Faction: Anglo-Saxons

[Flavius Aetius]

Lenticular shield:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xZKPzBGqems/UNyrFu46m9I/AAAAAAAABus/gtI7BckE1p4/s320/sh+shield.jpg

I have images of Shield Bosses but they're at home. I will post them later.

Edited May 7, 2014 by Flavius Aetius

[Lion.Kanzen]

[Lion.Kanzen]

[absinthia]

re-posting here what i once did at TWCenter for an Anglo-Saxon (England) M2TW faction.

i realize it is not directly transferable to 0AD. but hopefully it contain some interesting pieces that can be utilized.

the information contained within relate mainly to the late Anglo-Saxon period in England, ca. 8th-11th centuries.

firstly some info on anglo-saxons, cut from Regia Anglorum`s resource for re-enactors.

ANGLO-SAXON SOCIAL ORGANISATION

The Anglo-Saxon community in England was basically a rural one, where primarily all classes of society lived on the land. At the top of the social system was the royal house of the king and princes (ATHELINGS) who claimed a common ancestry with the king; they had special privileges and responsibilities which included military service and command in the field.
Succession to the throne was not guaranteed as the WITAN, or council of leaders, had the right to choose the best successor from the members of the royal house.

Below the king were the EOLDERMEN, the ruling nobility. The Eolderman was the king's 'viceroy' in a shire, responsible for administration and justice, for calling out the Fyrd and leading its forces in the field. By the early 11th century the term eolderman began to be replaced with EORL, possibly influenced by the Danish ‘Jarl’.

The next class down the social ladder was the THEGN. Good service by a thegn could result not only in rich gifts but sometimes in the granting of lands and, on rare occasions, elevation to eorl or eolderman. The eoldermen were all high ranking thegns.
Most thegns were the 'king's thegns'. These were the thegns whose lord was the king himself, as opposed to one of the richer thegns or eoldermen. Their service to the king was performed on a rota and they would accompany him everywhere, both as bodyguards and lesser officials. A thegn's status as a warrior is confirmed by the interchangeable use of the word 'thegn' and 'milites' in contemporary manuscripts. The cynges thegn is usually referred to as a 'milites regis' in the Latin texts.
The thegns were a numerous class; there were approximately two thousand landowners of the thegnly class in Wessex and Mercia.
By the beginning of the 11th century all the thegns usually held estates of five hides or more, and so by this date they probably constituted the bulk of the fyrd.
At the beginning of the century there is the first mention of the elite body of warriors known as HUSCARLS. It is thought that these were introduced after Svein Forkbeard's conquest of England in 1014, and probably raised by Cnut in 1033. Professional soldiers, they had their own rules of conduct, lived at the king's court and received his pay, as opposed to gifts or kind. They formed a small but efficient and highly organised standing army, both well disciplined and heavily armed. Cnut, we are told, required his Huscarls to possess "splendid armour" and a double-edged sword with a gold-inlaid hilt, as a condition of acceptance into his military entourage.
Although a foot soldier, a huscarl would also have owned a horse to carry him to battle and in pursuit of the defeated enemy, and a variety of weapons, including a mail-shirt, helmet, shield, javelin, and, of course, the "massive and bloodthirsty twohanded axe" that characterised him. Eventually the word may have become a general term describing all landless soldiers as opposed to thegns who were warriors and land owners under the king.

