The Vikings, like the Anglo-Saxons, fought on foot (not horseback) and in battle formed a ‘shield-wall’ where they locked together side-by-side, shields in front, and pushed their enemy back ...

"Come back with your shield - or on it" (Plutarch, Mor.241) was supposed to be the parting cry of mothers to their sons. Mothers whose sons died in battle openly rejoiced, mothers whose sons ...