housecarls

The housecarls were the only regular portion of the army The great bulk of the force, both land and sea, consisting of the levies or militia, whose term of service was very limited.

Wulf the Saxon A Story of the Norman Conquest 1867

Good all-round warriors, like housecarls, don't need extensive special cavalry training, as they would if they were going to charge a shieldwall.

Horses in seventh-century England Carla 2008

Canute maintained a good navy, and his standing army included the famous housecarls, who soon had an Anglo-Saxon contingent.

616-80 2001

"Impie agents aren't city police or gentry housecarls," the king said.

The Day Of Their Return Anderson, Poul, 1926- 1973

"Impie agents aren't city police or gentry housecarls," the king said.

The Day of Their Return Anderson, Poul, 1926- 1973

He's packed the court, like the housecarls and the residencies, with his own creatures.

The Rebel Worlds Anderson, Poul, 1926- 1972

Twenty days since the housecarls burst into their bedchamber, arrested them and took them down separate corridors.

The Rebel Worlds Anderson, Poul, 1926- 1972

Such was the array of the housecarls and of the thegns who had followed Harold from York or joined him on his march.

William the Conqueror Freeman, E A 1913

But it might have been hard to enforce such a policy on men whose hearts were stirred by the invasion, and one part of whom, the King's own thegns and housecarls, were eager to follow up their victory over the Northern with a yet mightier victory over the Norman.

William the Conqueror Freeman, E A 1913

Meanwhile the news reached Harold of England; he got together his housecarls and such other troops as could be mustered at the moment, and by a march of almost incredible speed he was able to save the city and all northern England.

William the Conqueror Freeman, E A 1913