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Read Ebook: The Viking Age. Volume 2 (of 2) The early history manners and customs of the ancestors of the English-speaking nations by Du Chaillu Paul B Paul Belloni
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Ebook has 2927 lines and 230708 words, and 59 pages
PAGE
MARRIAGE 1
DIVORCE 25
THE BIRTH AND BRINGING-UP OF CHILDREN 30
THE ARVEL, OR INHERITANCE FEAST 47
FOSTER-BROTHERHOOD 61
WEAPONS 65
WAR CUSTOMS 102
ROCK-TRACINGS 116
WAR-SHIPS 136
THE FLEETS OF THE NORTHMEN 176
MODE OF NAVAL WARFARE OF THE NORTHMEN 181
SEA BATTLES 188
TRADERS AND TRADING-SHIPS 209
DEBTS AND ROBBERY 235
HALLS AND BUILDINGS 241
FEASTS, ENTERTAINMENTS 274
DRESS OF MEN 285
DRESS OF WOMEN 301
THE BRACTEATES 332
OCCUPATIONS AND SPORTS OF MEN 344
OCCUPATIONS OF WOMEN 362
EXERCISES--IDR?TTIR 369
IDR?TTIR.--POETRY OR SCALDSHIP, MUSIC AND MENTAL EXERCISES 389
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE.--THE H?VAM?L 401
SORROW AND MOURNING 414
CHAMPIONS AND BERSERKS 423
SOME EXPEDITIONS AND DEEDS OF GREAT VIKINGS 433
SOME EXPEDITIONS AND DEEDS OF GREAT VIKINGS 450
SOME EXPEDITIONS AND DEEDS OF GREAT VIKINGS 462
SOME EXPEDITIONS AND DEEDS OF GREAT VIKINGS 479
SOME EXPEDITIONS AND DEEDS OF GREAT VIKINGS 486
SOME EXPEDITIONS AND DEEDS OF GREAT VIKINGS 499
THE DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT OF ICELAND, GREENLAND, AND AMERICA 514
THE ORKNEYS AND HEBRIDES 531
INDEX 557
THE VIKING AGE.
High position of women--Married women's property--Marriage a civil compact--The suitor--Qualities looked for in a suitor--The bride's dower--Runaway marriages--The marriage settlement--The givers away of the bride--The betrothal--Breaking a betrothal--Length of a betrothal--The wedding--The trousseau--Illegality of marriages without betrothal--Guardians of unmarried sisters--Marriage against the will of the parents--Age of majority--Widows--Marriage on insufficient means--Laws relating to marriage--The wedding feast--Valuation of property--Laws on kissing--Women's rights.
It is particularly striking, in reading the Sagas and the ancient laws which corroborate them, to see the high position women occupied in earlier and later pagan times.
If we are to judge of the civilisation of a people in their daily life by the position women held with regard to men, we must conclude that in this respect the earlier Norse tribes could compare favourably with the most ancient civilised nations whose history has come down to us.
A maiden was highly respected, and on becoming a wife she was greatly honoured, and her counsels had great weight; by marrying she became the companion and not the inferior of her husband. She held property in her own right, whatever she received by inheritance and by marriage being her own; though there were restrictions put upon her, as well as upon her husband, in regard to the use of her property.
In a word, a retrograde movement in regard to the rights and standing of women took place after the extinction of the Asa creed. The high position they had occupied before was lost, and it is only latterly that they have striven, and in some countries with success, to regain the authority that once belonged to them in regard to property and other matters.
From the earliest time we see the chivalrous regard that men had for women, and the punishment that any breach of its laws involved. Young men went into warlike expeditions to attain great fame, so that their acts of bravery could be known or extolled, and that they might become worthy of the maiden they wished to woo. The same spirit afterwards spread from the North to other countries in Europe, where, however, the opinion only of women of higher rank was valued. Among the earlier tribes of the North all were respected.
"Njal once said to his son Helgi, 'I have thought of a match for thee, kinsman, if thou wilt follow my advice.' 'Certainly I will,' he said, 'for I know both that thou meanest it well and knowest well how to act; but what is it?' 'We will ask in marriage the daughter of Asgrim Ellidagrimsson, for she is the best match.' Shortly afterwards they rode out across the Thj?rs? , until they came to Tunga. Asgrim was at home, and received them well, and they stayed there over night. The next day they proceeded to talk the matter over. Njal opened the subject, and asked for the hand of Thorhalla for his son Helgi. Asgrim received this well, and said that with no men was he more desirous to bargain than with them. They then talked about the matter, and at last Asgrim betrothed his daughter to Helgi, and the wedding feast was agreed upon" .
The suitor, even if present, had a spokesman who spoke on his behalf, and enumerated his good qualities, deeds of valour, &c., and other qualifications which might speak well for the suit. If the suit was favourably received, a talk ensued in regard to the conditions of the marriage.
The qualities which the parents or guardians took most into consideration were good birth, powerful and prominent relatives. Families on both sides had to be well matched in rank, wealth, and personal bravery, the last being highly prized by the one whose hand was sought.
"The kings went to a feast at Framnes with Fridthj?f, and, as usual, he treated them all better than they were accustomed to be treated. Ingibj?rg was there, and often spoke with Fridthj?f; she said to him: 'Thou hast a good gold ring.' 'That is true,' said Fridthj?f. Then the kings went home, and their envy against Fridthj?f increased. A little after Fridthj?f became very sad; Bj?rn, his foster-brother, asked why he was so; he said he had it in mind to ask Ingibj?rg in marriage; 'though I have lower rank than her brothers, I am as good a man as they.' Bj?rn said: 'Let us do it.' The kings sat on their father's mound, and Fridthj?f saluted them; afterwards he asked their sister Ingibj?rg, Beli's daughter, in marriage. The kings said: 'It is very unwise to ask us to give her in marriage to a man of no rank, and we refuse it.' Fridthj?f said: 'Then my errand is ended. I will never hereafter give you any help though you may need it" .
"And Bj?rn was king over Firdafylki. His jarl was Hr?ald, and Thorir was his son. Atli the Thin was then jarl at Gaular. His children were Hallstein, H?lmstein, Herstein, and Solveig the fair. One autumn many people were at Gaular at an autumn sacrifice. Then ?lvir Hn?fa saw Solveig, and liked her well. He asked her in marriage, but the jarl thought there was inequality of rank and would not consent to the marriage. Thereupon ?lvir made many songs of love. He loved Solveig so much that he left off Viking expeditions" .
"Grimkel, a godi, said: 'I am told for certain, Valbrand, that thou hast a daughter called Signy, who is very accomplished; I want to ask her in marriage, if thou wilt marry her to me.' Valbrand answered: 'It is known to us that thou art of good kin and art wealthy, and a great champion; I will give a favourable answer to this'" .
"I have thought of a match for thee; it was in my mind when thou didst endanger thy life for mine. Vigdis, the daughter of Thorir jarl the Silent, is a most handsome woman, and has much property; I will marry her to thee. Ingimund thanked him and consented" .
If a man married a girl without the consent of her parents or guardians, or made a runaway match, the husband was outlawed.
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