Viking Warrior vs Frankish Warrior

Francia 799–911

Viking Warrior vs Frankish Warrior cover

Description

Fully illustrated, this absorbing study assesses the warriors fighting on both sides during the Vikings' attacks on the Frankish realm in the 9th century, as raiding escalated into full-scale siege warfare.

On the eve of the 9th century, Vikings first raided the Frankish Empire on the coast of what is now western France. Although this attack ended in disaster for the Scandinavians, Charlemagne reportedly wept, not in fear of his own life, but for the ensuing bloodshed brought upon his successors. Mobile parties of highly skilled Viking warriors would continue to raid Francia for decades; as these attacking contingents grew more numerous they began to assail powerful centers, besieging Paris in 845 and again in 885. To combat the Viking threat, Frankish kings mustered scores of infantrymen, then subsequently transitioned to cavalry-based forces in the 9th century. The dynamic nature of Viking activity in Francia meant that numbers and mobility would determine the fate of Charlemagne's Holy Roman Empire.

This study documents the evolving trial of strength between the Vikings and the Franks under Charlemagne and his successors. Through a careful synthesis of primary sources, expert analysis and the archaeological record, the author invites the reader to visualize the fighting men who fought one another in Francia, and offers a balanced assessment of their successes and failures over decades of warfare during the Viking Age.

Table of Contents

Introduction
The Opposing Sides
The First Clashes, 799-840
The Great Assault, 840-77
The Later Raids, 877-911
Analysis
Aftermath
Bibliography
Index

Product details

Published May 10 2022
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 80
ISBN 9781472848857
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations Colour artwork plates and maps; black & white and colour photographs and illustrations.
Dimensions 10 x 7 inches
Series Combat
Short code CBT 63
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Illustrator

Johnny Shumate

Johnny Shumate works as a freelance illustrator li…

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