Männerbund
The Männerbund (plural: Männerbünde), or warrior band/union/association, was a prominent social institution among the Germanic tribes during the Iron Age (presumably even before that during the Proto-Germanic era) and afterwards. This institution was characterized by the formation of small groups of Men typically nordic warriors, who formed a close bond of brotherhood based on shared experiences, hardship, and spiritual beliefs and other determining factors. The Varangians were also made up of Männerbünde who engaged in trade and military conquests in the Rus. In ancient India, Männerbünde called Vratya existed among the Aryans and may have dated back to ancient Indo-Germanic traditions.
Germanic and Scandinavian medievalist Prof. Dr. phil. Otto Eduard Gottfried Ernst Höfler's scientific treatise Kultische Geheimbünde der Germanen ("Cultic Secret Societies of the Germanic Tribes", Frankfurt am Main 1934) is the most important source for the Männerbünde of the Germanic peoples. Many historical Männerbünde are also called brotherhoods. Some of these still exist today.
Contents
History
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The term *Männerbünde was not coined by any one specific individual, but rather is a German term that has been used by scholars to describe a variety of male-exclusive social and cultural groups throughout history. The term itself translates to *bond of men or *brotherhoods of men, and has been used to describe the mostly warrior (sometimes animal derived) cults in Germanic heathenry.
In the context of Germanic heathenry, the term *Männerbünde has been used by scholars such as Hilda Ellis Davidson, Lotte Hedeager, and others to describe the social and cultural organizations of Germanic warrior groups, such as the warrior cults of the Viking Age. However, it's important to note that the term *Männerbünde is a relatively recent construct in scholarship and was not used in medieval sources to describe these groups. Instead, medieval texts used terms like félag (Old Norse) or geferrædenne (Old English) to describe the bonds of brotherhood and loyalty between warriors.
Hilda R. Ellis Davidson, wrote extensively about the Germanic Männerbünde and their role in early Germanic society. In her book The Sword in Anglo-Saxon England: Its Archaeology and Literature, Davidson argues that the Männerbünde was a key institution in Germanic warrior culture. According to Davidson, the Männerbund was a brotherhood of warriors who were bound together by oaths of loyalty and camaraderie. These warriors lived and fought together, sharing the spoils of war and participating in ritual practices that reinforced their bonds. Davidson argues that the Männerbund was not just a military unit, but a social and religious institution that played a vital role in the maintenance of Germanic society. She suggests that the Männerbund was closely tied to the cult of the warrior-hero, and that both were essential components of the Germanic worldview.
Kris Kershaw, a scholar of Old Norse and Germanic Mythology, has also written about the Germanic Männerbünde in her book The One-Eyed God: Odin and the (Indo-)Germanic Männerbünde. Kershaw argues that the Männerbund was a central institution in Germanic society, and that it played a vital role in shaping the culture and worldview of these early Germanic tribes. She suggests that the Männerbund was closely associated with the god Odin, who was revered as the archetypal warrior-hero and the patron of all warriors. According to Kershaw, the Männerbund was a brotherhood of warriors who were bound together by oaths of loyalty and a shared commitment to the values of courage, honor, and valor. These warriors were often involved in raiding and pillaging, and their exploits were celebrated in epic poems and sagas that became a part of the cultural heritage of the Germanic tribes. Kershaw also explores the connections between the Männerbund and other aspects of Germanic culture, including animal symbolism and shamanism. She suggests that the Männerbund was closely associated with various animal cults, and that the warriors who belonged to these brotherhoods may have engaged in ritual practices that involved the transformation into animal forms.
Archaeological evidence suggests that the Germanic Mannerbund existed in various forms throughout the Iron Age, with distinctive social and cultural features. One of the most notable archaeological finds related to the Mannerbund is the collection of warrior graves that have been discovered throughout the Germanic territories. These graves often contain rich collections of weapons, armor, and other equipment that were buried with the warriors. Additionally, the remains of horses and other animals were often included, suggesting the importance of the bond between the warrior and his mount. These graves also frequently show evidence of rituals and ceremonies performed by the warrior band, indicating the importance of these groups in Germanic society. Evidence of these rituals could also rule out mass battlefield burials.
Lotte Hedeager, a Danish archaeologist and historian, has also written about the Germanic Männerbünde in her book "Iron Age Myth and Materiality: An Archaeology of Scandinavia AD 400-1000". Hedeager's work on the Männerbund emphasizes their role in shaping the material culture of the Germanic tribes, and explores the connections between the Männerbund and other aspects of Germanic society, such as religion, politics, and gender. According to Hedeager, the Männerbund was a key social institution in early Germanic society, and played a central role in the organization and governance of these tribes. She suggests that the Männerbund was closely associated with the cult of the warrior-hero, and that both were essential components of the Germanic worldview. Hedeager also explores the relationship between the Männerbund and gender roles in early Germanic society. She suggests that the Männerbund was a primarily male institution, and that it played a key role in defining and reinforcing gender roles in these tribes. She notes that women were often excluded from the Männerbund and other male-dominated social institutions, and argues that this exclusion may have contributed to the subordination of women in early Germanic society.
