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Slavery is a practice that appears in the How to Train Your Dragon Book series as a theme and part of the overall plot. It involves a human subjugating another human or dragon against their will and viewing them as property.

After the Second Dragon War, slavery was abolished in the Barbaric Archipelago by Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III after his ascension to the title of King of the Wilderwest.

History[]

Slavery is the practice of a human subjugating another human (or dragon in the Book series) against their will and viewing them as property. Or, more broadly, a sentient being as sub-human, as in the case of Dragons, which are thinking creatures with their own language. Slavery in real life has been practiced around the world since before written language and throughout history, and still continues today.

In the historic Viking age, slavery was practiced as an integral part of Viking society. Slaves - called Thralls - were a major trade commodity of the Vikings, with most being sold to the Arab Empire. Slaves had no rights in Norse society, but could be freed at the whim of their masters to become "freedmen" (as opposed to "freemen" or karls. Thralls were generally obtained from raids, winning battles, and debt.

Appearances[]

How to Be a Pirate[]

Slavery is first mentioned in Book 2, as practiced by the Outcast Tribe. A group of Outcast Pirates take over the Lucky Thirteen which is returning to Berk with a crew of Hairy Hooligans. The Hooligans had just completed a successful quest to the Isle of the Skullions in search of the lost treasure of Grimbeard the Ghastly. Alvin the poor-but-honest-farmer has betrayed the Hooligans and is actually the chief of the Outcast Tribe.

All of you Hooligans are about to enter the slave trade yourselves, in the very important role of SLAVES.
  — Alvin in Book 2  
The Hooligans groaned. There was no worse fate for a proud and independent Viking than to be sold into bondage.
  — Book 2  


Ultimately, catalyzed by Toothless, the Hooligans were able to fight and win against the Outcasts in what is known as the "Battle Aboard the Lucky Thirteen". The Hooligans capture the Outcasts, but as the Hooligans do not practice slavery, let them go

How to Break a Dragon's Heart[]

As revealed in How to Break a Dragon's Heart, How to Steal a Dragon's Sword, and How to Betray a Dragon's Hero, Grimbeard the Ghastly, King of the Wilderwest enslaved both humans and dragons to build the City on Tomorrow.

How to Ride a Dragon's Storm[]

Around a century later in How to Ride a Dragon's Storm, the Hysteric Tribe captured several Northern Wanderers during their raid on their village in the Arctic. These slaves were kept on The American Dream 2 for the purpose of rowing. Eventually though, the Wanderer slaves were freed by Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III.

Trivia[]

As revealed in "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" in the DreamWorks Dragons Franchise, some point in their history, the Dragon Hunters captured two Catastrophic Quakens and enslaved them.

References[]

Wikipedia-logo-v2.svg Trade during the Viking Age on Wikipedia
Wikipedia-logo-v2.svg Thrall on Wikipedia

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