Re: Shields from markmohrfield on 2004-08-29 (HeroQuest RPG)

From: markmohrfield <markmohrfield_at_...>
Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2004 14:14:10 -0000

> > >Did it ever go out of style? Aren't some of the soldiers on the
> > >Bayeux tapestry using clubs and maces?
>
> There is a difference between soldiers and peasants. Clubs have
been around
> for ages, and have been a preferred peasant's weapon for many
reasons (no
> metal bits, can be collected from just about any tree, no need to
get
> persoanlly attached to it, so you don't care if it breaks or is
taken away,
> etc...)
>
> A Mace, on the other hand, has metal bits, making it slightly more
robust,
> more damaging, and more expensive than a simple club. Maces come
in all
> shapes and sizes, with spikes or without, with flanges or without.
Sometimes
> with stone heads instead of metal... Maces became a badge of rank
(echoed by
> the Marshal's baton, and the police nightstick), but never really
got the
> prestige that the sword did (especially in the west and Japan).
>
>

and

> > I'm not familiar enough with the Bayeux tapestry to be sure but
IIRC
> > there are some peasants who are not in any of the battle scenes
and
> > are wielding clubs or agricultural implements. The single knight
with
> > a mace has been identified with as a bishop who reportedly
carried a
> > mace because as a clergyman he shouldn't spill human blood.
>

I was thinking of a part of the tapestry that showed two mounted men in armor, one with a mace and one with a club, who according to Osprey's Men-at-Arms Saxon, Viking and Norman are identified as William and an attendent. Looking around the internet I find a web site for the tapestry at

http://www.hastings1066.com/baythumb.shtml

The two men are in part 26. I've heard that the accuracy of the Men- -arms series varies greatly depending on author, but whether or not it's actually William they are certainly knights and not peasants. On the other hand I don't see many other maces or clubs throughout it, except perhaps the fleeing english at the end.

                                                    Mark Mohrfield