Post-Viking Age Scandinavian armies?

[Salem1]

I want to know the makeup of these armies. Armoured knights? axemen? crossbows? what? how did their organisation differ from the rest of Europe? why did they use what they did? I'm interested in the period starting from 1100 to the end of the medieval age when gunpowder became the primary force in armies.

[CrayonVonCaesar]

Osprey book on it: http://www.amazon.com/Men-at-Arms-39.../dp/1841765058

[Salem1]

At last, thank you

[Ringeck]

Missed this one yesterday.

That Osprey book is, sadly, as the better informed review suggest, a steaming pile of
David Lindholm, a specialist in late medieval hand-to-hand combat, did not do the necessary research for it and David Nicolle apparently knows very little about the region outside the pictorial sources he had access to before he wrote the book. The result is that a number of written, pictorial and archaeological sources are left out. For Norway alone, the book all but ignores the 3 most important written sources on military matters

the
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirdskraa -wiki links to the text
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konungs_skuggsjá - again, links
and the (as far as I know untranslated) Landslaw and earlier law codes that regulate the militia.

In addition, the very rich saga material of the medieval period is all but ignored - there are detailed sagas describing the reigns of every king until Haakon Haakonsson, from Sigurd I Magnusson "The Crusader" to Magnus Erlingsson here: http://lind.no/nor/index.asp?lang=&e...st=&vis=Snorre

The Saga of Sverre Sigurdsson and the Baglar Sagas, detaling his successors and their rivals, I am not sure where to find on the internet, but the Saga of Haakon Haakonsson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hákonar_saga_Hákonarsonar has some links on the wiki page.

The sagas are what they are: literate works that sometimes distort the truth of the matter to please the intended readers, but not exceedingly so; many of them describe their subject matter with warts and all. There are several others detailing the period as well, and many of the icelandic sagas are high medieval. However, Iceland was a backwater during this period and should not really be taken as typical of scandinavia (although Lindholm and Nicolle really focuses on the island, especially in the 1300-1500 book).

Easily accessible danish sources are rarer (and I am not as knowledgeable on the danish side as I am on the norwegian). Books 13-15 of the Saxo Grammaticus details the 12th-13th centuries, but I'm not sure they are available in english.

The Swedish Rhyme Chronicle of Erik details the late 13th century, but again, it is not available in english. Again, I am not that knowledgeable on Sweden. However, I know from a number of swedish historians that the Osprey book does no justice to the swedish material either. One real boner is the fact that the book "ends" in 1300. This is a very artificial point to end it. The political situation in Scandinavia had been red-hot since the mid-to-late 13th century, with a number of wars over inheritance (including bride-stealing), trade policies and dynastic politics, involving all three kingdoms and the german Hansa, as well as pulling in English, Scottish and French political ties. This series of conflicts has a pause in 1319, when the kings of Norway and Denmark die natural deaths and the swedish king has been ousted by his nobles after "resolving" his conflict with his two brothers by starving them to death in a prison. There is no real detailing of this epic series of conflict in the book. Naval warfare, which was very important in scandinavia, is only given a brief gloss-over, much of the text and pictures apparently based on Osprey's earlier viking publications.

There are also a fair amount of surviving pictorial evidence and surviving artifacts from the period in museums across scandinavia and the baltic. The only ones that make it into the book are the ones Nicolle previously had access to, which is a miniscule amount. I know that Lindholm at least knew of some of the others - he contacted people I know to learn about them, but none of that material made it into the book. The large norwegian and swedish illuminated material is all but ignored, as is several surviving helmets, shields and weapons. Instead, focus is put upon the ones previously known to Nicolle, which makes many of the book's conclusions on what was worn and used in scandinavia very skewed.

Don't take the Osprey book as a good source of information. In fact, read it only with a very critical eye. The guide to further reading in the back of it, populated as it is only with really old publications, should give people some idea on how little resources Nicolle and Osprey decided they wanted to spend on this book, and quality suffered accordingly.

If there is anything spesific you want to know, please write the questions here, or PM me if it gets really overdetailed.

[Barbarian Nobility]

I was always under the impression that medieval scandinavian armies were based largely around heavy infantry. Take a look at the swedish and norwegian camaigns in the baltic during the 13th and 14th centuries - many were based around infantry groupings travelling up river tributaries in long boats, which were still favoured over the more cumbersome cogs of western europe.

[Ringeck]

The armies would, as for many medieval kingdoms, look different depending on the period and whether they were fighting abroad or in their own territory (a general answer to the OP's post would be almost impossible without writing a full book). Territorial defense and civil wars often involved a lot of levies and militia; freemen primarily fighting with shields & spears or pole weapons and missile weapons and armoured according to what they could afford, typically forming shieldwalls and letting the professionals do the heavy lifting. For foreign naval-based expeditions, the heavy professional infantry would typically form the core of the armies. The swedes, and danes especially, had the resources to form heavy cavalry when this was needed, also for naval expeditions, but the norwegians, with more limited resources, more rugged terrain and a reliance on ships, stuck to primarily infantry armies thorough the period - of course, there would be some cavalry, but they are noticeably few and far between in the sources.

Sometimes, such as during the latter reign of the line of Sverre in Norway, the kingship was strong enough, and the peasants willing enough, for militia to be deployed in foreign expeditions. This sometimes worked, but the levies were noticeably reluctant to stay in the field for longer than their by law allotted period - unless they were supplied with extra resources.

Longships stayed effective as fighting ships until the late 14th century, when war-fitted "great ships" started to get such high freeboards that boarding them became almost impossibly for anything but the largest longships. This was amply illustrated in 1429, when the pirate association of the Vitalienbrüder sacked Bergen with only 7 cogs and 400 men - the naval levy met them with perhaps 15 times that number of small levy longships and three to four times as many men was quite unable to board the cogs - "tall as towers". After this, the naval levy ceased to be called out for defense. The year before, the Vitalienbrüder had been defeated attempting the same trick against Copenhagen - but at that battle, the danes fought from "Great Ships".

[Kjertesvein]

I will give my opinion on Norway, as it's my main focus area. Post-viking age til Kalmar Union is also my favorite era:

It seems as if, dispite constant change in the military from 1000 to 14th century, there was some clear rivalry groups between the Kings professional soliders and their corporation. As others have already educated you on roles in battle and with the famous shield wall tactic, I will focus (for now) on the system and organs within. Here is a quick evolution of the King's (professional) military:

Early of, it seems this (rivalry) was between Houscarls, Gestir(the Guests) and the Hirdsmen.

But as the central and royal aristokrat grew, and the farmers aristokrats shrinked in power - New military groups evolved. This being Hirdmen, Gestir and Skutilsveinr(Knights).

Later closer to the early 14th century, the title of Greve (Baron) and Riddere ( Knight) were used.

Were in the far late middle ages, Greve was abolished and Riddere were the only one left. At this point, there was no need for any professional army for Norway. Armys consisted of leidangr (levys), German mercinarys and few knights and squires.

There are still subdivitions in the already mentioned groups.

Time-Line:
1177 - 1202 King Sverre formalize the titles within the Hird.

Society in general:

There are several titles which are named in the "King's Privy Councill", I will leave those for the miltary chapter.

