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SCANDINAVIAN MILITIAMAN, 12th CENTURY
An extract from Armies of Feudal Europe 1066-1300by Ian Heath
62. SCANDINAVIAN MILITIAMAN, 12th CENTURY
In Denmark and Sweden, and probably in Norway too, iron helmets had become part of the militiaman's basic equipment by the 12th century at the latest. This one dates to the late-12th century and has both nasal and nape-guard. However, Scandinavian laws of this period still make little mention of armour for militiamen, though it is apparent that some at least had to provide themselves with a mail corselet or other armour. The quilted linen or leather jerkin remained a common substitute for mail and was probably worn by most of the leidang levy whether it was called for or not. Regulation arms comprised helmet, shield, spear and sword, although an axe could be substituted for the last; the long, one-edged seax was also still in use until the second half of the 12th century and probably often served in place of a sword. In addition, now as in earlier times a bow or crossbow and 2 or 3 dozen arrows had to be supplied per rowing thwart or sometimes even per man, and the accuracy of individual archers is alluded to frequently in the sagas. The lowest class of militiaman was armed with no more than a club, but these were the dregs called out only in a national emergency. Shields were often still circular even in the 13th century, though by the mid-12th century the kite-shield was probably much more commonplace.
