An examination of the colourful mediaeval warfare of Scandinavia in the aftermath of the Viking Age. It shows how armies were of local infantry levies raised by "democratic" methods to defend home territory, and details how the crossbow, ambush tactics and winter campaigning were employed.

While Scandinavia's 'Viking Age' is one of the most studied aspects of early medieval history, much less has been published about the centuries that followed. Yet the armies of Sweden, Norway and Denmark offer fascinating differences from the rest of medieval Western Europe, both in their organisation and their war gear - due partly to their remoteness, climate and terrain, but partly to their long freedom from the feudal system of other kingdoms. This book explains the special nature of Scandinavian armies, shaped by the relative weakness of kings and aristocrats, and the contrasts between the separate nations of the North.