Below the thegns were the CEORLS. freemen, farmers and independent landed householders who formed the mainstay of the Saxon kingdom. The term free in an Anglo-Saxon context can be misleading, since there were many degrees of freedom. Ceorls were folcfry (folk-free), free in the eyes of the community.
They were allowed to bear arms and be considered 'fyrd worthy' and 'moot worthy'. This meant they were considered worthy to serve in the fyrd and take part in folk meetings.
There were three main classes of ceorl. the GENEATAS, the peasant aristocracy who paid rent to their overlord. GENEAT originally meant companion, implying that the class originated from the lord's household, often receiving land as a gift.
Second were the KOTSETLA, who paid no rent but had to perform numerous duties for their overlords.
Third were the GEBUR, who were totally dependant on their lord. The gebur's life was dominated by the labour services owed to his lord. It is probable that the gebur class started out by giving their land to a thegn in return for protection from raiding parties. The economy depended on slave labour and although the gebur was a lowly peasant, he was privileged compared to the theow, and had the right and duty to serve in the Fyrd.
Below the gebur were the THEOW - slaves or bondsmen. Although theow were slaves they did have many rights and there were rules set down for what they should be provided with. Theow were allowed to own property and could earn money in their spare time. If they earned enough they could even buy their freedom, although slaves were sometimes freed by their owners "for the good of their souls." Sometimes, when times were particularly hard, people sold themselves into slavery to ensure they were provisioned, and thus survived.

The basic unit of land was the HIDE. For the purpose of assessment of tax and military service, hides
were grouped together in units called HUNDREDS comprised of approximately 100 hides. In charge of the hundred was the hundred eolder. Each shire contained many hundreds.
The towns were also assessed in hides, and the inhabitants were required to send representatives. In some instances the towns could commute their service by paying the crown a sum necessary to hire a replacement.

MILITARY ORGANISATION

In the beginning there were simply war bands, small bodies of professional warriors led by their chosen chiefs. Loyalty to a chief was the greatest virtue, and warriors sought out a leader who would further their military career.
We know from accounts of battles before Alfred's reign (879 - 899) that some form of levy existed to deal with raids, but we have no details of the organisation. We do know that the king had an 'elite' corps of thegns who made up the king's personal 'Hearth Troop' or hird.
The fyrd was raised by selective recruitment, rather than a general levy, usually drawing one man for every five hides of land. Most of the fyrd would therefore have been thegns, although there
are records of 'free men' serving in the fyrd at Hastings. A fyrdsman served because his land grant said he had to, and failure to serve led to a fine.
However, the actual obligation was upon each thegn to provide a man, usually himself, for fyrd service.
The usual armament for a fyrdsman was a spear, shield, helm, byrnie and a palfrey (riding horse). Often a sword was included in the list. Although a horse is mentioned it was only to allow the fyrd to be mobile. In battle the warriors would dismount and fight on foot.
In peace time the thegns (possibly the entire fyrd) had to serve one month in three in rotation so there was always a sizeable force on call.
In the Welsh and Scottish Marches(border areas) special conditions existed and the levies might have to serve for fifteen days and accompany expeditions beyond their shire boundaries into Wales and Scotland In the Welsh march the recruitment rate often exceeded the one man from five hides ratio and in some cases "they do not pay tax nor other customary dues, except that they march in the king's army if they have been ordered."

The old idea of the general levy or "nation in arms" is now considered to be wrong.
Although many of the fyrd owned land, they were primarily warriors who farmed when not serving, rather than farmers who fought. This would mean that whilst the 'labourers' would take up weapons such as hunting spears, bows, wood-axes and knives if their own area were threatened, they were certainly not a 'general levy of all able bodied men' and would have provided guards for the fyrd's provisions and logistical support for the fyrd proper.
Often the Bayeux Tapestry is quoted as a source for 'peasant levies' using the group of unarmoured men on the hill, or the fleeing Saxons at the end of the battle to support the theory. If studied closely these men on the hill are equipped with sword, broadaxe and kite shield, hardly the weapons of a peasant levy!
Certainly there are records of towns defending themselves successfully from attack by the whole population manning the walls with more men than they owed for fyrd service. It would of course, be more surprising in these cases if they did not take up arms.

In later years there was also an alternative obligation to supply a warrior seaman for the fleet.
For this reason the five hide units were combined in some regions into districts of 300 (or 310) hides, which were called ‘SHIP SOKES’. These were required to produce sixty SOKESMEN (warrior seamen), and also pay for the construction and maintenance of a warship which the men manned.

