Pictish Warrior AD 297-841 [Paperback]

Paul Wagner (Author), Wayne Reynolds (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Warrior | Publication Date: May 25, 2002

First mentioned by name in AD 297, the Picts inhabited Northern Britain from the end of the 3rd century AD to the 9th. They rose to power in the devastation following Emperor Septimus Severus's repression of the Caledonians in AD 208, and dominated Northern Britain for over 500 years, before vanishing mysteriously. The Picts represent a high point of Celtic civilisation, remaining free and unconquered beyond the borders of the Roman world, and rising to become the first barbarians to form a recognisable 'nation'. This title takes a detailed look at their origins, and examines Pictish heroic and warrior society, covering education and training, appearance and equipment, the status of women, and the experience of battle.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Insights into the real lives of history's fighting men, packed with full colour illustrations, highly detailed cutaways, exploded artwork of weaponry and armour, and action-packed battle scenes.

About the Author

Paul Wagner has had a life-long interest in Pictish and Caledonian culture, encompassing both social and military history. He has spent many years personally researching key aspects, from weaponry and tactics to art and social mores. A native of New South Wales, Australia, he is currently studying for a PhD in natural history.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (May 25, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841763462
• ISBN-13: 978-1841763460
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.2 x 9.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #779,086 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fast and Easy to Read, March 17, 2003

By 

Wallace V. French III (Boston MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pictish Warrior AD 297-841 (Paperback)

This is a typical Osprey book. A great introduction to a specific topic. It has many color illustrations and maps. Not many books written about the Picts. This is a good introduction to the style of warfare in Great Britain toward the end of the Roman Empire. I like these books because they give you a general background and then suggestions for further reading. The book is only 64 pages so it will only take an afternoon to read it. Very little detail, but enough info to get you started and give you the ability to talk about the subject. The following is an "About This Book" quote from the Osprey website which is not included on the Amazon.com site. It is helpful. "First mentioned by name in AD 297, the Picts inhabited Northern Britain from the end of the 3rd century AD to the 9th. They rose to power in the devastation following Emperor Septimus Severus's repression of the Caledonians in AD 208, and dominated Northern Britain for over 500 years, before vanishing mysteriously. The Picts represent a high point of Celtic civilisation, remaining free and unconquered beyond the borders of the Roman world, and rising to become the first barbarians to form a recognisable 'nation'. This title takes a detailed look at their origins, and examines Pictish heroic and warrior society, covering education and training, appearance and equipment, the status of women, and the experience of battle."

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The important things are all here. But the art work..., August 8, 2007

By 

James924 (Offutt AFB) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pictish Warrior AD 297-841 (Paperback)

As with all of osprey's Men-at-Arms books, this one is well written and jam packed with useful information. The only problem I see is the art work. Every Osprey book I've read so far has amazing illustrations. This one however seems as though it was thown to a random staff member who likes to draw. The illustrations seem much more like japanese anime than anything else. It doesnt seem like any of the images were taken seriously and it was hard for me to take them seriously seeing as I felt like I was watching an episode of Pokeman. This aside, its still a great booklet and I highly recommend it.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Woad Warriors, March 31, 2007

By 

K. Murphy "Fortune favors the Bold" (The thriving metropolis of Masury, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pictish Warrior AD 297-841 (Paperback)

A fine book. The author uses a combination of Roman historians, Welsh and Gaelic mythology, and archaeology to paint a believable picture of the fearsome warrior culture today called 'Picts'. He examines their origins as a people, the origin of their name (it may well be a tribal name in their own tongue, rather than from Latin 'painted'), and their history with the late Romans, the Anglo-Saxons, the Gaels, the Norse, and the Scots who finally assimilated them. The text also details the daily life of the noble warrior, the warband on campaign, and the philosophies by which the Celtic warrior in general lived. What little is known of Pictish armor, costume, weaponry, and battle tactics is also detailed. The plates, by Wayne Reynolds are excellent and do a fine job of supporting the text.
Plate A shows a Caledonian warrior at the time of Septimius Severus' Scottish campaigns of the beginning of the 3rd Century. The Caledonians are often said to be the same as the Picts, but appear to have been a Brythonic-speaking people (similar to the southern Britons) that were assimilated by the Picts
Plate B shows characters from Irish myth recreated as Pictish warriors. These are Chulainn and Scathach training at the latter's School of War, while other champions and students look on.
Plate C shows a Pictish boat, like they may have used to carry out piratical raids
Plate D shows a Pictish raid on Hadrian's wall in the 4th Century AD. Several heavily tattooed Picts are shown in combat with Romano-British soldiers. Some of the Celts are also shown fighting naked in the traditional manner, and one is using a lasso to pull a defender off the wall.
Plate E shows different Pictish weapons, swords, bucklers, axes, and a spear.
Plate F gives us two warriors of the later Pictish period, a noble horse-warrior in scale armor, and a common warrior with a pike and buckler. The illustrator illustrated most of his Picts, even the later ones, with swirling tatooes on at least their lower legs.
Plate G shows the 'Law of the Innocents'; a Pictish warrior-woman was killed in battle with Northumbrians, and upon the sight of her child sobbing at her breast, the mother of the Abbot of Iona forced him to pass a law in which women were forbidden from going to war-a custom that had been very common in northern Britain.
Plate H shows Pictish pikemen in combat with the horsemen of Strathclyde, while some Pictish horse-warriors ride around the left flank throwing spears at the enemy.
Both the text and plates in this book are highly detailed and exciting, and are highly recommended for anyone interested in this fierce warrior society.