Féhirðir (Old Norse), Fehirde: (Norwegian) was one of the Norwegian kings treasure masters/economists in the Middle Ages. Originally fehirden a hirdombudsmann that followed the king around the country. In the 1300's Norway were divided into five tax districts known as Fehirdsler (Trondheim, Bergen, Oslo, Tunsberg, Båhus), each with its own fehirde, who also acted as royal office on castles. In the Union era, the fehirde went on to be nown as Lensherre (lord) and slottshøvedsmann ("Castle Marshal").

Etymology: from Old Norse fé: 'goods, money,' and hirðir: 'guard'; Lat. thesaurarius,

Sysselmen


Here are the Free men:

Hauld:
A farmer who is the sixth generation of a farm or higher. Haulde was the highest status, and was not possible to reach a higher position as a freeman, unless you were appointed Herse or Lendmann (oble). Haulde can endure Mannebot (fines) instead of hard physical laber as punishment for some types of misdemeanors. Their long consistent family on a farm ment they had Odel (which tells your family have long roots in the current area). Hauld ment that they were the highest farmers in the hierarchy of a collection of farms, specially then those who had just bought propperty recently (merchants) and Leilinger.

Bóndi:

Leilending:

Årbåren:

Reksthegn:

Løsingssønn
Løsingssønn was the son of a former trell, ergo a first generation freeman. As freeman, he could buy himself out by paying Mannebot. However, your family was not rid of the nick Løsing before it was passed seven generations.

Løsing:
Løsing was a free man and former trell (slave). As freeman, he could buy himself out of a fine by paying Mannebot.

Trell:
Either consisting of Scandinavians or from the rest Europe - a trell was a slave. A propperty, much like any useful farming animal. He could not buy himself out of fines and had to endure hard physical labour. to own a trell was written in law. The Vikings led slaves from the Baltics to Constantinople, or from Ireland to arabian lands. White slave were quite populare among merchants. In Scandinavia, slaves disappeared in the 12th century, but the liberation of the slaves were no strong slogan among the Church.

Several Herser on Iceland robbed eachaters woman to increase the pressure, and we also know that several woman would plan the kidnapping themself. But as recently as 1170 archbishop Eystein Erlendsson issued a letter in which he banned all female robbers in his archdiocese, but also chastised the women who attracted peers to drink them drunk and get them on board ships bound for Iceland , where there was deficit of women. Robbery of woman must have been a significant issue in Norway, when the archbishop engaged in it.

Det å holde treller var nedfelt i lovene, men 3–4 generasjoner etter vikingtoktene hadde trellene tjent opp nok til å kunne kjøpe seg fri. Vikingene førte slaver fra Baltikum til Konstantinopel, og de tok slaver i Irland og førte dem til arabiske land, hvor hvite treller var en svært populær handelsvare. I Skandinavia forsvant slaveriet i løpet av 1100-tallet, men trellenes frigjøring var ingen kampsak for kirken.

It is to be estimanted that the slaves in Norway reached it's peak around year 1000. The endlish Doomsday Book from 1086


Trelleholdet i Norge var trolig på sitt høyeste ca år 1000. Hvor stort omfang det hadde, er umulig å si med sikkerhet. Den engelske Domesday Book fra 1086 oppgir at 9% av den totale engelske befolkningen var slaver, men dette trenger ikke å si så mye om norske forhold. I tidlig middelalder ble prestene ofte rekruttert blant trellene. Gulatingsloven fra første halvdel av 1100-tallet sier at hvis prestene bryter biskopenes påbud, skal de bøte for det, for «prestane skal styrast med hogg», en formulering som oftest ble brukt om treller. Men i løpet av det første århundret etter kristningen av Norge gikk prestene gradvis over til å bli respekterte samfunnsmedlemmer som også kunne gifte seg inn i etablerte familier. [18]

Når en fri person ble gjort til slave, ble vedkommende snauklipt, fikk nytt navn og ofte en ring rundt halsen. Når en trell ble frigjort, ble halsringen fjernet, derav ordet frihals, som i kristen terminologi ble til frelse. Vedkommende skulle feire med et frelsesøl. Som løysing var han og hans barn like fullt nokså avhengige av sin tidligere eier. Blant annet måtte de ikke motarbeide vedkommende; i så fall risikerte de å bli slaver igjen.[19] Før Alltinget på Island var opprettet i 930, ble bonden på gården Blåskog øst for tinget på Kjalarnes, dømt fredløs for drapet på en annen bondes trell eller løysing. Jorden hans ble konfiskert og gjort til tingsted for hele Island.[20]
Trellene selv stod ikke under kongens lov. Da stormannen Asbjørn Sigurdsson Selsbane dro sørover for å kjøpe ekstra korn av sin morbror Erling Skjalgsson på Sola under et uår, fikk han først avslag fordi kong Olav den hellige hadde innført forbud mot korneksport fra Vestlandet pga den dårlige høsten. Men så omgikk Erling forbudet ved å la nevøen kjøpe korn som Erlings treller hadde dyrket. Treller hadde lov å skaffe seg egen inntekt på denne måten, og et forbud rettet mot frie bønder, omfattet ikke dem. [21]


The Judiciary

The judiciary side of Norway was mostly settled via the Ting (Thing). Four such assemblys covered Norway. While Borgarting came in the 1200s, 3 of them were from Viking time.

++++++++++++++++viking-stuff++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Flere ganger i året samlet vikingene seg til møter på tinget og alle frie menn kunne komme på tinget og si hva de mente. På tinget vedtok de lover, de bestemte hvem som skulle gifte seg med hvem, skyld og straff. På tinget hadde de en slags juryordning med tolv menn som avgjorde rett, galt og skyld. Den som ble funnet skyldig måtte ta straffen, ellers ble han lyst fredløs. Som oftest endte sakene med at den skyldige måtte betale en bot til den som var gjort urett. Man kunne også bli dømt til døden, eller til å være trell. Tingforsamlingene ble ledet av en av kongens menn. En lovsiger sa fram alle lovene. Han måtte kunne lovene utenat siden lovene ikke var blitt skrevet ned ennå.
++++++++++++++++++++

Gulating ruled over Vestlandet ("the westcoast").
Frostating ruled in Trønderlag and Romsdalen, which is todays central Norway.
Eidsvating over Østlandet ("Eastcountry").
Borgarting covered Østfold and Bohuslaan. (South-east of Oslo and parts of western Sweden, I know it's sad).



Mannebot:
Mannebot (fines in exchange for misdemeanors) has been known in Norway since the 1100s, but is probably of much older origin. At that time there were strict hierarchical system of criminal fines. To a lesser offense of the same nature and character could be payed with a fine could turn out like this:

King = 48 marks
Jarls(Earl)= 24 marks
Biskop (Bishop) = 12-24 mark (depending on the state office had)
Lendmann (Nobleman) = 12 marks
Greve (Baron) = 12 marks
Staller (King's Constable, lawyer, Hird-Judge)= 6-24 mark (depending on the social position)
Herse (Chieftain) = 6-24 mark (depending on the social position and local revenue)
Hauld = 6 marks
Bóndi (Farmer) = 3 marks
Leilending (Tenant) = 2 marks
Årbåren = 2 marks
Reksthegn = 1.5 marks
Løsingssønn = 1 mark
Løsing = 3 / 4 mark
Trelleborg = No rights (ie could not buy himself free with a fine, but had to endure (physical) punishment).

