Quote:
Originally Posted by Eönwë
The only thing is, Tolkien didn't like the Normans. Remember who they killed?
But other than that sounds like a good idea, which probably would have worked.
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Some other sites that show that this was not just a Norman tactic but an Anglo-Saxon and Viking one also:
http://www.regia.org/spear.htm
http://wychwood.wikidot.com/fighting-spear-vik (interesting training notes)
http://books.google.com/books?id=kjO...hl=en#PPA22,M1
http://books.google.com/books?id=fXr...hl=en#PPA13,M1
http://www.stavacademy.co.uk/mimir/europeanarms.htm
From the Battle of Maldon we get this:
Quote:
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Advanced again to fierce battle, weapons raised up, shields to defense, and towards these warriors they stepped. Resolute they approached Earl to the lowest Yeoman: each of them intent on harm for the enemy. Sent then a sea-warrior a spear of southern make that wounded the warrior lord. He thrust then with his shield such that the spear shaft burst, and that spear-head shattered as it sprang in reply. Enraged became that warrior: with anger he stabbed that proud Viking who had given him that wound. Experienced was that warrior; he threw his spear forward through the warrior's neck, his hand guiding so that he this ravager's life would fatally pierce. Then he with another stab speedily pierced the ravager so that the chainmail coat broke: this man had a breast wound cut through the linked rings; through his heart stuck a deadly spear. The Earl was the better pleased: laughed then this great man of spirit, thanking the Creator for the day's work which the Lord had given him. And so then another warrior a spear from the other side flew out of hand, which deeply struck through the noble Aethelred's retainer. To him by his side stood a young man not fully grown, a youth on the battlefield, who valiantly pulled out of this warrior the bloody spear, Wulfstan's child, Wulfmaer the younger; and so with blinding speed came the shaft in reply. The spear penetrated, for that who on the Earth now lay among his people, the one who had sorely pierced. Went then armed a man to this Earl; he desirous of this warrior's belongings to take off with, booty and rings and an ornamental sword. Then Byrhtnoth drew his sword from its sheath broad and bright of blade, and then struck the man's coat of mail. But too soon he was prevented by a certain sea-scavenger, and then the Earl's arm was wounded. Fall then to the ground with his gold-hilted sword: his grip unable to hold the heavy sword, or wield the weapon.
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I've included it to give credence to how the spear was used in the day.
(Listen to it in Old English and you can also listen to other Anglo Saxon texts in Old English
http://fred.wheatonma.edu/wordpressm...lines-100-229/)
The link to hear it in Old English is for fun and for those who may be students of the language.
In the fourth link on the Anglo-Saxon use of the spear as a weapon (which is used very similar to the Normans in hand to hand combat) the shaft heads found in the Thames point to me the fact that the armored head of Aeglos probably survived the burning by Sauron (if GG still held the spear) but the shaft probably did not. If GG had dropped it, then it is quite possible that the entire spear was preserved.
For me, the Viking/Anglo-Saxon/Norman period's use of the spear shows to me how GG used the spear and probably how the spear was used by elves in general. The spear could have been a very common weapon for all Elvish warriors and we know from Tolkien's works that Elvish spearmen were used and feared.