Richard the Fyrd?

Today, we had a Dark age skirmish, surprisingly not in 'celebration' of the 950th anniversary of the battle of Hastings yesterday!

I had finished my 'Project Saxon' a few months ago, which was to get some Saxons to face off my Vikings, and provide the Saxons with a village to defend.

We consisted of Lawrence and Joe, playing Ragnarr Loðbrók and his TV brother Rollo respectively.
I(Ælfstan) had Alex (Ealdwine) as a sub commander, running my new Anglo Saxons. 

Lawrence provided his lovely (Last Valley) river and stream, with a landing stage for my Saxons to sail from!

 The centre of the village, a mix of 4Ground and TimeLine models.

 I had a few denizens, and traders like this one to populate it.

 Dum, dee dum, business as usual!

The local Fyrd, formed up on the village common land. 

These began a slow, steady advance, as...

...The Vikings had arrived! 

 Lawrence, sorry, Ragnarr, unlike Rollo, kept his feet dry, crossing the stream by the bridge.

Rollo led his men across the shallow stream. 

The traders made their way away from the raiders, while the women of the village gathered round the cross to pray " A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine" (from the fury of the Northmen, deliver us, Lord)

The chickens didn't seem too concerned! 

 As we came within range, the archers in our Scildweall (Shield Wall) began shooting...

Ragnarr didn't even bother to raise his shield! 

I decided to make our stand between a building and the landing stage. 

 The Viking Skjaldborg (Shield wall in old Norse!) begins to form.

Ragnarr puts his archers in a copse to harry the advancing Saxons. 

Alex (Ealdwine ) was hanging back a little. He was understandably nervous about his low quality Fyrd meeting the Danes, I had a better quality bunch! 

One of Ealdwine's bowmen took a light wound from a Viking archer.

One of my archers returned the compliment! 

 My Saxons reached the house.

Rollo seemed to be trying to outflank me by passing through the village.

But no, they set up facing the Fyrd. 

 For the Saxons, they stopped and called insults at the invaders!

Rollo, leading some Berserkir, decided to attack! 

The whole Viking force followed, I put my archers forward to harass the Berserks.  

The Berserkir ran past my bowmen and crashed into Ealdwine's personal men, I charged my Fyrd into Rollo's shield wall, while my archers ran to help Ealdwine. 

Ealdwine and one of his Gesithas were wounded, one killed, by the Berserks charge! 

 Once stopped, though, Rollo found himself fighting for his life!

 My Fyrd had, amazingly, broken the Viking shield wall on first contact!

The Danes fled with their wounded, abandoning their lord. 

 They failed to rally, even though the Fyrd were not pursuing!

My Gesiths and I  had instead charged the Berserks in rear! 

Rollo fell, fighting bravely, surrounded by foes.

My archers alone had gone to harass the retreating Vikings! ...who were now beyond recall, heading for the boats.

The last 2 berserks broke, though not until they had killed poor Ealdwine, and Ragnarr withdrew, covering the retreat of the remaining Vikings.

Peace returned to Raedhamm!

Thanks be to God!

The Vikings would, of course, now be off to find a less well defended target!