It is important to be aware that fiat Mark did not exist at this time. Information given above was therefore given the so-called numbered Marks. In the 1100's amounted to a numbered Mark 240 pennies, or equivalent 1 / 2 Mark burned or weighed. The value per counted Mark, therefore, amounted to approx. 107.16 grams of silver. Later (in 1300's) was also in use so-called gilded ground. This corresponded to 1 / 3 burnt Mark, later 192 penny. However, it is not known whether the remedy system above was modified in accordance with the changes of the Mark value.

The Church:

In Norway, there were 26 monasteries in the Middle Ages by monks from various monastic orders:

Benediktinerne (6 kloster) ("Benedictines, 6 monasteries")
Cistercieneserne (4 kloster) ("Cistercians, 4 monasteries")
Fransiskanerne (4 kloster) ("Franciscans, 4 monasteries")
Dominikanerne (4 kloster) ("Dominicans, 4 monasteries")
Augustinere (5 kloster) ("Augustinians, 5 monasteries")
Johanittere (1 kloster) ("St. John's Hospitaller, 1 monastery")
Premonstatensere (1 kloster) ("Premonstratensian, 1 monastery")
Birgittinere (1 kloster) ("Bridgettines, 1 monastery")

I Oslo fantes i middelalderen et fransiskanerkloster for munker, et benediktinerkloster for nonner (Nonneseter kloster), et dominikanerkloster for munker (Olavsklosteret) og et cistercienserkloster på Hovedøya for munker.
In Oslo there was a medieval Franciscan monastery for monks, a Benedictine monastery for nuns (Nonneseter monastery), a Dominican monastery for monks (St. Olav's Monastery) and the cistercienserkloster The island of monks.

De forskjellige klosterordener hadde forskjellige oppgaver i samfunnet, ulike regler for hva man kunne gjøre, hvordan man skulle oppføre seg i klosteret, hva man skulle spise og drikke, når man skulle faste (ikke spise i det hele tatt eller ikke spise kjøtt) og når man skulle gå til messe og fellesbønn.
The various monastic orders had different tasks in society, different rules for what you could do, how to behave in the monastery, what to eat and drink, when we were fasting (not eating at all or do not eat meat) and when you went to Mass and communal prayers.

Etter reformasjonen ble alle klostre i Norge lagt ned og klostrenes eiendommer overtatt av kongen. Først i 1921 ble det opprettet et nytt dominikanerkloster i Norge.
After the Reformation, all the monasteries in Norway closed down and the monastic estates were taken over by the king. Only in 1921 was created a new Dominican monastery in Norway.


The King's Hird:

The King, and his subjects was organised in the Hird. Not a "lion herd", but from the Anglo word "Hired". The Hird was the government and it's law was the Hirdskraa (The Kings Mirror). The Hirdskraa included rules of armament of levy armys, but also such as civic laws. Many corporations was within the Hird's evolving life-span, incl. Housecarls, Gestir, Hirdmen, Riddere and Leidangr. The hird begins to collaps in the very late 13th century, and by 1308 - no hirdmembers are appointed, and are swore in as pure Riddere instead.

King's Privy Council

At the top in the Kings Hird was the Privy Council were the Hirdleaders, or Hirðtiorar in Old West Norse. These men were also known as Stormen ("the Great men"). These men were highly educated from Italian, German and French univercitys. They took the lead role in ruling the Kingdom as head of foreign diplomatic missions, Stallari (Marshall), Merkismaðr (Standard bearer), Dróttseti (Seneschal/vice roy) or Chancellor & right hand of the King.

These seat's status changed many times, and many were abolished after being used for only a few decades. In the 14th Century, the King's Privy Council of the 3 Scandinavian kingdoms were replaced by 3 individual Riksråd (National Councils) which would rule mostly independently of any monarch. In Norway, this Council lasted until the reformation 1537. It included the highest nobles and religious leaders.

Høy Adel (High nobility):

Jarls (Earl)
Norse title for chiefs and the king's second in rank, equivalent to the Anglo-Saxon Earl. In Håløygætten (Ladejarl) almost a hereditary prince title. Later, the King granted the Jarl- title in particular high-ranking men in the kingdom, but only in Orknøyjarlene was the title hereditary. From around 1200 it was rarely used outside the people related to the king by royal blood. From 1308 reserved for the king's sons and Orknøyjarlen.

Lendir men (nobles):


Greve (Baron)
Is abolished in 1315, and Riddere (knights) take over as the highest title under a king.

Lav Adel (Low Nobiility)

Stallare:
In the middle age, Stallare was one of the highest seats in the nordic Hird. Stallare's orginal mandate was to control the the King's stable and oversee the king's travels.
In Norway, he brought the word of the king in Parliament (Hird lawyer), was head of the King's Hird and a was the judge in Hird-cases. Stallare had the rights of a Lendmann(nobleman). Since 1299 the office is no longer mentioned in the sources.

Hird retierment in Johanitterklosteret of Verne.

Johanitterklosteret (Hospitallers of St. John's Monastery Complex) was (probably) created by an order of King Sverre Sigurdsson in Rygge Municipality, in around 1190 to the Hospitallers of St. John. Once a place for Bronze Age burial mounds, a center for petty kings and wizard kings to poetically fight in the Saga or more recetly: a royal estate mentioned in the Sagas. Now (in approx. 1190), for the purpose of a Hird hospital and as a retierment-home for noble men and woman with past service in the Hird.

It was a dedication to John the Baptist. Infact, the only building in Norway with it's orgin in one of the 3 military orders of Europe: Templar Order, St. Johns Order and Teutonic Order. In all other western countrys, they fostered elite knights and gather huge sums of funds based on military influence, but in Norway, they were exsclusivly dedicated to the humanitarian side.

The Monastery came into trouble when King Haakon Magnusson (1299-1319) created a seperate hospital in Oslo, St. Mary's Church. The King Haakon 5 and the Hospitallers came into conflict and all their goods were confiscated. This however changed with an order from the Pope in 1320 to reinstitute the monasterys mandate in the same complex. The pope also ordered King Magnus VII Erksson (King Magnus V's successor) that the same goods should be moved back.

Johanitterklosteret in Verne recived funds and lands in the 14th century, but the 15th century was it's golden heydays. Gifts were donated by noble men in the past, but Johanitterklosteret in Verne was exceptional. This even increased after 1450s to about 1480s. Gifts from prominant aristocratic houses in Østfold, Bohuslän, Akershus but also Vestfold. The Bolt family, which was strong in power and connected with the order was one of the most generous donators. Other Monasterys in Norway suffered the contarary treatment. In this Catholic age, Verne monastery was also a populare pilgrimage. Storys tell how a farmer from Telemark was ordered to go on pilgrimage to Vadstena, Nidaros and to Verne.

Religious activitys came to an end in 1532, when every piece of earth was confiscated by Frederik I and given as fiefs to noblefamilys of Brockenhuus and Akeleye. In 1675 it was privatized to the familys of Vind, Sibbern and (from 1906) Sundt family. Parts of the main building belong to by Christian Vind around 1680.The estate was divided in 1841, and has (since 1998) a total area of 1822 acres, of which 1020 acres cultivated. Approx. 215 cottages are rented out close to the Fuglevik beach.

