All the vassals had rights in harbour-towns, either along the coast of Normandy or on the rivers, and we must assume that it was these harbours in particular that were expected to provide the ships. Among the 14 vassals there was one who was only expected to provide one ship – otherwise they supplied 60 ships on an average. The ship list helps to gain an insight into the organisation of maritime power at the end of the Viking Age. It is therefore reasonable to assume that at least some of the ships were cargo-ships for carrying supplies and weapons.
The army took many horses and much armour with them, including a whole timber fortress as a do-it-yourself kit.
We are not told much about the ships in question and it is unlikely that they were all longships. It summarises some agreements that were made between Duke William of Normandy and a number of his mightiest vassals before the invasion of England and explains who were to supply the necessary ships.Īltogether 14 vassals are listed and they are to turn up with a total of 776 vessels. It is very likely that this is a copy of a list that was written in the monastery at Fécamp in Normandy shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. In the so-called Battle manuscript in Oxford there is a document, a few pages in length, that was written down between 11.