can you help me with my homework on housecarls?

[lisabeanie]

:help: hi every one I am 11 years old and I got set some homework on housecarls. I have to pretend to be a house carl and write home.:help:
I need help :help:

[Patron]

H-O-M-E

Bring a wood axe into school and shout things like "HOLY CROSS" and "SAINT GEORGE"

[TheSilverKnight]

Bring a wooden axe to school and start pillaging ~D

[Yoyoma1910]

Try the people at this site: http://www.huscarls.com/ They're much older than eleven, but do your homework assignment for kicks. They can probably give you the feel of it all.

[English assassin]

Very helpful, people.

Lisabeanie you should probably ask to move this thread to the monastery (the History forum)

Otherwise, you might have a look at a summary of Beowulf to get a flavour of life in a great king's hall. Watch out though because its fiction, so if your essay is meant to be very historical it may not be the best place to start.

here's how Wikipedia summarised the early bit of the story. It might help give an idea of the sorts of things a Huscarl would write home about.



Beowulf depicts a Germanic warrior society, in which the relationship between the leader, or king, and his thanes is of paramount importance. This relationship is defined in terms of provision and service; the thanes defend the interest of the king in return for material provisions: weapons, armor, gold, silver, food, and drinks.

This society is strongly defined in terms of kinship; if a relative is killed it is the duty of surviving relatives to exact revenge upon his killer, either with his own life or with weregild, a reparational payment. In fact, the hero's very existence owes itself to this fact, as his father Ecgtheow was banished for having killed Heatholaf, a man from the prominent Wulfing clan. He sought refuge at the court of Hrothgar who graciously paid the weregild. Ecgtheow did not return home, but became one of the Geatish king Hrethel's housecarls and married his daughter, by whom he had Beowulf. The duty of avenging killed kinsmen became the undoing of king Hrethel, himself, because when his oldest son Herebeald was killed by his own brother Hæthcyn in a hunting accident, it was a death that could not be avenged. Hrethel died from the sorrow.

Moreover, this is a world governed by fate and destiny. The belief that fate controls him is a central factor in all of Beowulf's actions.

The story of Beowulf tells how King Hrothgar built a great hall called Heorot for his people. In it he and his warriors spend their time singing and celebrating, until Grendel, angered by their singing, attacks the hall and kills and eats many of Hrothgar's warriors. Hrothgar and his men, helpless against Grendel's attacks, have to abandon Heorot.

Beowulf, a young warrior, hears of Hrothgar's troubles and, with his king's permission, goes to help Hrothgar. Beowulf and his men spend the night in Heorot. After they fall asleep, Grendel enters the hall and attacks them, eating up one of Beowulf's men. Beowulf grabs Grendel's arm in a wrestling hold, and the two crash around in Heorot until it seems as though the hall will fall down with their fighting. Beowulf's men draw their swords and rush to his help, but there is a magic around Grendel that makes it impossible for swords to hurt him. Finally, Beowulf tears Grendel's arm from his body, and Grendel runs home to die.

The next night, after celebrating Grendel's death, Hrothgar and his men sleep in Heorot. But Grendel's Mother attacks the hall, killing Hrothgar's most trusted warrior in revenge for Grendel's death. Hrothgar and Beowulf and their men track Grendel's Mother to her lair under an eerie lake. Beowulf prepares himself for battle; he is presented a sword, Hrunting, by a warrior called Unferth. After stipulating a number of conditions upon his death to Hrothgar (including the taking in of his kinsmen, and the inheritance by Underth of Beowulf's estate) Beowulf dives into the lake. There, he is swiftly detected and grasped by Grendel's mother. She, unable to harm Beowulf through his armour, drags him to the bottom. There, in a cavern containing son's body and the remains of many men that the two have killed, Grendel's mother fights Beowulf. Grendel's mother at first prevails, after Beowulf, finding that the sword given him by Unferth cannot harm his foe, discards it in a fury. Again, he is saved from the effects of his opponent's attack by his armour and, grasping a mighty sword from Grendel's mother's armoury (which, the poem tells us, no other man could have hefted in battle) Beowulf beheads her. Travelling further into the lair, Beowulf discovers Grendels corpse; he severs the head, and with it he returns to Heorot, where he is given many gifts by a even more grateful Hrothgar.

