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I'm surprised no one else has answered, but of all my readings of Anglo-Saxon history the principal weapon was the spear. This was not unique to the Anglo-Saxons but was true of most north Germanic nations who adopted the battle strategy of the 'shield-wall'. The sword was also an important weapon and one that was highly treasured being the most expensive to have made and often worn as an heirloom. A reading of the poetry seems to indicate that although the spear was the main weapon, the sword was utilised on a personal level or when the spear was 'shattered'. The other often unmentioned weapon was the 'scramasaex'. This was essentially a long knife or short sword, often inscribed with runes and in rare cases made from a pattern welded blade which is more usually associated with swords. They did use bows and arrows though no great mention is ever made of it and also a small throwing axe known as a 'francisca', pronounced 'frankisher' after the Frankish weapon.
A reading of any translation of the Anglo-Saxon poem 'The Battle of Maldon' will furnish details of the contemporary weapons, tactics and mindset of those particular warriors. A very fine translation can be found in 'Earliest English Poems; trans. Michael Alexander, Penguin Classics,.
A very good starting point for all things Anglo-Saxon is 'Anglo-Saxon England' by F.M. Stenton, Oxford University Press.
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EzraI'm surprised no one else has answered, but of all my readings of Anglo-Saxon history the principal weapon was the spear. This was not unique to the Anglo-Saxons but was true of most north Germanic nations who adopted the battle strategy of the 'shield-wall'. The sword was also an important weapon and one that was highly treasured being the most expensive to have made and often worn as an heirloom. A reading of the poetry seems to indicate that although the spear was the main weapon, the sword was utilised on a personal level or when the spear was 'shattered'. The other often unmentioned weapon was the 'scramasaex'. This was essentially a long knife or short sword, often inscribed with runes and in rare cases made from a pattern welded blade which is more usually associated with swords. They did use bows and arrows though no great mention is ever made of it and also a small throwing axe known as a 'francisca', pronounced 'frankisher' after the Frankish weapon.
A reading of any translation of the Anglo-Saxon poem 'The Battle of Maldon' will furnish details of the contemporary weapons, tactics and mindset of those particular warriors. A very fine translation can be found in 'Earliest English Poems; trans. Michael Alexander, Penguin Classics,.
A very good starting point for all things Anglo-Saxon is 'Anglo-Saxon England' by F.M. Stenton, Oxford University Press.
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Who converted the Saxons?
Augustine
Why did Charlemagne come down so hard on the Saxons?
Because the Saxons had mistreated the Franks, and because he wanted Christianity to become the dominant religion.
Which of the tribes controlled what is now Spain?
Visigoths
Why did the Anglo Saxons settle beside rivers?
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A barbaric tribe that helped bring about the collapse of rome?
Several Germanic tribes and the Alans (who were Iranian speakers) contributed to the fall of the western part of the Roman Empire (which is what the term fall of Rome refers to). In continental Europe they were: the Vandals, Sueves, Alemanni, Burgundians and Visigoths. On Britain they were the Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Frisians.