There are other references to mercenaries in the pay of the king or eorls who were clearly not huscarls. The LITHSMEN and BUTSECARLS were skilled seamen who also fought on land, and often seem to have sided with the highest bidder. These and other paid warriors provided the late Saxon kings with a highly trained nucleus supported by the eorls and their war bands, and the thegns of the fyrd.

anglo-saxon male clothing:

MALE DRESS

The basic form of male dress consisted of a woolen tunic reaching the knees or mid
thigh when belted, a pair of woollen hose or trousers, a pair of leather turnshoes, a
leather waist belt, a small drawstring pouch and a knife. Presumably some form of
undergarment or loin cloth would have been worn but no evidence of this has
survived.
Tunics could have gussets at the armpits to ease the movement of the arm and
reduce tension on the seams. The sleeves were tight fitting on the fore-arm but were
usually looser on the upper arm. Triangular gussets added to the lower part of the
tunic made a flared 'skirt' to reduce any restriction when working or fighting. In
summer work could be done wearing leg bindings but no trousers or hose, so as not to
hamper the movement of the legs. Working tunics were often undecorated and those
of the poorer gebur and theow were undyed. For the richer kotsetla, geneat etc. linen
tunics for lighter wear in summer, or to give an added layer of warmth as an
undertunic in winter. The very wealthy would have been able to buy imported silk for
decoration, or afford gold-embroidered tunics,
Trousers were straight legged down to the ankle and puttee type bindings were
usually used. A gusset was frequently used below the crotch to ease movement and
prevent splitting at a point where four seams would otherwise meet.
Saxons are usually depicted wearing very tight legwear. These are often described
as being akin to ski-pants, and may be trousers or hose. Either way the fabric might be
cut on the bias. This is the technique of cutting the fabric diagonally - following
neither the warp nor weft - which allows the fabric a degree of stretch and reduces the
tension on the weave. If the legwear was hose and not trousers they would have been
worn over a pair of knee breeches (braies), which are sometimes depicted on carvings
being worn on their own (although we must remember that much of the depicted
detail on sculpture was painted on and is now lost). Burial evidence indicates that
whilst the hose may well have been tied to a waistband, they were also pinned at the
thighs with small pins or penannular brooches. This pinning may have been to a pair
of breeches, or to connect the hose to a waistband in a similar fashion to modern
suspenders.
Turnshoes followed the patterns common to northern Europe from the fourth
century to the thirteenth century - with either a central upper seam or a flap and
toggle. Rich decoration involved tooling and dyed leather. Standard waterproofing
measures included either a 50/50 mix of beeswax and mutton fat, or liberal doses of
fish oil.
Knives were like small pocket knives generally with blades around 3 - 4 inches
long. Handles were mainly wooden, although some antler examples have been found.
A few had blades which were hinged to fold back into the handle like a pen-knife.
Hoods may have been worn. They were probably separate items though may have been attached to cloaks. Cloaks were usually rectangular and pinned at the shoulder
(over the weapon arm). Richer folk sometimes had semi-circular full length cloaks
and would line them with a contrasting colour and/or add fur trims. Cloaks would be
fastened by a cloak pin of wood, bone, bronze, silver or gold according to wealth or
status. Circular brooches were the commonest type, although very rarely the Viking
style penannular brooch may have been worn. Again, the materials and decoration
reflected the wealth of the wearer, ranging from plain bronze items of 2" diameter to
silver discs of 6" with gold foil and filigree, garnets and enameling.
The only other common forms of male jewellery were rings, either of twisted wire
or cast design, although sometimes the wealthier men may have worn wrist torcs of
bronze, silver or gold. Sometimes highly ornate with varying twisted wires and cast
terminals, plainer bands could easily be ornamented by stamping designs onto them
with an iron die.

an Anglo-Saxon roster i proposed for a defunct M2TW mod:
the fyrd has been split into the 3 peasant classes, mainly intended for a defensive garrison script.

also, i noticed that the M2TW roster linked here in #14 is based on my own textures, at least they were not totally wasted.

