Blog & lookbook - Get the look: Norman knight

Knights played an important role in the Middle Ages. The appearance and methods of knights varied by time period and country or region. In this series of blogs, we aim to provide an idea of the equipment of various types of knights. For this blog, we have created an impression of the Norman knight using the products we offer. Click here to read more about our historical compositions and our approach to history in general.

Origin of the Normans

The tenth century was the time when the Vikings ventured into Europe for plundering, trade, and conquests. One of those Vikings was Rollo, who settled in France, then still the Frankish Empire, with a group of followers. In 911, Rollo reached an agreement with the French king Charles the Simple. Rollo received a piece of land and thus became the first Duke of Normandy. In return, he would protect France against invasions by other Vikings. This territory was quickly expanded through conquests. To prevent the reconquest of these areas, the seafaring warriors had to quickly learn to fight strategically on land. In just one or two generations, the Vikings successfully formed a cavalry army and rapidly built motte-and-bailey castles.

Rollo's followers mingled with the local population of West Francia, creating a new group of people who were descendants of both the Vikings and the devout Franks, the Normans. By the end of 996 AD, the Normans had not only converted to Christianity but had also adopted the French language and laws.

Conquests

In medieval Norman law, heavily influenced by the feudal system, the inheritance position of the second son (and other younger sons) was often unfavorable compared to the firstborn. Primogeniture was a common inheritance system in Normandy, where the eldest son was preferred in succession. This meant that the oldest son inherited the largest portion, or even the entire, family estate to maintain the unity and power of the family. Therefore, younger sons were often excluded from the main inheritance. From a young age, Norman boys were thus taught how to wage war to conquer land for themselves. This led to the spread of this composite population to all corners of the map.

In the 11th and 12th centuries, the Normans left a significant mark on large parts of Europe. One of their most famous conquests is that of England. Under the leadership of William I, or William the Conqueror, the Battle of Hastings was won in 1066, thus conquering England. This earned William I a new name, William the Conqueror.

The result of the Battle of Hastings brought about significant changes in England, from the many castles and fortresses the country is known for to the introduction of a feudal system and language.

Normans in Southern Italy and Sicily

Opportunistic Normans successfully settled in Southern Italy, attracted by stories from pilgrims. In 1017, they arrived as warriors, according to Amatus of Montecassino and William of Apulia. Pilgrims returning from Jerusalem assisted Prince Guaimar III against a Muslim attack in Salerno, while another group, spurred by Melus of Bari, fought against the Byzantines. Two prominent Norman families, the Hautevilles and Drengots, played a key role. They established the county of Ariano and later, in 1030, Rainulf Drengot received the county of Aversa. Eventually, the Normans conquered Sicily and Malta, led by Robert Guiscard and Roger the Great Count. Roger II became king of Sicily in 1130, a kingdom that existed until 1194 and was known for its cultural and religious diversity and unique architecture. The Normans combined administrative elements of the Byzantines, Arabs, and Lombards with their own feudal system, resulting in a harmonious society with a diverse bureaucracy.

Normans in North Africa

Norman rulers nurtured plans to establish an empire that would have included both Fatimid Egypt and the Crusader states in the Levant.

Between 1135 and 1160, the Norman kingdom of Sicily conquered several coastal cities in Ifriqiya, corresponding to present-day Tunisia and parts of Algeria and Libya. These cities were held as vassals by the Normans but were eventually lost to the Almohads.

Normans on the Iberian Peninsula

Since the early eleventh century, the Normans participated in military confrontations between Christians and Muslims on the Iberian Peninsula. The first known Norman warrior was Roger I of Tosny, who around 1018 aided the Catalans in raids against the Andalusian Muslims. Later, Norman adventurers such as Robert Crispin and Walter Giffard participated in the papally organized siege of Barbastro in 1064. Even after the Norman conquest of England in 1066, they remained active on the peninsula. In the 1120s, Rotrou II of Perche and Robert Burdet led raids in the Ebro region, with Burdet acquiring a semi-independent principality in Tarragona in 1129.

With the increasing popularity of the sea route to the Holy Land, Norman and Anglo-Norman crusaders were encouraged by Iberian prelates to participate in Portuguese incursions. In 1142, King Afonso I Henriques invited a crusader fleet to conquer Lisbon, which failed. In 1147, another group of crusaders arrived and succeeded in capturing the city, after which many settled there. In 1148, a fleet, including many Anglo-Normans, participated in the siege of Tortosa, where they were rewarded with land in the newly conquered city.

