auðig

Auðig is an Old Norse word that translates to "rich" or "wealthy." It describes a state of abundance in material possessions, often including livestock, land, and valuable goods. The concept of auðig was significant in Viking Age society, where wealth played a crucial role in social standing, influence, and personal security. Being auðig not only meant having personal wealth but also the ability to provision and support kin, clients, and followers, thus enhancing one's power and reputation.

The term appears in various Old Norse sagas and poems, illustrating its common usage in describing individuals and families. For instance, prominent chieftains and kings were frequently depicted as auðig, capable of funding expeditions, maintaining large households, and dispensing gifts. The accumulation of wealth was often a goal, achieved through trade, raiding, inheritance, or successful farming. However, auðig was not solely about material wealth; it could also imply a certain inner richness or spiritual prosperity in some contexts, though the primary meaning remained economic. The concept is central to understanding the social and economic structures of the Viking Age and the motivations that drove many of their actions.