Sticks or short axe(pri)
Theow - Coarse undyed tunic, waist tie. OPTIONAL: Trousers, hose, leg wrappings, shoes, hood, cloak.

militia/fyrd:
Gebur:
tier 1
javelin(pri) - spear(sec)
Gebur - Wool or linen tunic, hose, belt. OPTIONAL: Shoes, cloak, undertunic, hood, leg bindings, trousers, braies, comb, strike-a-light, games or dice, Pewter cloak pins, pouch.
tier 2
javelin(pri) - spear(sec)
Kotsetla - Wool or linen tunic, hose and braies, shoes, cloak, belt. OPTIONAL: Undertunic, hood, leg
bindings, trousers, comb, strike-a-light, games or dice, Pewter or bronze cloak pins or brooches, pouch.

Kotsetla:
tier 1
short axe(pri) - seax(sec)
Gebur - Wool or linen tunic, hose, belt. OPTIONAL: Shoes, cloak, undertunic, hood, leg bindings, trousers, braies, comb, strike-a-light, games or dice, Pewter cloak pins, pouch.
tier 2
short axe(pri) - seax(sec)
Kotsetla - Wool or linen tunic, hose and braies, shoes, cloak, belt. OPTIONAL: Undertunic, hood, leg
bindings, trousers, comb, strike-a-light, games or dice, Pewter or bronze cloak pins or brooches, pouch.

Geneat:
tier 1
spear(pri) - seax(sec)
Kotsetla - Wool or linen tunic, hose and braies, shoes, cloak, belt. OPTIONAL: Undertunic, hood, leg
bindings, trousers, comb, strike-a-light, games or dice, Pewter or bronze cloak pins or brooches, pouch.
tier 2
spear(pri) - sword(sec)
Geneat - Simply decorated wool or linen tunic, undertunic, hose and braies or trousers, belt, shoes, cloak, leg bindings. OPTIONAL: Hood, comb, strike-a-light, games or dice, cloak pins or brooches as above, pouch, etc.

wealthy peasants/lower nobles:
Ceorl:
tier 1
sword(pri) - large round shield - helmet
Geneat - Simply decorated wool or linen tunic, undertunic, hose and braies or trousers, belt, shoes, cloak, leg bindings. OPTIONAL: Hood, comb, strike-a-light, games or dice, cloak pins or brooches as above, pouch, etc.
tier 2
sword(pri) - large round shield - helmet - maile hauberk
Ceorl - Richly decorated wool or linen tunic, undertunic, hose and braies or trousers, shoes, cloak, leg bindings, some silver jewellery as above. OPTIONAL: comb, strike-a-light, pouch, etc.

nobles/thegns:
Thegn/Geoguþ (youth):
spear(pri) - sword(sec) - large round shield - helmet - maile hauberk
Thegn - Richly decorated wool or linen tunic, undertunic, hose and braies or trousers, shoes, cloak, leg bindings, some silver jewellery as above. OPTIONAL: comb, strike-a-light, pouch, etc.

Eorls Thegn/Duguþ (proven warrior):
long axe(pri) - sword(sec) - large round shield - helmet/w noseguard - maile aventail - padded gambeson - maile hauberk
Eorls Thegn - Good, richly decorated wool or linen tunic, fine linen undertunic, hose and braies or trousers, shoes, belt, cloak, leg bindings, gold or silver jewellery, as above. OPTIONAL: comb, strike-a-light, coins, games, reliquary, pouch, etc.

cavalry:
Kings Thegns:
spear(pri) - sword(sec) - large round shield - helmet/w noseguard/cheek guard - maile aventail - padded gambeson - maile hauberk
Kings Thegns - Good, richly decorated wool or linen tunic, fine linen undertunic, hose and braies or trousers, shoes, belt, cloak, leg bindings, gold or silver jewellery, as above. OPTIONAL: comb, strike-a-light, coins, games, reliquary, pouch, etc.

