A Danish thegn attacks a Saxon freeman with his sword. Fyrd - The fyrd, were the freeman peasant levy (conscripts) that made up the bulk of warriors in north Germanic cultures. Usually they were armed with nothing but a spear, seax (long knife), and helmet. Single handed axes, and throwing axes (francesca) were common too. Body armor and true swords were reserved for thegns (Saxon: Thane) - the progenitors of the knightly class. -DK