The Holmgang is a display fight that is used to illustrate the Viking period. It is perhaps the most theatrical of the fights we do, because it has an extended "scene-setting" dialogue before the actual fight begins.

The dialogue can be used to illlustrate a particular aspect of Viking society. The holmgang itself is a good illustration of Viking laws and legal proceedings, but the opportunity is there to highlight social and cultural aspects as well.

The Holmgang proceeds as follows:

1. Two Vikings get into an argument, first verbally, then with fists.
2. The Viking chieftain intervenes and calls for a holmgang. The two combatants retire to gear up for the fight.
3. While they are gearing up, the Chieftain explains to the audience the idea behind the holmgang as a trial-by-combat.
4. The two Vikings fight to the death.

The dialogues below give some structure to Step 1. It is not necessary to follow the dialogue exactly, but each variation has some main points that need to be made in order to illustrate the aspects that are focused on in the display.

Sister

Hrolf: Ho, Gunnar! I am back from England, and I've come to claim my bride.

Gunnar: Your bride? I see no bride here, only my little sister.

Hrolf: Indeed. You promised me to her before I left.

Gunnar: What? I would never have done such a thing.

Hrolf: But you and I agreed that when I returned from England, I would marry your sister.

Gunnar: But that would mean that her lands and property would be yours, and I could never allow that to happen.

Hrolf: We discussed this in the tavern before I left! How can you go back on your word like this?

Gunnar: My word? I never gave you my word!

Hrolf: Well, you had been drinking...

Gunnar: I never get that drunk! You are a liar! You just want my family's land for yourself!

Hrolf: You call me a liar? You insult my honour!

(fight)

This dialogue raises the issue of lands and property. By marrying Gunnar's sister, Hrolf would gain her property as his own. It also demonstrates that in matters of honour, such as an accusation of dishonesty, the holmgang was considered an appropriate means of resolution.

The "Sister" dialogue is suitable for younger audiences, and for displays that have a focus on the Viking social organisation, particularly the status of women.

Lover

Hrolf: Brunnhilde? Brunnhilde! What are you doing with that man!?

Gunnar: Hrolf? You're back from England!

Hrolf: I am, and I was just coming to claim my bride, and here I see her with you, you swine!

Gunnar: How can this be? I paid good money to have you killed in England... oops, what a giveaway!

Hrolf: You paid to have me killed? That must have been that Saxon peasant who tried to stab me in York. I cut off his legs and left him to die in a ditch! You put him up to that?

Gunnar: Err... No! I didn't! I have no idea who he was!

Hrolf: Funny how he had a lot of gold on him. So the gold isn't yours then?

Gunnar: Yes! I mean no! I have never seen that gold before.

Hrolf: You are a liar! You paid a man to kill me!

Gunnar: I did not!

(fight)

This dialogue is slightly different in that Gunnar is plainly seen as the villain. In this situation it would probably be better for Hrolf to win the fight, although if Gunnar wins it would highlight an inherent problem with the system of trial by combat.

If Gunnar wins, he should end with a statement like "if you want a job done properly, you've got to do it yourself".

The "Lover" dialogue is suitable for displays that focus on the Viking code of laws and legal matters, but is also entertaining for younger audiences. It would probably not be appropriate for primary-school age children to be selected as "brides", even though this was common.

Cup

Hrolf: Gunnar, return my cup at once!

Gunnar: Cup? What cup?

Hrolf: You know very well what cup. The silver cup I took from the monastery at Lindisfarne last month! It's missing, and I know you took it!

Gunnar: I did not take your cup. Why should I?

Hrolf: You were a coward on that raid, Gunnar. You were too frightened to fight, so you thought you'd get the spoils by stealing instead.

Gunnar: You dare call me a coward!

Hrolf: A coward, yes! And a thief!

Gunnar: You liar! I fought just as bravely as you at Lindisfarne!

(fight)

This dialogue would be best if the Chieftain then said something like "the truth of the cup will be easily seen, but the matter of Gunnar's honour will be more difficult to settle".

This would show that the holmgang is a way of settling matters of honour as much as it is a legal proceeding.

The "Cup" dialogue would be better for displays that focus on Viking society and home life, since it hinges on a matter of personal honour.