The oldest part of the main building is from the 1660 and are layed on the fundation of the St. Johns monastery, while the Church-clock building only have ruins left which is all located south east of the main building. There is also a Bauta (Standing Stone) with seal/arms of St. John Order. With it, it's written the year "1190" and "1532", but also a little statue of "Den ensomme Nonne" ("The lonly Non").

In 2009, new dicoverys were made: The monastery was about 50 meters long, the entier complex(main house, lower houses, supply shacks, church, stable, etc.) was twice the size. While this is research done by Geo-radar (depth of 1,5 m. to 40cm) equipment from archeologys on privat property, some parts of the Church is still visable. The monastery complex design is rather unknown, but the remains of the abbey show that there has been a brick church. Unlike many other monastic orders - the Hospitaller had no specific rules for the design of its compaunds.

[Now open the spoiler below please!] First picture is how they located the positions. Second picture is the visable part of the outer walls the St. John Church building, while the third picture show a Bauta (Standing Stone) from the 16th century. The fourth picture show the walls and fundations marked by the radar. In an interview witht one of the conservators from Østfoldmuseet, Mona Beate Buckholm, she mentiones that there is also a large chamber in the basement.... Now who knows what tressures the old Hirdmembers could have brought to their resting place? ^^

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The name of it's location comes from Old Norse Varna, the old name of Rygge, probably of vǫrn, meaning 'vern' (" 'protection' ").





Pre 1180 Hird:

1. The Hirdleaders (Old Norse:Hirðtiorar) the aristocrat and kings table:
   1. Jarls(counclor)
   2. "Lendmenn" . The district ruler and part of the Hird Leaders aka. The Kings Table. Lendmenn were the vassalls and high nobles, the title was many times inherited and the Lendmann had high social status in Norway. They orginated from the Viking age to 1277 when under the rule of Magnus the Lawmaker they became Grever (Barons). They held executive power and authority in their district from the old days, but could also recive buildings, forests or keeps from the king. The property would generate added income aswell as strenghtend loyalty to the monarch.
   3. The Dróttseti (The Seneschal/general-in-chief)
   4. The Stalleri (Stable-Master and incharge of the Kings travels)
   5. The Merkisman (Standar-bearer)
   6. The Skenkjari (Butler/Stweard of the table servants)
      1. "Hirdmenn" the largest group identical to men-at-arms. Not part of the councill, but could sit on the Kings table.
2. Worrior branch and table servents of the Kings table:
   1. Skutilsveinr, worrior sons of Lendmenn. Unlike Men at arms, Skutilsveinr could evolve to Hirdleaders.
      
      • Kjertilsveinr (untrained worriors, squirs)
3. Gjester, including
   
   • Spys and assassin agents
   • Enforcers and errenboys for the Kings table
   • Local police force
   • Officers and the jobs of conscripting the Leidangr for the Lendsmenn

Its unsirtent if the Houscarls were the Lendmenn's local hird, or if they were outside the hird.




1277 and Magnus Lagabøtes (Magnus the Lawmaker), the hird was devided into into 3 corporations:

1. Herre (Lord) or Herrer (Lords):
   
   • Barons (renamed from Lendmenn)
     
     • Gestir work under the Barons and the king, not recognized as a independent department)
   • Riddere (Knights, worrior elite. Renamed from Skutilsveinr)
2. Hirdmen (Men-at-arms)
3. Småsman (untrained worriors, squirs. Renamed from Kjertilsveiner, I don't know, but I have no reason to doubt )

Haakon 5 Magnussons 1308

Herre gradualy de facto renamed from the Hird, became more destinct and european like titles and banner flags:





Herrer:

1. Herre:
   1. Stallare (was the most importent individual and right-hand-man of the king between 1299 - 1319.)
   2. Ridder (1knight) Riddere (Knights, The normal equivilance of european fuedal Noble landowners)
      
      • Småsvenner ("Little squires". Renamed from Kjertilsveiner. I don't know this, but I have no reason to doubt your sources)
2. Væpner (1 Men-at-arm) Væpnere (Men at arms)

Quick facts:

• Lendmenn/Baron title is abolished in 14 century.
• Riddari = Horsemen in the Norse lanuage.
• Last Hird meeting 1452, but the "Hird"-organ is gone in the 14century.
• Sysselmaðr, Sysselman (Norwegian) was the kings highest representative in a districk. It was established during the reign of King Sverre (1177-1202) in the last part of the 12th century til 1307.
• 900 - 1319: Gestir's lifespan

Link: http://lokalhistoriewiki.no/index.php/Leksikon:Adel (local history)



Hirdmen

The King's royal retinue and house-hold were the Hirðmenn (Hirdmen). They had the best swords, the finest armour and thickest shields. Atleast 40 of these elite soliders were wherever the King was at all time. Usually a land-based force (tho exceptions under King Sverre I during 1180s as lightly mounted). They eat at the Kings table and they had their own individual farm and household. They and the King had the right to take equal share of enemy goods and loot. As such, the King (atleast in principle) was the first among equals. One such event in the old texts descibe how one of the Hirdmen stouchly objected when the king took more then his fair share.

Hirdens oppbygning

Hird (hîred) betyr blant annet familie eller husstand på angelsaksisk. Hirden var hærfølget eller hoffet til en stormann, høvding eller konge (drottinn). En mann underla seg frivillig hirdherren. Opptaket i hirden ble markert ved håndgang, sverdtaking og troskapseder. Hirdmennene ble derfor betegnet som håndgangne menn, sverdtakere eller edssvorne.
Hirdmannen sverget trofasthet mot sin herre, lovet å følge han i krig som i fred, ofre livet for han om nødvendig. Til gjengjeld hadde hirdmannen krav på at herren skulle verne ham og gi støtte. Støtten, hjelpen og vernet som hirdherren gav sine menn ble kalt traust.
Hirdherren lønnet troskap og tjeneste med gaver av klær, våpen og gull. Hirdmennene fikk andeler av krigsbytter. Om en hirdmann ble drept skulle det betales høyere mannebøter enn for vanlige folk.
Høymiddelalderens hird

Selv om retten til å holde hird mest var forbeholdt kongen, kunne for eksempel en Jarl , Hertug eller Biskop holde sin egen hird, men disse var utover i middelalderen begrenset ved lov til å alltid være mindre enn kongens hird.
Utover i høymiddelalderen (1150-1350) endret hirdordningen gradvis form. Meningen med hirden var fra gammelt av å ha en parat, veltrent og utrustet styrke ved konflikter. De var kjernen i hirdherrens stridsstyrke, men også livvakter og parade gruppe. I gammel tid hadde hirdmenn muligheten til å si opp denne troskapspakten og forlate hirden. I middelaldern ble det vanskeligere å gå ut av hirden, men i fredstid hadde hirdmenn perioder med fritak fra tjenesten, såkalt orlov. Da kunne man reise og være hvor man ville i landet, men pliktet å holde troskapen til hirdherren.
Å holde hird blir i økende grad forbeholdt kongen. Hirden som institusjon blir mer enn bare en våpentjeneste. Høyættede hirdmenn som hadde vært lenge i hirden fikk lange perioder med orlov og ble satt til å styre len rundt om i landet (lendmenn). Dermed får kongen økt kontroll ved et landsomfattende aristokrati av håndgangnemenn sverget til troskap på samme måte som alle hans andre hirdmenn. Høyættede hirdmenn som var nær knyttet til kongen dannet et hoff som tok seg av administrative funksjoner på kongsgården, ved borgene og hovedstedene.

