The Drakkar The Drakkar

OverviewOverview

• A warship designed to carry A warship designed to carry fearless Viking warriors on their fearless Viking warriors on their raids across Europe.raids across Europe.

• Called a dragon ship by its Called a dragon ship by its enemies. enemies.

• Most large Drakkar, were owned Most large Drakkar, were owned by a powerful king.by a powerful king.

SizeSize

• Average length of a longship was Average length of a longship was 28 meters long (91 feet). 28 meters long (91 feet).

• Largest ever excavated was Largest ever excavated was seventy meters (227 feet) long. seventy meters (227 feet) long.

The Largest LongshipsThe Largest Longships

• Owned by a powerful king. Owned by a powerful king. – He was the only one who could He was the only one who could

afford to build it. afford to build it.

• Sixty oarsmen Sixty oarsmen • Four hundred warriors Four hundred warriors • In the last days of the Viking Age, In the last days of the Viking Age,

three hundred of this type of three hundred of this type of longship were in the Viking fleet. longship were in the Viking fleet.

Average LongshipsAverage Longships

• Owned by an earl or nobleman Owned by an earl or nobleman

• Crew of twenty to thirty oarsmen Crew of twenty to thirty oarsmen

• Other crew members Other crew members – HelmsmenHelmsmen: steered the ship : steered the ship – lookoutlookout : watched for rocks in shallow : watched for rocks in shallow

waters waters – fewfew spare menspare men

• Took the place a tired oarsmen Took the place a tired oarsmen

• Replaced one lost overboard during a storm Replaced one lost overboard during a storm

– warriors warriors

General InfoGeneral Info

• Named longships according to the number Named longships according to the number of pairs of oars they carried and the of pairs of oars they carried and the purpose the ship served. purpose the ship served.

• Tjue-sesserTjue-sesser– Twenty pair of oarsTwenty pair of oars– Owned by a settlement Owned by a settlement – Served the king when he needed their help Served the king when he needed their help

• Most common drakkar had 15 pairs of oars.Most common drakkar had 15 pairs of oars.– Pride of Viking earls and kings Pride of Viking earls and kings – Best built in the Viking fleet Best built in the Viking fleet – Appeared only in the biggest wars during the last Appeared only in the biggest wars during the last

years of the Viking Age years of the Viking Age

ConstructionConstruction • Clinker design Clinker design

– Planked using two centimeter (3/4“) thick Planked using two centimeter (3/4“) thick oak boards oak boards • Overlapped slightly Overlapped slightly • Fastened with iron nails. Fastened with iron nails.

– spaces between the planks were caulked spaces between the planks were caulked with tarred wool or animal fur to make the with tarred wool or animal fur to make the ship watertight ship watertight

– planks were also nailed to support-ribbing planks were also nailed to support-ribbing that ran from the gunwale to the keel. that ran from the gunwale to the keel.

– keel, which ran the full length of the shipkeel, which ran the full length of the ship• Made of one solid piece of oak. Made of one solid piece of oak. • It add stability It add stability • Made the ship travel straight through the water Made the ship travel straight through the water

Construction of the DrakkarConstruction of the Drakkar

Gunwale

ConstructionConstruction• Longship was very Longship was very sturdysturdy, and yet , and yet flexibleflexible

enough to withstand the waves of stormy seas.enough to withstand the waves of stormy seas.

• LightLight enough to be dragged overland between enough to be dragged overland between lakes or rivers. lakes or rivers.

• The prow, or bow, was sometimes tipped with The prow, or bow, was sometimes tipped with a very a very ornateornate carving of a snake or dragon carving of a snake or dragon head, thus earning it the nickname head, thus earning it the nickname "dragon ship". – The ornamentThe ornament was removed while the ship was it was removed while the ship was it

sea. sea. – Replacing such a finely carved piece was expensiveReplacing such a finely carved piece was expensive– Losing it was a bad Losing it was a bad omenomen. .

Sail and MastSail and Mast

SailSail

• Expensive to makeExpensive to make– often cost more the rest of the ship often cost more the rest of the ship

itself. itself. – Made of wool from sheep or linen Made of wool from sheep or linen

from the flax plant.from the flax plant.

• Making them was the Making them was the responsibility of Viking women.responsibility of Viking women.

