Human civilization may have never witnessed as may wars as during the Middle Ages. Protecting oneself during a battle has proved to be of up most importance. Chain was used in the start of medieval armor and later advanced to full metal suites. Not all citizens had the luxury of buying the best in protection at that time.
For people who could not afford chain, often the only means of protection was leather and padded armor. Being extremely expensive to produce only the wealthy could afford the protection. Suites had to be made exactly to fit each individual. This opportunity helps to differentiate the social class and the military.
Although medieval suits were created to protect knights, they came with weaknesses. The suites were created out of thousands of rings put together to create a piece of suite. During battle areas between the chains were sometimes able to cause damage at the right angle. However all of the vital areas such as the chest and back were covered with plate at that time.
Eventually in the 15th Century plate was turned into full body suites. A padded garment known as 'aketon', or 'gambeson' was worn under as reinforcement. With these new suites chain is now used only to protect smaller vital areas that plates can not cover. It is also used on a knights helmet as a skirt to protect the neck. All of this protection has an approximate weight of 50 Lbs covering from their head all the way to their toes.
Medieval armor contains separate pieces of plate for each section of the body. There are at least seven pieces that cover just one arm and leg alone including fingers to toes. The three piece helmet consisted of the helmet, a necklace-like chain to protect the neck and a detachable visor. Add a breast plate and back-plate and that's a lot of weight for one man to wear while riding a horse who is also wearing its own protective clothing.
While worn by Knights these outfits are also worn by their faithful horses. The armor worn by the warhorses is called Barding. The body, chest, neck and head were covered with plates and their rear covered with padded cloth. Even as advanced as all of this equipment seems its time was not long lived.
However the change in armor did not come soon enough. Not long after the full body armor suite was invented, gun powdered weapons were also invented. The suites proved to be no match for the newly created weapons. Presently medieval armor is used for ceremonial purposes and decoration. The items available now are more decorative with more extensive fluting and very ornate with intricate engravings. The prices to purchase these items range anywhere from a $150 to the thousands of dollars.
medieval armor
For people who could not afford chain, often the only means of protection was leather and padded armor. Being extremely expensive to produce only the wealthy could afford the protection. Suites had to be made exactly to fit each individual. This opportunity helps to differentiate the social class and the military.
Although medieval suits were created to protect knights, they came with weaknesses. The suites were created out of thousands of rings put together to create a piece of suite. During battle areas between the chains were sometimes able to cause damage at the right angle. However all of the vital areas such as the chest and back were covered with plate at that time.
Eventually in the 15th Century plate was turned into full body suites. A padded garment known as 'aketon', or 'gambeson' was worn under as reinforcement. With these new suites chain is now used only to protect smaller vital areas that plates can not cover. It is also used on a knights helmet as a skirt to protect the neck. All of this protection has an approximate weight of 50 Lbs covering from their head all the way to their toes.
Medieval armor contains separate pieces of plate for each section of the body. There are at least seven pieces that cover just one arm and leg alone including fingers to toes. The three piece helmet consisted of the helmet, a necklace-like chain to protect the neck and a detachable visor. Add a breast plate and back-plate and that's a lot of weight for one man to wear while riding a horse who is also wearing its own protective clothing.
While worn by Knights these outfits are also worn by their faithful horses. The armor worn by the warhorses is called Barding. The body, chest, neck and head were covered with plates and their rear covered with padded cloth. Even as advanced as all of this equipment seems its time was not long lived.
However the change in armor did not come soon enough. Not long after the full body armor suite was invented, gun powdered weapons were also invented. The suites proved to be no match for the newly created weapons. Presently medieval armor is used for ceremonial purposes and decoration. The items available now are more decorative with more extensive fluting and very ornate with intricate engravings. The prices to purchase these items range anywhere from a $150 to the thousands of dollars.
medieval armor
No comments:
Post a Comment