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Housecarls (Old Norse: : húskarl), also known as hirdmen, are the non-servile manservants or household bodyguards. They were well-trained and paid as full-time soldiers.

Description[]

Housecarls made up an earl or other powerful and wealthy Viking's hird. The hird is an informal retinue of personal armed companions. It is used as a title for informal companions or retainers of the powerful, especially as companions in arms. Eventually the hird became a more formal royal court household. The hirdman became the title of the highest of the four ranks of the royal hird. There was a special fine for the killing of a king's man, adding an advantage to entering the king's service. Housecarls were also expected to avenge their leader if he was killed.

Notable Housecarls[]

For Earl Haraldson[]

For Ragnar[]

For Ivar[]

For King Horik[]

For Bjorn[]

For Jarl Olavsonn[]

For Gunnar Asgrimsson[]

For Jarl Borg[]

Trivia[]

  • Housecarls could be loved as family members in the household they served, as evident from runestones raised by lords after their housecarls, and housecarls after their lords.
  • After the invasion of the Danes in the early 11th century, the concept and name of the housecarls became co-opted by the Anglo-Saxon nobility.