Sub-Roman Britain (Cavalry etc)

[Alanus]

Yes it seems that our cavalry has become affordable once again. However I doubt Riothamos had 12,000 men with him, more than likely more like 1200. Also in the book "Arthur and the Anglo-Saxon wars" on page 15, figure B. The sword is called a "Grooved 650AD" type. However having reaserched extensively I have found no sword in the era they claim it came from but two centuries earlier I'm finding Alanic swords with that very design. It seems everything is coming together. Soon we're going to need a weapons and armour check. Also in Powys and Dumnonia a continued presence of mass military brooches and belt buckles continues into the mid-fifth century, your thoughts?

Nicholas,

Well you know Jordanes the Exaggerating Goth. Makes it sound like King Euric defeated a larger enemy. :lol: But what is important, regardless of the actual number fielded, is that the Britons could send an army overseas to aid Rome at a time when-- SUPPOSEDLY!!-- the Saxons were tearing the island apart. It goes against the grain of "Welsh tradition," which in the long run appears to be "folk-exaggerated rumor" turned into "Victorian truth." 8)

I'd like to see an illustration of the "Grooved 650AD" type. Basically, the Migration sword grips got shorter, the grip check was widened and compressed into a quillion, and they got fancier with more cloisonne and less jewels. The grips remained ribbed, actually (I think) a piece of gold sheeting, silver on the less expensive. They had all kinds of attributed names-- "Hunnic sword" "Gothic sword"-- but they extended from Saka/Alanic models. I think the Frankish and Alamanic craftsmen hammered out the best later ones.

The buckles have always been called "late Roman" or "Germanic mercenary," typically with dragons, dolphins, and lions. Curiously, the same style of buckle is also found in the Balkans-- Taifali-Gothic territories.

Like I said, the newer picture shows a continuing of a quasi-Roman lifestyle throughout 5th century Britain. Gildas, writing c. 530, doesn't complain about a disintigration of prosperity even though he carps about everything else. So, yes I think nobles were still wearing decent armor and waving expensive swords, more expensive than the plainer ones Benjamin listed. :wink:

aj