Normans in England

The Normans had early contact with England, partly due to the ongoing Viking invasions and their control over key ports across the English Channel. This relationship was strengthened by the marriage of Emma, sister of Duke Richard II of Normandy, to King Ethelred II of England. When Ethelred was driven out of England by Sweyn Forkbeard in 1013, he sought refuge in Normandy. This stay influenced him and his sons, especially Edward the Confessor, who returned to England in 1041 with Norman advisors and warriors.

Edward's preference for Norman influences led to the appointment of Robert of Jumièges as Archbishop of Canterbury and Ralph as Earl of Hereford. However, the decisive Norman invasion came in 1066, when William the Conqueror won the Battle of Hastings, leading to the conquest of England. The Norman nobility largely replaced the Anglo-Saxon ruling class and established a culture that held land on both sides of the Channel. The early Norman kings of England, as Dukes of Normandy, continued to owe homage to the king of France for their continental possessions.

Over time, the Normans merged with the English population, combining languages and traditions. Marjorie Chibnall noted that the terms "Norman" and "English" changed in meaning after 1066. During the Hundred Years' War, the Norman aristocracy often identified as English. Anglo-Norman language distinguished itself from Parisian French and eventually influenced the development of Middle English, which formed the basis for Modern English.

Normans in Ireland

The Normans had a profound impact on Irish culture and history following their invasion of Bannow Bay in 1169. Initially, the Normans maintained a separate culture and ethnicity. However, over time, they became integrated into Irish culture, to the point where it was said they "became more Irish than the Irish themselves." The Normans mainly settled in an area in the east of Ireland, later known as the Pale, and also built many fine castles and settlements, including Trim Castle and Dublin Castle. The cultures merged and borrowed from each other's language, culture, and outlook.

Normans in Scotland

One of the English claimants to the throne who resisted William the Conqueror, Edgar Atheling, eventually fled to Scotland. King Malcolm III of Scotland married Edgar's sister Margaret, leading to conflict with William, who had previously disputed the southern borders of Scotland. In 1072, William invaded Scotland, reaching Abernethy and meeting his fleet. Malcolm submitted, paid homage to William, and gave his son Duncan as a hostage, leading to discussions about the loyalty of the Scottish crown to the English king.

The Normans settled in Scotland, built castles, and founded noble families that produced future kings, such as Robert the Bruce, and various Scottish clans. King David I of Scotland, whose brother Alexander I was married to Sybilla of Normandy, played a crucial role in introducing Norman culture to Scotland, a process known as the 'Davidian Revolution'. After spending time at the court of Henry I of England and with the need to secure his kingdom against his half-brother Máel Coluim mac Alaxandair, David rewarded many Normans with land. This process continued under his successors, especially under William the Lion.

The Norman feudal system was introduced to varying degrees across Scotland. Many Scottish families such as Bruce, Gray, Ramsay, Fraser, Rose, Ogilvie, Montgomery, Sinclair, Pollock, Burnard, Douglas, and Gordon, as well as the later royal house of Stewart, all have Norman ancestors.

Normans in Wales

Even before the Norman conquest of England, the Normans had contact with Wales. Edward the Confessor appointed Ralph as Earl of Hereford and tasked him with defending the Marches and warring with the Welsh. However, in these early ventures, the Normans made no progress in Wales.

After the conquest, the Marches came under the control of William's most trusted Norman barons, such as Bernard de Neufmarché, Roger of Montgomery in Shropshire, and Hugh Lupus in Cheshire. These Normans embarked on a long-term, gradual conquest of Wales, with almost the entire country at one point experiencing Norman interference. Norman influences, such as the word "baron" (barwn), were then introduced into Welsh for the first time.

Success of the Normans

The Normans are seen as possibly the best warriors of the Middle Ages in Europe. But how did they become so successful?

In Norman culture, it was customary for boys of noble descent to be trained as knights from an early age. At the age of ten, they were likely already initiated, and from their twelfth/thirteenth year, the real training began. One of the most important things they had to learn was horse riding. The success of the Normans largely stemmed from their use of cavalry. This was unprecedented in England at the time, and at the Battle of Hastings, the English soldiers on foot were no match for the Norman knights on horseback.

The combination of their good training and skill on horseback made the Normans almost unbeatable.

Their equipment was also tailored to the fact that they fought on horseback. The Normans wore long chainmail coats with a split in the front and back, making it easier for them to sit on their horses. Their shields were wide at the top but tapered at the bottom, so that they protected the knights but did not hinder the movement of the horses.

Both the Normans and Saxons fought with swords, but the Normans also carried long spears called lances. These lances were thrust between the shields of the Saxons and in some cases thrown. These lances formed an ideal combination with the power and speed of the horse.

William the Conqueror also had a large number of archers in his ranks. These archers were trained to shoot upwards so that their arrows would come down behind the shields of the Saxons.

