Medieval Western Slavic Warfare (9th-12th century)

[LinusLinothorax]

Just researching a bit for the 1066 mod for Attila, but since it has no own forum yet i thought it would be good to open the source-collection thread over here. For 1066 i want to take care of Western Slavic Warfare, so on the campaign map that would be for the Obodrites, Wilzi and Bohemia, with focus on the Obodrites.

At first i want to list some data which will be useful for the Obodrites and Lutici, then I'll take care about the sources on weapons and armours.


DATA ABOUT THE WESTSLAVS

Obodrites
Capital: Mecklenburg (Old Saxon: Mikilinborg / Possible Slavic name: Weligrad)
Leader ("Samtherrscher") in 1066: Gottschalk (Modern transliteration) / Guthskalco (Medieval name) / Slavic name unknown
Ruling dynasty: Nakonids
Language spoken: Polabian dialects (Polabian is a dead language, but one can orientate on Sorbic)
Political situation in northeastern Germany in 1000 AD:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Political situation during the early 12th century:

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WEST SLAVIC WARFARE


MATERIAL SOURCES
1) Archaeological Finds
1.1) Swords
Polabian Slavs made use of the same swords common throughout whole Europe, which in 1066 would be the X-type sword.
1.1.1) Sword handle from Oldenburg / Starigard (10th century):

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1.2) Shields
1.2.1 & 2) Shield bosses from Sternberg and Rügen, Germany (9th-10th century). Left boss is made of wood while the right one is made of iron.

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1.3) Axes & Daggers
1.3.1) Collection of Slavic axes found in Anklam, East Mecklenburg-Vorpommern:

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1.4) Helmets
1.4.1) Badly deformed helmet, forged from one piece of iron, dating from somewhere between the 9th and 11th century (Hradsko, Czech Republic). It was found together with three other helmets of similiar shape, one having a simple nasal protection:

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1.4.2) Nasal Helmet from Olomouc, Czech Republick (11th century).

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Authentic reconstruction:

1.4.3) Nasall Helmet from Ostrow Lednicki, Poland (11th-12th century). It has holes on the backside of the helmet which enable to couple further neck protection on the helmet:

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1.4.4) Pointy helmet from Gorzuchy, Poland (10th-11th century). Probably imported from Russia, this helmet eventually belonged to a noble, which is also underlined by the fact that the point of the helmet was used to attach feathers or horsehair, making the wearer appear even taller:

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1.5) Armours
1.5.1) Chainmail fragments from Oldenburg, Germany (Dont know the particular dating, but its definetly high Medieval):

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2) General Warriordepictions
2.1) Silver figurine depicting a horsemen with shield and a simple helmet (Lisowek, Poland). First half of the 11th century:

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2.2) Carving depicting a horsemen with a bannered lance, roundshield and a simple helmet (Kladno, Czech Republic). 10th century.

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2.3) A couple of soldiers with swords, pointy helmets without nose guards and normannic shields from the Codex Aureus Pultoviensis (Late 11th century). It is disputed if the Codex was manufactured in Prage or in Bavaria:

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2.4) Coin showing Jaxa of Köpenick (Around 1150). Note not only his flat helmet like we have it on 1.3.1 and 2.1, but also his armour. It bears some resemblance to the armours depicted on the Bayeux tapestry, but unlike the tapestry, which very likely shows chainmail, one can clearly see the scales overlapping eachother here:

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2.5) An other coin of Jaxa. Here it shows him with a chain armour plus a flat helmet with nose guard:

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3) Non-archaeological stuff (Reenactors etc.)
3.1) "Filmische Impressionen slawischer Krieger"
Reenactors dressed as Slavic Warriors. The horsemen wear pointy helmets, eventually imported from Russia, while the footsoldiers wear more simple Nasal helmets. Noteworthy is the lamellar armour of the first horsemen, maybe reprensting the leader of the troop (Would be my own assumption). There is no solid evidence tho that lamerllar armours were used that far in the west of the Slavic world:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

3.2) "West Slavic warrior from c. 9th-10th century. Photo taken in the Museum für Regionalgeschichte Pönitz":

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

3.3) A couple of photos from the "Die Milzener"-Society, a reenactement society specialized on 11th century Milceni:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

3.4) Possible Slavic gravestone from the early 12th century:

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Summary

(.....)


