Vikings of Bjornstad - Viking Documentary List

The Last Journey of the Vikings (2020)
(Comments by Will Lopez and Jack Garrett)

What:

This is a docu-drama on Amazon Prime from 2020 about Vikings mostly from Denmark and their history centered around Frankia. The program is presented in four episodes of about an hour length in each episode. The format is a documentary with information verbally presented by a senior researcher, an assistant professor, a lead archeologist, and a narrator who provides the over-arching story lines and helps to fill in the blanks. There are visual representations and dramatizations of the Vikings and those they interact with that are presented in order to help add color to the historical story line.

The program provides a nice over-arching framework describing how the Vikings began as raiders but then evolved into settlers, merchants, and finally the diplomats who had a hand in re-shaping countries. The show also provides context for the migration period preceding the Viking period and on factors that may have influenced the start of the raiding activities.

The village prepares to go a-Viking.
Screen capture from The Last Journey of the Vikings, Episode 1

Opinion:

Overall: Overall the program was reasonably accurate and entertaining without too many distractions or inaccuracies. That was refreshing, as it can be hard to find accurate Viking programs these days, and ones that are also somewhat entertaining. They also did dive into detail at points and presented some information and perspectives that you don’t usually hear about. We are always on the look out for new information and wanting to learn more, so we were pleased to pick up a few new nuggets of information and new perspectives.

The first raids are on a small scale.
Screen capture from The Last Journey of the Vikings, Episode 1

Format & Presentation: In terms of the format and presentation, at times the pace was somewhat slow and repetitive. Also, when the different speakers were presenting their unique viewpoints you had to listen carefully to discern if you were being told a generalization, an opinion, or a new and specific historical piece of information. We can appreciate that programs like this must first start at a very high level and “level set” as the viewing audience may know nothing about Viking history before they can go into further and more interesting detail. We appreciated the visual representation trying to add color to the verbal descriptions and at times the presentation was good to illustrate individual clans, battles, and interactions with other merchants and nobles. However, you can also see that they fell into the too common trap of showing Vikings wearing biker leather tunics and having wild haircuts. They also used the same actors and ships when presenting time frames across 100s of years which was kind of a distraction. We did like how they presented the Bayeux tapestry and highlighted how the workers, or their leaders must have had a good grasp of the many historical details in order to represent them so well.

Knowing the scale of the raids would grow larger would have been of small comfort to the victims.
Screen capture from The Last Journey of the Vikings, Episode 1

Presenters & Sources:
- Helena Victor, Head of Dept. of Archaeology, Kalmar County Museum, Sweden
- Ben Raffield, Senior Researcher, Dept. of Archeology and ancient History, Uppsala University, Sweden
- Sarah Croix, Associate Professor, PhD, School of Culture and Society, Department of Archeology and Heritage Studies, Aarhus University
Charlemagne's death in 814 AD fractures the Frankish empire
Screen capture from The Last Journey of the Vikings, Episode 2
Interesting Details:
- Perhaps as many as 1M Scandinavians were killed in the volcanic cataclysms preceding the Viking age. Large tracts of land were then later available to raid and seize which contributed to a militarized aristocracy.
- Partnerships begun to explore and raid. The term Félag (Old Norse, meaning "fellowship, partnership") was a joint financial venture between partners in Viking Age society was referenced in many rune stones as a commercial military expedition.
- Charter documents were found in Europe that reference the need for towns to properly prepare for pagan invasions by building fortifications as early as the period of the 790s to early 800s.
- The Anglo Saxon chronicles reference a surge in raiding that happened in the 2nd quarter of the 800s.
- In the 820s, Viking early raids into the Frankish waterways actually failed.
- With the death of King Gudfred, Charlemagne ordered the build up of coastal defenses which did a good job in preventing incursions.
- After Charlemagne’s rule, in 845 a Viking invasion of 120 ships arrived and Charles the Bald arranged for a large ransom while the Viking Wintered there.
- In the 9th century more ships would return to Frankia. Vikings were allowed to steal and plunder throughout the Seine.
- A subsequent Paris attack failed but the Vikings continued to attack the Franks elsewhere.
- Later as the Vikings continued the occupy and trade, they found that increasingly religious conversion was required for trading. Incorporating Jesus was not necessarily a problem as Viking may have viewed Jesus as just another deity and a conqueror.
- Conversion to Christianity may have also impacted women’s rights and resulted in women being unable to work crafts, or inherit.
- Though we know Rollo was granted Normandy in 911, there is almost zero archaeological evidence of that occupation.
- Good explanation of how all of the rulers involved in the Battle of Hastings all had seemingly valid claims to the throne.
- Highlighted how the Normans used cavalry tactics the English were not used to, and how the Battle of Hastings lasted the entire day.
- The Normans may have learned some of their innovative cavalry techniques from the Carolingians.

