Editing Banneret

{{Era|Occupations}}{{WP-REAL|Knight banneret}}
[[File:ACV DB Banneret.PNG|thumb|180px|A banneret]]
'''Knights banneret''', or simply '''bannerets''', were [[Middle Ages|medieval]] knights who led a company of troops during wartime under their own banner. In contrast to the tapering standards or the pennons flown by lower-ranking knights, their banners were always square-shaped. Bannerets were ranked higher than {{Wiki|Knight Bachelor|knights Bachelor}}, but lower than noble titles such as {{Wiki|earl}} or {{Wiki|duke}}. They were also eligible to bear {{Wiki|supporter}}s in the {{Wiki|English heraldry}}.<ref>{{WP|Knight banneret}}</ref>

==History==
During the [[Viking expansion|Viking invasion]] of England in the late 9th century, bannerets were frequently deployed on the battlefield by the [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] [[Heptarchy]] as military commanders.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Database: Banneret]]</ref> Donning highly resistant metal [[armor]] that did not hinder their mobility, they led the [[soldier]]s under their command against the invading [[Vikings]], including the [[Raven Clan]] [[shieldmaiden]] [[Eivor Varinsdottir]], who in time learned to adapt against their ever-changing fighting style.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]''</ref>

==Behind the scenes==
Bannerets are an elite enemy archetype in the 2020 video game ''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]''. They are the most challenging guard archetype in the game, being able to adapt to Eivor's moves in real time. Their armor is some of the strongest in the game and features few weak spots, and they are also able to command nearby [[archer]]s to loose a volley of [[arrow]]s at Eivor, who must quickly dodge out of the targeted area to avoid taking damage.

[[File:Eivor's Hidden Blade.png|thumb|250px|left|Eivor stabbing the banneret with her Hidden Blade]]
Bannerets first appeared in ''Valhalla''{{'}}s cinematic reveal trailer, where one is shown dueling Eivor in the middle of a battlefield as all soldiers around watch. The banneret overpowers Eivor and nearly executes her with his [[sword]], but is killed when the Viking stabs him with her [[Hidden Blade]] through one of his mask's eyeholes. The armor of the banneret featured in the trailer is slightly different from the one seen in the game.

In ''Valhalla'', several named characters throughout the game use the character model and fighting style of a banneret, most notably the [[Order of the Ancients]] member [[Ealhferth]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Impaling the Seax]]</ref>

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Guards]]
[[Category:Knights]]