DBA Armies

This list covers the armies of the Lords of the Isles from the death of Macbeth’s viceroy Kalv Amnasson until the execution of the final Lord and imposition of direct rule from Edinburgh. Both parts of the lordship had a part-Norse ruling class, the Isles being more heavily influenced than the Highlands. Contemporary monuments depict men in acorn helmets with mail hood, quilted aketon, kite shield, long sword, either a short spear or a long axe and bare legs. The “worse kind of Islesmen” were occasionally sent home from the muster. On one occasion their shields were red. Highlanders were described from 1156 to 1638 as armed with bow, sword, small axe and mail shirt and “shooting thickly”. Their chiefs are depicted on tombs as very similar to Islesmen. However, there was a worse armed lower class “caterans” with only dirk or axe and sometimes a small round “target” shield. Highland archers were out-shot by English longbowmen; and their followers’ vulnerability to archery produced reluctant behaviour at Northallerton, contrasting with their enthusiasm in ambush or when looting. Galwegians were fiercer and fought as warband until they came under Scottish rule in 1181 and were re-armed with pikes. References: Armies of Feudal Europe 1. Heath.