Hearþweru or Hirþ(body guard):
sword(pri) - large round shield - helmet/w noseguard/cheek guard - maile aventail - padded gambeson - maile hauberk
Kings Thegns - Good, richly decorated wool or linen tunic, fine linen undertunic, hose and braies or trousers, shoes, belt, cloak, leg bindings, gold or silver jewellery, as above. OPTIONAL: comb, strike-a-light, coins, games, reliquary, pouch, etc.

captain:
Eolderman/Gesiþ:
sword(pri) - large round shield - helmet/w spectacles/cheek guard - maile aventail - padded gambeson - maile hauberk
Eorl/Eolderman - Good, richly decorated wool or linen robe, fine linen undertunic, hose and braies or trousers, shoes, belt, cloak, leg bindings, gold or silver jewellery, as above. OPTIONAL: comb, strike-a-light, coins, games, reliquary, pouch, etc.

generals:
Atheling/Æþeling:
sword(pri) - large round shield - helmet/w spectacles/cheek guard - maile aventail - padded gambeson - maile hauberk
Athelings - Good, richly decorated wool or linen robe, fine linen undertunic, hose and braies or trousers, shoes, belt, cloak, leg bindings, gold or silver jewellery, as above. OPTIONAL: comb, strike-a-light, coins, games, reliquary, pouch, etc.

Notice the lack of archer units, as far as i understand the Anglo-Saxons did not use archers much. it would also seem that the Anglo-Saxons relied on infantry rather than cavalry, even as late as Hastings the Huscarls rode to the battle and dismounted to fight. my impression is, simply put, that England got archery through the welsh and cavalry through the Normans. this because the warriors were mainly farmers and landowners, not hunters skilled with bow or nobles who could afford a horse.

[Lion.Kanzen]

Look I found, may be i can use as art for a shield.

[Stan`]

Could you make a vectorial image of that logo ? (For copyright reasons I guess we can't use it)

[Lion.Kanzen]

Could you make a vectorial image of that logo ? (For copyright reasons I guess we can't use it)

yeah but take some time may be Sunday I will start on it. My first step is clear all image to start vectorized

[Stan`]

yeah but take some time may be Sunday I will start on it. My first step is clear all image to start vectorized

We are not in a hurry, but having source/references is always a good thing.

[Andrettin]

Does the Saxon civilization also encompass northern Germans who spoke Saxon dialects? For instance, with the Teutonic Order's expansion to the Baltic, it was mainly Saxon culture that they brought with them.

[Stan`]

Maybe for part2 Because teutonic order is 1000-1400 while part one is 500-1000

[Andrettin]

Maybe for part2 Because teutonic order is 1000-1400 while part one is 500-1000

Ok, thanks!

[wackyserious]

*Bump The work on the Saxon faction's design document was started.

We are currently thinking about the faction's unit roster, and we would like to encourage everyone to join the discussion and help contribute to the research regarding Saxon military and warfare. Thanks.

Edited December 22, 2015 by wackyserious

[makiman]

thane is the name who the people call their rich lords. And here, we can fine more information about anglo-saxons: http://www.britainexpress.com/History/anglo-saxon_life.htm

[wackyserious]

Anglo-Saxon helmets

1.) Sutton Hoo Helmet replica

2.) Shorwell Helmet replica

3.) Pioneer Helmet replica

4.) Coppergate Helmet replica

5.) Benty Grange Helmet replica

[wackyserious]

Anglo-Saxon Design Document [WIP]