Making the sailMaking the sail• Small diamond-shaped pieces were woven Small diamond-shaped pieces were woven

and then trimmed with leather.and then trimmed with leather.– leather helped the pieces keep their leather helped the pieces keep their

shape, especially when wet. shape, especially when wet. – diamond pieces were then sewn together diamond pieces were then sewn together

to make one large square sail.to make one large square sail.– leather strips gave the cross-hatched leather strips gave the cross-hatched

pattern.pattern.• Sails were usually as wide as half the ship's Sails were usually as wide as half the ship's

length. length. • Red dye was added to the leather trim to Red dye was added to the leather trim to

produce the vivid cross-hatched pattern.produce the vivid cross-hatched pattern.– Sometimes the whole sail was dyed a solid red Sometimes the whole sail was dyed a solid red

color. color. – Red, the color of blood, was meant to strike fear Red, the color of blood, was meant to strike fear

into the hearts of the Vikings' enemies into the hearts of the Vikings' enemies

Mast and Sail

• The sail was hoisted and held in place on the center mast with ropes likely made from walrus hide.

• Once it caught a steady breeze, the sail could move the ship a very swift twelve knots

• If the winds were calm, twenty to thirty oarsmen could move the ships through the water at about five knots.

• At night, the sail was lowered and removed from the ship

• In bad weather, it often served as a tent (Vikings, inventors of the sleeping bag, would sleep under the sail for protection).

• The mast that held the sail was attached to the keel.– Mast could be removed and laid on the deck Mast could be removed and laid on the deck – Replacing a broken mast would not be possible on a Replacing a broken mast would not be possible on a

raid.raid.

Ships at SeaShips at Sea

• NavigateNavigate in water less than a meter deep in water less than a meter deep (3 feet).(3 feet).

• In shallow water, the warriors would move In shallow water, the warriors would move to one side of the ship to to one side of the ship to tilttilt it so it would it so it would pass over rocks and pass over rocks and shoalsshoals. .

• The longships' The longships' taperedtapered bows and sterns bows and sterns enabled the Vikings to row the ships enabled the Vikings to row the ships forwards and backwards without first forwards and backwards without first having to turn the ships around. having to turn the ships around. – This was a great This was a great advantageadvantage when fleeing when fleeing

after a raid. after a raid.

ShieldsShields

• Drakkars are often pictured with Drakkars are often pictured with shields hanging from the gunwales.shields hanging from the gunwales.– Held in place by racks or ropes. Held in place by racks or ropes. – Protected warriors against arrows and Protected warriors against arrows and

spears during sea battles.spears during sea battles.– Protected raiding parties as the ships Protected raiding parties as the ships

neared shore. neared shore. • In rough seas, they could easily be In rough seas, they could easily be

lost overboard. lost overboard. – Warriors depended on their shields for Warriors depended on their shields for

their lives.their lives.– They would store them safely on board They would store them safely on board

the ship. the ship.

Things that make you go “Hmmm”• The deck of a longship was completely The deck of a longship was completely

planked over. planked over. – No sleeping quarters.No sleeping quarters.– Crewmen and warriors stored their personal Crewmen and warriors stored their personal

belongings in chests on the deck. Oarsmen sat on belongings in chests on the deck. Oarsmen sat on these chests when rowing.these chests when rowing.

– Airtight: kept it high in water.Airtight: kept it high in water.

• Meals on a drakkar weren't great. Meals on a drakkar weren't great. – Cooking on an open fire was not practical on a Cooking on an open fire was not practical on a

wooden ship in choppy seas. wooden ship in choppy seas. – Food consisted of dried meat, freshly caught fish, Food consisted of dried meat, freshly caught fish,

sour milk, water, beer, nuts and cloudberries. sour milk, water, beer, nuts and cloudberries. – Spoiling was often a problem. Spoiling was often a problem.

Viking ShipsViking ShipsParts 3 and 4Parts 3 and 4

The KnarrThe Knarr

SizeSize• Much different from a Drakkar:

– Shorter– Wide – Better suited to carrying cargo such as cattle,

wool, timber and wheat.

• Averages – 16 meters in length (48 feet)– 5 meters in width (15 feet)– 2 meters +(6 feet) high from keel to top of

gunwale.

• *Draft of 1 meter (3 feet) – *Depth in water.

• It could not navigate the shoals as well as the lighter longship.

• Under full sail, it could travel at 10 knots. .

