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Military Organization

Military Organization. Boswell British Lit By Mark Harman and Jenna Shelton. History. impossible to give firm dates or precise details of developments it was part of the life of every able bodied man In the beginning there were simply war bands

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Military Organization

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  1. Military Organization Boswell British Lit By Mark Harman and Jenna Shelton

  2. History • impossible to give firm dates or precise details of developments • it was part of the life of every able bodied man • In the beginning there were simply war bands • Loyalty to a chief was the greatest virtue • If a chief or king died in battle his men would according to lore die avenging him

  3. 9th Century • English kingdoms were under attack by other bands of professional warriors - the Vikings • The king had an 'elite' corps of ðegns or thegns, who made up the king's personal 'Hearth Troop' or hirð • the king and his hearth troop could not be everywhere at once, so the onus for local defence must have fallen on the eorls • It was their job to summon the fyrd in emergencies

  4. Fyrd • selective recruitment • Most of the fyrd would therefore have been thegns • obligation was upon each ðegn to provide a man, usually himself, for fyrd service • a ðegn would usually have five hides we have the figure of one man from five hides • Since the obligation was on the man, and not the land, some ðegns could own less than the usual five hides

  5. 10th Century • There were charters which provide alternative obligations demonstrating an emerging flexibility to help with the changes • Fyrd could contain members of the upper peasantry, the Ceorls • The men involved combined to dispatch one of their number whenever the fyrd was summoned • The representative would ensure that he was well equipped

  6. If the men summoned for the fyrd did not turn up there were severe penalties • fyrdsman served because his land grant said he had to, and failure to serve led to a fine • There were also laws laid down to govern a fyrdsman's rights and behavior in the field • In peace time the ðegns had to serve one month in three in rotation so there was always a sizeable force on hand

  7. 11th Century • Elite body of warriors- Huscarles • Possessed splendid armor • Felt that they needed to serve in an army to repay the king • Served a royal lord in peace and war • Best characterized as a group of ministers and attendants upon the king who specialized in, but were not limited to war • Retained by Edward the Confessor and Harold Godwinsson

  8. Pictures :)

  9. More pictures :)

  10. Works Cited • http://www.regia.org/saxons2.htm

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