Description
A concept drawing for the Anglo-Saxon Woman Warriors of the Historically Wrong Sketch Series: Medieval Revisited which is a recreation of the original HWS series based on the AD 800 - AD 1400 era of warfare. Seaxna Ricere presents the Anglo-Saxon faction in the series, which is roughly based on the Anglo-Saxon England before the Norman Invasion in the 11th Century. Though, it could be compared to the historical Wessex and Mercia.
Inspired by the music - Thor (hymns of the Old Gods) by Andreas Waldetoft
Disclaimer: I am by no means expert in History, just a humble man with passion for learning history. Also, English is not my first language so if you do find any errors or would like to make a correction/feedback, please feel free let me know
INTRODUCTION
Before the Normans landed in the shores of England in 1066, the land was ruled by ferocious and proud Germanic people called the Anglo-Saxons. Though their origins still remains a topic of debate to this day, it is without doubt, that what started as just a mix of local Tribes and Germanic Immigrants after the fall of the Roman Empire, centuries of intercultural interactions and mixing would give birth to the Anglo-Saxons that would later fought their way to supremacy against the celts, other germanic tribes and the vikings, eventually forming the Kingdom of England.
DRAWING COMMENTARIES
When it comes to representing the Anglo-Saxons, there are various arts and depictions that one can draw inspiration from. A good example would be the sutton-hoo helmet, which was found from a burial site bearing the same name. But to If i were to consider that drawing is close to accurate, if, accurate at all, is grossly oversimplification. First of all, there's little records of what actually happened during this time, or what the anglo-saxon wore. Most written sources are either too archaic, such as the Late Roman Nogtitia Dignitatum, or written somewhere after the event happened, like that of Anglo Saxon Chroniclers and Bede. If there was one thing that we can draw the conclusion from, its that after the Roman left Britain in the early 5th century, the land saw an era of continuous settlements and re-settlements of both local and foreign origins. With that, came an era of violence and of sword where land holdings were fought and maintained by the force of arms. As such, warfare of this era could be much more complicated than just mass fighting between shield walls, brawls and raids and as such, the equipments varied considerably.
Regardless, The shieldmaiden depicted here, Aelfwynn Eadgarsdohtor of Dornwaracester, the daughter of the local thegn to the king, is drawn in a mail shirt, a fur overcoat, a (very badly drawn) large round shield, as well the ornamented stylized anglo saxon helmet (Based on Torslunda plate dies). Also, in case if anyone ask again, the sword on her back was ignorantly drawn, probably justified for transportation rather than holstering. Behind her on the right are some of the heavily armed retainers, depicted wearing mail hauberk as well as helmets mixed between coppergate style and vendel era period. Technically speaking, armor like this would have utterly expensive, so most warrior would fought in cloth or some form of gambeson, with head cover or simple metal helmet. Spears were commonly used as weapons (besides axe) because it was cheaper to produce compared to sword.
The women of the Anglo-Saxons were probably similar to that of their north Germanic brethren. They had rights to hold property, in marriage and also in some legal proceedings that gave them considerable freedom for modern standard. Warfare were no strangers to these women too, and as history have proven, a good example of Anglo-Saxon Woman who fought in war was Aethelflaed of Mercia .
REFERENCES AND OTHER RELATED MEDIA
Maybe related to the following:
Drawn as part of the Nordic Alliances in the Historically Wrong Sketch Series , whose aim is to portray the post-viking Christianized Scandinavia, including the Kingdom of Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
The Celts ,The Normans , The Byzantines
A Part of the Historically Wrong Sketch Series: Medieval Revisited - You can find more on the various faction on the map here:
HISTORICAL COMMENTARIES
(Is under revision)
The British Isles had been home to some of the most ferocious and warlike people that even Romans had difficulties dealing with since they first landed in the shores of Kent centuries ago. There they found the brave and independent Celtic tribes, who held themselves superior in their ways of life, compared to the more decadent and draconian ways of Rome. It was not until the decline of the roman empire, that made the romans troops left the isles in the early 5th century and allowed several Germanic tribes to land on the shores of Brittania. Out of all the inhabittants of the the british isles, onne of the most striking, warlike and ambitious one was the Anglo-Saxons
The period after the decline of Roman Empire in the 5th century, saw what historians referred to as the migration period, where large numbers of Germanic tribes like the Goths, Vandals, Angles, Saxons, Lombards, Suebi, Frisii and Franks, moved into the Roman Territories. This migration was pushed further westward by the Huns, Avars, Slavs, Bulgars and Alans. "The Barbarian Invasion" is perhaps the common misconceptions which is related to the Great Migration Period, often overlapping with idea of "Drak Ages", but historically speaking, these ideas were considered very generalized and inaccurate.
