Countess Games - Shieldwall by brooksart on DeviantArt
Viking battle tactics... The "lowered" shield wall: This was used when the infantry was attacked by a cavalary. By kneeling down the soldiers were out of the reach of the horsemen, whilst they could spear them, and the horses, from below. In the second line were archers, and axe men, releasing volleys of arrows and throwing-axes (francescas) onto them!