It is over a vast period of time as well and was both raw exploitation and a legitimate service essentially. When the lords were able to provide meaningful prot

It is over a vast period of time as well and was both raw exploitation and a legitimate service essentially. When the lords were able to provide meaningful protection against vikings raiding that was a legitimate service - militias alone didn't cut it compared to a professional warrior elite. Now when they were the source of instability with feudal squabbles they can't be said to even be helping except maybe in a power vacuum potentially leading to even worse outcomes.