Their position ment they could not rise to the postion of Hirðtiorar. In their orgin around year 1000, they were mostly a position of armed retinue, but later they became more used as Man-at-Arms division. Others arised in admininastrive roles. Their last mentioning of them were in early 15th century, but as a respected organ - they are belived to dissapear some time before that. In turm of taking a ceremonial oath by the sword and upper-arm-chake to a Stormann ("Great Man"), the Hirdman would inturm recive protection and support from his Lord. This support, help and protection was called "traust" (Trust). Stormennene (the Great Men) rewarded

Hird structure
Hird (Hired) means including family or household on the Anglo-Saxon. Hird was hærfølget or court of a great man, chief or king (drottinn). A man subjugated voluntary hirdherren. The recording of King's bodyguard was marked by hand-walking, sword-taking and loyalty oaths. Courtiers were therefore designated as håndgangne men sverdtakere or edssvorne.

Bodyguard swore fidelity to his master, promised to follow him in war as in peace, sacrifice his life for him if necessary. In return, had bodyguard claims that the lord would protect him and give support. The support, assistance and protection as hirdherren gave his men was called steadfast.

Hirdherren paid homage and service with gifts of clothes, guns and gold. Courtiers were shares of the spoils. About one bodyguard was killed should be paid higher fines than men for the common people.

High medieval court
Although the right to hold court most was reserved for the king, could such an Earl, Duke or Bishop holding his own court, but these were beyond the Middle Ages limited by law to always be less than the king's court.

Later in the High Middle Ages (1150-1350) changed hirdordningen gradually form. The object of the hird was from ancient times to have a ready, trained and equipped force in conflicts. They were the core of hirdherrens combat strength, but also bodyguards and parade group. In ancient courtiers had the option to terminate this covenant faithfulness and leave hird. In middelaldern it was difficult to go out of their chieftain, but in peacetime had courtiers periods of exemption from the service, called Orlov. Then you could go and be where you wanted in the country, but are obliged to maintain fidelity to hirdherren.

Holding court is increasingly reserved for the king. Hird as an institution is more than just a weapon service. Høyættede courtiers who had been long in the hird had long periods of Orlov and was put to control the fief around the country (lendermen). This gives the king increased control by a national aristocracy of håndgangnemenn swore allegiance to the same manner as all his other courtiers. Høyættede courtiers who were closely related to the king created a court that took care of administrative functions of the palace, the castles and capitals.


Arms and armour:
Padded shirt.
Mailshirt or armour plated shirt.
Iron cap, panserkveiv (armoured coif), Stálhufvu(Chapel-de-fer) or cervelliere.
Thick heather shields, possibly pointed boss.
Bukler
Sword
Spears

Possibly:
Bow (which is a unique requirment for a noble).
Mailhauberk.
Mail mittens.
Brynkniv ("arming knife" or a war-/mail-piercing knife).

The Housecarls

The Housecarls was a distinct corporation and they were the retinue of the local Jarls (Earls) of the farming aristokrati. In Denmark they were also the King's retinue. As the aristokrati move from farming nobles to a service-aristokrati under the king, the corporation dissolved some time in the high middle ages (iirc). It's not known weather these men were of local farming nobles direct rule or within the Hird. They did however fight under the king in many occations.

(1050 - 1150)
Våpentrøye (strong padded armour).
Mail hauberk
Norman helmets.
Some leg and arm splint defences.
Kite shields or round shield
Swords and Axes or Two-Handed Axes

Possibly
Aventail
Occasional lemellar ontop of mail
Occasional poached-egg shield instead of kite shield

Knights and Squires

Skutilsveinr/Riddere were the Knights of Norway. Rising as warrior sons from noble familys. Early era, they were the table servants of the Hirðmenn's table. Skutilsveinr were head'd by Skenkjari (the Steward), and under their training - they were known as Kertilsveinr/Svenner(Squires) or "Candle men" for their job during christmas and easter. Later in 1270s, about a 100 years after the rest of Europe, Skutilsveinr took the stage as true mounted knights with continantal titles, dutys, arms and armour. Unlike Hirdmen, Skutilsveinr could arise to the position of Hirðtiorar.

Fully blooded Riddere/Knights - (table-men) either with swords, maces or poleaxe:


Skutilsveinr

Våpentrøye (strong padded armour).
Brýnbrok (padded chausses)
Mailshirt with long sleevs and mail mittens (loose or integrated).
Mail leggings.
Helmet (either chape-de-férs, cervellieres or great helmets) and mail coif under.
Plata (coat-of-plates), some times under the mail hauberk.
Swords/axes/maces.
Spears.
Heather shields, possibly pointed boss.

Possibly
Cavalry, covered with padded and/or mail.
Lance.
Crossbows.



Ridder, late medieval knights of the emerging professional army. Fully armoured:

Padded shirt.
Mailshirt hauberk with long sleevs and mail mittens (loose or integrated).
Padded coif.
Mail hood
Bucket helmet (13th cent) - Luktr Hjalmr or iron cap.
Thick heather shields, possibly pointed boss.
Bukler or heather shields, possibly pointed boss.
Longswords/axes/warhammers/maces/poleaxes
Spear/Lances.
Mail stocking.
Cavalry

Possibly:
Armoured plating in German style
Bow or crossbow, pluss arrows/bolts.
Armoured leg pants.
Knee and shoulder caps.
Brynkniv ("arming knife" or a war-/mail-piercing knife).


Kertilsveinr /Squires - (candle-men), tho later with heather shields


Svenner (kertilsveinr). Men-at-arms or mercenaries. Full armour:

Strong padded armour.
Padded coif.
Iron helmet (Example: Chapel-de-fer or the commen iron cap).
Shield (First round shields without steel tip, then later heather shields).
Axes. Later using longswords.
Spears.

Possibly:
Armour plating (Late medieval plate-and-mail and helmets)
Poleaxes, Halberds
Handbow
Brynkniv ("arming knife" or a war-/mail-piercing knife).

Gestir

The Gestir, or Guests in modern english was a distict corporation of the Hird. They had their own house; their own ship; had their own property; eat on their own table and a small household, but were still part of a larger Noble household. They did have Guest-leaders called Gestahg. Two of these men were Sigtrygg Snarfare and Hallvard Hard-fare. They also had their own independent banner, and it was a black banner.

