Mail ratio in the period

**Csatádi** · March 13, 2011, 04:16 AM

Hi,
How much was the estimated ratio of mail armours in the ranks of the Vikings, Saxons and the rest of the nations in the period?

**Tasmansk Tiger** · March 13, 2011, 05:04 AM

Well, from Scandinavia only one complete mail-armour has been found, at Gjermundbu in Norway. But I know fragments have been found here and there as well, plus depictions I think show mailed warriors

**General_Meevious** · March 16, 2011, 01:24 AM

The loss at Stamford Bridge is attributed to Harald's forces having no time to retrieve their hauberks before the battle, so presumably mail was expected, at least by the end of the viking age.

**Csatádi** · March 17, 2011, 02:23 AM

My assumption is 5% at best.

**Antagonist** · March 17, 2011, 02:27 PM

It would depend on what point in "the period" is meant (proliferation appears to have increased over time) and also on the faction in question. In general I suspect 5% is a little low overall, though it is certainly not as common as some believe. For a "typical" faction (say the Norwegians or English) I would say (this is just my impression) it might be as low as 5% in 800 but would probably have climbed to maybe 15-20% by the end of the 11th century. By the time of Hastings and Stamford Bridge, for example, most reputable sources I've come across seem to accept that the vast majority of Harold's Housecarls wore mail armour, and they accounted for at least a tenth of his army.

Variation between factions would also probably be considerable, based on any number of factors - military culture, level of centralization/organization (e.g. to what extent soldiers are equipped by their masters rather than providing their own gear) and general level of industrial and economic development. I'd speculate (again, just my intuition based on what I've read) that the ratio would be somewhat higher among Frankish armies than among Saxons or Vikings (though never approaching 50, let alone 100 percent) and lower in the Celtic lands, maybe not rising above 5% in Wales or Ireland even by 1100.

Antagonist

**IrishBlood** · March 18, 2011, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by Antagonist

It would depend on what point in "the period" is meant (proliferation appears to have increased over time) and also on the faction in question. In general I suspect 5% is a little low overall, though it is certainly not as common as some believe. For a "typical" faction (say the Norwegians or English) I would say (this is just my impression) it might be as low as 5% in 800 but would probably have climbed to maybe 15-20% by the end of the 11th century. By the time of Hastings and Stamford Bridge, for example, most reputable sources I've come across seem to accept that the vast majority of Harold's Housecarls wore mail armour, and they accounted for at least a tenth of his army.

Variation between factions would also probably be considerable, based on any number of factors - military culture, level of centralization/organization (e.g. to what extent soldiers are equipped by their masters rather than providing their own gear) and general level of industrial and economic development. I'd speculate (again, just my intuition based on what I've read) that the ratio would be somewhat higher among Frankish armies than among Saxons or Vikings (though never approaching 50, let alone 100 percent) and lower in the Celtic lands, maybe not rising above 5% in Wales or Ireland even by 1100.

Antagonist

well as far as Ireland was concerned, overall 5-10% would be accurate, but there were a few high points, especially the golden age of the kingdom of munster under Brian Boru. Great use was made of captured viking settlements, namely limerick, from which mail was mass produced. For example by the damn of the battle of clontarf, to my knowledge, a great deal of the combatants on boths sides had a decent number of mailed troops

**Csatádi** · March 19, 2011, 03:28 AM

Originally Posted by IrishBlood

For example by the damn of the battle of clontarf, to my knowledge, a great deal of the combatants on boths sides had a decent number of mailed troops

How do you know that? Written sources, findings etc.

**Tasmansk Tiger** · March 22, 2011, 12:33 PM

I'd imagine the franks would have the highest ratio, seeing as more money was circulating there

**Heathen Storm** · March 22, 2011, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by Tasmansk Tiger

I'd imagine the franks would have the highest ratio, seeing as more money was circulating there

Yes, I think you're correct. The Franks produced some of the best iron around - swords especially. A high quality Frankish Spatha was a highly prized trading item.