If anyone here has further archaeological sources about Western Slavic Warfare i would be happy if he shares it. The goal is it to find as many potential unique models and textures as possible.

Literature:

- Philipp Roskoschinski "Waffenausstattung, Waffengebrauch und Kriegswesen der Nordwestslawen vom 10. bis zum 12. Jhd." (Open ressource)
- Joachim Herrmann "Die Slawen in Deutschland. Geschichte und Kultur der slawischen Stämme westlich von Oder und Neiße vom 6.-12. Jahrhundert." (Shop link)
- Alfried Wieczorek & Hans-Martin Hinz "Europas Mitte um 1000" (Shop link)
- Sebastian Brather "Archäologie der westlichen Slawen" (Open ressource)
- Wolfgang H. Fritze "Probleme der abodritischen Stammes- und Reichsverfassung und ihrer Entwicklung vom Stammesstaat zum Herrschaftsstaat" (Open ressource)
- German website which bundles all sources about Gottschalk: http://www.manfred-hiebl.de/genealog...en_+_1066.html

[+Marius+]

This tumblr has a lot of pics and archaeological info;

http://west-slavs.tumblr.com/archive

Might prove helpful.

[LinusLinothorax]

This tumblr has a lot of pics and archaeological info;

http://west-slavs.tumblr.com/archive

Might prove helpful.

Ah cool, thanks.
Btw, do you think that the Bayeux tapestry shows Spangenhelme?

If thats the case it would pretty much prove that they were still wide spread even that late.

[+Marius+]

Ah cool, thanks.
Btw, do you think that the Bayeux tapestry shows Spangenhelme?

If thats the case it would pretty much prove that they were still wide spread even that late.

Sorry to burst it, but those are nasal helms.

Which is not surprising, given who those men are

[LinusLinothorax]

Sorry to burst it, but those are nasal helms.

Which is not surprising, given who those men are

Though these helmets really dont look like they were forged from one piece.
Were Spangenhelme in use at all in 1066?

[+Marius+]

Though these helmets really dont look like they were forged from one piece.

Good point.

I looked it up and you are right, those are indeed declared as nasal helmets but with a segmented spangenhelm construction.

Were Spangenhelme in use at all in 1066?

Well, it would seem, yes


The problem is the naming distinction, because if we declare helmets spangenhelms solely because they have a segmented construction, than their timeline is extended well into the 13th century instead of it ending in the 10th century.

It is all rather vague and both seem correct.

[LinusLinothorax]

Since you are from Croatia: How is the situation regarding Croatian sources during that time? Croats dont really count as West Slavs but more as South Slavs, but there is currently the question if for the 1066 mod Croatia should be replaced by the Abdorites as a playable faction. If Croatia has a nice amount of potential unique models and textures i would vote for Croatia, since the Abdorite units would be more bondering together all types of sources from the Western Slavic world.

[+Marius+]

but there is currently the question if for the 1066 mod Croatia should be replaced by the Abdorites as a playable faction.

Well, both of them were very active in the 11th century, the only difference is that Croatia was far more important in the political sense since it was a christian kingdom, not a pagan tribal confederation.

Croatia is, after all, the oldest kingdom the Slavs ever managed to form(if Samo's tribal confederation is not counted).

How is the situation regarding Croatian sources during that time?

Pretty good, but rarely anything available online.

Cavalry stirrups are all over the place(including stirrups for children) and surviving bow remains state that they used composite bows as well as horse archery(which is not surprising considering the last sources about the Avars state them as being Croatian subjects within the kingdom).

The excavations at Zdrijac, Kruge, Nin, Brodski, Drenovac all coincide with the notion of well equipped warriors, a solid portion of them on horseback.

The rest is usual, Carolingian swords being replaced with X types Oakenshott, loads of arrowheads;

http://www.hkv.hr/images/stories/Sli...ercegovina.jpg

Rounds shields, kite shields etc.

A late (edit: messed up the date) relief again depicts an archer wielding a recurve composite bow and heavily armored foot soldiers wearing a combination of lamellar and mail armor;

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

That is the tidbit for now

[LinusLinothorax]

Croatia is, after all, the oldest kingdom the Slavs ever managed to form

What about Great Moravia?


