15 01:40