ConstructionConstruction• Same clinkerSame clinker method. method.• Oak was used for the keel and oak or Oak was used for the keel and oak or

pine for the planks. pine for the planks. • One mast with one square wool or One mast with one square wool or

linen sail. linen sail. – The sail was The sail was stitchedstitched in the typical in the typical

cross-hatched pattern. cross-hatched pattern. – Mast Mast could not be taken down and be taken down and

stored like the longship's. It was stored like the longship's. It was permanentlypermanently fixed to the keel. fixed to the keel.

– Only had a couple of oars. Only had a couple of oars.

CrewCrew• Same kinds of sailors as the longship except

that there were fewer rowers. • Crewmen were needed

– Steer the shipSteer the ship– Furl and unfurl the sailsFurl and unfurl the sails– Watch for shoals Watch for shoals – Row. Row.

• Because there were fewer oarsmen, rowing was Because there were fewer oarsmen, rowing was done done – When entering and leaving port When entering and leaving port – When docking.When docking.

• Deck of the knarr was higher above the waterDeck of the knarr was higher above the water– Ship was rowed with the oarsmen standing up. Ship was rowed with the oarsmen standing up. – They took two steps forward to complete one full They took two steps forward to complete one full

pull of an oar. pull of an oar.

• Haul cargo over long distances.Haul cargo over long distances.• Well-suited for ocean travel.Well-suited for ocean travel.• Because it was shorter, it was a better Because it was shorter, it was a better

ship in rougher seas than the drakkar.ship in rougher seas than the drakkar.• Leif Eriksson and other Viking Leif Eriksson and other Viking

explorers used a knarr for their explorers used a knarr for their voyages to North America. voyages to North America.

• Farm animals and other cargo for sale Farm animals and other cargo for sale or trade were placed in the middle of or trade were placed in the middle of the knarr, sometimes under the knarr, sometimes under protective tarpaulins. protective tarpaulins. – For these reasons, could not row from For these reasons, could not row from

amidships. amidships. – Rowing was done nearer the bow , stern, Rowing was done nearer the bow , stern,

or both. or both.

Uses of the KnarrUses of the Knarr

Life Onboard a KnarrLife Onboard a Knarr• Triangular shaped spaces under the deck at Triangular shaped spaces under the deck at

both the bow and stern of the ship. both the bow and stern of the ship. – Used by passengers for protection against Used by passengers for protection against

unpleasant weather. unpleasant weather. – It was better than sharing sleeping space with the It was better than sharing sleeping space with the

animals. animals.

• Crew bailed a lot of water. Crew bailed a lot of water. • No watertight decks or housing to make sea No watertight decks or housing to make sea

spray flow directly back into the ocean and spray flow directly back into the ocean and no pumps to keep the water levels low. no pumps to keep the water levels low. – Water collected in the bottom of the ship and had Water collected in the bottom of the ship and had

to be constantly bailed out to keep it from to be constantly bailed out to keep it from sinking. sinking.

– Bailing was mainly the job of Bailing was mainly the job of childrenchildren, if any were , if any were on board. on board. (Like 7(Like 7thth graders). graders).

BBERERSSEERRKKEERRSS

The origin of the word The origin of the word “b“beerrsseerrkk””• Used to name a type of Vikings fighter.

– When the longship neared a coastline, ten to fifteen warriors often dressed in bearskins, would move to the front of the ship and work themselves into a frenzy.

– Sometimes this was done by shouting battle whoops, sometimes it was done with the aid of hallucinogenic mushrooms.

• As the longship neared a beach, these “bbeerrsseerrkkers" would go over the side, shouting and waving their swords in anticipation of a battle.

Going BerserkGoing Berserk

• Their shouting and waving of their Their shouting and waving of their swords created fear in their enemies. swords created fear in their enemies.

• Their animal skins made them look like Their animal skins made them look like some kind of beast.some kind of beast.

• It took tremendous strength It took tremendous strength – Wearing the skins Wearing the skins – Carrying battle swords Carrying battle swords

(As much as 200 extra pounds of (As much as 200 extra pounds of weight).weight).

BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Some berserkers were so worked Some berserkers were so worked up, they jumped too soon and up, they jumped too soon and drowned in water over their drowned in water over their heads.heads.

• In our language, going "berserk" In our language, going "berserk" is taken from these fierce Viking is taken from these fierce Viking warriors. It means "going crazy".warriors. It means "going crazy".