By Heather Brown 2 October 2009 Military Organization

Anglo-Saxon Military Organization  difficult and obscure subject  the details of developments are not particularly known  the Saxons did not need to define their military organization for themselves  part of everyday life eager

The Start  Known as the fyrd  Started as simple war bands, small bodies of semi-professional or solely professional warriors led by their chosen chiefs

Fyrd  raised by selective recruitment, rather than a general levy  most were thegns, a class in the Anglo-Saxon culture

Fyrd  charters require five men from thirty hides or one man for thirty hides  hides are areas of land  If you were summoned you were to report to the representative of your chapter

The Chief  Loyalty to a chief was the greatest virtue  When a chief died in battle his men would die avenging him  It was dishonorable to leave the battlefield on which your lord had been slain

Summoned for the Fyrd  You were equipped with: spear shield helm byrnie palfrey (riding horse)

Fleets  warriors were needed as seaman for fleets  five hide units were combined in some regions into districts of 300 hides, called ship sokes  these were required to produce sixty sokesmen (warrior seamen)  they manned construction and maintenance of a warship

Times of Peace  When not at war, the fyrd had to serve one month of three in rotation so that there was always a substantial force on hand  They acted as a police, to catch criminals, and deal with the widespread problems.

National Land-Fyrd A national land-fyrd consisted of : the forces of the eolderdoms, shires, hundreds (private and royal), private sokes various companies of troops and personal retainers brought by the king

Sources  Information:  Pictures: ip.jpg stguard_by_E_Paul.jpg