Hrunting: The Anglo-Saxon Warrior

Warriors have physical and personal connections with their swords; but no supernatural connection that is usually exaggerated in stories. Between the sixth century and the ninth century, Europe-along with many other countries- were occupied by two well-known types of people: the Anglo-Saxon and the Vikings. Most of the lands were rules and/or protected by Anglo-Saxon kings and their knight. They fought against the barbaric Vikings, who pillage and destroy villages along the coast. In the heat of war, both the Anglo-Saxon knights and the Viking warriors mostly with shields and swords. Swords allow them to cut their enemies down in one fatal swing, if possible.
In stories, swords were considered to have special abilities but no real magic. Swords …show more content…
Only certain individuals could afford swords; or sometime, they were given as gifts-or payment-for their service. During the Anglo-Saxon era, it was believed that only kings and those of aristocratic status could afford such weapon (Albert). In other words, swords were too expensive for anyone who was not a king or a nobleman to afford. “It [Hrunting] had never failed/ the hand of anyone who hefted it in battle” (Heaney 65). This quote show that Hrunting was used by someone who was either military personnel, warrior or person of royal status. Though swords were used by men of a certain rank in their society, their weapons were ranked by their quality of the metal. This was based on how much a person was willing to pay to have the best weapon. Swords with the names “Ulfberht” or “Ingelrii” etched into their blades, were considered to superior swords among swords during the age of the Viking (Short). The Vikings believed that swords, with either of these names, were better than any other weapon. They also believed that if they had such a weapon, that they will be invincible and could vanquish their …show more content…
This means that the warrior trained and fought with this weapon so much that they believed it to be a part of their own arm. “’My sword plunged/ and the ordeal was over. Through my own hands, /the fury of battle had finished off the see-beast’” (Heaney 45). In this quote, Beowulf only talks about defeating the sea monster with his own strength mostly; although he fails to mention that he had help from his weapon. Thus, showing that Beowulf considers his weapon to be part of his own strength in the watery battle. According to the “The kings of swords” article, sword wielders would usually train from when they were children until their adulthood. After the training, the Anglo-Saxon sword-bearer would fight in duels just for sport or go to battle (Albert). Warriors, or sword-bearers, had to train with the sword to become familiar with it for combat-ready reasons. They learn that the sword is the only weapon they can trust in a heat of battle, and can rely on it for the protection of their family and their life. “The sword was the mark of a warrior of the Viking age” (Short). William Short is stating the when young Viking children come to a certain age, they receive a weapon (likely a sword or ax) and begin their training as a Viking