Hrothgar Culture: Norman-Saxon Period: Approx. 1150AD Weapon of Choice: Sword/Spear/Axe/Mace with shield Living History Life: Nearly 10 years including several years with Regia Anglorum in the UK. Real Name: Jason

History

Hrothgar is the youngest son of a minor saxon land owner. His older brothers are respectively serving in the navy of King Stephen and the shire reeve for Sussex. As the youngest he has always known he’d either be a mercenary or a priest and a tonsure was never really for him. He has earned his pay fighting as a mercenary knight for both sides of the war between Stephen and Matilda and has even followed employers as far as byzantium and the holy-land when need dictated. He has fought against many types of opponents and is experienced in most forms of warfare from skirmish to siege and from tourney to pitch battle. Times have not always been good and on occasion he has had to sell his armour and accoutrements to make ends meet but as soon as a profitable fight rears it’s Hrothgar has proven time and again that he has what it takes to survive. Recently he followed a Norman Baron on a campaign through several Byzantine controlled territories. After a string of victories the conroi was ambushed by a large force of local bandits who had joined forces to attack the men taking all the loot worth having and driving more and more people into the hills for shelter. The fight was hard and fierce and Hrothgar was one of the few to fight clear and stagger away to safety. He now found himself stuck in Crete without most of the loot he’d fought for and in need of a new employer. After a night of heavy drinking he accepted a commission to work for the local Varangian garrison until he figures out his next move…

Notes

I’ve been re-enacting around this era (give or take a couple of centuries either side) for nearly 10 years and this is simply my most recent persona or focus. I play with most weapon combo’s from time to time but have a particular fondness for my mace, a weapon favoured by those looking to make a profit in war as many combatants could be ransomed at the end of a campaign… but only if they survived and a controlled strike from a mace was very good for rending an opponent unconscious or breaking a bone to take the fight out him.