The Vikings invade England and France, digitally
Screen capture from The Last Journey of the Vikings, Episode 2

Concerns:
- Frequently the information being provided by the various presenters doesn't match the visuals we see. Particularly mis-matched are scenes from the Bayeux Tapestry not being selected well to illustrate the audio.
- The live-action longships we're shown have six oars, not the twenty or thirty that many - if not most - raiding ships would have had.
- Many maps are shown, but most only show vague topographical detail and a very few location labels.
- A presenter offers the opinion that Duke William "may have sought Papal support" for the 1066 AD invasion of England. It has been established that William's forces carried a Papal banner with them, representing the blessing of the Church for the Norman effort.
- Some commentary is too casually offered and provides incorrect information. One example is that Norman horses shipped to Hastings were "stabled" aboard the ships. Nothing approaching that type of construction was available for the horses - or the men - aboard the longships they employed.
- The opinion is offered that Harold's men "rode to the battle" of Hastings. Certainly some of the upper echelon of the English had horses, but the vast majority of the army walked to the battle.
- A graphic is emblazoned on the screen representing the Viking culture. The runes displayed are from the Elder Futhark, not used by the Scandinavians during the Viking age. The central symbol shown is the Vegvísir (The Pointer of the Way, or The Viking Compass), first documented in the 19th century.

Long-term campaigns prove difficult.
Screen capture from The Last Journey of the Vikings, Episode 3

Availability:
- Amazon Prime Video: "The Last Journey Of The Vikings"
- YouTube: "The Full History Of How The Vikings Dominated Europe | The Last Journey Of The Vikings | Timeline"

A poorly researched graphic (see Concerns)
Screen capture from The Last Journey of the Vikings, Episode 3

The dirtiest person who has ever been baptized. A complete misunderstanding (clearly by the documentary's creators, but possibly by the Vikings as well) of the significance of the ritual of baptism: washing one's sins away.
Screen capture from The Last Journey of the Vikings, Episode 3

A little more detail would be helpful
Screen capture from The Last Journey of the Vikings, Episode 3

Rollo becomes the Count of Normandy
Screen capture from The Last Journey of the Vikings, Episode 3

The Battle of Hastings, 1066 AD. The English have the high ground at left. The Normans, with their cavalry, are arrayed downslope at right
Screen capture from The Last Journey of the Vikings, Episode 3

The Normans win the day, and England's ruling class speaks French for 300 years.
Screen capture from The Last Journey of the Vikings, Episode 3

Normandy - a vaguely defined area of northwestern France
Screen capture from The Last Journey of the Vikings, Episode 3

The Conquerors: William the Conqueror (2005)
(Comments by Jack Garrett)

What:

This is a 45 minute documentary broadcast on the History channel in 2005 about the power vacuum occurring in England when King Edward the Confessor dies in 1066, and the invasion by William, then Duke of Normandy. The confusion about who should succeed the heir-less king, the invasion to support William's assertion of kingship and the aftermath are all covered, with extensive video shot to support the narration.