These men had a variety of jobs. In principle, they were much like todays federal (and to some degree local) state's Civil organ and enforcers. Their name, Nomen est Omen, as such they were known to "guest" peoples house without concent. From the 10th century to 1319, they roam the realm as shoadows to find opposition to the King. Assassination would be carried out if such were the job. Gestir also had the legal ability to accept of decline, and in any case to demand reason of their mission, if they feared for their health. They had the right to take any goods of the such target, except the gold, which was preserved for the king. One Saga describe a public assassinations being handed out in public daylight by Gestirs.
When the Syslumaðr (governor of a district), Umbuðsmann (Ombudsman, the kings representative) or Lendmenn (local mayors) required it, they would be assisted by the Gestir in enforcing the law (police force) and collecting taxes.
Whenever the King set sail on his ship, the Gestir ship would be the closest ship to it, guarding it's every move. Tho the Hirdmenn were the closest to a Kings bodyguard, the Gestir were allways the one guarding the great house, outer premisis and walls. Scouting for danger.
In special occations of war, they were sendt out to protect propperty from the rest of the Norwegian armys when it was on expedition and in need of resupplying. One occation in the Saga's: A lady is suppose to have begged the King not to harm her house, as a result, Gestirs were dispatched to protect the house while the rest of the Norwegian army marched past it.

In war, they were the lower ranking officers, helping the Syslumaðr, Umbuðsmann and Lendmen in the process of consripting levys for the Leidangr fleet. In a military unit, they were the professional assult infantry. Like the mix of today's special forces and a marine task force unit. Turninng the battles with clever tactics of deception and assult. In some instances they are described on sabotashing missions like engulfing and destroying a small fleet of enemy boats by fire.

These men's status was low within the hird, and strict rules said they could not advance in rank (there are some exceptions to the rule tho). They were also not allowed to eat on the same table as Hirdmen, Skutilsveinr or Houscarls, and they recived only half the pay as the rest. As a result of rigid laws, these corporations were fierce rivals, and has been described violently several times...

Numbers:
1015-1028: 30
1080s: 60
1180s: 150 - 480
1217-1263: 300


( ^ With a one-hand axe or a fine sword, Gestir later had heather shields)

Arms and armour:
Våpentrøye (strong padded armour) or armour plating.
Padded coif.
Iron helmet (Example: Chapel-de-fer or the commen iron cap).
Shield (First round shields without steel tip, then later heather shields).
Axes. Later using swords.
Spears.

Possibly:
Handbow
Brynkniv ("arming knife" or a war-/mail-piercing knife).

Here is a paper on the Gestir (Guests) made by the Univercity of Bergen if it's needed. However bevare of new-norwegian writing language which is struggles in Google translate.

The evolution of the Norwegian levy system:

-1- First there was a voluntary system, were cheiftains and warlords joined for the spoils and glory of war. Society before the time of reunification was characterized by smaller units, where each petty kingdom or province defended themselves in more randomly organized forms. According to the goth Jordanes, one of the oldest written sources we have about the Nordic countries, peoples in the north had larger fame as warriors than germanics in general.

-2- As we approch the medieval age, a levy -law is established, it's called Leiðangr. Leidang (Norwegian), leding, (Danish), ledung (Swedish), expeditio (Latin) or sometimes lething (in English language).

The older laws regulating the leiðangr (the Norwegian "Older Law of the Gulating" dates to the 11th or 12th century) require every man to, as a minimum, arm himself with an axe or a sword in addition to spear and shield, and for every rowbench (typically of two men) to have a bow and 24 arrows. Later 12th-13th century changes to this law code list more extensive equipment for the more affluent freemen, with helmet, mail hauberk, shield, spear and sword being what the well-to-do farmer or burgher must bring to war. Possibly armour plating or mail for the burgher, specially more easily accesible in the 14th century.

Their ranged division of Leidangr were called Bogimennr (bowmen). One-half of the Leiðang was required to bring bows to war.
Light infatry, with little to no armour.
Sword or axe
War bow
Large round shield, the occasional kite shield or poached egg shield

Possibly
Occasional “Norman” helmet and mail to represent a rich farmer
Spear

The Norwegian Leidangr was first established by Haakon the Good in 950s, in the Battle of Hafrsfjord. From this point, the royal aristokrati had established monopol on military violence and could unify the petty kingdoms into one kingdom. It took however 2 to 300 years for this Kingdom to unfy in a coherst unit with a single modern aim of a state.

The duty of the farmers was primarily in the defence of the country when attackted from foreign fleets. If the King set out to sea for offencive warfare, then the partisipation in the Leidangr-fleet was voluntarly, which reminds much of the voluntarily system of the early Viking Age. Leidangr-fleet was therfor the most importent foreign instrument the king held. This is shown when the King's foreign delegate and right hand meets the French king Filip 4. The Norwegian foreign delegate, Stallare(King's lawyer and Horse-Master) and Fehirde (Tresury Secretary) Audun Hugleiksson makes a deal to support France against an upcomming war against England with 300 Longships and 33 000 solider, for a price of 30 000 sterling a year. Offcourse, such large man-power is not possible to achive. The fleet was at maximum capacity of 300 ships at best, but Audun returned to Norway with 1200 Kg (6000 sterling) of pure silver in advance, which he used to repay the Norwegian foreign debt.


The 2 folded aspect of Leidangr:
Leidangr was the fundation of the Norwegian military, but also paved the fundation for the Norwegian tax system in late 12th century and early 13th century, as can be elaborated more by Edvart Bull (1920). Not only tax, but also the


Leidangr's marine capabilitys:
It should be mentioned that military technology, tacktics and crew in Norway from the Viking age to the late renissance first and formost is tightly connected with marine operations. Norwegians were dominant aslong as the they stuck to the sea. By doing so, the Norwegians could choose time and place for the battle, and could avoid long and open confrontations with the enemy. The vikingship was a superweapon in it's time, and was dominant as a war vessel in northern Europe already in the 8th century. The ships could widstand extreme weather conditions at high seas, aswell as quickly assult land from creeks and beaches.

Levy farmer system/the national (marine) guard, as opposed to the proffesionalism of a fuedal system. The farmers of a skipreiða (district of farmers) had to build and equip a rowed sailing ship. The size of the ships was defined as a standardized number of oars, initially forty oars(long boats), later the standardized size of 24 was increased(dragon ship). 279districts was the Norwegian Fleet in 1277.) Denmark, two-three times as many.
The lands were divided into districts, ship's crews, "skipreiða" (Old Norse), "skipæn" (Danish) or "roslag" (Swedish).
The head of a district was called "styrimaðr" or "styræsmand", steersman, and he functioned as captain of the ship.
The smallest unit was the crew of peasants who had to arm and provide for one oarsman ("hafnæ" in Danish, "manngerð" in Old Norse).
Early on in the 11th century, Jarls (Earls) lead the Leidangr fleet. From the 12th century, Bishops were leading the Leidang armys to war tho many times by nobles.
The last Leidang mission was in 1393 in Oslo region against invading Slavic-german forces.
Even tho, in 1563, when sweden had in mind to capture the north norwegian trading fleet and the soutern trading hub of Oslo - A Bergen Landsmann (baron) assembled 4000 men from Bergen on the basis of Leidang system.


With the Leidangr, there was also hunters and woodsmen. Veiðimenn^ was their name, and hailed from the thick forest of the north, making guerillia warfare a thing to be counted on. Their training was minimal, but their trade gave them axes and specially strong bows:

The Kingdoms had it's largest capacity under the rule of King Haakon Haakonsson (1217-1263), but steel caps, axes and shields could do little damage against the mounted armourplated knights of Scotland, England and the rest of Europe. The sea-dependent infantry from the cold north simply lacked technology of the land-based warfare from the continent at this point.

