12th century Scandinavian Knights

12th century Scandinavian Knights
The Baldishol Tapestry, 12th century
The Scandinavian knight on the Baldishol Tapestry


The upper knight on the Valthjofsstadir church door, c. 1200 AD
The lower knight on the Valthjofsstadir door
Scandinavian knights by Ian Heath based on the Baldishol Tapestry & Valthjofsstadir door

Sigurd kills Regin, a carving from a stave church, Norway, 12th century
& a detail of the helmet worn by Sigurd
Scandinavian Militia by Ian Heath based on Sigurd kills Regin

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

That's a very interesting helmet. It certainly makes the Scandinavian knight stand out more from others.



Can that be my castle guard, pls?

Another interesting thing is that it seems Scandinavian knights didn't wear heraldic uniforms, and have rarely even wore surcoat over mail.
That coincides with my research of the Republic of Venice, a few years ago.
I read that Venetians (and other Italians) didn't wear any surcoat, let alone heraldic ones, in around the year 1200.
However, it was said to me then (probably by our then-leader Cruger) that the Western warriors will all have Heraldic surcoats, to differentiate them in battle.
Whether that is a good thing, or too much of a historical liberty is up to the player to decide.

See also Sigurd kills Regin, a carving from a stave church, Norway, 12th century
& a detail of the helmet worn by Sigurd

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

12th century Scandinavian warriors:
Wood carvings of the Saga of the Volsungs: The Norse Epic of Sigurd the Dragon Slayer, from the portal of Hylestad stave church, Setesdal, Norway, 12th century
. Sigurd and Regin forge the sword Gram
. Sigurd slays Fafnir the dragon
. Sigurd roasts the heart of the dragon
& a Scandinavian Militiaman by Ian Heath based on Sigurd the Dragon Slayer

There is also
'Massacre of the Innocents' on the Altar from Broddetorp Parish Church, 12th century, Västergötland, Sweden
on which Ian Heath based a Scandinavian lamellar corselet, but David Nicolle doesn't think this is a useful source.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Scandinavian Costume and Soldiers