And are there any illustrated manuscripts from that period?

[+Marius+]

What about Great Moravia?

Duchy.

And are there any illustrated manuscripts from that period?

Few, none from the western Slavs I think.

[LinusLinothorax]

Duchy.

Wiki says that Svatopluk I was called rex in several occasions, in one even Rex Marahensium Sclavorum.

Few, none from the western Slavs I think.

Yeah, i mean from Croatia.

[+Marius+]

Wiki says that Svatopluk I was called rex in several occasions, on one for example Rex Marahensium Sclavorum.

Looked into it, did not know the pope called him king.

So he was king.

I was wrong all this time.

Whelp, there goes another Croat bragging right down the drain

Yeah, i mean from Croatia.

None.

[LinusLinothorax]

None.

Ah, sucks.
Anyway, if you or anyone else has any further archaeological sources (preferable armours, helmets and shields) or maybe also photos from reenactors (As long as they are hardcore authentic) for West Slavs I would be glad if he shares it

[+Marius+]

Ah, sucks.

Well, that's what you get for focusing on the period before the mass usage of paper in Europe.

Only reliefs and archaeology for you

While I'm here, some more Croat bows;

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Aru]

Frankish sources don't call any foreign ruler dux, only rex, to denote that he is an independent ruler (rex of regnum) and not a vassal of Francia. Modern histiography likes to call such titles as international recognition of statehood, but such terminology does not belong to middle ages. Trpimir of Croatia was called rex by Gottschalk but he calls himself dux in all sources. The fact is that by accepting Gottschalk into his court he at least tried to oppose Franks and pehaps attempted some sort of rebellion, which is why Gottschalk was at his court, he considered himself outside Francia, and he consideres Trpimir independent ruler by calling him rex. But either the rebellion failed (a strongly worded letter or some raiding by neighboring markgraf) and Gottschalk was forced to leave, or it didn't outlive Trpimir because his descendants for a hundred years are still calling themselves dux. In any case, those titles are circumstencial and not written in stone (just saying that ironically because writing in stones are half of our sources for them). Moravia was, in that view, definitely a kingdom from Frankish point of view because it wasn't part of their realm or a vassal.

[+Marius+]

Indeed, but we are not talking about Frankish sources, we are talking about Popes.

It is accepted that Croatia became a kingdom the moment the pope called Tomislav king, as the Pope was the highest political authority in the West.

If you are a Christian and swear to Rome instead of Constantinople, and the Pope calls you king, you are a king.

That is how I see it at least.

[LinusLinothorax]

Just made a graphic with all potential helmet models:

1a) Nasal Helmet...
1b) with open aventail
1c) with closed aventail / mail coif
1d) with large & closed coif plus a face-protecting aventail
1e) with large & closed coif
1f) with leather coif

2a) "Eastern" spiked helmet ...
2b) with coif / aventail
2c) with open aventail
2I) modified with fancy feathers (Can be combined with 2a-c)
2II) modified with horse hair (Can be combined with 2a-c)

3a) Simple helmet (Carolingian type?)...
3b) with nose guard
3c) with mail aventail

4) Spangenhelm


Summary: The Nasal Helmet was of course the most popular helmet in the 11th century. In most cases they were probably used without aventails, since they are much cheaper that way plus the handful of Slavic depictions i know rarely show them, if at all (Often hard to see). On the other hand archaeology proves that aventails definetly had been used to some extend. Probably helmets with aventails were limited to the very high end of Medieval society.
Second type is a spiky helmet which might originate in Russia. However, there have been found several specimens in Poland, and one even in West Prussia, so they might have been produced localy (Relying on Ospreys "Medieval Polish Armies 966-1500" here). They were probably restricted to the top end of the nobility. They were likely decorated with fancy horsehair or feathers.
Third type is some curious helmet resembling Carolingian helmets from the 9th century. The Polish figurine from Lisowek proves that they were still a thing in the 11th century, atleast in the West Slavic world. The coin of Jaxa of Köpenick (2.4) proves that even high lords wore it.
Last type is the Spangenhelm, which, according the Bayeux tapestry, still was a big thing in the mid 11th century, even if it was cheaper and inferior to Nasal Helmets forged from one piece.