At the begining of the 14th century, it's clear the Norwegian military is at a decline as we see the approche of the Kalmar Union era. The civil and military part of the Hird is ever more separated, and the professionalism of the military is tried twice, but fail when there is no need nor funds to support it. The leidangr was still there as a man-power capacity, and the cost in upkeeping it - is less then that of a matching standby professional force. This however changed dramatically when the german cog-fleet of 17 ships and 600 men attacks south of Bergen, western-Norway, 1429. A massacre of 100 Norwegian leidagrships evolve as better equipted and much taller ships vaporated the Norwegian longships. The "Domination of vikingships" across northern Europe was done for good. The domination of the taller Hanseatic sailships begins.

Despite it's cracks in it's marine fleet, the Leidangr as an organisation continues. Each 200+ municipalities of todays Norway holds it's roots in the old 9th century Leidangr organisation and it's individual Skipreida (shipharbours). Each Leidangr community also had it's own Leidangr Thing (court/assembly) where the farmer's weapons, armour and ship were inspected once a year. Local disputes were also settled there, tho they were still under the regional high assembly/court of the regional Things of Norway which once were the Petty Kingdoms, but today act as countys.

The 1300s was a very peacefull time, and Leidangr was only used few times in the late middelages. One example would be in 1563. The last Leidang war fleet stands in 1429. The rest of the fleet evolves to a merchant fleet to combat hanseatic influence. Norway had simply no use for any defence force nor military. It was all peace.

Even when the country is the weakest link in the Kalmar Union era, it kept going. The military aspect of Kalmar Union was based on the Swedish partisipation, rather then Norway's own defence. In 1523, Sweden took the divorce, while Norway was focused on building it's local administration in Denmark-Norway. This resulted in a Norwegian realm with no defence nor a state to rule it. But when Sweden and Denmark-Norway wages war, then it's clear that Norway need atleast a defence system made up of Burghers and farmers, which is based upon the Leidangr of old. Stormenn (Norwegian nobles) and their Svenner (squires) instead use the farmers and merchants as the lords taxsubjects to fund their private armys including German mercinarys, cavalry and supplys to their keep. These man were now the main military force of Norway, while the Leidangr only partisipated few momemnts in Kalmar Union Era (1350) til the end of the Renessanse (aprox. 1611) as a military unit.

-3- Then the (Danish) Legd/Landevarn system was twice tried in Norway. Also called the Array defence, a farm community duty, a Landværn. Legd (farming community/land duty). Soldat (solider). Therefor the word Legdsoldat (Community solider) or Legdshær (Community army). The Legd system is tryed twice in Norway, but fails in 1370s and 1550, it included some of what the former leidang was, but this time a group of farming communitys had to assembly a group of more land based soliders. Norway is sea dependent country.

Selv om leidangen mistet sin militære betydning i løpet av senmiddelalderen, besto altså viktige deler av leidangsorganisasjonen, og etter 1537 ble det gjort forsøk fra kongemakten på å gjenreise en moderne utgave av leidangen med hjemmel i Landslovens landevernsbolk (kap. III), første gang under Christian III i 1550-årene, og senere under Christian IV i årene rundt 1620. Begge prosjektene mislyktes. S.I.

The military Legd system is begins to establishin 1611-1613.. The Norwegian Professional army was again established with a warorder from Christian IV January the 18, 1628. It was buildt on Legds system. It meant that each farm were collected in Legder which assembled a solider each or the most, 1 pr seven head of the population. This also dependent on where you lived.

Arms and armour in late medieval levy infantry/middle class was based on long spears, polearms, swodstafs or axes. The crossbow was also by this point easily available. Here are late levys (similar to the Landevarn):


Armourment of later Norwegian Leidangr or Dannish Legdhær. Rich farmers or some mercenaries would include better equipment.

Våpentrøye (strong padded armour).
Maille hauberk, or occasional panser (armour-plating).
Stálhufvu (Chapel-de-fer).
Heather shield or the teardrop shield
Spears or polearms
Swords, axes or maces.



Late ranged levy or city militia:

Crossbows or strong war bows.
Våpentrøye (strong padded armour).
Mail shirt, or occasional panser (armour-plating).
Sword, axes or maces.
Buckler.
Stálhufvu (Chapel-de-fer).

Richer farmers or professional mercenaries:
War crossbows.
Late medieval plate-and-mail and helmets.
Longswords/axes/maces/picks.
Pavise.


Or later, were middle class with better polearms and armour as it was salvaged from continental armys and mercinarys:


Late era Leidangr, either as city militia or richer levy from the country-side:

Panoply, (either gifted, traded with the continent or salvaged from mercenaries).
Chapel-de-fer
Halberds.
“Sword-spears,” salvaged from germanic mercenary's weapons and mounted on think woodn shafts.

Possibly:
Bows

Siege weapons

Valslynge. The early man-powered torsion catapult.
Padded vápentryiu
Iron cap helmets
Swords and axes
Spears
Light catapult

Valslynge, used in high middle age. It's an artillery pieace, much like the mangonel or trebuchet. Likely crewed by foreign mercenaries. Likly immobile and the crew are not likly prepared for combat, but are usually armed.
Våpentrøye (strong padded armour).
Helmets.
Swords, axes or spears.
Mangonel/Trebuchet.
Heather shields.

Kanon, a late medieval cannon, of the banded metal type. While the earliest reference to gunpowder in scandinavia come from 1250 or so, and a fellow named Paal Fisiler definitively demonstrates it, and explains it as a psychological weapon - "One often uses such hærbrest in war in order to make those who do not know of it flee in all directions" - in Bergen between 1292 and 1296. Real siege artillery did not become common until the later middle ages.
Helmets and pluphet jacks.
Longswords
Poleaxes or halberds
Gunnpowder Cannon


The navy was established as a unified force in 1509, but was under direct control until the Denmark-Norway divorce in 1814. This was the largest department of Denmark-Norway defence force, atleast til the Napoleon wars.

Sea Tactics:

Harald Hardråde hadde under Sjøslaget ved Niså en reservestyrke som ble satt inn for å støtte frontsstyrkene med suksess mens danskene bare oppstilt seg i en eneste bred slagorden.

Land Tactics:

Fylking was the a series of tactical combat forces used by the infantry. A line of atleast 5 men, usually 10, but sometimes even 20 ranks deep. In the front line were the warriors armed with shields and swords or axes. Then those with spears. Behind those were the men armed with bows, crossbows, javelins or slings.

Svinefylking: Approx. 400men. A wedged shieldwall. It's intend was to pierce, and therefor break the enemys physical frontline or the moral of their men. It consisted of 20 men deep, and the tip towards the enemy. To counter flanks, their formation added 2 baseline wings. Each of these consisting of 10 X 10 men. Ergo, the entier Svinefylking consisted of approx. 600 (400 + 2 X 100) men.

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Anti-cavalry: Incase of charging cavalry, they usually orderd 2 Svinefylkings. One with it's tip forward, and another with the tip backwards, with the same baseline. The entier Anti cavalry Svinefylking consisted of approx. 1000 (2 X 400 + 2 X 100) men.

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Gaffelen ("the fork"): Approx. 1400 men with 2 wings with an angle forward like an open horseshoe was less commen, and was specially used when having a superiority in strength. One such example would be in 1066, when Harald Hardraada fought on the Humber River in England.