[King Henry V]

Right, first question, English Housecarles or Danish Huskarls? English housecarles were drawn from the nobility or thegns as they were called. Danish huskarls were simply great warriors who had sworn to protect their lord, and often received conquered land in payment for their service. Both were household troops, forming the bodyguard of their King. In the Dark Ages, they would be the only permanant standing army of the kingdom, and a special tax was levied to pay for them, they were professionals, and dedicated to the service of their lord. Housecarles would be heavily armoured, in knee-length mail coats, an iron helmet and would often carry a battle-axe, an enourmous, four-foot long, two-handed axe.
Hope this helps.~:)
P.S This should be in the Monastery, where other, more learned members could perhaps help you.:bow:

[Vladimir]

Plus, if you get frustrated you could tell the teacher that huskarls were illiterate and couldn't write home anyway. Or if you want to impress him/her you can "role play" and say that he dictated it to a priest and submit a version in Latin (the older the better). ~:cheers:

[miho]

:help: hi every one I am 11 years old and I got set some homework on housecarls. I have to pretend to be a house carl and write home.:help:
I need help :help:
This thread should really go to monastery. They can help you more than we can. Do your magic Mithrandir.

[antisocialmunky]

Why are we doing his homework for him? He won't learn anythign this way.

[Vladimir]

I think Lisa is a girls name. Besides, this is called research ~D .

[ajaxfetish]

Hi LB,

The two biggest things I'd say you need to think about are:

1. As a housecarl, what would you write home about?
2. As a housecarl, what are you like and how do you think?

As for the first one, it's entirely up to you. You can try to be realistic or get really creative, and whatever you choose to write about have fun and make it interesting.

As for the second, it's kind of like acting in a play. You need to get "in character." Think of what it would be like to be a housecarl. You are a big, bad, axe-wielding machine. In a time when most soldiers are farmers called away from home to defend the country, you are a full-time professional. You have the training, equipment, and experience no one else has. You are the elite, the best of the best. You should know about this from playing VI. Remember how those Saxon huskarls tear right through armored spearmen, Celtic warriors, even Royal Bodyguards? Know your power, and feel proud.
:knight:

Because you don't have a regular job, you rely on your king to take care of your needs. He gave you your weapons and armor, he buys your food, he gives you a place to sleep, etc.
~:cheers:

You've been around. You've travelled more than most people on your campaigns. You've seen war. You know what people, wars, soldiers, kings, politics, etc. are like.
:duel:

Remember the time. Your everyday life is different than the one you experience in reality. There is no TV. There are no computer games. There is no toilet paper (or even a toilet). Et cetera.

Anyway, have fun . . . it sounds like a really cool assignment. You must have a pretty cool teacher. Maybe when you finish your letter you could post it here for us to see?

Ajax

[Mithrandir]

Hi Mom,

how are you? I'm fine.
I'm eating my daily vegatables so don't worry.


Moved to the monastery where people with much more knowledge than me can help you.

-Mithrandir.

[King Henry V]

Why are we doing his homework for him? He won't learn anythign this way.
Well she still has to write it herslef, where just telling where to get information and what she should write. Spoilsport.~;p

[Tribesman]

Hi Mom,

how are you? I'm fine.
I'm eating my daily vegatables so don't worry.


Hi mom , I am a little tired after going all the way up north then back south again , but we are at the top of a hill so it should be easy to run down it .
Will write again after we have finished this business in Hastings ~;)

[Kaiser of Arabia]

Why are we doing his homework for him? He won't learn anythign this way.
Kinda harsh.

Either way, weren't Housecarls/Huscarls a form of Viking heavy infantry (excuse the formalities, I think in more modern terms than this period)? If they were vikings, you can write about going into a bloodlust enduced battle rage during a raid on a scottish village...

