Medieval Armaments

 Armaments of the 12th-15th Century

One of the first images that comes to mind at hearing "medieval" is a knight in shining armor riding a horse and wielding a sword or lance. But what exactly did that armor consist of? What purpose did it serve? Did all knights use swords? How did horses stay safe in battles and tournaments? Armor and weaponry varied greatly throughout the medieval period and evolved in response to advancements in technology and battlefield demands. 

A Knight's Armor

By the middle ages, metalsmithing techniques had become advanced enough to create arms and armor that ranged from sturdy and durable to ornate and unique (3). As weapons became more efficient, armor had to adapt in response in order to continue protecting the wearer against these new and more effective arms. 

A Spangenhelm (4)

At the beginning of the middle ages, armor bore great resemblance to armor of the late Roman empire. A suit of armor may have consisted of a type of helmet called a spangenhelm and a short-sleeved mail shirt called a byrnie made of either iron, bronze, or horn. As metal working continued to evolve, so did armor. By 1100, a knight's armor was composed of a long-sleeved mail shirt called a hauberk and a helmet with a flat top and sides. By the 1200's, armor included chausses, which was mail for the legs, kneecops, which were steel or boiled leather protection for the knees, and either leather or steel ailettes, which covered the shoulder joints. Because weapon technology, particularly crossbows, continued to advance, armor advanced in response to include more mail and steel coverings on nearly every exposed surface of the body. So, by the the end of the 15th century, head to toe use of plate armor was typical, thus giving us the "knight in shining armor" image that so often comes to mind. The colors, patterns, and icons that decorated a knight's armor and shield helped others differentiate friend from foe on battlefields and in tournaments (4).

Here's an example (5) of how complex and involved the process of donning 14th century armor was:

Hay is for Horses, but so is Armor

Medallion depicting patterned
comparison, shaffron, and crinet (2)

A knight isn't a knight without his horse, so much so that Saint Anselm lists a horse as being a part of a knight's armor (4). Because horses were so vital to a knight's identity, they had to be protected in battle along with the knights on their backs. 

Armor use for animals dates back to Mesopotamian times, but its use wasn't especially widespread save for some areas of Italy. Once the twelfth century rolled around however, medieval Europe quickly adopted armor for the horses of mounted warriors (1).

Metal Shaffron (1)

Horse armor began with a soft, quilted layer for comfort of both horse and rider. Another type of textile base layer called comparisons covered the entire horse. These large, fabric base layers were crafted with the same colors used to identify the knight riding the horse, but if thick enough, this layer often also offered the horse a decent amount of protection against opponent's weaponry. The other integral pieces for horse battle wear included shaffrons, which protected the horse's head, and a mail trapper, which laid on top of the quilted layer to protect the horses body while still allowing for movement. Around the 15th century, mail trappers were often replaced by the plate armor akin to the style that their riders had also swapped to. A full set of a horse's armor now consisted of a shaffron of either leather or steel, leather or steel paneling around the neck called a crinet, a chest plate called a peytral, paneling for the sides called flancards, and to protect the rear, another type of leather or steel layer called a crupper (6). From here on out, comparisons became used primarily in tournaments and other ceremonial situations rather than on the battlefield since more protective garments were available (1).  

You have my Sword, and my Bow, and my Axe

War Hammer (4)

Weapon choice during the medieval period was extremely indicative of class, status, and purpose. For example, the sword is the most iconic of a knight's weapons because it symbolized the knight's chivalric code and status, but also invoked the image of the crucifix (2). Made of iron or steel, these weapons could sever a limb and proved lethal on the battlefield. Knights also utilized war hammers, pikes, maces, shields, axes, and daggers in combat. Swords and maces were the most frequently used weapons in battle, but in situations of ceremony and tournament, weapons like wooden lances, spears, crossbows, and longbows were common (2, 4).

Mace (4)

Battle wasn't an activity solely for knights; lower class individuals also participated in armed warfare. For foot soldiers and common folk, steel weaponry was too expensive, so, they tended to use weapons like maces and clubs which were made of more readily available materials like wood and iron (4). 

In order for knights to be effective combatants with the weapons of the age, many began training around the age of ten, then progress to assisting a knight as his squire. Training devices that mimicked combative or battlefield conditions were also utilized to prepare knights for warfare combat. Horseback riding was also part of training, as was mounted combat practice since much of a knight's battlefield combat occurred while mounted. Knights were also trained with bows and arrows, although they didn't use these weapons in battle. Most squires were granted knighthood once fully trained, typically around the ages of 18 to 21, but still continued their martial training afterwards (2).

Siege Engines

When it came to warfare, swords, maces, and bows were certainly not the only weapons in play. Large, heavy weapons called siege engines were used in order to tear down walls and lay siege to cities and armies. These weapons were especially utilized in the Hundred Year's War and were used to lower a city's best defenses so that other weapons, like long bows, could be most effective. The predominant types of siege engines consisted of simple machines like catapults, trebuchets, and battering rams. Trebuchets and catapults could hurl flaming barrels, large rocks and boulders, and other projectiles into and over enemy walls. Trebuchets were the most commonly used siege engine during the 15th century because they relied on gravity rather than torsion to operate. They were used throughout the medieval period in various battles and gained the nickname "war wolf" because of their efficacy at destroying structures. Siege warfare led to advancements in fortification in medieval architecture in the same way advancements in weaponry led to advancements in arms and armor for knights (7).

 

Works Cited

1- Breiding, Dirk H. “Horse Armor in Europe: Essay: The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History.” The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, 1 Jan. 2005, www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/hors/hd_hors.htm.

2- Cartwright, Mark. “The Weapons of an English Medieval Knight.” World History Encyclopedia, https://www.worldhistory.org#organization, 27 Aug. 2023, www.worldhistory.org/article/1238/the-weapons-of-an-english-medieval-knight/#:~:text=The%20weapons%20of%20an%20English%20medieval%20knight%20in%20combat%20included,on%20even%20an%20armoured%20opponent.

3- Gregory, Thomas. “Medieval Weapons: What Common Weapons Were Used in the Medieval Period?” History Cooperative, 21 Feb. 2023, historycooperative.org/medieval-weapons/.

4- Norris, Michael. “Arms and Armor in Medieval Europe: Essay: The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History.” The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, 1 Jan. 2005, www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/arms/hd_arms.htm#:~:text=Shields%20were%20oval%20or%20round,and%20the%20bow%20and%20arrow.

5- Onsrud, Ola, director. Dressing in Late 14th Century Armor. YouTube, YouTube, 24 Aug. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGl_UXc9HIE. Accessed 29 Aug. 2023.

6- Woosnam-Savage, Bob. “Horse Armour - Hundred Years’ War.” Royal Armouries Collections, collections.royalarmouries.org/hundred-years-war/arms-and-armour/type/rac-narrative-1173. Accessed 29 Aug. 2023.

7- Woosnam-Savage, Bob. “Siege Engines - Hundred Years’ War.” Royal Armouries Collections, collections.royalarmouries.org/hundred-years-war/arms-and-armour/type/rac-narrative-1196. Accessed 29 Aug. 2023.