Viking Prowess in Battle
The bulk of the English were probably more worried by Viking prowess in battle than the paganism that worried the clergy. In terms of technology the Vikings had little to make them superior to the English. Both nations fought on foot using round shields and spears as their main weapons. Richer men could afford helmets or mail shirts, and swords were prized by those who could afford them.
In battle the Vikings used similar shieldwall tactics as the English, though with a few refinements. It is true that the Vikings that came to England were the tough young men who had trained for war and so were generally better at fighting that the average English farmer called from his plough to fight, but a good Englishman was the equal of a good Viking.
What made the Vikings really difficult to counter was their mobility. They travelled in fast, sleek ships that could carry them quickly along coasts or up rivers. They would attack one area, looting it thoroughly and quickly. As soon as the English mustered an army to fight, the Vikings leapt back to their ships and fled, only to search for a new unprotected area to attack.
The first taste the English had of this awesome new force came at Lindisfarne, then the seat of one of the oldest and most respected monasteries in Britain.
The Vikings were nothing if not thorough when it came to killing. They left so few survivors – if any – on Lindisfarne that it is very difficult to reconstruct the events of 8 January 793 with any real certainty, though the outline of events is clear enough.
from "Battlefield Walks in Northumberland" by Rupert Matthews.
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Battlefield-Walks-Northumberland-Rupert-Matthews/dp/0711228272/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411639872&sr=1-1&keywords=Battlefield+Walks+in+Northumberland
Thursday, 25 September 2014
Monday, 15 September 2014
NEW EBOOK - The Battle of Brighton 1377
NEW EBOOK - The Battle of Brighton 1377
My very good friend Len James has a new ebook out
A book about the bloody Battle of Brighton, one of the lesser known battles of the medieval Hundred Years War between England and France.
In 1377 a powerful French fleet landed an army on the beach at Brighton - then a small fishing village known as Brighthelmstone. The village went up in flames and the French stormed inland to loot, plunder, murder and rape. The local militia mustered at Lewes under local knights and set out to attack the French and exact revenge. The climatic battle was fought just to the east of the modern town centre, with part of the battlefield on the open downs which have changed little since 1377 allowing the course of the fighting to be traced on the ground.
This book brings an exciting new look to the Hundred Years Wars. The course of the campaign is given, but the emphasis is on the Battle of Brighton and the men who fought there. There are detailed analyses of weapons, tactics and strategies, tactical diagrams explain how the troops formed up and moved, and a study of the commanders. The course of the battle is followed with the aid of maps, relating to the ground today. The aftermath of the battle, its effects and importance to the progress of the war are then described.
The “Bretwalda Battles” series has been running with increasing success as printed books and as ebooks for five years.
Contents
Chapter 1 The 100 Years’ War
Chapter 2 Leaders at Brighton
Chapter 3 The Campaign
Chapter 4 The Battle
Chapter 5 Aftermath
About the Author
Leonard James is an author of military books. He comes from a military family that has fought in every major war since at least the Crimean War, and probably before that. His forebears were mostly cavalrymen, though his father served in the RAF. Leonard has made a particular study of battlefields in Britain, walking over dozens of them to get an eye for ground. He has also handled genuine and replica weapons to better understand the use of pre-modern weapons and the men who wielded them.
GET your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Battle-Brighton-1377-Bretwalda-Battles-ebook/dp/B00MG8B530/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410848057&sr=1-1&keywords=bretwalda+brighton
My very good friend Len James has a new ebook out
A book about the bloody Battle of Brighton, one of the lesser known battles of the medieval Hundred Years War between England and France.
In 1377 a powerful French fleet landed an army on the beach at Brighton - then a small fishing village known as Brighthelmstone. The village went up in flames and the French stormed inland to loot, plunder, murder and rape. The local militia mustered at Lewes under local knights and set out to attack the French and exact revenge. The climatic battle was fought just to the east of the modern town centre, with part of the battlefield on the open downs which have changed little since 1377 allowing the course of the fighting to be traced on the ground.
This book brings an exciting new look to the Hundred Years Wars. The course of the campaign is given, but the emphasis is on the Battle of Brighton and the men who fought there. There are detailed analyses of weapons, tactics and strategies, tactical diagrams explain how the troops formed up and moved, and a study of the commanders. The course of the battle is followed with the aid of maps, relating to the ground today. The aftermath of the battle, its effects and importance to the progress of the war are then described.
The “Bretwalda Battles” series has been running with increasing success as printed books and as ebooks for five years.
Contents
Chapter 1 The 100 Years’ War
Chapter 2 Leaders at Brighton
Chapter 3 The Campaign
Chapter 4 The Battle
Chapter 5 Aftermath
About the Author
Leonard James is an author of military books. He comes from a military family that has fought in every major war since at least the Crimean War, and probably before that. His forebears were mostly cavalrymen, though his father served in the RAF. Leonard has made a particular study of battlefields in Britain, walking over dozens of them to get an eye for ground. He has also handled genuine and replica weapons to better understand the use of pre-modern weapons and the men who wielded them.