There is also some evidence to suggest a possible connection between the Germanic Mannerbund and animal cults, although the nature of this connection is not entirely clear. Animal cults were religious practices that involved the veneration of specific animals or animal spirits. These cults were widespread throughout Germanic-speaking regions during the Iron Age and early medieval period, and some scholars have suggested that they may have been connected to the Mannerbund. One theory is that the Mannerbund may have worshiped a totemic animal, such as a bear or wolf, which was seen as a symbol of strength, courage, and ferocity. This animal may have served as a model for the ideal warrior, and the Mannerbund may have sought to emulate its traits and characteristics. While there is some evidence to support these theories, it is important to note that the exact nature of the relationship between the Mannerbund and animal cults is still a matter of debate among scholars. Further research and analysis may be needed to shed more light on this topic.
Anthropological studies have also contributed to our understanding of the Germanic Mannerbund. One important aspect of this institution is the relationship between the leader (Führer) and his followers. In many cases, the leader of the Mannerbund was an older, experienced warrior who had earned the loyalty and respect of his followers through his bravery and skill in battle. This relationship was often cemented through oaths of loyalty and brotherhood. Additionally, the Mannerbund was often linked to other aspects of Germanic society, such as the chieftaincy and the concept of the comitatus, a social structure in which a leader was supported by a group of warriors who owed him loyalty and service. Similarly, scholars have drawn upon anthropological theories of male bonding and group dynamics to better understand the Mannerbund. This is suggested by Anthropologist Victor Turner who while not writing specifically about Germanic tribes eluded that male-exclusive groups like the Mannerbund are often characterized by this comitatus, a sense of intense social solidarity and equality that arises from shared experiences and rituals. Turner also argued that such groups often play important roles in rites of passage, providing young men with models of masculinity and opportunities to prove themselves as adults.
The adaptation of the Mannerbund could potentially address some issues facing men in modern society by providing a space for men to connect with each other, develop a sense of camaraderie, and cultivate a shared sense of purpose and identity. One issue facing men in modern society is a lack of connection and community, which can lead to social isolation and feelings of loneliness. By creating groups structured around the principles of the Mannerbund, men would have a space to connect with other like-minded individuals and build relationships based on shared values and interests.
Another issue facing men is a sense of disconnection from their own masculinity and a lack of positive role models. The Mannerbund could provide a framework for men to explore and cultivate positive aspects of masculinity, such as courage, honor, and leadership, in a supportive and empowering environment. Additionally, the Mannerbund could help to address issues of mental health and well-being, which are often stigmatized or overlooked in traditional masculine culture. By creating a safe and supportive space for men to discuss their experiences and emotions, the Mannerbund could help to break down some of the barriers to seeking help and support.
In conclusion, the Germanic Mannerbund was a complex social institution that played a significant role in Iron Age Germanic culture. Archaeological, linguistic, and anthropological evidence all point to the importance of the warrior ethos, loyalty, and brotherhood in this institution. While the Mannerbund varied in form and function across different Germanic cultures, its central role in the social, religious, and political structures of the Germanic world is clear.
Quotes
- "The Prussian, then German Army was one of the most magnificent examples of the architectural Männerbund, corresponding to the Nordic people, built on honour and duty. Therefore, the hatred of the others was naturally directed against it." — Alfred Rosenberg, in: The Myth of the Twentieth Century
- "A Männerbund is a sworn community of men who pursue a specific common goal. The interaction in a Männerbund is determined by certain fixed rituals and rules; there is often a hierarchical order. Männerbünde are seen as preserving society. They play an important role within the elite and are themselves at least part of it."
- "The first religious orders of knighthood, which were founded during the Crusades and from which numerous successor organizations developed, were also purely male orders. Männerbünde are still particularly common in the Roman Catholic Church today."
- "The success of the 'hunting ape' was based on its ability to work together in an organized way, on the union of men in a hunting community. As a result, men always belong to two overlapping social structures, the family and the Männerbund; their world is divided into two areas, the inside and the outside – security and adventure, women's business and men's business, love and death. For at the heart of the new type of community, whose biological analogue is the wolf pack, is killing and eating. Men must repeatedly make the transition between the two areas, and the male offspring must one day pass from the world of women to the world of men; fathers must accept their sons, train them as partners, and look after them – which is again unprecedented among all mammals –; but this introduction of the boy into the world of men is an encounter with death." – Walter Burkert, in: Homo Necans – The Anthropology of Ancient Greek Sacrificial Ritual and Myth, 1972 (1st Edition in German, 2nd Edition 1997)
Further reading
- Prof. Dr. phil. Elisabeth "Lily " Augusta Jeanette Weiser(-Aall): Altgermanische Jünglingsweihen und Männerbünde, 1927
- Prof. Dr. phil. Albin Alfred Baeumler: Männerbund und Wissenschaft, 1934
- Prof. Dr. phil. Richard Wolfram: Schwerttanz und Männerbund, 3 Volumes, 1936–37
Sources
- Zack Markel: The Germanic Männerbünde, 2024
