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Subject: Anyone here following Bernard Cornwell's Uthred Ragnarson series?
olive greens    1/30/2006 1:40:21 PM
Just a fun topic, I guess. Got through The Last Kingdom, and it was pretty good. Havent been able to get my hands on "The Pale Horseman" yet, but will keep trying ;-) If so, whats the Danish take on it?
 
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TheArmchairCmd    RE:Anyone here following Bernard Cornwell's Uthred Ragnarson series?   1/30/2006 1:44:30 PM
I must admit, I am absolutely clueless. Never heard of it. :) Uthred must be Saxon of origin and Ragnarson is Nordic. Am I right ?
 
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olive greens    RE:Anyone here following Bernard Cornwell's Uthred Ragnarson series?   1/30/2006 1:56:24 PM
>> Uthred must be Saxon of origin and Ragnarson is Nordic. Am I right? << Right. We have lots of Richard Sharpe Series (also by same author, but about Napoleonic Wars) fans here. But these books are relatively new, so a few more weeks perhaps before we start seeing threads on merits of Danish vs. Saxon combat pop up everywhere ;-)
 
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TheArmchairCmd    RE:Anyone here following Bernard Cornwell's Uthred Ragnarson series?   1/30/2006 2:05:30 PM
Hmmm. The Danes must have been the best (or most brutal?), as the Saxons paid Danegeld and gave them lands in order for them to stay away.
 
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olive greens    RE:Anyone here following Bernard Cornwell's Uthred Ragnarson series?   1/30/2006 3:46:19 PM
>> The Danes must have been the best (or most brutal?), as the Saxons paid Danegeld and gave them lands in order for them to stay away. << Hehe... there is always political issue involved, and Cornwell - like a good Englishman - chooses Alfred the Great time to ensure Saxon victory eventually. But nonetheless he does a good job of giving the Danes what credit they deserve... or make it appear so to a third party like me. Readers of Sharpe series think he was fair with Indians, but I disagree ;-) OTOH, Bernard Cornwell is really good at depicting English close-quarters combat, almost as good as Steven Pressfield was with the Greeks. Sharpe series was kinda off because it was well into Napoleonic Age, but whenever it is plain cold steel he is brilliant.
 
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TheArmchairCmd    RE:Anyone here following Bernard Cornwell's Uthred Ragnarson series?   1/30/2006 4:04:40 PM
I actually know very little of the tactics and fighting styles of that era, besides that vikings predominantly used battleaxes and roundshields. Also that their real advantage would be excellent mobility at sea and seamanship. Perhaps also their social structure gave some military advantage... You are velcome to put some flesh on it... ;)
 
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olive greens    RE:Anyone here following Bernard Cornwell's Uthred Ragnarson series?   1/30/2006 4:13:07 PM
Parroting the book, and maybe spoiling some fun: Naval Mobility: Of course the shallow-draught ships that can sail right up the river (unless you have stone bridges. Traders who acted as advance spies and scouts. Ground combat: Shield walls (a step-down from Roman legions). Heavy-back long knives for stabbing (Uthred's "Wasp Sting"). Long broad-swords for high arc swing cutting once shield wall has been destroyed (his "Serpent Breath").
 
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TheArmchairCmd    Viking weapons and tactics   1/30/2006 4:31:33 PM
I believe that the broadswords would be a rarity, as they were very expensive. But the heavy knives sounds reasonable. I think that, by far, the most proliferate mêlée weapon would be the battleaxe... Otherwise my impression is not that they used intricate tactics during battles... Naval mobility gave local superiority, but of course doesn't count much in regard to the inland battles.
#024 Danish War Axe This favored weapon of the Saxon huscarl saw action throughout northern Europe in the hands of Saxon, Norse, and Norman alike. The long handle and thin blade create a fearsome weapon capable of immense damage to the lightly armored opponents of that time. The high carbon steel blade holds a great edge and is mounted on an ash shaft. This was the type of weapon William the Conqueror faced at the Battle of Hastings (1066) where he defeated the Saxon army. Original: Circa 1000 Danish, British Museum, London Overall length: 56"
http://www.armor.com/images/pole024a_s.jpg>
Danish axe From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Jump to: navigation, search The Danish long axe went by many names, including Dane-axe, English long axe, Viking axe, and hafted axe. Originally used by the Northmen in Viking times, the Danish axe was a modification of a woodsman's axe that made it an amazingly effective weapon of war. The shaft of the axe was usually between 4 and 6 feet long, and quite heavy. The blade itself, was very wide, reasonably light and forged very thin, making it superb for cutting. It could be swung at very great speed. Although the name retains its Viking heritage, the Danish axe became widely used throughout Europe through the 13th century. In addition to the Vikings, the Franks and the formerly Danish-occupied Saxons of England adopted the use of the Dane-axe. Specifically the huscarles were known for wielding this monstrous weapon of war, and there are ivory carvings of Byzantine Varangian guards carrying axes as tall as men. The axes used by the Huscarl bodyguards of King Harold at the Battle of Hastings, though relatively small, showed the power of this weapon. They were swung around the wielder's head before being brought down on the enemy, and (it is claimed) could cut through a Norman knight and his horse with one blow. Richard Lionheart used a Danish axe in the Third Crusade. One can see depictions of this axe in the Bayeux Tapestry.
 
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Thomas3    RE:Viking weapons and tactics   1/30/2006 7:42:40 PM
If you really want to read good litterature of the period, you should get a copy of Njals Saga!
 
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Iano_returns    RE:Viking weapons and tactics   2/3/2006 8:54:20 AM
The Lost Kingdom was not too exciting. Took it to the Galapagos hoping to get through it with not too much else in the evenings where we lived in the forest without electricity. As far as I know it should still be over there! The Sharpe series was fun for the first 3 books, after then they are all the same. They follow the same plot, only the names and scenery and small details really change. But I liked the thin one that was a limited edition which had him teaming up with a French Voltiguer or Grenadier, whatever, to free his French wife held hostage by theives in his farm after he settled in Normandie after the wars. Regarding these times is it true that anyone with ginger hair in Britain has that as a result of some of the raping these raiders did against the locals when they pillaged us? Or of course has some Scandanavian immigrant in their family? Where were the Vikings from anyhow? Do Danes count as Vikings? I thought they were Norge!
 
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TheArmchairCmd    RE:Viking weapons and tactics   2/3/2006 9:17:30 AM
Danes most certainly count as vikings, as do Swedes. Saxons immigrated from Jutland (Denmark) and Northern Germany into England, so that may account for some fairhairedness too...
 
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