Norman Conquest Encyclopedia

The commonest weapon of the Anglo-Saxon warrior was the spear, with an iron head mounted on a shaft of some six and a half feet (2m) in length. This weapon was probably dropped after the first clash with the enemy and a sword or axe would be used in hand-to-hand fighting. The Normanknight fought with a spear from horseback, holding it at shoulder level in order to stab down over a shield-wall or throw it before engaging more closely with his sword. The couched spear or lance, tucked under the arm in the charge, became common at a time later than the conquest of 1066.

You can find out more about spears in the following Osprey books:
Campaign 13 Hastings 1066 page 22
Men-at-Arms 85 Saxon, Viking and Norman pages 10-11 and 34-36
Warrior 5 Anglo-Saxon Thegn 449-1066 AD page 15.

See also: Anglo-Saxon; axe; knight; Norman; shield-wall; sword

Related Reading:

• Hastings 1066 (Revised Edition)- The Fall of Saxon England
  (Campaign 13 )
• Norman Knight AD 950-1204
  (Warrior 1)
• Viking Hersir 793-1066 AD
  (Warrior 3)
• Anglo Saxon Thegn
  (Warrior 5)
• The Vikings
  (Elite 3)
• The Normans
  (Elite 9)
• Saxon Viking Norman
  (Men-at-Arms 85)