The scholarship is excellent. Information is delivered well and the visuals support it nicely. Accurately dressed reenactors provide well-choreographed and edited, supportive, background video. The host, Dale Dye, narrates the factual material very effectively. He also joins in expertly demonstrated sequences with the reenactors.

Members of The Vikings of Bjornstad provided actors, extras and stunt performers for this episode. More photos of the filming can be seen here: https://www.vikingsofbjornstad.com/Conquerors.shtm

The Vikings of Bjornstad provide warriors for the Harold's English army
Photo taken on the location set of The Conquerors: William the Conqueror

Opinion:

Overall: The program was well researched and the level of accurate detail was consistently surprising. Both the spoken historical information and the recreated scenes were well above most such efforts, even for the late, lamented History Channel.

Mike and Jack are Huscarls for the moment
Screenshot from The Conquerors: William the Conqueror

Format & Presentation: This episode is one of twelve, covering conquerors throughout history, from Andrew Jackson and El Cid to Marshal Zhukov and King David. Actor, military advisor and former U.S. Marine Captain Dale Dye is the host of the series. As both narrator and on-location presenter, he provides an air of reality and personal involvement throughout the episode.

Henrik shows no mercy to a watermelon - at a gallop
Screenshot from The Conquerors: William the Conqueror

Presenters & Sources:
- Dale Dye, actor, technical advisor, radio personality and writer. A decorated Marine veteran of the Vietnam War (rising to the rank of Captain), Dye is the founder and head of Warriors, Inc., a technical advisory company specializing in portraying realistic military action in Hollywood films.
- Scott Waugh, Professor of History, UCLA
- Christopher Gravett, Author, Hastings 1066
- Jean-Marie Levesque, Museum of Normandy
- Richard Jones, Author, Myths and Legends of Britain and Ireland
- Benoit Panozzo, Historian, Falaise Castle, Normandy
Dale Dye demonstrates the winged Frankish spear with Henrik
Screenshot from The Conquerors: William the Conqueror
Interesting Details:
- Personal details about Duke William provide depth to the historical detail, including why he was called "the Bastard". His willingness to brutally torture and dismember those who had taunted him about his heritage is covered as well.
- Reenactors, both those separately videoed and those on location with Dye, are accurately equipped.
- Video clips are appropriately chosen and edited well to depict the story.
- Information is included about the Bayeux Tapestry's construction and current display setting.
- The issues between Harold and his brother Tostig indicate their potentially history-changing impact.
- The complicated succession of Edward the Confessor and the claimants to the throne of England are well-covered without unnecessary detail.
- William builds 700 ships, enough to transport 8,000 men and 3,000 war horses.
- Alexander II provides papal blessing, enabling the invasion to be cast as a religious undertaking
- Dye demonstrates the weaponry of the battle - himself - using The Vikings of Bjornstad as participants.
- Henrik destroys watermelons from horseback masterfully as part of the weapons demonstrations.
- Jack's mustache (no beard for this filming) is featured to represent the Saxons' favored appearance.
- Knights ride up to a medieval castle and are taunted by French troops from the parapet. All done seriously without reference to previous, similar, sillier, movie sequences.
- William is noted to have fallen on his face upon his arrival in England, seemingly a bad omen for the invasion. A second "omen" was his donning of his hauberk backwards the morning of the battle at Hastings. He reversed it quickly.
- The Saxon shield wall was 800 yards long.
- Well-done graphical displays show the disposition of troops on the battlefield and their movement during the day's fighting.
- William had three horses killed beneath him during the battle.
- William's obligations to the soldiers of his army, including ceding them property in the defeated England are described as being made easier by having 20% of the Normans having been killed in the Battle of Hastings. Reenacted images of the battlefield after the fighting depicts this level of carnage well.
- Excellent animated maps show William's campaign after the battle to fully eliminate any English resistance.
- Upon seeing long-haired and bearded Saxons for the first time, the young nobles in Normandy adopt their hair stylings as a way of demonstrating youthful rebellion.
- William builds castles every 15 miles, the distance a horseman could cover in a single day.
- William builds the Tower of London, as a residence.
- William reacts forcefully to rebellion in the North, in many villages destroying every man, woman and child, all livestock and crops resulting in starvation. 10% of the population dies within 60 years.
- William decrees the creation of the Domesday Book, recording a VERY thorough listing of everything of value in his new territory. It takes only six months to complete.
- William suffers a horseback riding accident when thrown against the pommel of his saddle, complicated by considerable body weight gained after the invasion. He took six weeks to die from peritonitis. His household attendants stole everything of value in his castle, including the clothes he was wearing.
- His pus-filled body exploded when forced into an undersized stone sarcophagus, covering the walls of the Caen church.
- Harold is remembered by a small stone monument.
- Dye provides a military-oriented "Tips for Conquerors" summation.

