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- Feb 2, 2011
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NEW RELEASES FOR OCTOBER 2022
THE AGE OF ARTHUR
THE VIKINGS
THE VIKING “SHIELD WALL”
The formation of a shield wall (Skjaldborg in Old Norse) was a popular military tactic that was commonly used in many parts of Northern Europe, especially England and Scandinavia.
There were many slight variations of this tactic, but in general, a shield wall was a “wall of shields” formed by warriors standing in formation shoulder to shoulder, holding their shields so that they abut or overlap. Each warrior benefited from the protection of his neighbours’ shields as well as his own.
The shield-wall tactic suited inexperienced troops such as the English Fyrd or free peasant, as it did not require extraordinary skill, being essentially a shoving and fencing match with weapons.
The first three ranks of the main wall would have been made up of select warriors, such as Huscarls and Thengs, who carried heavier weapons and wore armour. The vast majority of opponents were armed with spears, which they used against the unprotected legs or faces of their opponents. Often soldiers would use their weapons to support each other by stabbing and slashing to the left or the right, rather than just ahead. Short weapons such as the ubiquitous seax could also be used in the tight quarters of the wall.
The tactic was used at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, where the relatively well-armed Saxon army attacked the army of King Harald Sigurdsson of Norway. The Vikings were not wearing as much armour, having left their chain mail behind on the ships and wearing only their helmets, and after a bloody shield wall battle, they broke and fled in panic.
The drawback of the shield-wall tactic was that, once breached, the whole affair tended to fall apart rather quickly. Relatively lightly trained fyrdmen gained morale from being shoulder-to-shoulder with their comrades, but often fled once this was compromised. Once the wall was breached, it could prove difficult or impossible to re-establish a defensive line, and panic might well set in among the defenders.
Although the importance of cavalry in the Battle of Hastings saw the end of the shield wall tactic, massed shield walls would continue to be employed right up to the end of the 12[SUP]th[/SUP] Century, especially in areas that were unsuitable for large scale mounted warfare, such as Scandinavia, and Scotland.
In the late Middle Ages, the shield was abandoned in favour of polearms carried with both hands, giving rise to pike square tactics.
VIK-11
THE AGE OF ARTHUR,
THE VIKINGS,
2 VIKING WARRIORS,
(2 pcs)
**Please note these are the same figures that are part of the Viking Longship.**
ANGLO SAXON/DANISH SHIELDWALL
The death of King Edward the Confessor of England in January 1066 had triggered a succession struggle in which a variety of contenders from across north-western Europe fought for the English throne. These claimants included the King of Norway, Harald Hardrada.
The Battle of Stamford Bridge took place at the village of Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire, in England on 25 September 1066, between an English army under King Harold Godwinson and an invading Norwegian force led by King Harald Hardrada and the English king's brother Tostig Godwinson. After a bloody battle, both Hardrada and Tostig along with most of the Norwegians were killed. The battle has traditionally been presented as symbolising the end of the Viking Age,
Harold's victory over the invading Viking army was short-lived. Three days after the battle at Stamford Bridge, on 28 September, a second invasion army led by William, Duke of Normandy, landed in Pevensey Bay, Sussex, on the south coast of England. Harold had to immediately turn his troops around and force-march them southwards to intercept the Norman army. Less than three weeks after Stamford Bridge, on 14 October 1066, the English army was decisively defeated and King Harold II fell in action at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the Norman conquest of England
SX-62A
THE AGE OF ARTHUR,
ANGLO SAXON/ DANES.
2 WOUNDED SAXONS.
(3 pcs)
SX-62B
THE AGE OF ARTHUR,
ANGLO SAXON/ DANES.
2 WOUNDED SAXONS.
(3 pcs)
EL CID AND THE RECONQUISTA
THE SPANISH
The age in which El Cid lived has since been termed the “Reconquista”, or Christian reconquest of Spain from the Moors, and was one of the most colourful periods in military history.
The armies are spectacular and varied, ranging from the noble Christian Knights to the Muslim Andalusians, through to the religious zeal of the African invaders, the Almoravids and Almohads.
Although the period is often portrayed as a simple war of religion, it was in fact a great deal more complex, with Muslim commonly fighting Muslim, and Christian fighting Christians, with both sides using allies and mercenaries whenever it suited them.
This period, during the lifetime of El Cid 1040-1100AD saw the rise of heavy cavalry charges and other northern European influences, especially in the kingdoms of Aragon and Catalonia, which had the strongest links to France.
CID-14
THE CRUSADES,
EL CID AND THE RECONQUISTA,
ANDALUSIAN MERCENARY ARCHER.
(1 pc)
Nearly all the warring factions in Spain during this period used local Andalusian troops as allies in their armies.
Andalusian mercenary infantry archers were commonplace and were often deployed behind spearmen in battle.
These figures are perfect as defenders of the Andalusian Castle.
CID-14N
THE CRUSADES,
EL CID AND THE RECONQUISTA,
ANDALUSIAN MERCENARY ARCHERS.
