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Rider of Rohan (or Foot Soldier of Rohan)

Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2018 2:56 am
by jbook
I've recently had a notion to put together a Rohirrim kit based on my love for the Anglo-Saxon period of English History of which the Professor also took great inspiration for the whole of Middle-Earth.

I've recently been reenacting 13th century English civilian and soldier during the Magna Carta years, and after sending a pic to Greg he commented on the fact that it could be Rohirric with some modification.

I've also recently acquired for myself a horse.

Here are some pics of my kit and a helmet I would like to acquire for it. I'm open to some suggestions!
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Re: Rider of Rohan (or Foot Soldier of Rohan)

Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2018 1:33 pm
by Kortoso
Kudos!
Full marks on acquiring a horse, there, lad! Good on you.
The coif, or biggins, worn as a regular hat rather than something under a helmet, is something from a later period than Anglo-Saxon/Viking era, from what I recall. I know this is a fantasy world, but the Rohan are based on early Anglo-Saxons.
The helmet looks all right for a spangenhelm. It would fit right in there. But look to see if you can pick up something more like the Coppergate or Sutton Hoo helmets.
Actually, it is a pretty good price after all.

Re: Rider of Rohan (or Foot Soldier of Rohan)

Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2018 2:29 pm
by Elleth
Oh nicely done!
It's cool what a short jump Rohan kit is from where you are. :)

I think Kortoso's right that the head covering looks a bit off for Rohan, but I've no idea what they might have used instead.
Perhaps taller boots for riding? That seemed a thing historically, and I assume for a reason - not that I know it. :(

I love love love the tunic and trousers! Maybe some horse-related embroidery along the sleeves and neck?
Likewise poking around I see trinkets like this:
https://www.makeyourownmedieval.com/pro ... rse-buckle

... that might more solidly ground the impression in Rohan.

I think you already look like you could ride across the Westfold and not look out of place: it's only the little cultural cues that would pull what you have from more generic medieval to Rohirrim. And even then, a lot of those cues might be more upper-class than you want to go. At the freeman level, I imagine there's not much difference.


And what a lovely horse! Do you practice with the lance? I'm curious what that's like. :)

Re: Rider of Rohan (or Foot Soldier of Rohan)

Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2018 9:42 pm
by Udwin
A new impression is always welcome! Simplicity is great to see and as Elleth said, very easy to push from generic early medieval into authentic Rohirric. One problem is that we have practically ZERO references to what people wear in Rohan (actually I think Eowyn wearing white might be the only description!)...the best we have is his comment in Letter 211 that "The Rohirrim were not ‘mediaeval’, in our sense. The styles of the Bayeux Tapestry (made in England) fit them well enough".
I'd second the comment to try and dress it up with as much equine decoration as you can, because even for something simple as a herdsman, that's what will really ground your impression in this particular culture.

Re: Rider of Rohan (or Foot Soldier of Rohan)

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2018 12:24 pm
by jbook
Excellent!

Thanks for the advice! I’m planning to base it heavily on the anglo Saxons and the illustrations of Alan Lee as I think he remained faithful to history and Tolkien despite what ended up on the screen.



Here’s some additional references.


Trying to figure out how to include some horse motifs in my kit.

Re: Rider of Rohan (or Foot Soldier of Rohan)

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2018 2:05 am
by Greg
Holy captain crap it's Jake! Good to see you!

I like where you're going with this. I'll be watching!

Re: Rider of Rohan (or Foot Soldier of Rohan)

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2018 11:58 am
by jbook
I pulled these images and I quite imagine that this is how the everyday Eorlingas would look.

Re: Rider of Rohan (or Foot Soldier of Rohan)

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 10:46 pm
by jbook
Very inspired by the group "Thegns of Mercia". I could really kill two birds with one stone, a legit Anglo Saxon impression as well as a Rohan impression.

Re: Rider of Rohan (or Foot Soldier of Rohan)

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2019 5:49 pm
by Ruinar Hrafnakveðja
So first of all jbook your horse is beautiful! What is his or her name?

Very good job researching and taking cues both from Anglo Saxon history/images as well as the amazing illustration done of the Rohirrim by that god among men Alan Lee. You are spot on with those images of Eorlingas daily wear! I love the direction you are going with your kit development, keep it up!