Henrik gets axed
Screenshot from The Conquerors: William the Conqueror

Concerns:
- Norman army combatants drawn from all over Europe appear to all have the same shield design at times, betraying digital image manipulation.
- The Norman ships arrive at Pevensey in England and are digitally shown beached with full sails.
- Harold is shown as dying by an arrow in the eye, but the program doesn't mention that the incident isn't fully accepted. It does show the Bayeux Tapestry's scene of "someone" having been struck in that manner with an arrow. The later dismembering of William's body is described.
- Some narrated scenes show an appropriate backdrop, but the green screen effects are evident and haven't aged well.

Availability:
- DVD: "The Conquerors" from The History Channel
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqeYW-dbNlQ

Command Decisions: Hastings (2004)
(Comments by Jack Garrett)

What:

This is a documentary broadcast on the History channel in 2004. It tells the story of the Battle of Hastings and the invasion of England in 1066 AD in a straightforward and uncomplicated manner. But, since history is made by people making choices that have significant impacts on the directions populations and empires will take, the series dissects those historical moments and provides the viewer with the opportunity to make those decisions. It then provides the choice history tells us was actually made. Given the substantial impact on European history resulting from the conquest of England, this episode examines the choices made by William, who will be given the title of Conqueror.

Members of The Vikings of Bjornstad and several sister reenactment groups provided actors, extras and stunt performers for this episode. Henrik stars as William the Conqueror. More photos of the filming can be seen here: https://www.vikingsofbjornstad.com/CommandDecisions.shtm

The Vikings of Bjornstad portray the English army marching to confront the Normans at Hastings
Screen capture from Command Decisions - Hastings

Opinion:

Overall:

Format & Presentation:
An example of the questions posed to the viewer:
How would you persuade the barons to join the invasion?
- Secure Church's blessing
- Offer land
- Strip titles
Harold Godwinson (Dorian) and William, Duke of Normandy (Henrik) confront each other - symbolically, if not historically
Screen capture from Command Decisions - Hastings
Presenters & Sources:
- Dr. Stephen Morillo, Wabash College
- Dr. Clifford J. Rogers, West Point
Interesting Details:
- Includes this introductory paragraph: "When King Edward the Confessor died without an heir, he left England in a state of uncertainty. The governing council appointed his brother-in-law Harold as king, but William, illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy across the English Channel, challenged Harold's succession, gathered troops, and set sail. A navigational error landed his forces in the wrong place, so the Normans encountered Harold much sooner than expected. To make matters worse, Harold's army was stationed on top of a hill - a challenge for the approaching Normans. Since William's strength lay in cavalry and archers, both were useless on the steep incline. The Battle of Hastings in 1066 became a battle of wits, with William trying to lure Harold's army down the hill to turn the battle to his advantage. At stake, control of England."
- Maps and animated segments document the troop positions and movements well.
- Very effective editing makes maximum use of the Northern California location and the limited number of onscreen warriors.

Concerns:
- A smallish budget, with a lot of close-ups of the reenactors' faces and blurry scenes of armies showing no more than a dozen troops.
- The shield wall of the English is poorly represented and disorganized.

Availability:
- Amazon Prime History Vault