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Gallowglass[]
The Gallowglass were Norse-Scots and later Irish who served as elite mercenary warriors for the many clans of medieval Ireland from 1259 to the mid-16th century. Originating from the western coast of Argyll and the Western Isles of Scotland, the Gallowglass were descended from Vikings who settled and intermarried with the local Scots, although the first records of their service would begin in 1259 during the 13th century, when the king of Connacht received a dowry of 160 Scottish warriors, which were organized into formations known as corrughadh, although it may be possible that they began appearing earlier, as they were supposedly a factor in containing the invasions of the Anglo-Normans.
The Gallowglass became favored warriors of the emerald isle, being used by various lordships against each other or the invading Englishmen, and even by the invading Englishmen such as the Lord Deputy of Ireland. Although mercenaries, along with pay the Gallowglass were given land and supplies from the local populace in return for their service similar to Knights. The Gallowglass would exist well past the Middle Ages into the Renaissance and the age of gunpowder, with the Gallowglass making up an important piece of the Irish forces of the Nine Years' War, and even the Thirty Years' War, where they would serve on the European mainland in various elite guard infantry units.
From this point, the Gallowglass seemed to fade out of historical sources and were likely gradually displaced due to the growing power of the English and the advancement of firearms technology, making their specialization as shock troops redundant against large swaths of gun-toting infantry.
Sparth Axe
Longsword
Chainmail, Jacket & Bascinet Helm
Gallowglass were specifically noted to wear mail (likely hauberk) shirts over padded jackets in contrast to the relatively lighter infantry such as Kerns that they fought alongside. Hauberk typically reached to the knees, constructed from interlocking loops of metal and ringed mail, with a padded or quilted shirt typically worn under.
Gallowglass did not always have a consistent form of helm either, with various designs being attributed, though one pattern that was seemingly common were bascinet styled helms. The Lough Henney helmet, shown at the top, covered much of the wearer's head barring a nose guard and two eye slits. The second design shown below in art of the period depicts an open helm with the wearer's face exposed while keeping the rest of their head protected.
Darts
Experience[]
The Gallowglass were elite mercenaries who partook in Irish conflicts and remained relevant for hundreds of years. By the time of the late medieval period, they would have had sizeable experience against the forces of opposing Irish lords, mainly consisting of light infantry and cavalry, and the English arrivals in Ireland, who often levied decently equipped infantry and mounted Knightly cavalry, even in the 15th century when Knights began to field heavy plate armor. The Gallowglass were however, distinctly limited to the British Isles and as a result, likely had little to no experience against more diverse forces. Though, Gallowglass did fight other Gallowglass so opposing heavy infantry wouldn't be new to them. Gallowglass would also face off against gunpowder armies in the later 15th century, but were not very effective against them.
Training[]
Surprisingly, there is no record of how Gallowglass' trained in any medieval Irish chronicle or document. In the later 16th century however, some sources state that Gallowglass would learn from their relatives on how to fight from the age of 16, similar to other historical warrior castes. But again, we have no real detail on any drills or specialized training other than "these guys knew how to fight." The only potential exception was a formation they used in battle called "Castle of Bones", a tightly packed formation in the center of the battle array to protect infantry and cavalry.
Discipline[]
The Gallowglass were exceptionally disciplined and ruthless mercenaries who proved loyal to their lords, assuming they were given good pay in currency or land. Gallowglass were initially sought out because of their unrelation to the internal politics of Irish clans, and proved such when they would go against each other into battle, even if they were from different branches of the same kindred, putting aside familial ties for their contracted obligations. The Gallowglass did commit atrocities and crimes, although they did not go above and beyond contemporary forces of the time (not to excuse them, all atrocities are terrible). The Gallowglass had a code of honor, which gave them an oath to serve their lords even under the most dire of circumstances and fight to the last man, which they typically did so.
Battle of Knockdoe, 1504[]
The Battle of Knockdoe took place in 1504 between the forces of Clanricarde Ulick Burke and Earl of Kildare Garret Fitzgerald, who had a force of 4,000 and 6,000 respectively, the majority of them Gallowglass. The men of the Clanricarde charged the Earl's army through arrow fire, and engaged in deadly hand to hand combat. The Earl's numerical superiority proved decisive, and Burke was forced to retreat, the opposing Gallowglass pursuing them across the River Clare and inflicting heavy casualties. Firearms were used in this battle, as there was a mention of one of the Burkes being beaten to death with a handgun, the first account of a firearm in Irish history.
Battle of Farsetmore, 1567[]
The Battle of Farsetmore took place near Letterkenney, Ulster in Northern Ireland between the Kingdom of Tyrone and the Kingdom of Tyrconnell and clans O'Neill and O'Donnell respectively. Gallowglass were present in both sides of the battle. While the O'Neills were initially surprised by the O'Donnells in the meeting engagement, the Gallowglass managed to stay firm and resist for a "long time", until they were finally cut down and the O'Neill forces made into a rout. The Gallowglass of the O'Donnells likely too part in this fighting, although are not explicitly mentioned like the O'Neills.Varangian Guard[]
The Varangian Guard were Norse and Anglo-Saxon mercenaries who served as the elite bodyguards of the Byzantine Emperor from the 10th to the 13th or 14th century. The military unit's ancestry dates back to the Varangians, Vikings who settled in Eastern Europe and would come to form the Rurikid Dynasty of Novgorod and the later Kievan Rus' of the 9th century, many of whom were sent to fight alongside the Byzantine Army through treaties between the Eastern Romans and Rus' and later mercenaries. In 988, Emperor Basil II formed the Varangian Guard after an exchange with Vladimir I of Kiev, who gave the Emperor 6,000 unruly men he could not afford to pay, with an agreement to officially Christianize the Rus'. These men would be formally instituted as an elite guard, and were led by Basil himself to crush rebel forces at Chrysopolis, the Northmen being noted for their ferocity in combat and how they had chased down the fleeing army, "cheerfully hacking them to pieces."
