https://cunnan.lochac.sca.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Norman_fighting_equipmentNorman fighting equipment - Revision history2026-05-14T13:06:03ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.39.3https://cunnan.lochac.sca.org/index.php?title=Norman_fighting_equipment&diff=31821&oldid=prevUser 144 at 22:00, 17 March 20072007-03-17T22:00:08Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>The fighting equipment of [[Norman]]s is drawn from recovered artefacts and pictorial and other depictions of the Normans. This guide roughly begins in the [[11th century]] and moves into the [[12th century]].<br />
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==Equipment==<br />
===Arms===<br />
* [[spear]] - sometimes with [[wing]]s and generally [[socket]]ed. Some were light enough to be easily thrown.<br />
* [[axe]] - common household [[tool]] sometimes with pronounced [[beard]].<br />
* [[saex]] – knife may have been hung vertically, but one man appears to be drawing an object (possibly a saex) from a horizontal back [[sheath]].<br />
* [[arming sword|sword]] - single handed weapon with straight [[crossguard]]. Blade could be pattern welded, would have a rounded tip and the blade would usually be no longer than 76 cm (30 inches). [[Pommel]] typically of brazil nut kind. [[Hilt]] small only just large enough to accommodate an average sized modern hand. Only used by the wealthy.<br />
* Dane [[axe]] - large axe designed for use with two hands. Likely only used by the wealthiest of warriors and only in good quaility [[armour]]<br />
* [[longbow]] - of [[yew]], with side [[nock]] on the upper [[limb]] which could have an odd bent section. Lower limb tied to string. [[Crossbow]]s are known but not depicted in the [[Bayeux Tapestry]] possibly being limited to [[hunt]]ing uses only.<br />
* [[arrow]]s with [[tang]]ed [[head]]s and self [[nock]]s. [[Eagle]] feather [[flight]]s bound onto the [[shaft]] in a spiral pattern.<br />
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===Armour===<br />
* none<br />
* padded armour (''gambeson'' or ''aketon'') - conjectural with no known examples surviving<br />
* [[maille|mail]] – forearm length sleeves and extending to the knees with a split in both the front and back. Has integral [[coif]] of [[mail]] possibly with integral [[ventail]].<br />
Composed of alternating rows of punched/welded links (roughly rectangular or flattened round section) and riveted (roundish drawn wire) of approximately 1.2 to 1.5 mm diameter with an internal diameter of 5-6mm internal diameter for the rings. Wealthy only. <br />
* [[Norman shield|Norman]] or [[kite shield]] - thickness of approx 8-10 mm. Covered with leather with an [[iron]] [[boss]]. <br />
* [[spangenhelm]] - pointed [[helmet]] with [[nasal]]. Single or multiplate construction. <br />
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===Clothing===<br />
*[[tunic|kyrtle]] of [[wool]]<br />
*under[[tunic]] of linen<br />
*[[hose]] of wool<br />
*[[wickelbander]] of wool<br />
*cross [[garter]]s<br />
*ankle boots or turn[[shoe]]s of leather<br />
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===Misconceptions===<br />
* two handed swords - not known<br />
* double bitted axes - not known<br />
* swords with dragons<br />
* swords with circular pommels<br />
* swords with elaborate basket-style hand guards<br />
* swords with very heavy, blunt blades.<br />
* [[greave]]s - not known<br />
* [[vambrace]]s - not known<br />
* [[gauntlet]]s - not known<br />
* furry vests - not known<br />
* furry ugg-boot style shoes - not known<br />
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[[category:fighting kit]]<br />
[[category:11th century]]<br />
[[category:12th century]]<br />
[[Category:norman]]<br />
[[category:starting out]]</div>User 144