Warriors

 

Insert illustration by Henry Justice Ford

In tribal societies engaging in endemic warfare, warriors often form a caste or class of their own. In feudalism, the vassals essentially form a military or warrior class, even if in actual warfare, peasants may be called to fight as well. In some societies, warfare may be so central that the entire people (or, more often, large parts of the male population) may be considered warriors, for example in the Iron Age Germanic tribes or the Medieval Rajput and Sikhs.

Professional warriors are people who are paid money for engaging in military campaigns, and fall into one of two categories: Soldiers, when fighting on behalf of their own state; or mercenaries, when offering their services commercially and unrelated to their own nationality. The classification of somebody who is involved in acts of violence may be a matter of perspective, and there may be disagreement whether a given person is a "legitimate" combatant, or a hooligan, gangster, pirate, terrorist, rebel, brigand or bandit.

In many societies in which a specialized warrior class exists, specific codes of conduct (ethical codes) are established to ensure that the warrior class is not corrupted or otherwise dangerous to the rest of society. Common features include valuing honour in the forms of faith, loyalty and courage.

Work Available

BatmanExcalibur The Sword - Pencil Drawing by Ed OrgEaster EggsWalter’s Tale of War and the CrusadesLord of the Rings - Eowyn and the NazgulSir Tristram defeats Sir Palamedes in Ireland

Examples of Sold Work

Snuff - Front Cover artwork to the latest 'Discworld' novelThe Quest KnightThud - Terry Pratchett Cover Art


Great Warriors Groups of History

The Aztec – 14th – 16th Century, Mexico
The Mongol – 12th to 14th Century, Monglia/China
The Mamluk – 9th to 19th Century, Turkey
Roman Legion – 8th BC to 5th AD Century, Italy
Apache – 17th to 19th Century, America
Samurai – 7th to 12th Century, Japan
Ninja – 14th Century, Japan
Vikings – 8th to 11th Century, Scandinavia
Spartans – Ancient Greece
Knight – Medieval Europe