(3 pcs)
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALER FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
THE AGE OF ARTHUR
THE VIKINGS
THE VIKING “SHIELD WALL”
The formation of a shield wall (Skjaldborg in Old Norse) was a popular military tactic that was commonly used in many parts of Northern Europe, especially England and Scandinavia.
There were many slight variations of this tactic, but in general, a shield wall was a “wall of shields” formed by warriors standing in formation shoulder to shoulder, holding their shields so that they abut or overlap. Each warrior benefited from the protection of his neighbours’ shields as well as his own.
The shield-wall tactic suited inexperienced troops such as the English Fyrd or free peasant, as it did not require extraordinary skill, being essentially a shoving and fencing match with weapons.
The first three ranks of the main wall would have been made up of select warriors, such as Huscarls and Thengs, who carried heavier weapons and wore armour. The vast majority of opponents were armed with spears, which they used against the unprotected legs or faces of their opponents. Often soldiers would use their weapons to support each other by stabbing and slashing to the left or the right, rather than just ahead. Short weapons such as the ubiquitous seax could also be used in the tight quarters of the wall.
The tactic was used at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, where the relatively well-armed Saxon army attacked the army of King Harald Sigurdsson of Norway. The Vikings were not wearing as much armour, having left their chain mail behind on the ships and wearing only their helmets, and after a bloody shield wall battle, they broke and fled in panic.
The drawback of the shield-wall tactic was that, once breached, the whole affair tended to fall apart rather quickly. Relatively lightly trained fyrdmen gained morale from being shoulder-to-shoulder with their comrades, but often fled once this was compromised. Once the wall was breached, it could prove difficult or impossible to re-establish a defensive line, and panic might well set in among the defenders.
Although the importance of cavalry in the Battle of Hastings saw the end of the shield wall tactic, massed shield walls would continue to be employed right up to the end of the 12[SUP]th[/SUP] Century, especially in areas that were unsuitable for large scale mounted warfare, such as Scandinavia, and Scotland.
In the late Middle Ages, the shield was abandoned in favour of polearms carried with both hands, giving rise to pike square tactics.
VIK-11
THE AGE OF ARTHUR,
THE VIKINGS,
2 VIKING WARRIORS,
(2 pcs)
**Please note these are the same figures that are part of the Viking Longship.**
ANGLO SAXON/DANISH SHIELDWALL
The death of King Edward the Confessor of England in January 1066 had triggered a succession struggle in which a variety of contenders from across north-western Europe fought for the English throne. These claimants included the King of Norway, Harald Hardrada.
The Battle of Stamford Bridge took place at the village of Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire, in England on 25 September 1066, between an English army under King Harold Godwinson and an invading Norwegian force led by King Harald Hardrada and the English king's brother Tostig Godwinson. After a bloody battle, both Hardrada and Tostig along with most of the Norwegians were killed. The battle has traditionally been presented as symbolising the end of the Viking Age,
Harold's victory over the invading Viking army was short-lived. Three days after the battle at Stamford Bridge, on 28 September, a second invasion army led by William, Duke of Normandy, landed in Pevensey Bay, Sussex, on the south coast of England. Harold had to immediately turn his troops around and force-march them southwards to intercept the Norman army. Less than three weeks after Stamford Bridge, on 14 October 1066, the English army was decisively defeated and King Harold II fell in action at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the Norman conquest of England
SX-62A
THE AGE OF ARTHUR,
ANGLO SAXON/ DANES.
2 WOUNDED SAXONS.
(3 pcs)
SX-62B
THE AGE OF ARTHUR,
ANGLO SAXON/ DANES.
2 WOUNDED SAXONS.
(3 pcs)
EL CID AND THE RECONQUISTA
THE SPANISH
The age in which El Cid lived has since been termed the “Reconquista”, or Christian reconquest of Spain from the Moors, and was one of the most colourful periods in military history.
The armies are spectacular and varied, ranging from the noble Christian Knights to the Muslim Andalusians, through to the religious zeal of the African invaders, the Almoravids and Almohads.
Although the period is often portrayed as a simple war of religion, it was in fact a great deal more complex, with Muslim commonly fighting Muslim, and Christian fighting Christians, with both sides using allies and mercenaries whenever it suited them.
This period, during the lifetime of El Cid 1040-1100AD saw the rise of heavy cavalry charges and other northern European influences, especially in the kingdoms of Aragon and Catalonia, which had the strongest links to France.
CID-14
THE CRUSADES,
EL CID AND THE RECONQUISTA,
ANDALUSIAN MERCENARY ARCHER.
(1 pc)
Nearly all the warring factions in Spain during this period used local Andalusian troops as allies in their armies.
Andalusian mercenary infantry archers were commonplace and were often deployed behind spearmen in battle.
These figures are perfect as defenders of the Andalusian Castle.
CID-14N
THE CRUSADES,
EL CID AND THE RECONQUISTA,
ANDALUSIAN MERCENARY ARCHERS.
(3 pcs)
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALER FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
