Hi,
Just thought I would mention an interesting piece of info.When the Normans defeated the Anglo-Saxons
at Hastings in 1066AD they used this tactic and their word for it was schiltron.As long as the Saxons
kept the schiltron firm it was very difficult to destroy this formation.Even the Normans with their
cavalry and archers were finding it difficult to penetrate this formation and only won the battle when
they feigned a ruse making the Saxons think they were retreating.Once the Saxons broke their formation
to pursue the Normans it was all over..The Norman cavalry and archers cut them to pieces and their
King Harald died with an arrow in his eye.
Ed Widlund