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.
Whereas German tribes often fought in a more ordered, organised manner than the Celts, they sometimes adopted their neighbours’ weapons and equipment, either through battle or trade. Celtic armour found its way onto the backs of privileged German warriors, while double-edged longswords were another example of creeping Celtic influence. An iron sword was a prestigious possession, so those who carried them were either of noble blood or were veteran followers. By following a noble, warriors were duty-bound to show dedication and valour. If he fell in combat, the noble’s men were expected to fight to the death. Anyone who survived such a battle was disgraced. Some hanged themselves, unable to live with the shame and dishonour of outliving their battle-lord.
