Frothers Did It And Ran Away | 26 Jan 2017 2:49 a.m. PST |
In Dark Age ranges the Celtic nations, Wales, Ireland and Scotland, seem to often get sculpted with bare feet. But ancient Celts are usually given them, and Vikings and Anglo Saxons get shoes. Was an effect of the Dark Ages a loss of shoe technology in some parts of the British Isles? Ireland, Scotland and Wales aren't exactly tropical countries. I certainly wouldnt want to be walking around bare foot today I'll tell you. |
GurKhan | 26 Jan 2017 3:15 a.m. PST |
As to the Welsh:
… Giraldus Cambrensis, writing c. 1193/4, adds 'a thin cloak and the observation (repeated by his contemporary, Walter Map) that 'they go barefoot', or else wore shoes of untanned leather 'roughly sewn together'. Even the son of the prince of Gwynedd is described as barelegged and barefoot in 1188, 'and he seemed to care nothing for the thorns and thistles.' Interestingly the 3 Welsh soldiers pictured in 'Liber A' … all wear stockings and shoes on their left legs only, the right foot doubtless being kept bare for better purchase on steep hillsides. – link |
Green Tiger | 26 Jan 2017 3:15 a.m. PST |
I think it unlikely that they went barefoot – I think there is one source that says the Welsh wore one shoe as the barefoot gave better grip on mountains(post above appeared as I was typing)… Frostbite really hurts and people generally like to keep their toes so have worn shoes in northern climes since prehistory. Also, most communities are agricultural and performing any kind of farming task with bare feet is dangerous… Its probably another area where because archaeologists have never found any it assumed that none were worn. |
willlucv | 26 Jan 2017 4:09 a.m. PST |
The problem is that Gerald of Wales was biased in his writings by the need to make a distinction between the civilised Normans and the relatively untamed Welsh (and also Irish for that matter). My opinion is that as Green Tiger points out we simply don't know what they wore/ didn't wear, based on archaeological information. I would suggest that peoples of the British Isles were broadly similar in dress and appearance throughout this period. |
Glengarry5 | 26 Jan 2017 4:55 a.m. PST |
Supposedly there was a tradition that Gaelic warriors fought barefoot, that lasted until at least the ACW as members of the 69th (Irish) NY discarded their shoes at the First battle of Bull Run! |
Mike Target | 26 Jan 2017 7:00 a.m. PST |
There might be something in the idea of wanting to fight barefoot…the British countryside can get awfuly muddy and even a small battle will churn that up- a man with boots on will spend half a battle hopping up and down on one leg wondering where one went…the other will probably join it out of solidarity shortly. So you might as well go barefoot from the start and have better mobility from the off. I wouldn't expect that you'd want to spend winter like that, but perhaps it was the mark of a warrior- a man with no shoes is always ready for a fight! |
skipper John | 26 Jan 2017 7:26 a.m. PST |
I bought a second hand Gripping Beast Welsh Saga army once and upon inspection found that not a Welshman had his shoes. I wrote complaining to the seller and asked for him to return the shoes or provide a discount. Still waiting to hear from him… |
willlucv | 26 Jan 2017 7:55 a.m. PST |
Cornwell's Azincourt has the archers fighting barefoot, due to wet soil underfoot. And without breeches as well due to dysentery iirc. |
Toronto48 | 26 Jan 2017 10:29 a.m. PST |
A factor could be where you lived and the time of year I know that medieval people were tough but going out barefoot in deep snow would be crazy Fighting a battle in warm weather or running across summer fields would be totally different. Most shoes then would have been made of degradable material such as hides, bark, plants etc, The Amerind moccasin is a perfect example These do not survive and thus no evidence would be found today Finds have been made in places like bogs and glaciers The famous "Ice-man" of the alps had fur boots. |
Pan Marek | 26 Jan 2017 1:50 p.m. PST |
I've wondered this for a long time. Isn't much of Ireland rocky? If one does not go barefoot all the time, you don't build up callouses. So using shoes except in battle seems unlikely. Nevermind the sharp weapons on the ground! |
doublesix66 | 26 Jan 2017 2:38 p.m. PST |
My dad growing up during war said some local families near him went to school barefoot in the north of England this is in 1940s (all year around) so I can't see it being that far fetched that they had no shoes in the mud |
Swampster | 26 Jan 2017 4:30 p.m. PST |
link gives a more recent account for why shoes were a hindrance. You can also find photos of men in Britian and Ireland going barefoot in the 19th and early 20th century even when involved in jobs like quarrying where you would think good footwear to be a necessity. |
Oh Bugger | 26 Jan 2017 5:39 p.m. PST |
I suppose it might avoid trench foot or similar debilitating conditions. I recall reading a travelers account of a visit to my own clan sometime in the early 1800s he described them as healthy, well dressed and yes, barefooted. |
Druzhina | 27 Jan 2017 3:04 a.m. PST |
Most figures in The Book of Kells Ireland, c. 800AD, are barefoot. 5 designs of Irish shoes, c.700-900 Contrary to popular opinion, going shoeless is not a universal Celtic trait. The Rule of Ailbe of Emly directed that 'no matter how ascetic a person became he should never go barefoot.' (Dunleavy, p. 20)
An Irish shoe. Figures appear to have shoes on The Breac Moedhóc, a bronze Irish house-shrine from the 11th or 12th century Figures are barefoot on the Shrine of St. Manchán, of Manghan, c. 1130, Boher church, Co. Offaly, Ireland Shoes are worn in illustrations from a manuscript of Topographia Hibernica (The Topography of Ireland), 1187AD, by Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald of Wales), British Library Ms. Royal 13 B VIII Druzhina Irish Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers |
Sandinista | 10 Feb 2017 11:53 p.m. PST |
Barefoot is common in New Zealand today |