The Anglo-Saxons originated from the land of Saxons, that could be traced back to the confederate of Germanic Tribes in the northern German Plains. Initially, the Anglo-Saxons was thought to be amongst those who migrated to England, "invading" them and displaced the local population. This idea is currently challenged however, there's evidence even to their settlements in the British Isles before the Romans, and their service as auxiliaries during Roman Rule of Britain. So, the Anglo-Saxons could be considered as a product of centuries of cultural progress and assimilation. Nevertheless, there were indeed migrations from the mainland which contributed to the population of Anglo-Saxons domains in Britain.
What followed after that was the legacy of Anglo-Saxons ruling the land, along with the Welsh, Picts and the Irish. They started to convert to Christianity somewhere in in mid 7th century, but the process was gradual and would last until late 9th century. This era saw the rise of prominent Anglo-Saxons domains, like Mercia and Wessex. Mercia was the Latin name for the region in Low-England and was inhabited by several tribes of Anglo-Saxons and Brythonnic Speaking people. The Mercians ruled their dominion with aggresive expansionism in the 7th-8th century, firming their grip on the territories they included in the "Mercian Hegemony" and further supported by the Mercian's militaristic doctrines. On the other hand, Wessex saw its rise in the 9th century, during the times of the Viking invasion of England. It's rulers succeeded in uniting the Anglo Saxons and fending of the Danes who ruled the eastern land. After that, the Anglo-Saxon began rebuilding the land and reforming the society, which allowed the formation of Kingdom of England, before being conquered by the Normans in 11th century.
I'm sure there will be many that are versed in the history of the Anglo-Saxons, so if you do find any errors, i'd really appreciate any historical feedback, and please apologize for any unintended errors.
Comments: 63
Boinkd123 [2020-11-06 02:17:35 +0000 UTC]
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Will-of-the-spurr [2015-02-10 22:25:55 +0000 UTC]
So are there any of these sketches that show men?
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PeggyArnold [2015-01-29 05:17:11 +0000 UTC]
There is a story of a Norman female warrior, "Alice the Vicious." During the Norman invasion of Ireland during the reign of the English-Norman king Henry II, she is said to have killed tens of Irish warriors in retaliation for the death of her lover.
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Gambargin In reply to PeggyArnold [2015-02-01 14:57:48 +0000 UTC]
I haven't heard of Alice the vicious, but it's certainly interesting. There's another one which is recorded in the history, Isabel of Conches , but I'm not sure if she took part in battle. I'm sure there;s plenty of Norman female warrior in the history, since the Normans contributed greatly with their participation during the Crusades, so some of the wife of the crusader would have accompanied their husband to the holy land.
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ProfBathrobe [2015-01-29 03:14:10 +0000 UTC]
Yay! My ancestor-homies!
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SolidSamurai [2014-12-11 20:45:01 +0000 UTC]
The anglo saxons are actually just the name used to comprise several tribes that landed, raided and settled on the british isles in the 5th century (and probably later, until some kind immigration policy was imposed, I suppose). Frisians, Angles, Jutes and Saxons come to my mind, and there might be others too.
Generally, they were all germanic tribes and they intermixed and the early english can be distinguished from the celts such as the irish, the cornish, the welsh, the picts and the scots, by being well... german. And yes, the scots co-existed with the picts probably fairly early on, up until they conquered what is now scotland in the beginning of the 11th century. Before then, they probably lived somewhere in ireland (the north, maybe?).
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artlovr59 In reply to Gambargin [2014-12-15 10:20:45 +0000 UTC]
Yeah, I thought of that, too. It would make sense tht way...
