However a Viking man supported his family, that family was most often nuclear. That is, like average modern families, it consisted of a father, mother, and their children. Extended families featuring grandparents, aunts, cousins, and so forth were far less common in Viking society. "The reason," Wolf points out, is that "the average life expectancy was somewhere between 30 and 40 years at most, and only a small percentage of people lived long enough to enter the role of grandparent."42
As a rule, the father, husband, or other chief male present was the head of a Viking household. When he was away trading or raiding (or was deceased), however, his wife or mother assumed control of the family. Even when the leading male was in the house, the average Viking woman was frequently as tough, capable, and hardworking as he was. She raised the children, cleaned, made the family clothes, cooked the meals, and instructed her daughters in how to perform these duties. Moreover, it was not unusual for women to grab weapons and fight alongside the men when their community was in peril.
Indeed, evidence suggests that many Viking women, especially widows whose sons were already grown, were quite independent and commanded a certain amount of respect and social power within the community. Of several notable women described in the Icelandic sagas, the most famous example is that of Unn (sometimes called Aud) the Deepminded, wife of a Norse king of Dublin. In about the year 900 her husband and son were slain in battle, and she was left in charge of several grandchildren. Feeling that they were not safe in Ireland, Unn decided to move them to Iceland. According to the Lax-doela Saga:
She had a ship built secretly in the forest. When it was finished, she made the ship ready and set out with substantial wealth. She took along all her kinsmen who were still alive, and people say it is hard to find another example of a woman managing to escape from such a hostile situation with as much wealth and as many followers. It shows what an outstanding woman Unn was. [Later] she traveled through all the valleys of Brei-dafjord [in western Iceland] and took as much land as she wished.43
The fact that Unn went on to claim a large tract of vacant land in Iceland and later divided it up and gave parcels to various relatives is revealing. It shows that under certain circumstances Norse women could own and bequeath land just as men could. It is unknown how many women were as assertive and capable as Unn, but most scholars agree
Modern reenactors, clad in authentic outfits, engage in some of the typical duties performed by Viking women, including food preparation and yarn-spinning.
With Wolf's speculation that "the resourcefulness and independence exhibited by Unn and others may well have been fostered by the many responsibilities with which women were left when their husbands were away on trading voyages and military expeditions."44
One social area in which women did not have much say was marriage. In Viking society marriage was a largely social and legal contract in which romantic love played little or no role. A typical marriage was arranged. The suitor or his father (or both) approached the bride's father and made the arrangements, including those regarding the dowry (money or other valuables supplied by the girl's father for her maintenance in the marriage). The wedding consisted of a feast that took place at the groom's house or bride's father's house.
World History
