Bill T's amazing Jomsvikings (my go at painting them)

[Dr. The Viking]

That's not too bad!

[Dalauppror]

Great paint job !!!

[Suber]

Wow! So nice painting!

[Ray Earle]

Lovely painting. Look forward to seeing more. 

[Big Frank]

Very nice. Look forward to seeing more.

[valleyboy]

Superbly finished - I'm looking forward to seeing the rest

[ErikB]

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I learned recently that the big square shield design was descendent from late Eastern Roman shields as opposed to the round, more Western design. 

Not sure why one camp would use round and the other square.  Maybe it is simply cultural, VHS vs. Beta.

[Atheling]

Lovely work 

Darrell.

[Volleyfire!]

As far as I know the Jomsviking aren't pure historical, more of a legend based on certain viking sagas. And since they lived in what today is Poland (on the island of Wollin) the Rus connection isn't too far fetched. 

Anyway, beautiful painting on those, and yeah they are amazing sculpts!

According to Robert Ferguson's book The Hammer and the Cross the Jomsvikings were based on Wolin in the fortress Jomsberg as you say. Following Harald Bluetooth's being driven into exile by his son Sven and his subsequent death from an arrow wound, the remnant of his now leaderless hird could not return to Denmark and made their home there in the fort.
 It became a military brotherhood for men aged 18 -50 apparently.
 Family connections counted for nothing in deciding whether to admit new members or not; a member might not flee from an opponent as brave and well armed as himself; the expression of fear was forbidden no matter how hopeless the situation; members were to avenge each other as if they were brothers; all booty taken, regardless of value, was put into a common store; it was forbidden to start a quarrel within the fort; women were forbidden entry to the fort; and absence from the fort for more than 3 days wasn't allowed.
   

[Too Bo Coo]

Wonderful!  I shall follow this with great interest!

[Too Bo Coo]

As far as I know the Jomsviking aren't pure historical, more of a legend based on certain viking sagas. And since they lived in what today is Poland (on the island of Wollin) the Rus connection isn't too far fetched. 

Anyway, beautiful painting on those, and yeah they are amazing sculpts!

For those that have been there, in front of St Basil's in Red Square is this statue



And while they're not in armor as such, you can see there are strong connections to viking culture.  It drives my fiance crazy when I tell her this...

[Hubbynz]

Lovely painting. I have almost finished painting 5 Gripping beast Jomsvikings also. Very characterful miniatures.

[HerbyF]

Large Square or rectangular sheilds were in common use in the east. Rus, eastern Germans, and Slavs all used them. And as a common practice among raiders on campaign replacing broken arms & equipment was what ever they could pick up off of fallen freinds or foes was put into use.

[moiterei_1984]

Spiffing paintjob! Great choice of colours.