Norman Conquest Encyclopedia

The use of a shield held in one hand while a sword, spear or small axe was wielded in the other had been common for centuries when the Normans invaded England in 1066. Both Anglo-Saxons and Vikings had used a relatively small, round shield, usually made of wood with a leather covering and a metal boss in the centre which provided protection and support for the handhold on the reverse. By the 11th century the kite shield had become usual for both Norman knights and English housecarls, as the Bayeux Tapestry illustrates.

You can find out more about shields in the following Osprey books:
Campaign 13 Hastings 1066 page 22
Elite 9 The Normans pages 5-6
Warrior 1 Norman Knight pages 13-14 and 54-56
Warrior 3 Viking Hersir 793-1066 AD pages 48 and Plate C
Warrior 5 Anglo-Saxon Thegn 449-1066 AD page 15.

See also: Anglo-Saxon; axe; Bayeux Tapestry; housecarl; kite shield; knight; Normans; spear; sword; Viking

Related Reading:

• Hastings 1066 (Revised Edition)- The Fall of Saxon England
  (Campaign 13 )
• The Normans
  (Elite 9)
• Norman Knight AD 950-1204
  (Warrior 1)
• Viking Hersir 793-1066 AD
  (Warrior 3)
• Anglo Saxon Thegn (Warrior 5)