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joolita [2014-09-20 20:30:13 +0000 UTC]
She looks so distant and pensive and then in the background there is this perky guy with an axe, it made me smile.
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Gurdim [2014-03-16 00:28:14 +0000 UTC]
Well, even with all the differences due to migrations, different time spans, mix with other cultures, technologic advance... etc... all these (not including the celts, of course, may a lightning struck me down! XD) ... was saying, i mean saxons, franks, anglosaxons, longobards, vikings with their proto-vikings ancestors, in minord degree the latter rus and the after-William da conqueror normans... they all were of germanic roots, and it can be seen from all their similarities, from the war gears, the shoes, the pantheon, the language (Tolkien docet), etc ^^
Only thing that once puzzled me was "why the longbards, the saxons and the sutton hoo guys, who came before the vikings, had all these super elaborated armors and weapons, full of particulars etc? The vikings were more advanced yet their stuff looks stinky compared to that!"
... well actually the answer is so simple it's stupid.... Vikings? We found stuff of guys from a wide range of wealth, while from pre-vikings... we found almost only the suppa-rich guys XD
As for the image, i love it, but actually i haven't found a pic i dont like in your gallery, yet xD. Just mind that the sword in the scabbard on the back is pure fantasy, as it is a pain to unsheat...
But!
i was discussing this thing with my bro, who is a reenactor, and he told me "yeah, back scabbard is wrong, historically, but that typical germanic configuration, with the scabbard on a belt hanging from your shoulder... it's not impossible to make it slide around your torso, until the sword is on your back, and in times of march, with no chance of fight in sight, it can be more confortable than having the sword diddling on your side. Of course when the army senses violence in the air incoming, you'd better put back the tool of the trade in the professional position xD"
See that "sperimental history" really is useful xD (wish more historian would aknowledge it )
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Gurdim In reply to Gambargin [2014-03-20 04:24:17 +0000 UTC]
uhm to be honest i dunno, i heard the opposite, that in Scandinavia there was the best iron XD Or maybe it's just (and i'm sure) that there were the best metalworkers, they exported swords all around Europe, with even their trademark on the blade, like a certain famous ULFHBERT guy (was literally hetched like this, in huge capital letters, on the blade XD) and seems some of these high quality swords were inherited and used from the Xth century AC to..... the 1200 O.o
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coragus [2014-01-20 02:39:49 +0000 UTC]
they weren't the most warlike in terms that I know for the latter years around 800-1000AD. their main ranks of their armies were the fyrd, simple peasant folk. there were professional warriors but they tended to be guards like the famous huscarls that ended up joining the varagian guard. the saxons had towns, but most of the country was covered in small shires.
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LuchoBorello In reply to Gambargin [2014-04-27 00:12:39 +0000 UTC]
Please, pass me some links or book's names. I simply love this draw! haha
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coragus In reply to Gambargin [2014-01-20 05:41:04 +0000 UTC]
I had a Hugeee obsession with them. even tried learning some Englisc just because the evolution of the English language is so interesting.
now I am obsessing over the Hopewell native americans from 0-500AD as I am wanting to make a game based on them.
I suggest www.goodreads.com/book/show/55… it is a really good view of what Anglo Saxon-life was like at the turn of the millennium.
the Anlgo-saxons were relativity peaceful with most fight just being between a few dozen men after harvest seasons
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Gambargin In reply to coragus [2014-01-23 06:33:52 +0000 UTC]
Now that's certainly an interesting read. Good to know a bit more about the Anglo Saxons.
As for the american Indian, i'm still reading more about the Mississippian culture that existed within the time frame of the historically wrong sketch series, to create a character based on that. I think the hopewell tradition era preceeds them if i'm not wrong.
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coragus In reply to Gambargin [2014-01-23 08:44:59 +0000 UTC]
It always is, very interesting culture the anglo-saxons are
yes they were from around 200 BCE to 500CE, they had a HUGE trade network for their time that spanned the whole east coast. there is no evidence of wars at all in this time and area by these people, they even call it the pax hopelliana because it seems like they were all just co-operating a working together to make massive earthworks. I am wanting to make a strategy/ city-ish (they didn't have cities just lots and lots of homestead-like places) game based on them. and I have been doing drawings on them too. which I have not uploaded really need to...