I'm going overboard now, aren't I?

This is a hard topic, I know when I was 11, we never even mentioned Vikings.

And yes, Lisa is a girl's name. I beleive this is the same Lisa that asked the .ORG how to defeat her father in a game of MTW? I may be mistaken though.

Either way, good luck with the assaignment and these knowlageable gentlemen should be able to help you out, if you have something post 1800 I may be of more assisstance.

[King Henry V]

The Housecarls were both Saxon and Nordic soldiers. They both formed the bodyguards of their and important leaders but were unlikely to go "Viking", i.e to raid.

[edyzmedieval]

And what were the Varangians then?! Weren't they Huskarls also?! ~;)

[Kagemusha]

And what were the Varangians then?! Weren't they Huskarls also?! ~;)

Huskarls were the close men the bodyguards of an Saxon or Viking chief. They were professional soldiers who didnt farm but were supported by their lord.Im not bying that they were uniformed.They were the strongmen of their people and i think used the weapon that suited them best personally.If you have to jump in the shoes of an Huskarl you should think yourself as an hired hand, but wery admired one.You would go where your lord tells you and protecting him wouild be your primary objective always.And yes Edyz varangians were Huskarls also after they were get paid by the Bysantine emperor to be his bodyguards.~D Lisa i hope that you post your writing here in the Monastery after its finished.~:)

[edyzmedieval]

Varangians = Huskarls = Clibinarii Immortals = Hunnic Warlord = Hatamoto = Roman General = Carthaginian General =.....

And the list goes on... ~D

[Kagemusha]

Yes sir, you are right!~:)

[King Henry V]

Varangians = Huskarls = Clibinarii Immortals = Hunnic Warlord = Hatamoto = Roman General = Carthaginian General =.....

And the list goes on... ~D
No. Half the soldiers on the list are mounted, which the Housecarls cartainly weren't. They rode horses into battle, but never used them in combat.

[Kagemusha]

I think basicly Edyz is just saying that the similarity between those troop types was that they were all bodyguards.~:)

[Incongruous]

It became apparent to the Englisc after the major Viking incursions that the double handed axe ws a fairly nifty weapon. Though it was probably only used in small numbers at first by a few thegns.
I think it was with the reinstitution of the House of Wessex after the death of Cnut's son that the Housecarls became a standing and well organised bodyguard used at Hastings (though it was used before I believe), feared throught Europe and beyond as the greatest axemen of their time. Contrary to popular belief the Housecarles could swing their axes at amazing speed while still keeping their deadly cutting power (they could cleve a horse in two!).

After the defeat of the Englisc at Senlac aka Hastings many Engliscmen fled to eastern Europe forming the feared Englisc section of the Varangian guard.
It is also possible that many fled into Germany and Hungary to serve there.

In the years preceeding 1066 many Harold Godwinson took a body of Housecarls with him to wales where after a bitter camapign subdued the welsh princes.

[edyzmedieval]

I think basicly Edyz is just saying that the similarity between those troop types was that they were all bodyguards.~:)

Kagemusha is right. That's what I meant. ~:cheers:

[lisabeanie]

Kinda harsh.
And yes, Lisa is a girl's name. I beleive this is the same Lisa that asked the .ORG how to defeat her father in a game of MTW? I may be mistaken though.
That was me! And I am a girl.

Anyway how exactaly do you move a thread?

Beaniebabe

[Mikeus Caesar]

That was me! And I am a girl.

Anyway how exactaly do you move a thread?

Beaniebabe

Don't worry, it's been moved. Anyway, in future, i recommend listening to your teacher, rather than having to ask us idiots to do your homework.

Good luck :bow:

[English assassin]

Hi Mom,

how are you? I'm fine.
I'm eating my daily vegatables so don't worry.


Hi mom , I am a little tired after going all the way up north then back south again , but we are at the top of a hill so it should be easy to run down it .
Will write again after we have finished this business in Hastings ~;)


LoL

Just a quick note. These Normans have no idea. They've got these archers but King Harold says they couldn't hit a barn door from that far awa....

