The term Norman is nowadays often equated with Vikings. While that's not correct, it's not far off either, because the Normans are the descendants of the Vikings who once settled in Normandy and expanded from there. How did that come about? For this we travel back about 1100 years to northern France.
Marauding Vikings
It is the late 9th century:a large group of Danish and Norwegian Vikings are pillaging and raiding villages and towns along the north coast of France. They come back every year and leave a path of destruction in their wake, despite resistance from France.
The art of diplomacy
After many battles, only a diplomatic talk in the year 911 brings the turning point. The Frankish king Charles "le simple" meets Rollo, the leader of the Vikings and the "Treaty of St. Claire-sur-Epte" is born. It is agreed that Rollo and his clan may settle on the lower reaches of the Seine as vassals. The prerequisite for this was that they convert to Christianity, that Rollo marries the king's daughter Gisla and that no other Vikings settle in the country. By the way, according to tradition, the king had no daughter Gisla, but that's another story.
The Norman Empire
From here the real history of the Normans begins, because Rollo, who chooses Rouen as his capital, leads the "Viking Jarltum Normandy" into a brilliant time. Under his descendants, the now almost independent duchy developed into a flourishing culture in the 10th and 11th centuries and expanded to the west.
One might think the story ends here, but what defines the Normans is a spirit of adventure, a fighting spirit, and possibly a problem with authority. In any case, they also invaded England, southern Italy and Sicily and took part in a crusade.
The Equipment of the Normans
The nasal helmet is typical of Norman equipment. Plate armor did not yet exist as full armor, so the Normans resorted to leather and sometimes chain armor. Underneath he sometimes wore a padded quilted doublet / gambeson. His teardrop shield also offered him protection.
The Norman used typical Norman swords as well as axes, clubs and spears as weapons.