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The Heroic AgeIssue 6Spring 2003 |
Personal
equipment and fighting techniques among the Anglo-Saxon population
in northern Europe during the early Middle Ages.
By Paolo de
Vingo
Notes and
Bibliography
Notes
1.
Throughout this text the term iron is used according to the old
lexicon, but in the strict sense of the word. Indeed there are
no actual "irons", save the natural ones (very rare),
but only alloys of iron and carbon, technically known as mild
and hard "steels".
2.
Brooks 1999, 46. Although it has
always been improperly identified as a tapestry, it is an embroidery.
The item was made by Anglo-Saxon embroiders, probably in Canterbury
between 1066 and 1082. It was commissioned by Odo, earl of Kent
and Bishop of Bayeux (as well as half-brother of William the
Conqueror), in order to celebrate the Norman conquest of England
and the preparing events, especially emphasizing the role played
by Odo himself. The Bayeux Tapestry is an historical record,
but it is to be interpreted with great caution. Anyway, it is
a social history evidence of unmatched importance, for it provides
a detailed picture of contemporary lifestyle, objects and costume
(Dodwell 1992, 263-264).
3.
The term "mail" has been dividing scholars. Two interpretations
are acknowledged today which distinguish two different types
of mail. In the Anglo-Saxon version, the term only referred to
the mail of iron links, corresponding to the examples mentioned
in the text, whereas the French version was made by joining steel
plates, scales or disks. Anyway, the question of the relationship
between historical and current lexicon should be considered each
time in its documentary, historical and chronological contexts
(Boccia 1991, 461).
4. Underwood 1999, 24. The role of the
barbs is largely debated and there are opposing opinions concerning
their precise aim. It is not definitely sure that their configuration
had been designed in order to prevent the weapon from being pulled
out once it would penetrate the body of the enemy. The point,
in fact, was very long compared to its piercing index and once
it had penetrated till the short barbs of the ferrule, it would
be very difficult to pull it out quickly in order to use it again.
Therefore, it is likely that such barbs were designed to parry
or ward off a blow of the enemy (Boccia
1991, 493).
5.
Isidore of Seville ascribes its use especially to the Franks
populations: "...Quas et Hispano ab usu Francorum per
derivationem Franciscas vocant....." (Tomei
1991, 497).
6.
Infact a man with a sling is shown hunting birds on the lower
margin of the tapestry (Underwood 1999,
38).
7.
In the History of the Franks he writes that the Frankish
King Sigibert was assassinated in the seventh century by men
who ".....cultris validis quos vulgo scramasaxos vocant....".
8.
The laws passed by the Lombard King Rotari in 643 set principles
opposed to what has been said above. They forbade such a settlement
of quarrels, and provided for the payment of a sum to be given
as compensation. The latter was based on the concept that everybody
had their own economic assessment, depending on their social
status.
9.
Underwood 1999, 28. The composite
bow had greater power than the longbow and could penetrate armour
at 100 metres. This bow had a core of wood, backed with layers
of siney and plated on the inside with horn, the whole glued
together with a type of animal adhesive (Laing
2000, 130).
10.
There are around forty longbows from the deposit at Nydam, Jutland.
They are made of yew, with strings in notches near the ends,
and stave ends are tipped with ferrule of iron or antler (Laing 2000, 131).
Bibliography
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Brooks,
P. (1999) "Arms and Armour" In The Blackwell Encyclopedia
of Anglo-Saxon England. edited by M.Lapidge, J.Blair, S.Keynes
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A. (1997) L'arco e gli arcieri nell'Italia Medievale.
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P. (1986) La guerra nel Medioevo. Bologna: Il Mulino.
Dodwell,
C.R. (1992) "Ricamo di Bayeux" In Enciclopedia dell'Arte
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Grafiche Ricordi, 263-264
Keynes,
S. (1995) "England, 700-900" In The New Cambridge
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J. (2000) Warriors of the Dark Ages. Phoenix Mill: Sutton
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D. (1999) Medieval Warfare Source Book: Warfare in western
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Picard,
J.-C. (1989) Cristianizzazione e pratiche funerarie. edited
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Pollington,
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F.L. (2000) "Sutton Hoo" In Enciclopedia dell'Arte
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