Historical Overview Section
Scandinavia, including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, did not experience feudalism in the same way as continental Europe. While a nobility did emerge, particularly in Denmark, and personal bonds of service existed, serfdom was less prevalent and less rigidly enforced than in many other parts of Europe. In Sweden and Norway, farmers often owned their land and were relatively independent, especially when compared to the serfdom common in other parts of Europe and the Scandinavian nobility, while present, emerged later than in continental Europe, with a more gradual transition from the social structures of the Viking Age (thralls, karls, and jarls) which in turn influenced the later development of social hierarchies.
Denmark however notably had a more established feudal system with a larger and more powerful nobility, and a more significant degree of serfdom compared to its neighbors.
FeudalScandinavian armies in the medieval period primarily consisted of a core of mounted knights and their household troops, supplemented by feudal levies fulfilling their military obligations. These levies, often peasants, could be less skilled but still effective in certain terrains. The army would also include missile troops like archers and crossbowmen. The proportion of knights within the armies could vary, with figures between 20-30% in the late 13th and early to mid-14th centuries, declining to around 6.5% by the late 14th century.
Using the army in ADLG
- Do you take it as a infantry army, or do you try and max out the knights, in the knowledge that this may still be a little undergunned compared to other European opponents?
- The lack of light horse does mean you need to be aiming to control terrain, maximising the command points and light infantry to boost the initiative score
Useful Links
User-contributed links about this army. Add links in this format:
- name of link description of link
as an example
- Feudal Scandinavian Army usage statistics from the ADLG ranking site
Army Lists
Sample army lists for this army
Madaxeman in Helsinki, 2025
Competent Prince Sven Svenssonson
2 Replaced Huscarls Medium Knight Impetuous Elite
1 Bowmen Light Infantry Bow ------
1 Crossbowmen Crossbowmen ----
1 Bondi Heavy Spearmen ------
1 Huscarl Heavy swordsmen 2HW support Elite
2 Bondi Heavy Spearmen Support Mediocre
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Brilliant CinC King Lars Larssensen
2 Replaced Huscarls Medium Knight Impetuous Elite
1 Bowmen Light Infantry Bow ------
2 Bondi Heavy Spearmen Support ------
1 Huscarl Heavy swords. armour 2HW support Elite
1 Bowmen Bowmen ----
1 Bondi Heavy Spearmen ------
1 Crossbowmen Crossbowmen ----
1 Danish Light Cavalry Light Cavalry Crossbow ----
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Ordinary Included Baltic Ally
1 Noble on Foot (General) Medium Swordsmen Impetuous Elite
3 Warriors Medium Swordsmen Impetuous ------
1 Bowmen Light Infantry Bow ------
1 Javelinmen Light Infantry Javelin ------
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Fortified Camp