Hersir
Encyclopedia
A hersir was a local military
commander of a hundred and owed allegiance to a jarl
or king. They were also aspiring landowners, and, like the middle class
in many feudal societies, supported the king
s in their centralization
of power. The hersir was often equipped with a conical helmet
and a short mail coat. Most would wield an iron sword
, mostly augmented with a wooden shield
. They were also known to wield one- or even two-handed axes
. The hersir would always fight on foot, usually as part of a shield wall
formation
. Another formation was also used, the Svinfylking, which was a variation to the shield wall but with several wedge like formations pointing towards the enemy creating a zig zag pattern. Although excellent against other foot troops the Vikings were frequently defeated by mounted troops.
By the end of the 10th century, the independence of the hersir was gone, and he was now a regional servant of the Norwegian king.
It was also the name of a man in Rígsþula whose daughter Erna
married Jarl, the first earl
.
A Swedish hersir, Jarlabanke Sigfastsson, has become notable for the c. 20 Jarlabanke Runestones
that he raised together with his relatives.
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
commander of a hundred and owed allegiance to a jarl
Earl
An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
or king. They were also aspiring landowners, and, like the middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
in many feudal societies, supported the king
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
s in their centralization
Centralization
Centralisation, or centralization , is the process by which the activities of an organisation, particularly those regarding planning and decision-making, become concentrated within a particular location and/or group....
of power. The hersir was often equipped with a conical helmet
Helmet
A helmet is a form of protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries.Ceremonial or symbolic helmets without protective function are sometimes used. The oldest known use of helmets was by Assyrian soldiers in 900BC, who wore thick leather or bronze helmets to protect the head from...
and a short mail coat. Most would wield an iron sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
, mostly augmented with a wooden shield
Shield
A shield is a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks, either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace or battle axe to the side of the shield-bearer....
. They were also known to wield one- or even two-handed axes
Axes
Axes may refer to:* Axes, woodworking hand tools* The plural of axis* Axes , a 2005 rock album by the British band Electrelane* X and Y axes, or X, Y, and Z axes, perpendicular lines used in the Cartesian coordinate system...
. The hersir would always fight on foot, usually as part of a shield wall
Shield wall
The wall, is a military tactic that was common in many cultures in the Pre-Early Modern warfare age...
formation
Tactical formation
A tactical formation is the arrangement or deployment of moving military forces such as infantry, cavalry, AFVs, military aircraft, or naval vessels...
. Another formation was also used, the Svinfylking, which was a variation to the shield wall but with several wedge like formations pointing towards the enemy creating a zig zag pattern. Although excellent against other foot troops the Vikings were frequently defeated by mounted troops.
By the end of the 10th century, the independence of the hersir was gone, and he was now a regional servant of the Norwegian king.
It was also the name of a man in Rígsþula whose daughter Erna
Erna
In Norse mythology, Erna was the mother of eleven sons by Jarl, the ancestors of the race of warriors in Norse society. Her father was Hersir, a tribal chief.-References:...
married Jarl, the first earl
Earl
An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
.
A Swedish hersir, Jarlabanke Sigfastsson, has become notable for the c. 20 Jarlabanke Runestones
Jarlabanke Runestones
The Jarlabanke Runestones is the name of c. 20 runestones written in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark in 11th century, Uppland, Sweden.They were ordered in the by what appears to have been a chieftain named Jarlabanke Ingefastsson and his clan , in Täby...
that he raised together with his relatives.