Cunnan - User contributions [en]

Helm

2006-08-15T05:10:33Z

144.135.62.1:

[[image:saxonhelmet01.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Replica Saxon Helmet.]]The '''helm''' or '''helmet''' is the [[armour]] that covers the head.
There are many different designs of helm through the years. Some general descriptions are:
* [[Roman]] - Covers the top and back of the head with metal flaps covering the ears and part of the cheeks. This type was discontinued when it was discovered the earflaps made it awkward to slip your sunglasses on.
* [[Saxon]] - Covers the top, the back and sides of the head, sometimes extending to cover the cheeks. There may be some nasal protection. The higher the rank, the more ornate the decoration.
* [[Norman]] - Covers the top of the head and the nose.
* [[Crusade]]/Early [[Renaissance]] - Enclose the entire head with airholes and slit for eyesight
* Late [[Renaissance]] - Enclose the entire head with airholes and even smaller slit for eyesight. Shaped more to match the shape of the head.

General [[soldier]]s used simpler designs than those described above for the higher ranked warriors.

The helm may be attached to [[maille|mail]] or a [[gorget]] to protect the neck. A [[coif]] is often worn under the helm.

==Specific Examples of Helmets==
*[[spectacle helm]]
*[[spangen helm]]
*[[great helm]]
*[[kettle helm]]
*[[bascinet]]
*[[sallet]]
*[[armet]]

==Helms in heraldry==
[[Heraldic helm]]s appear above a [[device]]'s [[shield]] as a signifier of the owner's [[rank]]. Helms can also appear as [[charge]]s within devices.

==SCA Combat Helms==

In the [[SCA]], a helm needs to be constructed of at least 16 gauge steel to be legal for use in [[heavy fighter|heavy]] or [[light fighter|light combat]]. Protection needs to be extended down the back and sides of the neck (therefore strictly period [[Norman]] helms need certain modifications) and the face must be completely covered, if only with a hockey-helmet style grille. This protection must extend down to meet the throat and spinal protection of the [[gorget]].

For further details, consult your [[kingdom]]'s [[combat handbook]]. Bars or grilles are to be placed across any openings large enough to admit a 1-inch diameter [[rattan]] weapon.

Normal helms are not standard in SCA [[fencing]] but head and face protection is still required. Helms can be used provided they meet all the minimum requirements according to the SCA fencing rules.

==Reenactment Combat Helms==
Reenactment helms are styled after historical examples and do not include the bars found on [[SCA]] helmets.

[[category:armour]]
[[category:helmets]]

12th century underwear

2006-08-14T06:17:10Z

144.135.62.1:

==Men==
*[[Braes]] (loose [[linen]] underdraws) with a slit to allow urination. The slit was probably not [[lace]]d in our [[period]], just constructed in such a manner that it would stay overlapped unless pushed apart. A few [[13th Century]] illustrations show men pushing down their braes to defecate. It is likely that the majority of 12th C braes were similarly constructed.
The [[braes]] contain a lot of fabric at the top which is rolled over a belt to create a padded roll low on the waist. The padded roll is said to help support the weight of belts placed over outer layers of clothing.
*[[Hose]] (stockings) over that [[wool]] (generally) and most long and tied at the waist, but some only knee-high. Long hose were tied to the belt of the braes with points, short hose were held up with garters - either attached pieces of ribbon or separate tied or buckled strips.
*[[Shirt]] - a [[linen]] [[tunic]], worn next to the skin. This absorbs the sweat from your body, protecting your tunic. It is generally [[white]] or natural linen coloured, as this [[clothing|garment]] was washed more often than the tunic, and linen could easily be naturally bleached back to white.

==Women==
*Most evidence indicates no underpants were worn. See [[12th Century Female Hygiene]] for details of how menstruation could be managed without underpants. The saying "who wore the pants in the family" seems to date to this early, and some stories recite instances of men impersonating women (e.g. for [[military]] reasons) being caught because when they ran the braes under their [[skirt]]s were noticed.
*[[Hose]] - generally presumed to be knee-high, as braes are needed to tie longer hose to. We have little evidence for shape (no extant hose, above ankles not shown in pictures), but they are presumably the same as men's knee-high hose. The multiple layers of skirts ([[chemise]], tunic and in colder weather or outside possibly an extra tunic) would serve to keep the women's legs much warmer than the men with only one layer of fabric from a pair of hose, thus longer hose were not needed, and impractical when going to the toilet.
*A natural/white [[linen]] [[chemise]]/shift served the same function as the man's shirt, but was generally floor length. In summer these were hardly ever worn, especially if the woman felt pretty horny!
*There are a few [[12th Century|12th C]] tests mentioning breast binding. The fashion was small firm breasts, and larger women who wished to be at the height of fashion wrapped their breasts with strips of linen to reduce their size.

==Less Active Men==
*Occasionally some [[monk]]s and [[scholar]]s might not wear the braes and long hose. The practical advantages of the hose are mostly for [[riding]] and manual work. Monks generally wore floor-length habits, so like for the women, long hose and braes become superfluous. They probably wore short hose (except asthetics who went barefoot) and no underpants.
*Clerical [[alb]]s are similar to the chemise and shirt - a linen undergarment, in this case often close to floor length.

{{stub}}
[[Category:12th century]]
[[category:clothing|Underwear]]

Norman shield

2006-08-14T06:09:29Z

144.135.62.1:

[[image:Normancav.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Soldier on horseback with a Norman shield]]

The '''Norman shield''' was used by the [[Norman]]s from the [[11th century|11th]] to [[12th century|12th]] centuries. It is a large, curved [[shield]], often referred to as a '''kite shield''' because of its shape.

A kite shield extends the bottom the the shield down into a long point, giving it an overall "teardrop" shape. This shape means very good protection for the shield-side leg, however the main point (no pun intended) of the sharp end was to allow it to be driven into the ground. This meant that several men side by side could form a very rigid barrier.

In addition, it is cross-strapped, the shield being held in place by an "X" of leather straps. The kite also had two grips, one at the top edge of the shield, allowing it to be wielded with ease [[infantry|on foot]]; and another at a right angle along the edge, allowing a [[cavalry|mounted warrior]] to carry the shield and handle the reins with his left hand, while the right hand wielded a weapon.

It should be noted that the figure in the picture at right has the shield [[guige|slung]] at his shoulder, rather than gripped for [[combat]].
[[image:shieldkite.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Replica 11th century kite shield.]]
It is not known now the extent to which shields of this type and period actually were decorated (although other contemporary sources appear to indicate that they were), nor whether any decoration was a proto-example of personal heraldry, an indication of allegiance amongst different bands fighting together, or the artistic choice of the crafters who made the shields.

[[category:shield]]
[[category:armour]]
[[category:norman]]
[[category:11th century]]