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Illustration from

The Passion of Saint Edmund, King and Martyr
Passio Edmundi
by Abbo of Fleury

Edmund of England
Scene: Battle against Britons



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Folio 007v. Saxons, Jutes and Angles, mounted, in armor, attack Britons mounted, in armor, fleeing; slain soldiers on ground.

Referenced on p.8, Essential Histories. The Crusades. by David Nicolle:
The Anglo-Saxons defeat the Danes, shown in an Anglo-Norman manuscript of c. 1125-50. Both armies are equipped, mounted and fight in the Norman manner as fully armoured knights in close-packed conrois squadrons. (Life of St. Edmund. Pierpont Morgan Library. Ms. 736. f.7v. New York)

Referenced on p.23, ELI 009, The Normans by David Nicolle:
'Battle between English and Danes', from Life of St. Edmund, probably painted at Bury St. Edmunds between 1125 and 1150, and showing Anglo-Norman knights of that period; note the forward-tilted shape of the helmet skulls, and the convincing detail of the 'baggy' waists of the mail hauberks - this is the appearance of mail when belted as it has to be if the movement of the arms is to be unrestricted. (Pierpont Morgan Library. M.736 f7v, New York)

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Referenced on p.64, Arms and Armour of the Crusading Era, 1050-1350, Western Europe and the Crusader States by David Nicolle
140A-B 'St Edmund and the Danes', Life of St Edmund, Bury St Edmunds, 1125-50
(Pierpont Morgan Library, Ms. 736, f.7v, New York, United States)
A -Dane; B - Anglo-Saxons. A large number of the defeated AngloSaxons, particularly those who have been thrown to the ground, lack armour. Lightly-equipped non-noble or barely knightly cavalry still formed part of some armies in early 12th century England. The men who are armoured have almost identical equipment, including conical helmets, mostly with forward-angled crowns, broad rims and no nasals. Mail hauberks include coifs and long sleeves but no mittens, and there is no leg armour. Shields all appear to be kite-shaped. Only one spear bears a gonfanon and the three visible swords have domed or nut-shaped pommels.