Posted: February 21, 2000 at 11:24:35: by Beren
: I agree with you in general, but I am not so sure about the huscarls. The origin of the term certainly means "household retainer (military)" but as set up by Cnut and retained by his successors it had a somewhat different meaning. The king's huscarls certainly retained a personal relationship with their lord, but they were essentially professional warriors, not merely the king's household gone to war. The huscarles were paid troops hired from any source which would provide good fighting qualities and a reliable level of loyalty. Foreigners could and were employed in this capacity. The huscarles were paid either in a mixture of cash and kind or were given the monetary proceeds from substantial parcels of land. In their personal relationship to their lord they did hark back to the hearth troop or comitatus of the old Germanic leader, but in the way they were employed they looked forward to the concept of a standing army.
I am very interested in your sources for this argument. Although I understand that the nature of the housecarl changed in the later Medieval period, I would very much like to know your sources for the argument that the housecarl in 11th century England was essentially a mercenary body guard. Thanks.
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