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11th century frisian knihgts.
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 11:19 am
by Retainer
Does anyone know what type of armor and weopons would be typical of a 11th century Frisian knight? I am having a hard time finding any info.
Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 1:02 pm
by Wil
Hey Retainer
As far as I know Frisia was part of the Holy Roman Empire at this time. Frisia wasn't exactly a big player on the 11th century military scene, but researching German stuff from that time would bring you pretty close.
At a guess, I'd say a professional 11th century Frisian warrior would have been armoured with a spangenhelm, hauberk and a round shield (flat or more likely lenticular), and would have fought with a spear and sword (double edged, fullered, with a short hilt).
Again, researching soldiers in the HRE at this time is really your best bet. Good luck.
~Wil
Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 6:40 pm
by Egfroth
No, they appear to have been pretty much independent after the break-up of the Carolingian Empire - see
http://www.peacelink.de/keyword/Ostfriesland.php - I did a google search on mediaeval frisia, and this was one of the first sites to come up. You might also find
http://www.friesian.com/francia.htm useful.
Regarding war-kit, the Frisians would have worn pretty much the same war-gear as their neighbours in Francia, England, Normandy etc. The Bayeux Tapestry
http://www.angelfire.com/rnb/bayeux_tapestry/index.html would be a good guide for what the knights wore.
Email me off-list (my address comes up if you click on the "profile" button) and I can send you some contemporary pics.
PS: Do you live in Frisia?
Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 7:35 pm
by Wil
Hey Egfroth
I was looking at the maps here:
http://historymedren.about.com/library/ ... hredex.htm
Which show Frisia as part of the HRE in 980 & again in 1180. Thanks for clearing that up.
~Wil
Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 3:44 am
by Egfroth
Honestly, Wil, I don't think they take much account of Frisia in those maps.
It was a little country, and pretty inaccessible to warfare, and it could well be that it was "officially" part of the HRE, but effectively independent.
Kings and Emperors have a tendency to lay claim to territories they don't really have any control over. How long after England lost its French territories did did the coat of arms of the English ruling house retain the Lilies of France?
Having said that, I really have no idea the rights and wrongs of this, apart from what I've come across on the Net.