[Tribesman]

They've got these archers but King Harold says they couldn't hit a barn door from that far awa....
Especially that unhappy Odo Balistarius fellow , they say he is cross with his bow .~;)

[Kaiser of Arabia]

That was me! And I am a girl.

Anyway how exactaly do you move a thread?

Beaniebabe
Thought so. Good luck with the homework, sorry I couldn't be more of a help. :bow:

[GoreBag]

Were huscarls literate?

[AntiochusIII]

Were huscarls literate?Supposedly not. Not many people in England, or most of Europe, for that matter, was literate. Most were priests, monks, or involved in some ways to the Catholic church. Even kings sometimes weren't literate.

But I'm not really sure about the situation for the Varangian guards in Constantinople, though. Some Byzantonophiles could shed a better light, since the empire was rather more advanced than its neighbors by the time of Hastings. Though clearly not everybody (if any?) would be literate.

-------------------------------------------

Good luck on your homework, Lisa. I'm sorry I won't be of much help.

Just realize that, as a Huskarl (or Housecarl?), you aren't actually literate. ~;)

In case you couldn't do your homework in time, tell the teacher that you are a Huskarl and you didn't know how to write, and start acting like you're swinging an invisible giant axe on an invisible enemy instead. ~;) Then tell the teacher that you're fighting for your Lord in some faraway land and you're too busy to get the message to your mother, and that she knows you're serving your Lord, so nothing to worry about.

What kind of advice is that!?

Kindly post your letter for us to see if you could write them in time, though. ~:)

[Incongruous]

Hmmm...
I suppose its possible, I mean they were Thegns.
No I reckon the average Housecarle was illiterate.

[lugh]

I'd imagine most people were illiterate, considering the cream of European nobility was still mainly illiterate at the time of the Crusades and were talking of what, 2-3 centuries earlier?
They still would have been able to write home though. Priests, clerics etc often fulfilled the role.

[Geoffrey S]

It'd be a nice touch to say at the start you've found a priest to write down your words.

[Watchman]

At the time literacy tended to be the domain of the clergy (including monks and suchlike), although I suspect you'd best off not expecting too much from the average village priest, and the thin layer of clerks, scribes and suchlike who helped the assorted big names actually run things. At least a part of the actual ruling class (you know, the landowners the knights and huscarles worked for) ought to have been literate too - they were probably expected to be in principle, but you know how these things work in practice.

Huscarles (lit. "men of the house") were pretty much the closest thing Viking Age Scandinavian chiefs (and their later descendants and imitators in England) came to standing army; professional full-time warriors (and, in peacetime, general household aides) equipped and supported at the lord's expense in return of otahs of loyalty and service. They formed the hard core of the armies otherwise made up of part-timers fulfilling their obligations to their lord and armed at their own expense, albeit usually to certain minimum standards.

The institution almost certainly developed from the ancient practise of Germanic cheiftains gathering a troop of "sworn men" around themselves as a safety and military measure, as more or less did the early form of knighthood developing at the same time. There actually isn't much difference between the early knights and the huscarles beyond their tactical role (ones being heavy infantry and others shock cavalry), both being paid soldiers sworn to serve a lord. Aside from some details in weaponry - cavalrymen naturally had an affinity to the spear, which later developed into the lance, whereas the heavy infantrymen could make fairly wide use of the two-handed "danish" axe - even most of their gear would have been the same; a pot helm, a shirt (byrnie) or coat (hauberk) of mail, invariably a sword, and a shield.

[ajaxfetish]

While most huscarls would certainly be illiterate, there could always be exceptions. Our fellow could have been raised in a monastery, or if it's an earlier part of the age he could have been trained in Carolingian France.

During the 1st crusade, which someone mentioned was a time when many leaders still were illiterate, records were kept not only by clerics but also by an anonymous Norman knight (not the most likely class of crusader to read and write). Sometimes the common folk can surprise you.

Ajax