A hersir was a local Viking military commander of a hundred (a county subdivision), of about 100 men, and owed allegiance to a jarl or king. They were also aspiring landowners, and, like the middle class in many feudal societies, supported the kings in their centralization of power. Originally, the term Hersir referred to a wealthy farmer who owned land and had the status of a leader. Throughout the Viking Age, Hersir was eventually redefined as someone who organized and led raids. In the 10th century, the influence of Hersirs began to decrease due to the development of effective national monarchies in Scandinavia. Hersir was again redefined later on to mean a local leader or representative. The independence of the Hersir as a military leader eventually vanished, to be replaced only by the title of a royal representative. The "Hávamál", which was the mythical advice of the supreme creator Odin to humankind, contains a number of verses emphasizing the virtue of cautious consideration and strategical attack. This theme, in its oral form, was one of the major influences on the mind of the Viking Hersir.[1]
^Harrison, Mark (1993). Viking Hersir(PDF). Oxford: Osprey Publishing.
A hersir was a local Viking military commander of a hundred (a county subdivision), of about 100 men, and owed allegiance to a jarl or king. They were...
and Brehna (c. 1010–1090 or 1091 or c. 1100) Ulf the Brave, a Norwegian hersir (military leader) of the early ninth century Fictional characters: Balder...
Bjálfason) (better known as Kveldulf, Old Norse for "Night Wolf") was a renowned hersir and landowner in ninth century Sogn, Norway. He is a main character in the...
on 14 April 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2019. Harrison, Mark (1993). Viking Hersir 793–1066 AD. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-318-6. Holman, Katherine...
of guð, 'god' and brandr, 'sword'. The name may be derived from a chief (hersir) called Gudbrand. According to Snorri Sturluson the district was also referred...
Iceland. Ketill's wife was Yngvild Ketilsdóttir, daughter of Ketill Wether, a hersir from Ringerike. They had a number of children, including Bjǫrn Ketilsson...
Hallbjorn Halftroll or Hallbjorn Ulfsson was an early ninth century Norwegian hersir. He was the father of Ketil Trout of Hrafnista. He is mentioned in the Ketils...
areas were ruled over by local Jarls, originally captains of ships or hersirs. The Jarl of Orkney and Shetland, however, claimed supremacy. In 875 CE...
Ríg (Norse god). None of the titles given here duplicate titles such as hersir, jarl, konungr, and dróttinn which appear in the Ríg account. Snorri continues:...
original on June 9, 2007. Retrieved June 4, 2007. "Age of Mythology Heaven Hersir info". Age of Mythology Heaven. Archived from the original on November 13...
Olvir may refer to: Olvir Hnufa - a 9th and 10th century Norwegian hersir and skald. Olvir Rosta - a character from the Orkneyinga saga. This disambiguation...
Kang (born 1971), composer and violist Eyvind Lambi, Norwegian Viking and hersir of the late ninth and early tenth centuries Eyvind Mehle (1895–1945), Norwegian...
Ulf the Brave (Úlfr inn óargi) was a Norwegian hersir who lived in Namdalen in the eighth century CE. He was the father of Hallbjörn Half-Troll and Hallbera...
people with the name include: Thorolf Kveldulfsson, 9th century Norwegian hersir and Viking Thorolf Skallagrimsson, Icelandic Viking and nephew of the former...
King Gautrekr's remarriage to the fair Ingibjörg, daughter of a powerful hersir in the Sogn region of Norway. Ingibjörg chooses Gautrekr for his fame and...
(Hróðgeirr), father of Gudbrand who rejected the title of Jarl and called himself hersir 'lord' as did his descendants. Jötunbjörn the Old inherited Raumaranes Dale...
Ingjald, the son of Hroald, from Haddingdale; he was the brother of Asi, a hersir. He went to Iceland to seek for settlement, and sailed by the north of the...
of England Arms, armour and fortifications Berserker Great Heathen Army Hersir Hird Viking Age arms and armour Halberd Atgeir Skeggöx Dane axe Gjermundbu...
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