berserkir

The berserkir, often translated as "berserkers," were a special class of Viking warriors renowned for their battle frenzy. Historical accounts and sagas describe them as fighting with extraordinary ferocity, seemingly impervious to pain, and often howling like animals. Their name is thought to derive from "berr" meaning "bare" or "shirtless," suggesting they may have fought without mail shirts, or possibly from "bjorn," meaning "bear," referencing their animalistic rage.

The exact nature of their frenzy is debated. Some scholars suggest it was a psychological state induced by adrenaline and the intensity of battle, perhaps amplified by certain substances or ritualistic practices. Others propose it was a more literal interpretation, with berserkir potentially using shamanistic techniques or even hallucinogenic plants to achieve a trance-like state of aggression. While often depicted as undisciplined and uncontrollable, sagas also portray them as elite shock troops, employed by chieftains for decisive attacks. Their ferocity made them both feared enemies and valuable assets in warfare during the Viking Age. The practice of berserkergang appears to have waned by the later Viking Age and into the medieval period.