Back to essays page.Annular Brooch
This common type of decoration is found in many graves from our period. The most common use for the brooch, other than pure decoration, is as a clasp for a cloak. These brooches were worn on special occasions, but only ever once a year - hence their name.
Anglo-Frisian
Anyone studying or talking about the linguistic aspects of our period will no doubt come across this phrase frequently. It is a derogatory term for an early English cattle farmer with continental parents.
Scandinavian Link
All Dark Age buffs throw around the references to Sutton Hoo (Sutton who?), this is an integral part of the hobby. One of the most fascinating finds from Sutton Hoo is the so-called "Scandinavian Link". It is a small piece of chain, highly decorated in design similar to that found in 6th century Sweden. Therefore it is clearly Swedish. Or made by a Swede. Or made in an area of Swedish influence. Or made to look Swedish.
Comitatus
This is a particularly important term, and rather an abstract one. It refers to the bonding between a thane and his troops. This bonding is cemented at feast where the thane traditionally provides his troops with a particularly red variety of potato.
Taplow Bucks
The Taplow Bucks were a band of extremely mediocre warriors, but to their credit, extremely ferocious feast-goers, as anyone who has attended a Taplow Bucks party will know (providing of course, that they survived). The Taplow Bucks are renowned for their wild drinking games and particularly their highly decorated drinking horns.
Offa's Dyke
As the history books at school taught us, Offa spent most of his time erecting enormous earthworks to keep the Welsh off his land. However this had the side effect of keeping Offa off his wife. It is then no surprise that she spent most of her time with Offa's handmaidens - hence her nickname!
Shield boss
The Shield boss is quite simply the thane in a "scyld-burh"
Edington Wilts
In 878 King Alfred overcame a massive Danish army, led by Guthrum. (The
Danish Army that is, not King Alfred). This saw off the pagan threat to
England, and was undoubtedly a glorious victory. The Anglo-Saxons were so
please with their triumph that they threw a massive feast. It is rumoured
that the Taplow Bucks were invited. From that late night onwards, the
sight of the battle is remembered by many a warrior who has drunk too much
and suffered from the Edington Wilts.
© 1992
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