When we imagine Viking society, our minds usually go straight to fierce warriors, longships, and epic battles. But the Viking Age was also governed by complex laws, social customs, and — surprisingly — a strict code of conduct when it came to matters of the heart.

Take, for example, the seemingly innocent act of writing a love poem.

In many times and places, poetry has been a celebrated form of courtship — romantic, expressive, even noble. Not so in the Viking world. Composing a love poem, especially if it was directed at an unmarried woman, was risky business. If the woman (or her family) didn’t appreciate your verses — or didn’t like you — the consequences could be severe.

Being hauled before the Ting (Viking court) was a real possibility.
The accused could be charged with níð, a serious insult to someone’s honour, and if found guilty, could be outlawed — literally banished from their community and sent to foreign shores.

So, while Vikings may have had a poetic soul now and again, it had to be used very, very carefully.