Erik den Rode
Norse Berserker
The Nordic region comprises of many countries and islands forming Scandinavia, but we specifically are looking at the Vikings. A specific group of Norsemen, who were the warriors for their Jarls, or chieftains.
The English term berserk meaning “out of control with anger or excitement; wild or frenzied” came from the old Norse warriors ‘Berserkir’ who are said to have fought in a trance like fury. Entering this trance like state, or even foaming at the mouth before launching into a furious succession of vicious attacks was the rumoured hallmark of the Berserker.
The reputation of the Berserker’s savagery and uncivilised manners would most likely have grown from tales of Viking raiders circulated by civilian survivors, after they attacked susceptible settlements. Stories would circulate of how Berserkers were able to rout larger forces, how they would howl like wolves when they ran into battle, and how they did not feel pain. Propaganda would have then fanned these stories, warning other settlements to beware of the inhuman savages.
Viking warriors would enter battle with a variety of weapons, but were relatively under armoured compared to the armies they encountered in Europe. Often wearing animal pelts for warmth, a berserker would be adorned with the skins and trophies (claws and teeth) of a dangerous beast they had slain, commonly wolf or bear.
Common weapons included the infamous Daneaxe (also called a Breidox, which literally means Broad Axe). This massive axe was a long haft with a large axe head on the end. The haft of the Greataxe was thick strong wood sometimes covered with a layer of steel, and able to withstand blocking multiple attacks from bladed weapons. While video game representations are overstated, the real version was a devastating weapon. Greataxes could puncture armour or also dent steel to the point an opponent was unable to move a limb, potentially incapacitating the enemy. An opponent who was not killed, but had their armour smashed to the point that they would be unable to move, is still removed from the fight, and to try to continue to fight would mean death. The word Fell has connotations of killing, but playing dead so the violent man stops chopping you up is still defeated.
The smaller but still devastating axe known as Skeggox (Bearded Axe) is more akin to the traditional Battle Axe. It was actually uncommon for Viking warriors to dual wield axes, when entering battle they would usually fight in shield walls. However once a shield was lost or broken, a backup weapon could be utilised. Berserkers were also less likely to use a shield than the average Viking warrior. If utilising a second axe, one axe could be used for catching and controlling the enemies shield/weapon, and the other for counter attacking. Another tactic would be to throw one, and follow up with the second. A rare occurrence would be to throw both weapons, it would be far more likely to throw one then follow up with the other for a melee strike. While wielding two axes, disorientating your opponent with a heavy projectile and following up with another battleaxe soon after would catch inexperienced opponents. Throwing both axes would be rare as they would never leave themselves defenceless. So this tactic would only be used when more weapons were readily at hand (and the situation necessitated a ranged attack), or in a duel situation where the result was beyond doubt (one way or the other). They also would not throw both at the same time, far more likely to throw one, then the other quickly after, possibly at different targets.
A fierce and powerful warrior, units of Berserkir could defeat armies with larger numbers. But they were difficult to control, and worked best as small groups operating independently of a larger force, and not as part of a phalanx.
Ulrich Schaefer
German Landsknecht
Landsknecht formed the bulk of the Holy Roman Empire’s imperial army, but hailed specifically from the region known as the ‘German Lands’ or ‘German Nation’. The first Landsknecht where heavily influenced by the Swiss pikemen known as Reisläufer.
Known for their distinctive clothing and heavy armour, the primary weapons were a variety of polearms, however they were supported by soldiers armed with Greatswords, and later a form of long gun called an Arquebus. Large soldiers wearing heavy armour, they would literally throw their weight around keeping an enemy off guard. A heavy bump while a large weapon was out of position after an attack, could keep an enemy out of step, and give a warrior time to swing again. Using wrestling and other techniques to render your opponent prone was a method taught to knights. Some stances included shoves, and spins, while the opponent was close enough, to give enough time to bring the large weapon around again, as it was often better to maintain the weapons momentum during the combat.
Over the bright and colourful clothing a Landsknecht would wear a Plattenkurass, a steel cuirass/breastplate, often accompanied by pauldrons (shoulder armour), vambraces (forearm armour) and greaves (leg armour). Blows from lighter weapons could be entirely negated by the heavy armour. While a skilled warrior could deflect a blow with any part of their armour, a smarter warrior would use a shield or weapon first. It was not wise to block a larger heavier weapon with a vambrace.
Landsknecht were later known for the black powder weapons the utilised in battle, but prior to this the most common weapon was the Hellebarde (Halberd). A polearm consisting of three weapon edges, delivered with greater force from mechanical advantages.
The Axe head, a useful chopping weapon with more momentum and leverage than a typical battle axe.
The Spear head gave a Hellebardier an advantage with extra reach at various opponents, over their allies shoulders or at a mounted combatant.
The Hook could be used for disarming opponents.
Both the hook and axe faces of the Hellebarde could be used against mounted combatants to dismount them by force.
If implemented a Pick head provided excellent armour penetration, bringing the mechanical advantage of the long polearm to a concentrated point of steel. Once embedded a pick was useful in manipulating an opponents mobility. The Hellebarde was designed with two hooking weapons (Axe head, hook/pick) capable of pulling against an opponent, whether they were on foot or mounted.