INFANTRY

• Generic Name: Anglo-Saxon Freeman (Spearman)
• Specific Name: Basic: Ceorl (Gebur) | Advanced: Ceorl (Kotsetla) | Elite: Ceorl (Geneat)
  • Class: Spearman.
  • Hacker Armament: Spear
  • Appearance:
    • Garb:
      Basic – Body armor: None | Torso: Simple wool tunic (Natural  wool colors) | Trousers: Wool trousers (Natural  wool colors)
      Advanced – Body armor: None | Torso: Simple wool tunic (Natural  wool colors) | Trousers: Wool trousers (Natural  wool colors)
      Elite – Body armor: Padded cloth or Chain mail | Torso: Elaborate wool or linen tunic (Madder, Weld, and Woad) | Trousers: Wool trousers (Natural  wool colors)
    • Helmet:
      Basic – No helmet
      Advanced – Shorwell helmet
      Elite – Pioneer helmet + Coppergate helmet
    • Shield:
      Basic – Round shield
      Advanced – Round shield
      Elite – Round shield
    • Figure(s):
  • History:  The Ceorl was the collective term for the Anglo-Saxon lower-class, the men from the Ceorl were divided into three sub-classes or categories, the lowest being the Gebur, tied to their lords and bound to do servile duties, the following class were the Kotsetlas who have partially menial status, and are also partially bound to their lords, and the highest of the Ceorl class were the Geneatas, freemen entitled with certain rights, who rented lands from their lords, provide them with certain services and act their will.
  • Garrison: 1.
  • Function: -
  • Special: -

 

• Generic Name: Anglo-Saxon Nobleman's Thane
• Specific Name: Thegn
  • Class: Swordsman.
  • Hacker Armament: Sword
  • Appearance:
    • Garb:
      Basic – Body armor: None | Torso: Simple wool tunic (Madder, Weld, and Woad) | Trousers: Wool trousers (Natural  wool colors)
      Advanced – Body armor: None | Torso: Elaborate wool tunic (Madder, Weld, and Woad) | Trousers: Wool trousers (Natural  wool colors)
      Elite – Body armor: Padded cloth or Chain mail | Torso: Elaborate wool or linen tunic (Madder, Weld, and Woad) | Trousers: Wool trousers (Madder, Weld, and Woad)
    • Helmet:
      Basic – Shorwell helmet
      Advanced – Pioneer helmet + Coppergate helmet
      Elite – Pioneer helmet + Coppergate helmet
    • Shield:
      Basic – Round shield
      Advanced – Round shield
      Elite – Round shield
    • Figure(s):
  • History:
  • Garrison: 1.
  • Function: -
  • Special: -

 

• Generic Name: Anglo-Saxon Freeman (Skirmisher)
• Specific Name: Basic: Ceorl (Gebur) | Advanced: Ceorl (Kotsetla) | Elite: Ceorl (Geneat)
  • Class: Javelinist.
  • Hacker Armament: Axe
  • Ranged Armament: Javelins.
  • Appearance:
    • Garb:
      Basic – Body armor: None | Torso: Simple wool tunic (Natural  wool colors) | Trousers: Wool trousers (Natural  wool colors)
      Advanced – Body armor: None | Torso: Simple wool tunic (Natural  wool colors) | Trousers: Wool trousers (Natural  wool colors)
      Elite – Body armor: None | Torso: Elaborate wool or linen tunic (Madder, Weld, and Woad) | Trousers: Wool trousers (Natural  wool colors)
    • Helmet:
      Basic – No helmet
      Advanced – No helmet
      Elite – Shorwell helmet
    • Shield:
      Basic – No shield.
      Advanced – Round shield.
      Elite – Round shield.
    • Figure(s):
  • History:  The Ceorl was the collective term for the Anglo-Saxon lower-class, the men from the Ceorl were divided into three sub-classes or categories, the lowest being the Gebur, tied to their lords and bound to do servile duties, the following class were the Kotsetlas who have partially menial status, and are also partially bound to their lords, and the highest of the Ceorl class were the Geneatas, freemen entitled with certain rights, who rented lands from their lords, provide them with certain services and act their will.
  • Garrison: 1.
  • Function: -
  • Special: -

