9th Century Saxon Equipment

[Syrus Leigh]

Hey, I'm working on a 9th century west saxon , under the service of Alfred the Great. I only have a few problems, and these are:

1) Saxon maile shirts of the time. Were they hauberks, extending to the knees, or were they a simple shirt?

2) As far as helms are considered . . . I know of many saxon type helms, dating from very early to the typical "norman" or "hastings" type. What was the norm?

3) I've also heard mention of the "dane axe" not being introduced until the 10th century. What types of axe were used before this? Were they used as a weapon? Still, keeping to the idea of a soldier serving under Alfred the Great.

4) Besides maille, were any common types of amror used?

Thanks a lot for any help you can lend me.


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Aye, lads & lasses.

[Egfroth]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Syrus Leigh:
<B>Hey, I'm working on a 9th century west saxon , under the service of Alfred the Great. I only have a few problems, and these are:

1) Saxon maile shirts of the time. Were they hauberks, extending to the knees, or were they a simple shirt?

2) As far as helms are considered . . . I know of many saxon type helms, dating from very early to the typical "norman" or "hastings" type. What was the norm?

3) I've also heard mention of the "dane axe" not being introduced until the 10th century. What types of axe were used before this? Were they used as a weapon? Still, keeping to the idea of a soldier serving under Alfred the Great.

4) Besides maille, were any common types of amror used?

Thanks a lot for any help you can lend me.


</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Dear Syrus,

I take it you know Gordon - it would be great coincidence if you didn't. I sent him a reply on helmets at http://www.armourarchive.org/ubb/Forum4/HTML/001677.html

To answer your other questions, the mail shirt, if the person had one, was likely to have been about hip length, with short sleeves. They were quite rare, however, in this period, as far as we can ascertain. There is even a contemporary pic of one with a dagged hem.

I really don't think the big axe would be an option. They seem to have come into England with the Vikings, so someone fighting them at this period isn't likely to ahve used one. There are very few pics of warriors from this period, so we have very little to go on. I'd say if you use an axe at all (and I'm not sure I'd recommend it), use a single-hander. A spear and early sax would be more likely, or a sword, depending on your social status. If you have a byrnie (mail shirt) you would be likely to have a sword as well.

Regarding other kinds of armour, there is no evidence of any sort to show that English soldiers of this period used anything but mail. Granted there is again hardly any info available on any armour, I'd regard it as "mail or nothing".

BTW, if you can organise it, try making your round shield convex (ie bowl-shaped) as shown on just about every contemporary illustration, rather than flat. It takes more work, but looks a lot better, and actually has several advantages over the flat shield.

I'll see what pics I have ans pt them together so you have something to work from.



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Egfroth

"I can hear the word money from a distance of fifty miles, if the wind's in the right direction"

Major Dennis Bloodnok, Queen's Forty-Third Deserters (retd.)

see my webpage at www.geocities.com/egfrothos

[Russ Mitchell]

EXACT agreement with Egfroth.

[Constancius]

I would have to argee with Egfroth on this one. I would also recommend checking out the Regia ANglorum web site. www.regia.org also check out the Angelcynn site. The link that I have is an old one, but it does take you to the new site. www.angelcynn.org.uk
Those have alot of information about the Anglo-Saxons and might be alot of help for you.

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Constancius of Lincolnshire

animis corporibusque