Bernard Cornwell Winter King trilogy

 My local charity shop had these. We have them on audio book which lacks the gazeteers of characters and places. They were originally published 1995-7. I didn't bother watching the tv adaptation. Anybody rate it?

From JFoliveras digital painting

 Website

Hypothetical reconstruction of KING ARTHUR as a late 5th century Sub-Roman Brittonic “Dux Bellorum” (Duke of Battles). The historical basis of king Arthur has long been a matter of debate, and even the dating is uncertain, but if there was ever a real king Arthur, he would have probably lived around the 5th-6th centuries AD, during an obscure period when the Western Roman Empire was collapsing and the Roman legions retreated from Britain to defend the empire from the barbarian hordes, leaving to their fate the Romanized urban Briton population of the island, as the Germanic-speaking Angles, Saxons, and Jutes were invading Roman Britain from their homelands in modern-day Denmark and northern Germany, and Irish pirates and Picts from the north of Hadrian’s Wall were raiding the coasts of Britain. Many Britons fled from the Germanic newcomers to what is now Brittany, in the north-western coast of modern-day France, bringing with them the Celtic language that became modern Breton. Some Britons migrated as far south as modern-day Galicia, in north-western Spain. At that time, many Britons on the edge of Roman Britain still lived in Iron Age hillforts, mostly in parts of Wales.

Much of this reconstruction and the archaeological finds included on it have been based on the research and kit of Benjamin Franckaert of the historical reenactment group Letavia. The description of Arthur in the chronicle “Historia Regum Britanniae” has also been used as a source: “Arthur put on a leather jerkin worthy of so great a king. On his head he placed a golden helmet, with a crest carved in the shape of a dragon; and across his shoulders a circular shield called Pridwen, on which there was painted a likeness of the Blessed Mary, Mother of God, which forced him to be thinking perpetually of her. He girded on his peerless sword, called Caliburn (Excalibur), which was forged in the isle of Avalon. A spear called Ron graced his right hand: long, broad in the blade and thirsty for slaughter.” The Welsh Triads also mention a knife called Carnwennan (“little white hilt”).

The image of Mary on the shield has been recreated from a 5th century original by my friend Melikşah Kaya.

HQ + close-ups: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/BXZ2bk

 From Helgi Halfdanson's page Regio Britonnum here

Impressive portrayal

 From Helgi Halfdanson's Pinterest

Early Saxon armoured warriors from Victrix

 Shipping now. Facebook page for more pics etc.

Excellent book Anglo-Saxon Kings and Warlords

 My son got me this. It's well worth having. Excellent resource for the Victrix Early Saxons.

Victrix Early Saxons

 Who's ready for Early Saxons? Website

The Early Saxon unarmoured warriors set will be on sale TOMORROW. With the armoured set following closely behind!

36 x Early Saxon Unarmoured Warriors.

We are so pleased to announce the release of our long awaited 28mm hard plastic, Early Saxon unarmoured warriors set.

These figures represent the Early Saxons, Jutes, Angles and Danes (all grouped together under the title Saxon) that invaded Britain (or possibly this was more of a migration?) during the 4th to 6th centuries.

There is a real mix of head options from bare headed to caps and various helmet styles.

Fur cloak options have been added for some extra character. Weapons include swords, spears, javelins, hand axes and some Angons with the metal socketed spearheads.

As well as fighting the Late Romans, they were also hired by the Romans fighting as mercenaries.They fought the Romano British for dominance of Britain for hundreds of years, forcing the original inhabitants of Britain West and North.

Early Saxons tended to use a smaller round shield for parrying and punching with. They would deliver a charge, hurling javelins as they ran towards the enemy and closed with spear, sword, axe or Seax. Shield wall tactics started to come in later. We have included small bucklers but also larger round shields so customers can field whichever style they prefer.

These figures can easily be used as other Dark age Germanic warriors and even be mixed with later Saxons and Vikings. Figures from the Late Romans sets would not look out of place alongside these in a warband. All adding massive amounts of variety to our ever expanding Dark age range.

The Early Saxon Armoured warriors set is not far off release and you will be able to swap heads and weapons for even more variations within the Early Saxons range.

What you get:

36 x unarmoured warrior bodies

36 x small round bucklers (9mm in diameter)

36 x larger round shields, half flat and half slightly domed (14mm in diameter)

60 x helmeted heads

30 x bare heads and heads with caps

An assortment of sword, axe, javelin and spear arms

12 x fur cloaks