Abstract
Abstract: The lið, a retinue of warriors sworn to a leader, has long been considered one of the basic armed groups of the Viking Age. However, in recent years the study of lið has been eclipsed by the discussion of larger Viking armies. In this paper, we focus on the key question of how loyalty to the lið was achieved. We argue that two processes that have been intensively studied by psychologists and anthropologists – ingroup identification and identity fusion – would have been important in the formation and operation of lið. In support of this hypothesis, we outline archaeological, historical and literary evidence pertaining to material and psychological identities. The construction of such identities, we contend, would have facilitated the formation of cohesive fighting groups and contributed to their success while operating in the field.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 35-50 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Journal | World Archaeology |
Volume | 48 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 23 Nov 2015 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2016 |
Keywords
- group cohesion
- identification
- identity fusion
- ingroup
- lið
- Viking Age
- war band