Kite shields of the viking era. -- myArmoury.com

Nathan Quarantillo · Posted: Sat 17 Jul, 2010 10:42 am Post subject: Kite shields of the viking era.

Hello all.
I have 2 questions to pose to the very knowledgeable myArmoury community today.

First, what is the earliest appearances or mentioning of kite shields in the norman style? Late 10th century? Early 11th?
And what regions would they be available? Was the kite shield just a norman (continental) thing, or would some of the Norse peoples be toting one around also? I understand that the round shield was the most popular, but when would it be feasible for a norseman to have one?

2nd, This kite shield seems pretty functional to me. I'm impressed especially by the linen facing. However, I'm worried about the grip straps. To me this configuration (because of it's looseness) seems like it would not allow for good control of the shield. I'm not a weakling by any stretch, but I really don't want the 8 pounds of my shield flailing around.
Is this a real concern, or is my inexperience with this showing?

http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...ield+-+Red

Chuck Russell · Posted: Sat 17 Jul, 2010 10:50 am Post subject:

i would say the there needs to be 2 horizontal straps also. there are several ways the shields are strapped if you look at the Bayeux tapestry. My favorite is the square design of straps plus the guige (body strap). but i usually only hold my shield so my forearm is vertical (going thru the lower horizontal strap and holding onto the top horizontal strap)

I would put the kite around 11th century. we know they are in normandy but can be seen I believe in Sicilian art there after. I would not really put them before that.

Nathan Quarantillo · Posted: Sat 17 Jul, 2010 12:09 pm Post subject:

hmmmm... so the strap configuration would be stable during combat? Thats my main concern. I am willing to make some minor concessions to affordability, but none to functionality.

So the kite shield only works for 11th cent. Would some of the Norse peoples use it though?

Audun Refsahl · Posted: Sat 17 Jul, 2010 1:13 pm Post subject:

you are right about the looseness, its too loose. the loop you put your hand through should be adjustable and the handle needs to be more stable, much tighter, and preferably thicker. I would probably have wanted them mounted lower also.
a shield with several small loops to thread a belt through as you wish, like in a square, would be a better choice.
this is all for functionality on the playground, historically might be different...

Elling Polden · Posted: Sat 17 Jul, 2010 4:20 pm Post subject:

The kite shield seems to have been a byzantine 9th century inovation, but it is not seen in western europe before ca 1025-50. After that, however, it seems to have spread very quickly.
There are few scandinavian sources from this period, but by the 12th c. kites are THE shield in scandinavian depictions. In fact, there are little evidence of continued use of round shields other than as part of ship equipment.

However, the breakthrough of the kite for all practical purposes coincides with the end of the Viking era, it would not be very appropriate for a "Viking kit". Of course, this is a artificial boundry, but by this time scandinavians where so integrated in the common western european culture that they where no longer a separate entity.

K J Seago · Posted: Mon 19 Jul, 2010 2:30 am Post subject:

considering hadrada being a member of the byzantine emperors personal guard and king of two countries to top it all, i expect a lot of his kit and the boys who came to england with him would have been kitted to top standards for the time, especially considering they intended to take the country.

Elling Polden · Posted: Mon 19 Jul, 2010 4:21 am Post subject:

As far as I know, there are no finds of Byzantine military equipment in Norway to sugest import or influence from that direction. It is more probable that the kite came west with the Normans, who where fighting both for and against the byzantines on a more organized level.
The western kite is also taller(ca 2x4 ft) than the byzantine version(2x3 ft), which has a more distinct teardrop shape.

Dan Dickinson · Industry Professional

Kite shields seem to have been known in the German lands by the late 10th century as evidenced in the Gospels of Otto III (as Oakeshott points out in his AoW). As for their use by Vikings, I'm afraid I don't know.
I hope this helps,
Dan

Elling Polden · Posted: Mon 19 Jul, 2010 3:55 pm Post subject:

Interesting. Have not seen that one before! Anybody have the book?

Reece Nelson · Posted: Mon 19 Jul, 2010 4:50 pm Post subject: kite Shields

Dan Dickinson · Industry Professional

P. L. Gross · Posted: Mon 19 Jul, 2010 5:23 pm Post subject:

In Laxdaela saga, when An Twigbelly charges through the door of Bolli Thorleiksson to kill him, it mentions that Bolli cuts off the tail of An's shield (before killing An himself). I can't imagine a round shield being described as having a tail, so An must have been carrying a kite shield. At that point in the saga, it is the end of the tenth or beginning of the eleventh century. The saga itself was probably composed sometime in the thirteenth century, so the reference may be anachronistic, but at least we can say Icelanders were carrying kites by the 1200s, and possibly 200 years earlier than that. Still very late viking period if it is true.

-Pete

Elling Polden · Posted: Tue 20 Jul, 2010 4:47 am Post subject:

I was thinking about the Gospels. Always nice to have a primary source. Never seen kites in use that early before.

In my experience, kites are a lot more practical than the Main Battle Roundshield. It easier to carry, less fatiguing to use, and gives full frontal coverage without a foot of "surplus" shield to each side. Not surpisingly they became a huge hit.
It is actually posible that the norman use of kites in 1066 propelled them to fame and universal adoption. I belive that the term "William-shield" is used in on of the sagas.

Alexis Bataille · Posted: Sat 27 Feb, 2016 4:28 am Post subject:

Can we say that it's easier to run holding a round shield than a kite shield ? If so perhaps round shield is more for skirmichers like velites in roman empire and kite shield (enarmes shield) more for dense battle formation like hoplites?

Mart Shearer · Posted: Sat 27 Feb, 2016 5:42 am Post subject: