Ancient and medieval history is fascinating to study. From bygone empires to the daily lives of now-forgotten peoples, there is much to learn about our species’ history.

However, not all modern depictions of history are accurate, whether for entertainment or purely out of ignorance. These historical discrepancies are especially blatant among right-wing extremists, who use ancient cultures and historical figures as identity markers for their ideology.

While not intuitively alarming compared to other threats the right wing poses, one should be surprised about the damage it has caused.

This phenomenon not only creates ahistorical mythology around real societies, culturally misrepresenting them, but gives the far-right a political foothold.

The Case of Vikings

Near the turn of the eighth century, various factors led thousands of young Scandinavian men abroad to plunder monasteries and settlements across Northern Europe. Historical records show they visited almost everywhere between Eastern Canada and the Mediterranean. These men are called Vikings today, which derives from an Old Norse insult against raiders.

Today, and as far back as Nazi-era Germany, white supremacists present Vikings as paragons of unapologetic European colonialism and masculinity. They’ve also co-opted Norse symbols, which has led to various cultural issues, especially in countries like Sweden.

In the United States, we also see this adoption of Norse imagery among the far-right. Jacob Chansley, aka the “QAnon Shaman,” a charged Capitol-stormer from the Jan. 6 Riot, wore Norse-inspired clothing and body art during the attack.

However, medieval Scandinavians were far more nuanced than today’s stereotypical depictions, and utterly alien to how white supremacists view them. Raiding was less common than mutually beneficial ventures and trading with an ethnically diverse clientele. The idea of whiteness hadn’t even been invented yet. Before the 1500s, 500 years after the end of the Viking Age, the concept of a broad, skin-based race was nonexistent, only becoming popular during the 1600s. Europeans invented race to justify large-scale colonization, which the Vikings weren’t around for.

The idea of the Norse being bloodthirsty racial purifiers is a myth, creating a mockery of a nuanced age and culture.

The Right’s Identitarian Strategy

Despite their popularity, the Norse aren’t the only people the right misappropriates. Crusaders, Spartans and Romans are also prevalent in far-right symbolism. These groups are mischaracterized and morphed into easily applicable archetypes.

One may wonder why this is; the simple answer is that the right uses identity to fuel its popularity and expand its recruitment pool. It’s the same way that Christian Nationalists use Christian symbolism and rhetoric as an identity marker for their political beliefs. Creating an “us” and separating it from a “them” has been fundamental to right-wing political strategy for over 100 years.

Dog-whistling through symbolism is also an infamous practice used by the far-right. While especially prevalent in America during Reagan-era politics, online right-wing communities have adopted and reutilized the practice.

Of course, any geneticist would tell you that the idea of geneticized identity is nonsensical, serving as an excuse for horrible, often abusive behavior. But this wouldn’t be the first time the far-right denies scientific consensus and it won’t be the last.

Why This is All Important

Right-wing reactionary beliefs aren’t a fringe ideology, nor is it merely found on online message boards. In governments at home and abroad, the far-right has undoubtedly roosted and posed an existential threat to our institutions.

Even here at the U, our administration allows far-right speakers who call for the eradication and demonization of marginalized groups regularly. If we aren’t willing to recognize and stand against hate, we are no better than those who perpetrate it.

Allowing ourselves even incidentally to perpetuate right-wing interpretations of history whisks away the right of modern communities to tell their own story. These same tactics can also be used to demonize existing communities like House Speaker Mike Johnson did by blaming homosexuals for Rome’s fall.

Academics also suffer. Dr. Jackson Crawford, a historical academic, professor and content creator, said “I think that academics get reluctant to engage with the broader public because they dread having some unpleasant discussion with someone with swastika tattoos.”

In our discussion with Crawford, he said he’s had “dangerous encounters” with white supremacists while interacting with the public. However, he warned, “[The more that] academics allow themselves to be silenced by fear of these groups, the more that it’s these groups who are audible on a public stage.”

What Needs to be Done

History is one of the most valuable tools for understanding our modern cultural state. Allowing those who explicitly wish to undermine the rights of others to control history is undeniably irresponsible.

Letting right-wing extremists insert themselves into one field of study also opens the doors to a variety of others. The social sciences depend on historical precedent to gauge whether their assumptions about society are correct. If we are serious academics, we need to stand against the right wing and their bastardization of history.

Staying vigilant against far-right political strategies is essential in our modern societal climate. Students at the U, especially, need to take care not to fall for right-wing mythology and falsehoods. Otherwise, you may find yourself on the path to developing a hateful, ahistorical worldview based entirely on maladapted narratives.

Professional academics, too, are endangered and silenced by the right wing, which is unacceptable. Right-wing bullies and propagandists have no place in our education system, and we can’t let them take control of history.

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@JeffLangleyII