GET your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Battle-Brighton-1377-Bretwalda-Battles-ebook/dp/B00MG8B530/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410848057&sr=1-1&keywords=bretwalda+brighton
Friday, 12 September 2014
NEW EBOOK - The Battle of Bannockburn 1314 (Bretwalda Battles)
NEW EBOOK - The Battle of Bannockburn 1314 (Bretwalda Battles)
A book by my very good friend Len James is now is now out as an ebook.
With most of Scotland in his hands, Robert Bruce looked set to become undisputed King of Scotland - only the castle at Stirling still held out. But then King Edward II of England came north with perhaps the largest army ever fielded in Scotland by the English. Proud Edward and his army advanced like some unstoppable monster, destroying everything in their path. But Robert Bruce was waiting for them at Bannockburn. The resulting battle would change history.
This book brings an exciting new look to the Wars of Scottish Independence. The course of the campaign is given, but the emphasis is on the Battle itself and the men who fought there. There are detailed analyses of weapons, tactics and strategies, tactical diagrams explain how the troops formed up and moved, and a study of the commanders. The course of the battle is followed with the aid of maps, relating to the ground today. The aftermath of the battle, its effects and importance to the progress of the war are then described.
The “Bretwalda Battles” series has been running with increasing success as printed books and as ebooks for five years.
Contents
Chapter 1 The Scottish Wars of Independence
Chapter 2 Leaders at Bannockburn
Chapter 3 Men, Weapons and Tactics
Chapter 4 The Battle of Bannockburn First Day
Chapter 5 The Battle of Bannockburn Second Day
Chapter 6 Aftermath
About the Author
Leonard James is an author of military books. He comes from a military family that has fought in every major war since at least the Crimean War, and probably before that. His forebears were mostly cavalrymen, though his father served in the RAF. Leonard has made a particular study of battlefields in Britain, walking over dozens of them to get an eye for ground. He has also handled genuine and replica weapons to better understand the use of pre-modern weapons and the men who wielded them.
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Battle-Bannockburn-1314-Bretwalda-Battles-ebook/dp/B00MFWPY2A/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410509929&sr=1-1&keywords=bretwalda+bannockburn
A book by my very good friend Len James is now is now out as an ebook.
Product Description
A book about the historic Battle of Bannockburn, the great triumph by Robert Bruce of Edward II of England that won independence for Scotland. The book is being released to mark the 700th anniversary of the battle and to coincide with the Scottish referendum on independence.With most of Scotland in his hands, Robert Bruce looked set to become undisputed King of Scotland - only the castle at Stirling still held out. But then King Edward II of England came north with perhaps the largest army ever fielded in Scotland by the English. Proud Edward and his army advanced like some unstoppable monster, destroying everything in their path. But Robert Bruce was waiting for them at Bannockburn. The resulting battle would change history.
This book brings an exciting new look to the Wars of Scottish Independence. The course of the campaign is given, but the emphasis is on the Battle itself and the men who fought there. There are detailed analyses of weapons, tactics and strategies, tactical diagrams explain how the troops formed up and moved, and a study of the commanders. The course of the battle is followed with the aid of maps, relating to the ground today. The aftermath of the battle, its effects and importance to the progress of the war are then described.
The “Bretwalda Battles” series has been running with increasing success as printed books and as ebooks for five years.
Contents
Chapter 1 The Scottish Wars of Independence
Chapter 2 Leaders at Bannockburn
Chapter 3 Men, Weapons and Tactics
Chapter 4 The Battle of Bannockburn First Day
Chapter 5 The Battle of Bannockburn Second Day
Chapter 6 Aftermath
About the Author
Leonard James is an author of military books. He comes from a military family that has fought in every major war since at least the Crimean War, and probably before that. His forebears were mostly cavalrymen, though his father served in the RAF. Leonard has made a particular study of battlefields in Britain, walking over dozens of them to get an eye for ground. He has also handled genuine and replica weapons to better understand the use of pre-modern weapons and the men who wielded them.
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Battle-Bannockburn-1314-Bretwalda-Battles-ebook/dp/B00MFWPY2A/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410509929&sr=1-1&keywords=bretwalda+bannockburn
Thursday, 11 September 2014
The Battle of Bigbury 54bc (pt1)
The Battle of Bigbury 54bc (pt1)
1) From Chartham Railway Station, walk south along High Street until you reach the parish church on your right. Just beyond the church the High Street crosses the Great Stour by way of a narrow bridge. Immediately before the bridge a small metal gate gives access to a footpath that runs along the north bank of the Great Stour. The path is surfaced with gravel and is clearly signposted as being the “Stour Valley Walk”. If you continue over the bridge you will find the Artichoke Inn, which has a restaurant attached, and a shop selling snacks and cold drinks.