• Generic Name: Border Horseman
• Specific Name: Rideheres
  • Class: Cavalry_spearman.
  • Hacker Armament: Spear.
  • Appearance:
    • Garb:
      Basic – Body armor: None | Torso: Simple wool tunic (Madder, Weld, and Woad) | Trousers: Wool trousers (Natural  wool colors)
      Advanced – Body armor: None | Torso: Elaborate wool tunic (Madder, Weld, and Woad) | Trousers: Wool trousers (Natural  wool colors)
      Elite – Body armor: Padded cloth or Chain mail | Torso: Elaborate wool or linen tunic (Madder, Weld, and Woad) | Trousers: Wool trousers (Madder, Weld, and Woad)
    • Helmet:
      Basic – Shorwell helmet
      Advanced – Pioneer helmet + Coppergate helmet
      Elite – Pioneer helmet + Coppergate helmet
    • Shield:
      Basic – Round shield
      Advanced – Round shield
      Elite – Round shield
    • Figure(s):
  • History:
  • Garrison: 1.
  • Function: -
  • Special: -

 

CHAMPION

• Generic Name: Anglo-Saxon Royal Thane
• Specific Name: Cynges Thegn
  • Class: Champion Infantry Unit.
  • Hacker Armament: Spear
  • Appearance:
    • Garb: Body armor: Chain mail | Torso: Elaborate linen tunic (Madder, Weld, and Woad) | Trousers: Wool trousers ( Madder, Weld, and Woad )
    • Helmet: Sutton Hoo helmet or Pioneer helmet + Coppergate helmet
    • Shield: Round shield
    • Figure(s):
  • History: 
  • Garrison: 1.
  • Function: -
  • Special: -

 

CIV CENTER UNITS

• Melee Infantry: Ceorl (Spear Infantry)
• Ranged Infantry: [To be decided]
• Cavalry: [To be decided]

 

CITY

• Generic Name: Fortress.
• Specific Name: Burh.
  • Class: Fortress.
  • History: Fortified places called "Burhs" were built across the lands of Alfred the Great during his reign to help guard the land against Viking invaders. Burhs also served as shelter for people from nearby farms or villages during raids. The common distance between hamlets and a Burh was no more than 20 miles (32 km) away from each other, so that the villagers can quickly flee to safety during times of hostilities.

 

TECHNOLOGIES

• Infantry: Average. (The Anglo-Saxons were able to field a decent army)
• Cavalry: Poor. (Battles were primarily fought on foot)
• Naval: Poor.
• Siege: Average.
• Economy:
  • Farming: Good.
  • Mining: Good.
  • Lumbering: Good.
  • Hunting: Good.
  • Land Trade: Poor. (The British Isles was ruled by many kings, each one wanting to rule the other)
  • Naval Trade: Average (The Anglo-Saxons were still able to trade with the Franks and some peaceful Norse traders)
  • Architecture: Poor to Average (Common dwellings were still made out of wooden materials but Christianity helped to bring in architectural styles from across the sea, stone churches and abbeys were constructed)
  • Defences: Poor to Average (Most defense structures were constructed from wooden materials, although old Roman structures that were made of stone, were put to good use, despite of the lack knowledge on how to repair them)

Edited February 6, 2016 by wackyserious

[niektb]

This info might be very useful for the roster:

 

(At least the quoted information about Military Organization in that post)

[niektb]

On 3-12-2014 at 2:59 PM, absinthia said:

The fyrd was raised by selective recruitment, rather than a general levy, usually drawing one man for every five hides of land. Most of the fyrd would therefore have been thegns, although there are records of 'free men' serving in the fyrd at Hastings.

