Housecarl infantry of Harold Godwinson

E357717

The Housecarl infantry of Harold Godwinson were elite, heavily armed Anglo-Saxon professional warriors who served as the king’s personal troops and formed the core of his army in major battles.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Housecarl infantry of Harold Godwinson canonical 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf elite infantry unit
housecarl
professional warrior retinue
activeDuring reign of Harold Godwinson
allegiance House of Wessex
surface form: Anglo-Saxon monarchy

Harold Godwinson
approximateSize several hundred warriors at Hastings
associatedWith Anglo-Saxon nobility
royal household of Harold Godwinson
commandedBy Harold Godwinson
compensation paid in coin
rewarded with land grants
country Kingdom of England
culturalInfluence Danish royal housecarl system
Norse military traditions
disbandedAfter Norman Conquest of England
endCause replacement by Norman feudal knightly retinues
engagedIn Battle of Hastings
Battle of Stamford Bridge
equipment Danish-style long-handled battle-axe
conical helmet with nasal guard
mail hauberk
round or kite shield
sword
historicalRegion England
historicalSource The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
surface form: Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

Norman chroniclers such as William of Poitiers
language Old English
militaryBranchOf Harold Godwinson
militaryDoctrine close protection of the king in battle
militaryFunction defensive heavy infantry
shock infantry
notableFor high discipline and training
serving as the king’s personal guard
steadfast defense in shield wall at Hastings
opposedBy Norman invaders under William the Conqueror
partOf late Anglo-Saxon military system
recruitment drawn from Anglo-Scandinavian warrior elite
maintained as full-time household troops
role core heavy infantry of the royal army
royal bodyguard
socialStatus landed retainers
professional soldiers
tactics fighting on foot in close-order shield wall
use of heavy axes to break enemy formations
timePeriod 11th century

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Battle of Stamford Bridge hasParticipant Housecarl infantry of Harold Godwinson