Vikings, blondeness and migration

Viking helmets with horns are a myth that has long been dismissed by science. Nevertheless, the image of the brutal Viking lives on in films and comics, first created in the late 19th century and later reinforced by Hollywood. But research has broadened and nuanced our view of the Vikings, especially in the last decade.

As for the Vikings' atrocities as raiders, research has shown that Christian nobles committed worse atrocities against their peasants and countrymen than the Norse on their raids.

Much foreign DNA in Viking towns

One of the biggest discoveries is the genetic diversity of the Vikings. Analysis of graves and finds has shown that every second inhabitant of the Viking Age trading town of Sigtuna was of foreign origin. This has challenged the traditional image of the tall, blond Viking and revealed a more diverse culture.

Research has also shown that the Viking Age did not begin with the classic raids but already in the 6th century, eastwards towards the Baltic. The world of the Vikings was not only characterized by war and plunder, but also by trade, hunting and farming. Archaeological findings and DNA analysis have revealed a previously underestimated genetic variation and multiculturalism in Viking society. The Viking was not just tall and blond.

Also peaceful occupations

Today's research adds to a nuanced picture of the Viking Age, where people were far more than just pirates. They were traders, farmers, hunters and city dwellers. This broader understanding of Viking life and culture helps to dispel myths and give us a more nuanced view of history.

Some people may now wonder, how did the idea of the blond and blu-eyed Northerner arise? It is true that blondness and light eyes may have been introduced into the Nordic population through earlier migrations and mixing with other ethnic groups. According to genetic studies, blondness came with Russian immigration during the Stone Age. Before this, the early inhabitants of Scandinavia probably had a more mixed variety of physical characteristics, including brown skin color and blue eyes.

Dark skin and blue eyes in stoneage times

It is important to remember that humans first evolved in Africa and had a darker skin color before migrating to other parts of the world. Therefore, the physical characteristics of modern humans have changed and adapted over time through evolution and mixing with other populations.

Migration has always been a natural part of human history and has helped to maintain and increase genetic variation within different population groups. This variation is essential to adapt to different environments and challenges and to ensure the survival and diversity of humanity as a whole.

The emerging image of the Swedish identity as blond and blue-eyed is examined and questioned in the new book "Blond och blåögd: Vithet, svenskhet och visuell kultur" (Blond and Blue-eyed: Whiteness, Swedishness and Visual Culture), authored by art historians Jeff Werner and Tomas Björk of Stockholm University.

According to Werner and Björk, the idea of Sweden as a homogeneous and monochrome society is a myth that needs to be challenged.

The role of research is to highlight and problematize such notions of Swedishness.

The 18th century myth of the blonde Swede and the Vikings

It was not until the end of the 19th century that the image of the Swede as blond and blue-eyed began to be established. During this time, Swedishness shifted from being linked to clothing, language and customs to being associated with physical characteristics. Cartoons from this era ridiculed non-Swedish bodies trying to emulate the Swedish norm, while artists such as Carl Larsson and Anders Zorn created images of 'Swedish' bodies in Swedish nature.

Today, the notion of Swedish appearance is maintained through images, design and architecture, examples of which include the TV series 'Hammarkullen', the National Museum, Anders Zorn's naked girls and Elsa Beskow's 'Putte in the Blueberry Forest'.

An important point that Werner and Björk make is that what is considered 'normal' in society is also a construct. It is easy for people to be sensitive to the deviations of others, while being blind to their own.

Sweden never homogenous

At the same time, it is important to understand that Sweden has never been a homogeneous nation. Even before the first Swedish national formation, people were living on Swedish soil, and immigration has occurred for economic reasons throughout history.

From the Middle Ages onwards, various immigrant groups have contributed to Sweden's development. Germans, Walloons and other groups have left their mark on the Swedish language and culture. In different historical periods, immigration has been an important part of Sweden's economic and social life.

Multiculturalism continues to contribute

This continues even today with a diversity of people contributing to society in different ways.

Over time, Sweden has developed into a multicultural society, and Swedish identity has come to encompass a range of different backgrounds and experiences. Being Swedish today can mean many different things to different people.

The link between migration and crime is false. Social problems increased again from the 1980s, but by then the state had started to allow more unemployment and increasing inequality since the 1970s.

Sweden still has a low crime rate even among immigrants and a high employment rate even among immigrants.

Photo by Valentin Lacoste on Unsplash

Sources:

The dawn of everything by David Graeber

Vikingen var inte som du tror av Mats Karlsson

Skapandet av svensken som blond och blåögd (pressmeddelande från Stockholms universitet)

Substack, ”Crime and migration through history”, 2024-02-18

www.oskarbrandt.com, ”Ingen ursprunglig svensk”, 2009-2011