Norman Culture

The Normans characterized themselves by their devoutness and willingness to draw weapons for it. In addition to warfare, the Normans had an advanced legal system. The Normans are also known for their musical tradition and, of course, the Romanesque art style. With this, they left a mark on our image of Medieval Europe.

The End of the Normans

Unlike many other groups from bygone times, the end of the Normans did not come from losses or conquests by the next great power. The Normans cared little about preserving pure Norman bloodlines. It was precisely by mixing with local populations that the Normans could maintain possession of their conquered territories for so long. Over time, this resulted in the end of the Normans. They simply merged into the DNA pool.

Character Profile

The character in this composition is named Guillaume.

In the mid-11th century, Guillaume grew up as the second son of a Norman aristocratic family, without any inheritance rights. He sought his fortune by joining William the Conqueror and showed extraordinary courage and strategic insight. During the Battle of Hastings in 1066, he distinguished himself, which earned him a significant estate in England after the Norman victory. Guillaume built a new life, married an Anglo-Saxon noblewoman, and became a respected landlord.

Gambeson

In this composition, Guillaume wears a gambeson under his chainmail coat. However, it is unclear whether gambesons were worn around the time the Bayeux Tapestry was made. The Tapestry depicts five images of armor that may be a gambeson or scale armor. However, it is more likely that these images depict a fur tunic or thick tunic, possibly consisting of different layers. This was possibly worn directly under the chainmail coat. However, the evidence for this is thin, and for practical reasons, we have chosen a gambeson.

https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/long-gambeson-with-detachable-sleeves.html

https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/gambeson-maciejowski-bible.html

Chainmail

Guillaume wears a chainmail coat. This chainmail coat is composed of round rings and round rivets. Chainmail coats were the most high-quality type of armor during the time of the Normans. Chainmail coats were very expensive. In this composition, we have chosen a chainmail coat without a split because this is the most commonly used type in reenactments and provides the most protection on foot. However, in the Bayeux Tapestry, all chainmail coats are depicted with a split.

https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/long-sleeved-hauberk-8-mm.html

Norman Nasal Helmet

In this composition, we have chosen a nasal helmet. These helmets were developed from the earlier spangenhelm. It is not entirely clear from the Bayeux Tapestry whether the depicted knights wear a nasal helmet, spangenhelm, or a combination of both. The major difference between a nasal helmet and a spangenhelm is that a spangenhelm consisted of different parts riveted together. Nasal helmets were made from a single piece and were therefore much sturdier. Nasal helmets (and some spangenhelms) feature a nasal piece that protects both the nose and the face. In the 12th century, Norman knights would also start wearing helmets that protect the entire face.

https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/11th-century-nasal-helmet.html

https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/8th-century-spangenhelm.html

https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/ulfberth-12th-century-crusader-helmet.html

Chainmail Coif

Over his chainmail coat, Guillaume wears a chainmail coif. This is fastened with leather laces to the chainmail coat, keeping it in place when he moves his head.

https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/coif-with-square-neckline-round-rings-round-rivet.html

Norman Sword

The 11th-century Normans used swords that were developed from Viking swords. They were long and primarily designed for cutting. They had a broad crossguard, and unlike earlier models, there was no upper crossguard. In this composition, Guillaume uses an Oakeshott type X sword, but he could also have used a type Xa or XI. The type of sword he uses was popular for a long time. It was ideal for fighting on horseback.

https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/norman-sword.html

https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/deepeeka-late-viking-sword-oakeshott-type-x.html

Norman Shield

Guillaume carries a very different shield than his Viking ancestors did. This type of shield is designed to protect the leg. It was ideal for fighting on horseback, as it also protected the vulnerable flank of the horse. On foot, this type of shield was cumbersome, but it also provided good protection. Legs, like hands and arms, are always the most vulnerable parts in combat. The depiction of the Battle of Hastings on the Bayeux Tapestry doesn't lie; severed limbs were scattered everywhere on the field.

https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/norman-shield.html

Spear

The lance that Guillaume carried is actually a long spear. Later, this would further develop into the lance that is so characteristic of the Middle Ages. Various types of spears could be used for this purpose.

https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/medieval-spearhead-approx-455-cm.html

https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/spearhead-30-cm.html

https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/spearhead-medium-battle-ready.html

Norman Spurs

Like later knights, Guillaume used spurs to control his horse effectively. Warhorses were weapons in themselves. They were trained to bite enemies and kick them to death.

https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/norman-prick-spurs.html

Medieval Belt

Around his waist, Guillaume wears a belt.

https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/basic-belt-1200-1400.html

Medieval Shoes

Guillaume wears low turn shoes. These were worn by both men and women. They were so named because the shoe was made inside out and then turned so that it could be worn.

https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/norman-poulaines-with-buckle.html