The Mississipian culture is really cool! dunno how you are going to draw a warrior of them due to all the nudity.
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Arminius1871 [2014-01-19 13:51:11 +0000 UTC]
Oh mein Gott, this is so wonderful! So you´re drawing also women warriors of germanic tribes?
You really should once draw a Walküre (Valkyrie), which would be a special mythical woman, and not from a folk.
With wing helmet, and flying on a horse, the music of inspiration could be Wagners ride of the valkyries:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGU1P6…
Oh I know you have soooo much to draw, but maybe you can add something on your list? There is a difference between
Germans and Germanics, Germanics are Germans, English and Scandinavians, but the Germans are only the continental european tribes.
Maybe you could draw the tribes, that became Germans? During the 10th century, when Otto the Great ruled.
The tribes were basically: Bajuwaren (later Bavarians), Franken (who also conquered France), Allemannen and Sachsen (Saxons).
Some might even add the Friesen (Frisians). But I would take the basic 4 tribes.
Also there should be a small oak-tree, like presenting the begin of the german nation...if you want^^
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Arminius1871 In reply to Gambargin [2014-01-23 10:11:38 +0000 UTC]
No prob, I´m always happy when u answer, even when it´s later^^
Oh yes, the tribe of the Cherusker is a must, also the Goten (Gothics) are famous.
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Yurisc [2014-01-19 13:07:07 +0000 UTC]
Please man, don't draw swords on their backs.
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Yurisc In reply to Gambargin [2014-01-20 11:34:00 +0000 UTC]
Not everything in Osprey is correct. Have you tried to draw a sword from your back?
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Yurisc In reply to Gambargin [2014-01-23 19:10:41 +0000 UTC]
Good.
The less swords on the back the better, unless for transportation reasons.
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akitku [2014-01-19 10:23:22 +0000 UTC]
Wonderful job on the helmet! I love it! Also your shading has become a bit stronger hasn't it? It looks really nice. Funny, in my last picture I went for a very similar set of weapons (except for the spear). If you start from 800's then can we hope to see a Frank and maybe Lombard at some point?
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Gambargin In reply to akitku [2014-01-20 03:56:15 +0000 UTC]
Thank You akitku! I have to admit, my shading probably gotten abit stronger but im not sure why. As for the spear, actually i wanted to draw her with an axe, but i guess i made it too long which ended as spear.
As for the lombards, i'm not really sure of their details, but weren't they already been defeated by the Carolingian before the 9th century?
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akitku In reply to Gambargin [2014-01-20 11:46:19 +0000 UTC]
Well, the Carollingian's obviously weakend their power considerably - I would definitely agree that they were a Dark-Age, post-Roman kingdom (if kingdom at all) but we do hear of the Lombards up till the Norman conquest. Robert Guiscard divorced his wife in order to marry a Lombard heiress, one Sichelgaita, who actually accompanied him to battles, and fought in full armour according to some accounts!
But yeah, they are certainly more of a Dark Ages power really. A Frank would certainly make much sense though! Either from the Carolingian Period or, if need be, the later Capetian period...
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Gambargin In reply to akitku [2014-01-23 06:37:15 +0000 UTC]
Certainly. I would probably look more into the Capetian or the Carolingian era when drawing the character from the series, i guess it'd be something different from the typical Joanne d'arc in her shining armor.
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LuchoBorello In reply to Gambargin [2014-04-27 00:21:11 +0000 UTC]
Oh, please, do Lombards! I descent from them! It would be sooo cool!
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lamnay [2014-01-19 09:13:01 +0000 UTC]
Love it.
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RyanRyzzo [2014-01-19 07:08:52 +0000 UTC]
Wæs hæl!
That stare!
Fantastic! I'd love to see her in civilian dress.
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ironsides11 [2014-01-19 06:48:15 +0000 UTC]
Gosh, I hadn't even thought about the Anglo-Saxons! Since the Normans are also in the mix, is there any chance we'll see a united Anglo-Norman realm?
Also, here's some music you might like: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2dOMQ… I don't know if you've heard Corvus Corax before. They're a German medieval metal band, so they're kinda appropriate for Anglo-Saxons.
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