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Kretsen/Fylkingkrans ("Circut"/"Shieldwall-Wreath"): Approx. 1400 men in a ring or shiltron. They were not allways completely round, but more like a series of straight curved fronline in the form of a wreath. Primarily used when in risk of attack from multiply areas, specially when the enemy was supirior (in cavalry). (Harald Hardraada, on the Stamford Bridge, 1066.)

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Practical:
Slaget ved Vänern strand hadde han benyttet terrenget på en formidable måte for størst mulig slagkraft for egne slagorden i angrep. Dessuten var ikke hærførerne fremmed for å angripe om natten som under Slaget på isen utenfor Oslo i borgerkrigsperioden eller å foreta felttog om vinteren når bakken med elver og sjøer hadde fryset til. Hærførerne i Norden var noe mer opportunistisk innstilt enn deres samtidige lenge nede i Europa, men var ikke så opptatt av kompliserte taktikk som det er sett ganske mange ganger siden begynnelsen av 1100-tallet.

Vikingene som regel foretrakk å unngå slag hvis de kan, deres styrke lå i deres mobilitet til havs med deres raske skip så fiendtlige flåter som måtte mobiliseres, vanskelige kunne bekjempe disse og deres hester som de tok med seg ( fire hester hver skip ) for rask streiftog på landet. Bare når de var tvunget til å ta opp slag, foretrakk de å søke et oppgjør fortest mulig, men vinner sjeldent mot de bedre utrustende og trente soldatene av de sentraleuropeiske hærene på Frankrike og Tyskland. Deres fordel var deres samhold dersom en flokk oftest var fra et skips mannskap ned til mellom 25 og 30 mann med egne skipsfører som flokkfører så de var disiplinert nok til å slåss som en enhet. De var ikke fremmed for kavaleritaktikk men var lite glad for å sette deres få og verdifulle hester i fare som dessuten undergravde disiplinen fordi det ble for lett å rømme vekk uten at slaget var avgjort. Deres tette formasjon av fotsoldater er disiplinert nok til å skremme bort frontale rytterangrep og selv reorganisert seg for motangrep mot spredte kavaleristene. Men det også gjør et slag mellom fylkinger ekstremt dødelig fordi med et massemøte mellom hundrer opptil tusener av menn vil en stor andel rett og sett dør i møljeslåssmål eller skjold mot skjold.

Jeg har funnet ut at en fylking hadde aldri blitt sprengt av et frontal rytterangrep, de tilfeller det hendt var fylkingen endels i oppløsning eller i dårlig terreng som avverger rask reaksjon, rytterne i Danmark og Norge foretrakk mindre avledende angrep eller forfølgelse som regel fordi de få ganger man angripe frontalt, var det alltid med enorme tap uten at seieren var vunnet. En fylking som var slått av kavaleri, bare simpelt trakk seg tilbake under orden som sett mange ganger for å komme seg inn i terreng der de kunne unngår et samlet kavaleriangrep. Kavaleri var kun dødelig mot oppløste mengder av menn som ikke kunne organisert seg til en formasjon.

Svinfylking i kontrast var ikke benyttet så mye som fylking for denne var en formasjon uten fløyer som bare brukes ved spesielle anledninger som på høyere bakke eller på flatt lend for maksimal bevegelseskraft ved et angrep.


Combat techniques

Shields:
Analysis of battle damage to weapons from the massive Roman Iron Age deposit of Nydham indicated the primary use for the large round shields was in fending off missiles, while sword duels were conducted blade on blade (Schloß Gottorf: Archäologische Landesmuseum der Christian-Albrechts Universität, Schleswig Germany: pers. obs. 1994). However, the use of shields in hand to hand combat is recorded in customs such as the holmgang duel. The heavy iron construction of the Viking Age boss is unlike the Roman Iron Age examples of thin bronze, perhaps indicating a change to a hand-to-hand fighting style in which parrys with the boss were possible. The thin boards would split easily, and could perhaps have been deliberately made so, in order to snare an attacker's blade.

~http://members.ozemail.com.au/~chris...ld/shield.html

Link & attachments (mostly norwegian, so you have to use Google translate):

Arms & Armour:
Askd Ringeck, (but he focus' a tad more on Denmark, then Scandinavia in generel)

Arms and armour 2:
http://www.kongshirden1308.no/artikler/falk.htm (Hjalmar Falk's book "Altnordische Waffenkunde", 1914. With a critical view on mythological parts.)

Arms and armour 3:
http://www.kongshirden1308.no/artikl...oye_panser.htm (Armourment of the diffrent Hird groups)

Fylking (Shieldwall):
http://snl.no/fylking/milit%C3%A6rvesen

Hird:
http://www.kongshirden1308.no/artikl...ppbyggning.htm
http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hird_og_hirdmenn
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hird (English)

King Magnus the Lawmaker's Landloven (Law of the Land)
http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_...B8tes_landslov

King Magnus the Lawmaker's Byloven (Law of the Citys)
http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_...C3%B8tes_bylov

Konungs skuggsjá (the King's Mirror):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konungs_skuggsj%C3%A1

Legd in Norway:
http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legd
http://snl.no/legd
http://www.lokalhistoriewiki.no/index.php/Leksikon:Legd

Legshær:
http://snl.no/legdsh%C3%A6r

Legdsoldat:
http://www.lokalhistoriewiki.no/inde...on:Soldat-legd

Leidang, Norwegian levy:
http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leidang
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leidang (English)
http://snl.no/leidang
http://www.lokalhistoriewiki.no/inde...ksikon:Leidang

Living History group detailing everything from civil and miltiary occupations, clothing, armourments of members of the late Hird.
http://www.kongshirden1308.no/artikl...die_kh1308.pdf (30 paged .pdf of everything bwtween arms and armour to civil and trade-life of Oslo/Akershus regions from 1299 to 1319)

Lendmann:
http://www.lokalhistoriewiki.no/index.php/Lendmann

Middle Age, early.
http://www.lokalhistoriewiki.no/inde...ig_middelalder

Middle Age, high.
http://www.lokalhistoriewiki.no/inde...ymiddelalderen

Middle Age, Late.
http://www.lokalhistoriewiki.no/inde...nmiddelalderen

Nobility of Norway is called Adel:
http://www.lokalhistoriewiki.no/index.php/Leksikon:Adel

Oslo, orgin, growth and military importence:
http://www.kongshirden1308.no/artikl...yfremvekst.htm
http://www.stovnerporten.no/over_a/osikt1g.htm

Shields:
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~chris...ld/shield.html

Skutilsveinr:
http://www.lokalhistoriewiki.no/index.php/Skutilsvein

I hope that clears something up. PM regarding any questions relating to the pictures used.

~Wille

[konny]

Excellent read
+rep.

And excellent units. Where are they from?

I will give my opinion on Norway, as it's my main focus area. Post-viking age til Kalmar Union is also my favorite era

Do you know inhowfar this could have applied to Denmark as well?

-3- Then the (Danish) Legd/Landevarn system was twice tried in Norway.

Do you have any further informations on how this system worked in Denmark?


The reason I am riding around on Denmark: We are trying to give each faction a unique gameplay as much as possible, with titles open to family members, governmental buildings, simulated recruitment by script, units and such. We don't have a faction Norway, Norway isn't on our map, but Denmark is.