The Spear head and Axe head also formed a hook for pushing, if it were advantageous to use in such manner.
Typically made from Ash, Alder, or Hazel wood the haft of a Hellebarde could block even bladed weapons. Parrying with the haft of the polearm could open an enemy up to a counter with one of the three weapons on the Hellebarde. The Hellebarde was able to deliver more force than shorter weapons with similar edges, like the axe or pick, thanks to its length.
However the most famous of the Landsknecht’s weaponry was the Zweihander (literally means two hander), a Greatsword. With a total length typically between 1.4 to 1.6 Ell (63 to 71 inches), nearly the length of Spears and pole-arms. A greatsword was a heavy weapon that if missed could leave a warrior open to counter attack. A skilled warrior could attack from out of position, with any part of the weapon. Various stances can leave the pommel closest to an opponent, before and after a swing, and being able to jab with the pommel is a useful tool in a knights repertoire.
An incredible amount of force could be generated with a single swing of a greatsword. Once an opponent was unbalanced and a knight had momentum they could implement a larger swing, gaining speed with their sword to deliver immense blows. Against lightly armoured opponents the Landsknecht could crush limbs or remove them, and against heavily armoured opponents they could also crumple the armour itself.
The bulk of a Landsknecht force would be made up predominantly of Pikemen, Hellebardier, and other supporting Footmen. To support the frontline of Doppelsoldner, who would wield Zweihander, and later Arquebus.
Oracio Salas
Catalan Almogaver
Almogàver was a class of soldier originating in the Crown of Aragon on the Iberian Peninsula. Each area of the Peninsula had a slightly different name. Aragonese: Almugávares; Catalan: Almogàvers; Portuguese: Almogávares; Spanish: Almogávares.
We are looking specifically at the Catalan Almogaver, veterans of which would become mercenaries forming the Great Catalan Company in the early 14th century.
Guerrilla warriors, Almogaver were lightly clad in leather armour, instead of the heavy steel of some other regions, called Cuirassa de Cuir. Leather armour worn to protect the chest. Their Cuirassa de Cuir allowed greater freedom of movement but offered less protection than steel armour. Due to this light armour that Almogàver would wear, any mistake could result in a fatal wound. Precision strikes to dispatch an enemy quickly were required to ensure the enemy could not retaliate. The ease of movement granted by their armour, also allowed an Almogàver to recover from dodging more readily than other warriors, meaning they could employ that tactic more efficiently than a heavily armoured opponent.
The primary weapon for an Almogaver was the Espasa (Sword), this was a one handed, single edged sword reminiscent of a Falchion. This would commonly be accompanied by an Escut (Shield), a round shield worn on the back of the off arm. Shields gave an Almogàver (and any other warrior) a way to block, deflect, and prevent an opponents weapon from striking them. Almogàver utilised the shield as expertly as any other weapon, taking advantage of both its offensive and defensive capabilities. Shields could be used to catch an opponents weapon, getting embedded in the wood or leather, giving the Almogàver possible control of their opponents balance. They could also use the shield for its greater surface area to assist in pushing or charging their opponent.
When the shield was damaged, or deemed to cumbersome for a particular battle, the Espasa could be paired with a Coltell (dagger). This was a long curved (mostly single edged) dagger, equally effective in parrying and attacking.
Almogaver were experts in Guerrilla warfare, their speed and ability to engage rapidly were legendary for a non-mounted fighting force.
Rokuro Toridasu
Japanese Samurai
The military elite nobility of Japan. Samurai were well versed in many weapons, and various forms of unarmed combat. Not only were they incredibly skilled warriors, but also highly educated, and talented artists. The only ways to become a Samurai, were to be born into a Samurai’s family, be adopted into a Samurai’s family, or marry into a Samurai’s family. Samurai can be thought of like European knights, in that they were born into nobility. This meant that they were highly educated from a young age, and without the toils and rigours of peasant life, time could be dedicated to learning martial and other skills. Many martial techniques include wrestling in addition to forms and stances with a weapon. Stances and forms were crucial in armed combat to defend, attack, and exploit vulnerabilities against your opponent. Changing stances was a crucial element of duelling. With a simple shift of stance a Samurai could completely reposition their entire body.
Armour worn by Samurai is called Karuta, a type of hide armour, cured and lacquered, then layered into what is called Llamelar. Karuta was just as effective as many European metal. However Karuta lacked many of the deflective angles late medieval plate armours developed.
The Samurai are of course most famously known for their signature weapon, the Katana. A curved longsword, most often wielded two handed. Due to the limited amount, and poor iron quality, Japanese swordsmiths developed folding techniques to get the most out of the materials they had. However a Katana was normally only used for duels, in battle warriors would usually adopt a weapon with more reach. Such as
The Yari, a long flexible spear. The Spear was developed in parallel in many cultures, improving the combat effectiveness of armies for centuries. The Yari was typically made with oak, bamboo, and ash for the haft. The shaft was often reinforced with metal rings or bands to prevent it splitting in combat. The Yari was both a fast and long weapon, and a Samurai could thrust with it multiple times in quick succession at range. While the spear head used a lot less steel than a sword, it was still a deadly weapon.
Masters of many forms of weapons, and unarmed combat, Samurai were also highly educated artists, poets, and scholars.
