DBA Armies

Many generations of fighting between the Pictish kingdom and the invading Scots-Irish ended when, as the result of intermarriage, both found they had the same prince as heir to the throne in Kenneth McAlpine; who became the first king of a united Scotland. This list covers armies from then until the accession of David I, who managed to introduce the feudal system into at least southern Scotland. At the start of the period, Scotland (then called Alba) did not include the Orkneys, Hebrides and Caithness (which were under Viking rule) or Strathclyde, which was still independent until 945. Scots aggression is rated as low because they mainly fought each other or went on plundering expeditions into northern England. The greatest of these resulted in the battle of Brunanburh in 937 (probably at Bromborough in Cheshire) between West Saxon and Mercian armies on the one side and those of Scotland and Norway on the other. This was the biggest battle in England before Hastings. The invasion from England in 1054 to replace Macbeth (1040-57) as king actually resulted in a drawn battle. Little definite is known about troop types, but it is assumed that the Pictish combination of long spear held in 2 hands and small shield survived to become the basis for the pikemen of medieval Scots armies and that gentry such as thegns fought with sword, shield and throwing spear, often wore armour and came under heavy Viking influence. Faces were not painted blue and the kilt was not worn! A thigh-length shirt (though Galwegian shirts were later described in 1138 as only half covering their buttocks) was accompanied by a “breacan” (Gaelic for spotted, striped or patterned) cloak. Legs and often feet were bare. Macbeth brought in Norman knights, but too few to feature here. References: Armies of the Dark Ages 1. Heath, Armies of Feudal Europe 1. Heath, The Battle of Brunanburh M. Livingston (ed), Macbeth - High King of Scotland 1040-57 AD P. Berresford Ellis.