Description
Most of the northern European tribes were not naval powers, but there were still able seafarers to be found amongst them. Shipbuilding techniques were well understood, so while many vessels were small leather-skinned boats for inland and inshore use, bigger sea-going vessels were also made. Shipwrights used heavy planking for hulls, stitched together and then fastened to a wooden skeleton to create sturdy craft able to cope with Atlantic conditions. Julius Caesar was surprised at the quality of the enemy ships when his fleet clashed with the Veneti from modern-day Brittany. The Veneti vessels had flat bottoms to cope with shallows, but were also of heavy oak construction to cope with rough seas. This made them tough opposition for Roman galleys, and capable of shrugging off a ramming attack. Caesar said that the enemy ships "...were constructed of planks a foot in breadth, fastened by iron spikes the thickness of a man's thumb; the anchors were secured fast by iron chains instead of cables”. When the Romans were forced to board, they faced fearsome warriors used to close-quarters fighting at sea.
The desire for honour in battle within Germanic society was so strong that some men were not considered worthy of their tribe, or even their parents, until they had spilt the blood of an enemy. The young warriors of the Chatti tribe were unique in this respect, growing their hair and beards until they claimed their first kill in battle. As a result, unkempt facial hair was seen as the mark of men yet to prove their worth, or cowardice. It is said, however, that the bravest Chatti grew enamoured with their lengthy beards and, even when white with age, and having claimed many kills, wore them with defiance. Typically, these men often led the first charge during a battle.