I think that, based on above section, it would be better to remove the thegns as champion soldiers. The seem to form the regular base of an army.

On 3-12-2014 at 2:59 PM, absinthia said:

The old idea of the general levy or "nation in arms" is now considered to be wrong.
Although many of the fyrd owned land, they were primarily warriors who farmed when not serving, rather than farmers who fought. This would mean that whilst the 'labourers' would take up weapons such as hunting spears, bows, wood-axes and knives if their own area were threatened, they were certainly not a 'general levy of all able bodied men' and would have provided guards for the fyrd's provisions and logistical support for the fyrd proper.
Often the Bayeux Tapestry is quoted as a source for 'peasant levies' using the group of unarmoured men on the hill, or the fleeing Saxons at the end of the battle to support the theory. If studied closely these men on the hill are equipped with sword, broadaxe and kite shield, hardly the weapons of a peasant levy!

Instead I think that it might be good to let thegns be part of the standard infantry. As such I think that we might want Saxons might have a slight edge as they train units at the advanced rank (based on above section). We could reflect the non-fighting classes with a cheaper unit that's more focused on economy, rather than warfare. (that also goes well with the economy traits you describe)

On 3-12-2014 at 2:59 PM, absinthia said:

We do know that the king had an 'elite' corps of thegns who made up the king's personal 'Hearth Troop' or hird.

This would be an alternative (to the thegn) champion soldier.

[wackyserious]

Based on what I've read, there were lesser and greater thegn(s) (Ones who serve nobles or ealdormans, and the ones who directly serve the king)

Cynges Thegn or Royal Thanes are more generously gifted, meaning they are more well equiped

This Total War: Attila mod depicted them as cavalry http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?705421-Anglo-Saxons-Karling-TW- (The mod also has a good unit roster for the Anglo-Saxons)

What I have in mind, plus the things you pointed out,

(see design document [WIP] for more details later)

Fyrd = City phase tech that allows training of advanced or elite rank units in Burhs (Fortress)

Citizen-Soldier

• Ceorl (Infantry) = infantry_spearman (light to moderately armored)
• Thegn = infantry_swordsman ( moderate to heavily armored)
• Theow = infantry_slinger (unarmored)
• Ceorl (Skirmisher infantry) = infantry_javelinist (unarmored to lightly armored)

Champion

• Cynges Thegn = champion_infantry_melee (heavily armored)

Edited February 6, 2016 by wackyserious

[niektb]

Not sure about the Theow in the list...(as they were slaves and these are generally not allowed to bear weapons, let alone take part in a battle)

Also I would give them a sort of Scout Cavalry. For the same reasons as the TW:Atilla mod adds them:

Quote

It is true that warfare was based greatly upon fighting on foot in the shield wall. But the use of horses as a transport was widespread. Very likely there existed horsemen for patrolling along borders, especially in the widespread northern plains and welsh hills.

 

Edited February 6, 2016 by niektb

[wackyserious]

We will just reuse the Norse unit textures for now.. (I want to rework/improve the unit textures (again) the rework should start once the new unit meshes and animations are implemented, after doing my of research on clothing and natural dyes, I realized that most of the current details were either wrong or poorly done.)

Note: Norse helmet (placeholder)

Current shield patterns looks too Christianized, I might add animal style shield motifs

Edited February 8, 2016 by wackyserious

[niektb]

I've added the civ bonuses, please let me know if anything should change...

[wackyserious]

Anglo-Saxon unit roster WIP

Anglo-Saxon champion unit WIP (King's Thegn)

[wackyserious]

Anglo-Saxon barracks proposal (Can be created by joining two copies of the house mesh on the right, it uses the 4x4 gravel decal)

Additional props: campfire, and two wooden bench

 

[niektb]

Looks pretty nice! (Although there's a visible seam in the center of the roof)

[wackyserious]

It is still a proposal, maybe someone from the council can stitch together this concept