Post by stevep on Feb 26, 2017 20:57:07 GMT
Also I think most legions were pretty much self contained with a lot of skilled craftmen to make most/all of the equipment they use. Plus I think by Saxon times there were slightly improved metal-working practices [although could be wrong here] and the Saxons will know about the stirup and possibly other military advances. As such after a short period of uncertainty they should be fine in terms of equipment.
The problems would be political/religious. I.e. what is the nature of Harold's control over the legion. Baring some sort of mental enslavement they will want paying and maintaining such a permanent force, probably also along with the royal huscarls is going to be expensive and cause a lot of concern amongst all the Saxon nobles at least. Plus as mentioned earlier a pagan legion on 11thC Christian England is going to be difficult to put it mildly.
The idea of having the legion help to protect northern England against repeated Scottish attacks that plagued this period is potentially useful and they could help regain Lothian for England, as well as possibly bring Strathcylde into the English rather than the Scottish sphere. Which in the longer term could mean Scotland is basically no more powerful that Wales, so coupled with the lack of a Norman conquest could make the history of Britain a lot more peaceful, at least in the next couple of centuries. However the northern earls, who are Harold's major internal rivals, are not likely to apprciate their influence being reduced this way.
The problems would be political/religious. I.e. what is the nature of Harold's control over the legion. Baring some sort of mental enslavement they will want paying and maintaining such a permanent force, probably also along with the royal huscarls is going to be expensive and cause a lot of concern amongst all the Saxon nobles at least. Plus as mentioned earlier a pagan legion on 11thC Christian England is going to be difficult to put it mildly.
The idea of having the legion help to protect northern England against repeated Scottish attacks that plagued this period is potentially useful and they could help regain Lothian for England, as well as possibly bring Strathcylde into the English rather than the Scottish sphere. Which in the longer term could mean Scotland is basically no more powerful that Wales, so coupled with the lack of a Norman conquest could make the history of Britain a lot more peaceful, at least in the next couple of centuries. However the northern earls, who are Harold's major internal rivals, are not likely to apprciate their influence being reduced this way.
