Charlemagne's Paladins - roleplaying in the 8th century

[DanHoward]

Originally Posted by Þorkell

It isn't possible or plausible that the poor fighters looted armour from the battlefield and used in the next fight they were in? Or is this something that was out of the question for social reasons?

Depends. In many situations the commander got the loot and decided who to give it to. Most lower ranked fighters only campaigned for a few months and then went back home. What can he do with looted armour? He isn't going to store it in a chest for years on the off chance that he will be called up again some time in the future. Most likely he would sell it to pay his taxes. In many jurisdictions body armour was a restricted item; only authorised people were allowed to keep it. In this case it was kept in monasteries and churches and only permitted to be issued to direct vassals. A peasant with body armour would be treated the same as a peasant with a warhorse.

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by Þorkell

It isn't possible or plausible that the poor fighters looted armour from the battlefield and used in the next fight they were in?

That's possible. But common?

Though I seem to recall that there is a bit in the Bayeux Tapestry in which one side (and I think it was the Normans) stripped armour off their dead and wounded and re-issued it to unarmoured fighters.

Or is this something that was out of the question for social reasons?

Blokes with armour didn't die all that often in fights against blokes sans armour. When they died in fights against blokes with armour the victors tended to snaffle it rather than leaving it lying around for Tom, Dick, and Harry to pick up.

[DanHoward]

Originally Posted by Agemegos

Though I seem to recall that there is a bit in the Bayeux Tapestry in which one side (and I think it was the Normans) stripped armour off their dead and wounded and re-issued it to unarmoured fighters.

There are scenes of fallen fighters getting their armour stripped. I can't recall anything about what happened to it afterwards.

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by DanHoward

There are scenes of fallen fighters getting their armour stripped. I can't recall anything about what happened to it afterwards.

Perhaps I read a fanciful interpretation.

[Hans Rancke-Madsen]

Originally Posted by Gustavus Adolphus

I don't think that is "fantasy": "fantasy" means "completely improbable".

No, it mean 'a product of the imagination'.



Hans

[Peter Knutsen]

Originally Posted by DanHoward

It is plausible in the 11th century. Not in the 8th century.

The OP may have a certain anachronism tolerance threshols, for his setting.

For my 10th century Ärth setting, I'm willing to pull something backwards in time, by as much as 50 or 75 years, if it's sufficiently cool. That, but not more, and it has to be cool enough to warrant it.

Anders may feel like 25 years, or 150 years, or opt for a zero-tolerance stance.

[Anders]

I tend to let Rule of Fun overrule history, but I find the discussion fascinating.

How would you get to the Holy Land from, say Aachen? My guess is overland to Genoa and then by boat - stopping by on the way for supplies, although I don't know where that would be.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Anders

How would you get to the Holy Land from, say Aachen? My guess is overland to Genoa and then by boat - stopping by on the way for supplies, although I don't know where that would be.

Venice is another potential port, and was important in at least one crusade. For resupply points, stop at islands that belong to whichever nation is transporting you.

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by Anders

How would you get to the Holy Land from, say Aachen? My guess is overland to Genoa and then by boat - stopping by on the way for supplies, although I don't know where that would be.

Up the Rhine, down the Danube to Adrianople, then to Constantinople, boat across the Bosporus, overland to Antioch, then south to Jerusalem. I think that's the approximate route of the Great German Pilgrimage of 1064 and one half of the First Crusade. There were routes that went south to embark on ships at, I think, Amalfi and Genoa.

[Anders]

I'm not so sure about traveling the Danube. Remember, the Slavs and Avars are pagans and may not take kindly to Christian pilgrims.