Banneret
Knights banneret, or simply bannerets, were 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.[1]
Bannerets were ranked higher than knights Bachelor, but lower than noble titles such as earl or duke. They were also eligible to bear supporters in the English heraldry.[1]
History
During the Viking invasion of England in the late 9th century, bannerets were frequently deployed on the battlefield by the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy as military commanders.[2] Donning highly resistant metal armor that did not hinder their mobility, they led the soldiers 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.[3]
Behind the scenes
Bannerets are an elite enemy archetype featured 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 archers to loose a volley of arrows at Eivor, who must quickly dodge out of the targeted area to avoid taking damage.
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.[4]