It was along this north bank of the Great Stour that the army of the Cantium tribe was ranged. Whoever commanded the Cantium in this battle – Caesar does not record his name – had obviously learned from the battles fought in Gaul. He knew that his Celtic tribesmen were amateur warriors and would be no match for the professional Roman legionaries in open battle. Instead he had chosen to defend a river, backed by wooded hills topped by a hillfort. It was a strong defensive position that the Cantium had good hopes of being able to hold at least for the few days that were needed before King Casivellaunus of the Catuvellauni arrived with his much larger army.
2) Continue along the footpath for about half a mile. You will then reach a private road which crosses the river by way of a brick bridge to reach Horton Farm. Go straight across the road, continuing along the Stour Valley Walk as it squeezes between the river on the right an old flooded gravel pit on the left.
Somewhere along this stretch of the walk there used to be a ford across the Great Stour. It was dredged out in the 18th century when the river was deepened to be able to carry canal barges and its precise location is lost. It was at this lost ford that Caesar chose to force the passage of the Stour and get his army across.
Caesar used his elite 10th Legion to force the crossing. He ordered the men to adopt the formation know as the testudo, or tortoise. In this formation the men formed up in a dense column. The men at the front and flanks held their shields so that they overlapped, while those in the centre lifted their shields up to form a roof. The purpose was to provide protection against missile weapons, such as the light javelins with which the Britons were armed.
The 10th Legion moved down the slope from the Roman position on Larkey Hill, visible across the river. They crossed the ford seven men abreast while being pelted with javelins and sling stones and reached the north bank. Once across the river, the legionaries fanned out, pushing the more lightly armed Britons back. Gradually the Romans secured a large, semi-circular bridgehead which was rapidly filled with more legionaries marching down from Larkey Hill and crossing the ford.
After about two hours fighting, Caesar judged that he had enough men over the river to take the battle on to its next stage. He rode over the ford himself to take personal command of the critical break out stage.
From "Battles of Kent and Sussex" by Rupert Matthews.
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Battlefield-Walks-Sussex-Rupert-Matthews/dp/0711228264/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410458838&sr=1-1&keywords=rupert+matthews+kent+sussex
1) From Chartham Railway Station, walk south along High Street until you reach the parish church on your right. Just beyond the church the High Street crosses the Great Stour by way of a narrow bridge. Immediately before the bridge a small metal gate gives access to a footpath that runs along the north bank of the Great Stour. The path is surfaced with gravel and is clearly signposted as being the “Stour Valley Walk”. If you continue over the bridge you will find the Artichoke Inn, which has a restaurant attached, and a shop selling snacks and cold drinks.
It was along this north bank of the Great Stour that the army of the Cantium tribe was ranged. Whoever commanded the Cantium in this battle – Caesar does not record his name – had obviously learned from the battles fought in Gaul. He knew that his Celtic tribesmen were amateur warriors and would be no match for the professional Roman legionaries in open battle. Instead he had chosen to defend a river, backed by wooded hills topped by a hillfort. It was a strong defensive position that the Cantium had good hopes of being able to hold at least for the few days that were needed before King Casivellaunus of the Catuvellauni arrived with his much larger army.
2) Continue along the footpath for about half a mile. You will then reach a private road which crosses the river by way of a brick bridge to reach Horton Farm. Go straight across the road, continuing along the Stour Valley Walk as it squeezes between the river on the right an old flooded gravel pit on the left.
Somewhere along this stretch of the walk there used to be a ford across the Great Stour. It was dredged out in the 18th century when the river was deepened to be able to carry canal barges and its precise location is lost. It was at this lost ford that Caesar chose to force the passage of the Stour and get his army across.
Caesar used his elite 10th Legion to force the crossing. He ordered the men to adopt the formation know as the testudo, or tortoise. In this formation the men formed up in a dense column. The men at the front and flanks held their shields so that they overlapped, while those in the centre lifted their shields up to form a roof. The purpose was to provide protection against missile weapons, such as the light javelins with which the Britons were armed.
The 10th Legion moved down the slope from the Roman position on Larkey Hill, visible across the river. They crossed the ford seven men abreast while being pelted with javelins and sling stones and reached the north bank. Once across the river, the legionaries fanned out, pushing the more lightly armed Britons back. Gradually the Romans secured a large, semi-circular bridgehead which was rapidly filled with more legionaries marching down from Larkey Hill and crossing the ford.
After about two hours fighting, Caesar judged that he had enough men over the river to take the battle on to its next stage. He rode over the ford himself to take personal command of the critical break out stage.
From "Battles of Kent and Sussex" by Rupert Matthews.
Get your copy HERE
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