and enormous quantities of silver, which could be used to obtain the necessary support. Decorated arm ring of gold from Ornum, near Gørlev in West Zealand. The king’s bodyguards - a personal army The king’s role [...] of conscription known as “leding”, which could be used as and when the king thought it was necessary. The country’s men capable of bearing arms – led by the magnates – had to make themselves, weapons, equipment, [...] Kings therefore sought to secure social and political alliances by giving gifts. The skaldic epics of the Viking Age frequently describe how generous kings and magnates gave golden rings
have been an important product in Viking Age trade. Jewellery in the Viking Age The Vikings did not wear ear rings. The Slavic peoples they encountered on expeditions did, however. $Men and women from all layers of society wore jewellery, in the form of arm rings, necklaces and brooches. Some of the jewellery was ornamental and it could also indicate wealth. Other items, such as brooches, often had a practical [...] long-armed shirt without buttons and might go down to the knees. Over his shoulders the man wore a cloak, which was fastened with a brooch. The cloak was gathered over the arm that he drew his sword or axe