These men would come to form the Varangian Guard, the personal bodyguards of the Byzantine Emperor, becoming one of the most important parts of Byzantine diplomacy and military investments. Harald Hardrada was chief of the guard before he deserted and became the King of Norway during the 11th century. After Harald had lost his gamble in England and the Normans had taken the throne, emigrating Anglo-Saxons and Danes began to fill the ranks of the guard as well, along with several other waves of recruits over time.
The Varangians would begin to fade from written sources in the 13th century. They most notably took part in the Siege of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade, where they fought against assailants on the walls in brutal hand to hand fighting, and the last written mention of their existence being in the Chronicle of the Morea (the Greek version specifically), where they were said to have escorted the Prince of Achaia to his imprisonment in 1259. From this point, the history of the Varangians remains uncertain, although there are claims that did last until the very end of the Byzantines during the Fall of Constantinople, but the evidence seems to be relatively flimsy at best or the "Varangians" in question were simply descendants.
Dane Axe
Spathion
Lamellar, Leather Bra & Conical Helmet
Varangian Armor is fairly difficult to assess as there is little documentation of what they could have worn, however it is likely that they wore some form of Lamellar armor as was common in Byzantium from the reign of Basil II up to at least the 12th century and possibly later. Lamellar consisted of small lamellae platelets which are laced together together in horizontal rows, typically made of metal or leather, and was resistant against cutting and piercing weapons, although no impenetrable. It also had much more freedom of movement in comparison to other contemporary armors, such as scale.
Varangians and several other Byzantine military units at the time were known to wear a leather harness often dubbed the Varangian Bra, with two shoulder straps worn over what was usually depicted to be lamellar, likely for extra protection.
Helmets are even harder, but a design popular within many armies at the time was a conical styled helmet . The conical helmet provided excellent defense for the head and left a glancing surface for downward strokes, and typically sported either a defensive nose guard or was completely enclosed barring the eye slits.
Kite Shield
Experience[]
The Varangians were bodyguards of the Byzantine Emperor and were not meant to be fielded as an army, but that didn't prevent them from sometimes partaking in pitched battles. They fought against the Bulgars, Pechenegs, Seljuks, Normans and Crusaders mainly consisting of Western European Knights. Though they didn't beat all of these foes, the Seljuks and Normans in particular giving the Byzantines pretty bad beatings, they managed to hold their own in certain cases. The Varangians also took on several internal conflicts, such as their removal of Emperor Michael V and were counted on to supress revolts by disloyal forces.
Training[]
The Varangian Guard was a particularly competitive organization, with only the most renowned and connected men being allowed to join the guard. Exact details of their training, like the Gallowglass, are also incredibly scarce, but their autonomy from the rest of the Byzantine army and their more internal role as bodyguards possibly led them to train not as often.
Discipline[]
The Varangians were exceptionally loyal to the Emperor under their paycheck, and proved fierce in battle, charging against opposing forces thirsting for blood and battle. If they were outmaneuvered and stranded from the army, they chose to make a stand rather than rout. Even after suffering tough defeats, they would return and replenish from these defeats and continue in service to the emperor.
Battle of Beroia, 1122[]
The Battle of Beroia, now present day Stara Zagora, took place in Bulgaria between the forces of Emperor John II Komnenos and the Pecheneg Khanates. In the final action of the battle, John II led 480 Varangians against the Pecheneg wagon fort, butchering the Pecheneg position and beginning a rout. This proved a decisive victory for the Byzantines and effectively destroyed the Pechenegs ability to remain as a credible threat. Casualties of this battle are unknown.
Siege of Constantinople, 1203[]
The Siege of Constantinople of 1203 was fought between 15,000 men and 20 ships under Emperor Alexios III Angelos and 20,000 combined Crusaders and Venetians with 210 ships. The Varangian Guard fought upon the walls of the city, holding off the Crusaders, who were primarily made up of Knights, and later shifted to fend off against attacking Venetians, forcing a retreat. The courage of the Byzantines and Emperor Alexios ultimately faltered in the end, and he was forced to abdicate the throne, leaving the battle relatively inconclusive. A year later, the Crusaders attacked the city once again and the Varangians were involved in fierce fighting, but could not stop a Crusader victory.Scenario & Notes[]
Scenario: In a semi-alternate history, a diplomatic envoy of the Byzantine Emperor and several delegates sail to the south of Ireland to negotiate for a potential alliance between the clans and the Byzantines against the English as well as the release of a political prisoner who was shipwrecked onto the emerald isle. Among the envoy, are a retinue of Varangians to protect them in the event of an altercation. The envoy arrives in Carbery, and the Irish lords escort them to Kilbrittain Castle to make the negotiations. Defending the Irish lords are a small contingent of Gallowglass. In the midst of the negotiations, someone is attacked, and the Varangians quickly scramble to strike at the Gallowglass and defend the Byzantine delegation.
Without extra story details, the actual battle will be a 10 vs 10 engagement inside the confinements of a medieval castle.
Notes:
- This is my first historical battle. While I do like reading up on history, definitely not an expert, even though I've tried to be accurate. Most of what I've found for both sides comes from sites I found through google searches and sourced historical Youtubers like SandRhoman History, Invicta, and Clans&Dynasties.
- Voting ends when I feel I've had enough of them.
- I'm not strict on voting, just don't be too low effort.