Btw: Do you guys know if in the 11th century people already wore mail coifs without any helmet, just like on this 13th century manuscript?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Edit: Yes, they did, as manuscripts like these proof (Around 1100):

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Marcus Aemilius Lepidus]

I am not sure if Croatia was more important in the political sense. After all that loose tribal confoederation succeded it its great uprising in the 10th century with the result that the eastern colonisation and expansion was stopped until the 1150s.

As for literature, you have Brather who wrote pretty much the standart work about the western slaves. He has a chapter about warfare, but is generally like most lecturers from Germany less interessted in military stuff. The big weakness of his work is the almost absolute absence of images. Actually pretty weak for an archaeological work and sad for me since i paid 80 Euros for it

[LinusLinothorax]

I am not sure if Croatia was more important in the political sense. After all that loose tribal confoederation succeded it its great uprising in the 10th century with the result that the eastern colonisation and expansion was stopped until the 1150s.

The thing is that Croatia was in its great peak in 1066, beeing ruled by Peter Krešimir IV the Great. It definetly was one of the strongest Slavic kingdoms of its time:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Anyway, right now it seems that the Obodrites will became playable instead of Croatia, and i am fine with it. It fills an empty spot on the map and it's unique since its still largely Pagan (Even if Gottschalk made huge progress on Christianizing it). It also was as close becoming an actual state as never before.

As for literature, you have Brather who wrote pretty much the standart work about the western slaves. He has a chapter about warfare, but is generally like most lecturers from Germany less interessted in military stuff.

Joachim Herrmanns "Die Slawen in Deutschland" ("The Slavs in Germany") is actualy quite useful and has a very good amount of pictures. For West Slavic warfare in particular Roskoschinski does his purpose. That combined with Polish primary sources should give a very good idea on Elb-Slavic warfare.

The big weakness of his work is the almost absolute absence of images. Actually pretty weak for an archaeological work and sad for me since i paid 80 Euros for it

Know dat feel. Just some weeks ago I bought a book about a Meroitic temple for damn 60 pounds because I knew that were found some very neat murals in that temple. For whatever reason, the authors decided to not publish the most beautiful and complete murals, but only the fragmentary and almost unidentifiable ones, like details from feets and stuff like that.

[Linke]

Just made a graphic with all potential helmet models:

1a) Nasal Helmet...
1b) with open aventail
1c) with closed aventail / mail coif
1d) with large & closed coif plus a face-protecting aventail
1e) with large & closed coif
1f) with leather coif

2a) "Eastern" spiked helmet ...
2b) with coif / aventail
2c) with open aventail
2I) modified with fancy feathers (Can be combined with the other types)
2II) modified with horse hair (Can be combined with the other types)

3a) Simple helmet (Carolingian type?)...
3b) with nose guard
3c) with mail aventail

4) Spangenhelm


Summary: The Nasal Helmet was of course the most popular helmet in the 11th century. In most cases they were probably used without aventails, since they are much cheaper that way plus the handful of Slavic depictions i know rarely show them, if at all (Often hard to see). On the other hand archaeology proves that aventails definetly had been used to some extend. Probably helmets with aventails were limited to the very high end of Medieval society.
Second type is a spiky helmet which might originate in Russia. However, there have been found several specimens in Poland, and one even in West Prussia, so they might have been produced localy (Relying on Ospreys "Medieval Polish Armies 966-1500" here). They were probably restricted to the top end of the nobility. They were likely decorated with fancy horsehair or feathers.
Third type is some curious helmet resembling Carolingian helmets from the 9th century. The Polish figurine from Lisowek proves that they were still a thing in the 11th century, atleast in the West Slavic world.
Last type is the Spangenhelm, which, according the Bayeux tapestry, still was a big thing in the mid 11th century, even if it was cheaper and inferior to Nasal Helmets forged from one piece.

Btw: Do you guys know if in the 11th century people already wore mail coifs without any helmet, just like on this 13th century manuscript?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Nice Linus, I should be able to get all those but the painted one, as I have no idea what it actualy should be