Military History of the Selkie in the 1st Century BCE

The **Military History of the Selkie in the 1st Century BCE** mostly concerns itself with the forces under arms under the High Kings Conor the Bard, Lugh the Seafarer and Irereo the Rock. The Military History of this century is framed by two conflicts, on one end the War of the Cosántarraighi (95 BCE - 86 BCE) and on the other The War of Succession (30 BCE - 25 BCE).

The majority of the 1st Century BCE to the 2nd Century CE were spent in more or less constant strife between the High Kingdom of Lake Mór, the High Kingdom of Mountain and Forest and several smaller, local powers.

## History

### Availability of Manpower

It is important to understand, that the Selkie of the 1st Century BCE had a smaller pool of manpower available for their campaigns, mainly because society was far less urbanized then in, for example, the Dark Ages. Society and centre of life was rural, within small villages with little militias, which could scare off bandits, but which had little place on a battlefield.

Where the manpower came from was from the more or less professional levies of the Kings and the High King in their core-lands, which were built around a core of professional warriors. Selkie-Mercenaries were yet to play a more organized rule, but *Sodarcíoi*, Swords for Hire, were a factor, which was not a not be discounted. The majority of these levies came from towns and cities, less from villages. That also meant, that the majority of these levies were light infantry, as exact orders of ordnance prescribed what each soldier had to have with him by the time their King or the High King called upon them.

Warriorhood and War played a more central role in the 1st century as well, especially due to one aspect: The 'easy' acquisition of things one person has, but which another person might like. Raiding, especially for livestock, was a nice way to pass time between the Kings,

## Equipment

### Defensive Arms and Armour

#### Cloth Armour

The most basic armour was padded cloth armour, which was surprisingly effective against a number of attacks,

#### Leather Armour

Leather armour was not as far-spread as modern media would make one believe.

#### Metal Armour

Reserved for the rich, metal armour was usually scale armour,

Anatomical cuirasses were first cast, then hammered into shape. Depending on how ornamental the armour was, the more likely its use on the battlefield was. The armour of Conor the Bard, which had been found in excavations in 2018, was highly ornamental and is presumed to have been used for ceremonial purposes. Other anatomical cuirasses from the time has been found on battlefields.

Mail armour was known, but due to the labour intensity and thus costs, it was very rare.

#### Other protective equipment

Selkie differed between *bolanna*, a light armor covering the abdomen and midriff, and the *lanna*, a full body armor.

### Offensive Arms - Close and Personal

#### Swords and daggers

Swords were rare and expensive weapons, denoting, usually, a professional soldier.

##### Lannadui

The *Lannadui*, or Leaf Blade, is a type of straight short sword, the blade shaped like a leaf.

In modern times, especially Aonas Folracht of the Tribe of Wicklow is known as a used of the *Lannadui*.

#### Polearms

The most important weapon of the era was the spear, usually combined with a shield.

There were several different kinds of spears: The *sléfada* was the long spear, up to three meters in length and with an iron tip and an iron butt-spike. The *slégior* was the short spear, about two meters in length.

Cavalry carried a long thrusting spear, the *sraghán*. One of its main features were the two tips, which also acted as counterweights.

#### Axes and other tools

   Especially widespread in the area of Bodmin and the Baile was the Bodmin-Battleaxe, a weapon designed for war.

#### Knuckles

The Selkie of those times also used something, which one might call brass knuckles, although the *miográis* was made of leather: Leather strips were wrapped around the hands and lowest phalanx, sometimes also around the lower arms. They were not main weapons on the battlefields, but the *miográis* was (and is) used in martial arts. In the 2nd century CE, the *miográis* was reinforced with metal, increasing its hurting-potential (nowadays, the metal is not used).

### Offensive Arms - Ranged

#### Javelin

Aside from the 'normal' javelin, the *sleagail* was a javelin with a strap attached to it, which allowed the thrower to transfer more force onto the projective - which was less of a full throwing spear and more of a large dart. It had more range and stopping power then a normal javelin, but it was also more expensive and harder to use.

### Other Equipment

#### Chariots

Selkie rarely, if ever, used chariots in warfare. If they did, they did so in a role, that would liken them to modern APCs, a driver delivering one or two soldiers, who fought dismounted, while the chariot driver either went back to pick up the next one or two men or supported his soldiers in one way or the other. Their use in war, however, had stopped by the 1st century BCE for a few centuries.

#### Selkie-Saddles

Even in those times, Cavalry already played an important role and so did the development of proper saddles for said cavalry. One of the most important developments of that time was the Selkie-Saddle, also known as the *Taca Droma*-Type Saddle or Backrest-Type Saddle. The name stems from the cantle of the saddle, which was drawn out upwards to give the rider a better seat and, together with two pommels aiding in holding the thighs, allowed for greater movement ability.

## Distinctive Types of Soldiers

### Skirmishers

Skirmishers usually carried javelins or bows and arrows.

### The Sragháipóiri

The *Sragháipóiri*, literally Spear-Bearers, were

### Role of Women on the Battlefield

#### Warrior-Women

Although it would still be four centuries until Áed the Hunter would establish the Swordmaidens and the Lancemaidens, Warrior-Women played important roles on the battlefield in a number of applications. However, that was both seen as a last resort - or the woman seen as unmarryable. Most of these women preferred short swords, daggers, bows or slings.

It was not uncommon for a woman of high birth to be able to fight, Princess Macha is known to have been an excellent horsearcher and Princess Tailtiu was known as a very capable axewoman.

As *Díosc*, Screechers,

Many of the militias also had female-only contingents to defend their towns and cities either if the men were already at war or when the direst of need was upon the city or town.

## See also

* Society and Culture in the 1st Century BCE.
* Military History during the Kyrenaian Middle Ages (942-1463).
* Military History of the Selkie in the Dark Ages (826 - 1459).
	+ Weapons and Armour of the Selkie.