Couple of questions about norman arms and armor -- myArmoury.com

Tanner Sheltry

Couple of questions:

• what did the norman Calvary lances look like? Where they like the infantry spears or a different head?
• were Dane axes still in use or were they out of use?
• how were the shield straps arranged?

Lafayette C Curtis · Posted: Tue 04 Jun, 2013 2:08 am Post subject:

You can find answers to all three questions in less than ten minutes without even looking outside this forum. Just use the "search" function--there's no shortage of old threads that have dealt with your questions in a rather thorough fashion. Wink

Luka Borscak · Posted: Tue 04 Jun, 2013 2:18 am Post subject:

I'm only sure about axes, so I will answer that one. Wink

The dane axes are showed on Bayeux tapestry in the hands of William and in norman baggage, but not in fight, probably because most of the normans showed on tapestry's battle scenes are mounted knights. So they probably were still used, but as a status symbols and for infantry...

Tanner Sheltry · Posted: Tue 04 Jun, 2013 3:24 am Post subject:

Sorry, I forgot about the search function.

Philip C. Ryan · Posted: Tue 04 Jun, 2013 10:53 am Post subject:

The Bayeux Tapestry holds answers to all your questions. It may be easier for you to look through images of it so you can see exactly what many of us have learned from. Several depictions of axes and spears/lances you can observe and interpret.

http://www.bayeuxtapestry.org.uk/

Here is a good resource for examples of different methods of shield strapping depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry. Aside from a few effigies, this is probably the best evidence for how Norman kite shields were constructed.

http://www.angelfire.com/wy/svenskildbiter/ar...armes.html

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Tanner Sheltry · Posted: Tue 04 Jun, 2013 1:18 pm Post subject:

I don't like the fist up type straps. Is it historical to have your elbow at the boss and your fist down? I thought I saw that somewhere.

Elling Polden · Posted: Tue 04 Jun, 2013 2:26 pm Post subject:

The fist up straps need a fairly curved shield to work. Otherwise a diagonal grip of some form is the most practical.
Fist down is unpractical for a number of reasons.
Looking at the sources, strap arrangement was very much a question of personal taste. Few of them are alike, and many shields have straps for several different grips.

Tanner Sheltry · Posted: Tue 04 Jun, 2013 2:59 pm Post subject:

Can you give me reasons for it being impractical? With that long of a shield I see it being perfectly practical. You can extend your arm and put you shield at an angle and suddenly you have a three foot long piece of wood your opponent has to get past. Shield strikes to the ribs would be great with that long of a shield your enemy couldn't get near you. You wack them in the ribs then you strike with your sword to the head.
Like so:

Elling Polden · Posted: Wed 05 Jun, 2013 12:11 am Post subject:

Tanner: For one, you can not lift the shield to protect your head in an efficient manner. Second you can not block or bind to either side very efficiently, or use you body weight to the sides.

The posture show can be done perfectly well with a vertical or diagonal grip, which gives you more flexibility, greater range of motion and more strength.

But if you use the norman square/cross straps as your starting point, you can have a downward grip as well, and try it out.

Tanner Sheltry · Posted: Wed 05 Jun, 2013 2:36 am Post subject:

I understand now. I described a very effective position but its the only effective position. I will make multiple shields with different enarmes and figure out what I like.