Now for the contentious bit! :P Contrary to what other forum members have said, I actually really like your choice of helmet for your persona. I think that culturally it completely falls in line with a lower ranking Eorlingas. I would disagree with getting a Coppergate or Sutton Hoo style helmet. These are indeed similar to the helmets we see in the films, but we really only see those types of helmets on the elite horsemen of the king and the officers.

I think there are definitely ways that the helmet could be improved. For example if it's possible to remove the blackening (or get one without it). You could then etch designs into the helmet or cheek plates. I think you could also add a leather band around the brim and tool it in Rohan-style images or motifs. That would certainly help it. You could even add a crest of horse hair (since you now have a horse ;) ) kind of like these...

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/c3/4d/00/c34d ... 85552f.jpg

https://i.etsystatic.com/17312551/r/il/ ... 6_q1vn.jpg

Though again, the horse hair crest/tail they have in the films are also likely a badge of military rank. But that is your choice! Personally I would just go for it :P

Otherwise I think your kit is great! I would say that the two crucial pieces of kit you will want will be high boots for riding and then a shield that you could put some form of Rohan heraldry on.

Re: Rider of Rohan (or Foot Soldier of Rohan)

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 3:19 pm
by jbook
I haven't done a ton more with my kit, but here is a small progress report. Still have to get a proper helmet for service to the Lord. I'm hoping to upgrade the tunic with something following the horse motifs following a more Anglo Saxon style.

Eventually I am planning to invest in appropriate medieval tack for my horse and will be mounted. My regular medieval impression is that of a forester during the Barons Wars in 1215 and I have found some some really good information regarding foresters going to war as companies of archers and also mounted so it will kill two birds with one stone!

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Re: Rider of Rohan (or Foot Soldier of Rohan)

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 4:01 pm
by Iodo
I like the hood :P it makes it look much more Middle Earth

Re: Rider of Rohan (or Foot Soldier of Rohan)

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:18 pm
by Taurinor
That's a good looking kit!
jbook wrote:My regular medieval impression is that of a forester during the Barons Wars in 1215 and I have found some some really good information regarding foresters going to war as companies of archers and also mounted so it will kill two birds with one stone!
Probably not the right venue, but I'd be really interested in seeing what you've found, if you are willing or able to share.

Re: Rider of Rohan (or Foot Soldier of Rohan)

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:43 pm
by jbook
Taurinor wrote:Probably not the right venue, but I'd be really interested in seeing what you've found, if you are willing or able to share.
No worries! So basically it seems that Foresters were typically called upon as archers during time of war and also that they would arrive mounted. I'll try to dig up more info but here is an excerpt from the book "Archery in Medieval England : Who were the Bowman of Crecy?"

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/archer ... 0752483573
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Re: Rider of Rohan (or Foot Soldier of Rohan)

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 8:29 pm
by Iodo
I don't believe it, Macclesfield forest is one of my favorite tracking spots :mrgreen: my latest pictures here: https://www.ranger.budgetauthenticity.o ... 2&start=30 are there

Re: Rider of Rohan (or Foot Soldier of Rohan)

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 9:16 pm
by Taurinor
jbook wrote:
Taurinor wrote:Probably not the right venue, but I'd be really interested in seeing what you've found, if you are willing or able to share.
No worries! So basically it seems that Foresters were typically called upon as archers during time of war and also that they would arrive mounted. I'll try to dig up more info but here is an excerpt from the book "Archery in Medieval England : Who were the Bowman of Crecy?"

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/archer ... 0752483573

87881242_197231844961716_5562921845998485504_n.jpg
Ah, interesting! It makes sense that a forester in fee, in particular, would be expected to have a horse and war gear - foresters in fee were landowners who were appointed by the warden (who was appointed by the King) to serve as administrators of particular districts within a forest, according to "The Royal Forests of Medieval England" by Charles Young. The ordinary foresters for the area would report to them, and I would guess might not be expected to be so well geared for war.

It's also interesting that in the late 1200s, foresters in Macclesfield were expected to use a bow and arrow to protect the land, but in 1351 the foresters of Cheshire, which would include those of Macclesfield, were told "No keeper of woods belonging to other people in the said forests shall carry a bow in his wood, or in the forests, by pretext of his office, but only a small axe, as allowed by usage of the forest. The prince has charged the justice and chamberlain to supervise the foresters often, and see that no negligence or idleness is found in them" (from "Register of Edward the Black Prince, Part III (Palatinate of Chester), A.D. 1351-1365")

My medieval impression is a forester in the Wirral Forest in the 1350s :mrgreen: