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Author Topic: Alfred the Great & Danes : mercenaries and allies !?  (Read 864 times)

Offline Byblos

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Alfred the Great & Danes : mercenaries and allies !?
« on: September 28, 2020, 03:18:30 PM »
Hi all

I am working on an adaptation of Dux Britannarium (TFL) to the period of the reign of Alfred the Great (against the Danes)

I do not have the impression that during this period, neither the Anglo-Saxons nor the Danes, had the possibility of enlisting the services of mercenaries, nor did they have allies elsewhere.

(At least in Wessex)

What do you think !?

Offline Atheling

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Re: Alfred the Great & Danes : mercenaries and allies !?
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2020, 04:51:09 PM »
Hi all

I am working on an adaptation of Dux Britannarium (TFL) to the period of the reign of Alfred the Great (against the Danes)

I do not have the impression that during this period, neither the Anglo-Saxons nor the Danes, had the possibility of enlisting the services of mercenaries, nor did they have allies elsewhere.

(At least in Wessex)

What do you think !?


Can I assume you mean large scale clashes(?). I'm not sure about the armies of Alfred of Wessex but I believe that Harold Godwinson used employed Welsh as allies after he had fought them in Wales.

According the the Shieldwall WAB supplement you can take Bradwr (tr. traitor) who were Welsh freebooters. I think that it's safe to assume that the odd small band of Norse might have been drafted in every now and again too.
« Last Edit: September 28, 2020, 05:42:21 PM by Atheling »

Offline Byblos

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Re: Alfred the Great & Danes : mercenaries and allies !?
« Reply #2 on: September 28, 2020, 05:09:21 PM »
Hi to you

In DB, you can use mercenaries

On the other hand, the period that we would like to play is that of the reign of Alfred, we will say about 870 to 900

And during this period I do not find any mentions of employment of mercenaries either in Wessex or by the Danes

But I would like to be sure that I am not on the wrong track ...

Offline westwaller

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Re: Alfred the Great & Danes : mercenaries and allies !?
« Reply #3 on: September 28, 2020, 05:29:50 PM »
During the reign of Alfred , Exeter ( which was part of Wessex) was known to have had native Britons living alongside the Saxons so you could have some British mercenaries/allies perhaps.

 

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