

Norman Huskarls
Heroes to their own battle ranks, but tyrants to those who oppose them.The Normans were one of the most successful and long-lived political and military cultures ever founded by the Vikings. Through military prowess and political manoeuvring in the ninth century, the Danish war leader Hrolf managed to secure a roughly autonomous region for his raiding army within the Frankish kingdom. Later going by the Frankish name Rollo, the Dane was given the status of Duke, a position carried down his bloodline that ruled Normandy and subsequently conquered Norman lands. Their legendary expansionist successes were the result of a unique military structure within their fiefdoms, organised around a new type of warrior elite – the feudal knights. Supported by infantry, heavily armoured mounted lords would form fearsome cavalry blocks of around thirty men charging knee-to-knee, a psychologically imposing sight that often caused battle lines to break at their mere advance.
Using their system of infantry-supported knights, the Normans were incredibly effective in battle. Much like the Roman ‘comes’, in the Viking world there emerged a culture of heroic champions flanked by chosen companions. The ‘hirdman’ was the highest rank amongst such warriors, and in later times the rank carried with it a seat on the king’s council, enabling them to advise their rulers on non-military aspects of government. In Old Norse and Old English, the term translates to ‘household man’, originally referring to an armed retinue for a warlord but eventually morphing into ‘housecarl’ or ‘huscarl’, specifically referring to a royal guard. Following the ninth-century Danish settlement of England, huscarls also became an integral part of Anglo-Saxon armies, famously defeating their Norwegian counterparts at Stamford Bridge and protecting King Harold's body to the very last man at Hastings.
![]() |
Unit Name Norman Huskarls |
Main Unit Key nor_huskarls |
Land Unit Key nor_huskarls |
Naval Unit Key vik_dreki |
Soldiers 100 |
Category Melee Infantry |
Class Melee Infantry |
Custom Battle Cost 1000 |
Recruitment Cost 0 |
Upkeep Cost 100 |
Melee Skill 45 |
Melee Damage 65 |
├ Melee Weapon vik_dane_axe_elite |
├ Melee Base Damage 25 |
├ Armour-piercing Damage 40 |
├ Armour Piercing No |
├ Attack Against Cavalry 0 |
├ Attack Against Elephants 0 |
└ Attack Against Infantry 0 |
Charge Bonus 67 |
Melee Defence 45 |
├ Base Defence 45 |
├ Shield vik_none |
└ Shield 0 |
Armour 32 |
├ Armour vik_mail_heavy |
├ Armour Defence 32 |
└ Shield Armour 0 |
Health 100 |
├ Man Entity vik_inf_2h_heavy |
├ Man Health 100 |
└ Bonus Hit Points 0 |
Morale 50 |
Abilities
Norman Huskarls- Wedge
"Let's break their line!"
Attributes
- [[col:yellow]]Disciplined[[/col]]
This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often. - [[col:yellow]]Encourage[[/col]]
This unit provides a morale bonus to nearby allies. - [[col:yellow]]Hide (forest)[[/col]]
This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
Strengths & Weaknesses
No Strengths and Weaknesses
Faction Availability | |
---|---|
Thrones of Britannia |