Cunnan - User contributions [en]

13th century fighting equipment

2007-04-16T08:13:17Z

61.95.65.186: /* Arms */

The fighting equipment of a [[13th century]] warrrior is described by recovered artefacts, manuscript images and contemporary references and depictions in sculpture.

==Equipment==
===Arms===
* [[spear]] - sometimes with [[wing]]s and generally [[socket]]ed.
* [[lance]]- [[ash]] [[shaft]] and rarely shorter than 10-12 feet (3 to 3.7m) long. Small, sharply pointed head.
* [[axe]]
* [[sword of war]] - single handed weapon with longer, heavier [[blade]]s appear as the [[great helm]] appeared. The [[blade]] is about 40-42 inches (101 to 106cm). They featured wide [[crossguard]]s that could be tapering and inclined towards the [[blade]] or spatulate and straight. The [[blade]] still sports a central [[fuller]], the [[hilt]] is longer and the [[pommel]] takes the form of wheels, balls or trefoils from the middle of the century. Still worn by [[noble|nobility]] as a symbol.
* [[thrusting sword]] - [[diamond section]]ed [[blade]]d [[arming sword|sword]] designed for thrusting rather than the cut.
* [[falchion]] - favoured by all classes for it's powerful cuts.
* battle [[axe]] - large axe designed for use with two hands with and well liked by high ranking warriors. Large heavy head on a 4 to 5 foot (1.2 to 1.5m) [[shaft]].
* [[mace]] - increasingly popular with the [[noble]] classes with [[bronze]] or [[iron]] flanged or pyramindal projections head on a 3 foot (1.0m) [[shaft]].
* [[longbow]] - of [[elm]] and possibly of [[yew]] used by the common infantry.
* [[arrow]]s socketed heads and self nocks. Needlelike bodkin [[arrowhead|points]] and broadheads for hunting were used.
* [[crossbow]] - with a [[wood]]en [[tiller]] and composite wood, sinew and [[horn]] [[lath]] covered in [[leather]] or [[parchment]]. Spanned with a hook attached to the belt as it became increasingly powerful.
* [[knife]] - Blades are usually 8 to 10 inches (20-25 cm) long and used point down. The quillions of the [[crossguard]] typically point down.
* [[sling]]s - used by foot [[soldier]]s, including the staff [[sling]]

===Armour===
* none (especially [[longbowman|longbowmen]] although these would have at least a [[buckler]].
* padded armour (''gambeson'' or ''aketon'') - vertically quilter of layers of [[linen]] stuffed with tow, rags, etc. Whilst the terms are often used interchangably at the time, general consensus has a [[gambeson]] fitting over armour and an [[aketon]] under. [[Soldier]]s might wear a [[gambeson]] that was sleeveless with a stiffened collar or one that was plain, knee length with full sleeves.
* [[maille|mail]] [[hauberk]]- include sleeves ending in [[muffler]]s, thigh length and and sporting integral [[coif]]s and a [[ventail]]. The middle of the century saw the [[mitten]]-like [[muffler]]s split into separate fingers. Towards the end of the century, separate [[coif]] reappears, sometimes with thick [[mail]] rings or [[plate]]s of metal reinforcing the neck. Short sleeved [[haubergeon]]s were worn by better off [[soldier]]s.
* [[scale]] [[hauberk]] - occasionally appear at the beginning of this century.
* [[cuirasse]] or ''cuirie''- a [[leather]] defence for the chest and back, found under the [[surcoat]] were developed in the latter part of the century.
* [[armoured surcoat]]s - rectangular [[steel]] [[plate]]s arranged in three rows and attached to the [[surcoat]] with rivets.
* an early form of a [[pair of plates]] appears late in the century as well.
* [[chausses]] - of [[mail]] are ubiquitous for mounted [[noble]]s throughout the century and developed into form of joined [[mail]] [[hose]].
* [[gamboised cuisse]]s - [[velvet]], [[silk]] or other rich [[fabric|material]] covering padded funnel shaped tubes that covered the thigh. They could be [[embroidery|embroidered]] for decoration and were generally laced to a belt worn underneath or possibly laced directly to the [[aketon]].
* [[kite shield]] - flat top kites that began large but were cut down in the middle of the century and to form the [[heater shield]]. Covered with [[leather]] they still had a [[guige]] and also two [[enarme]]s and were painted to display the owner's [[coat of arms]].
* conical [[spangenhelm]] - pointed [[helmet]] sometimes with [[nasal]].
* domed [[helmet]]s such as early forms of the [[bascinet]] appear before the middle of this century.
* small [[skull cap]] - worn under a [[mail]] [[coif]].
* [[kettle helm]] - worn with of without a [[mail]] [[coif]].
* [[great helm]] is introduced. This is worn with a padded [[coif]] which could sit either under or over a [[mail]] [[coif]].
*[[gauntlet]]s - likely of [[leather]] reinforced with whalebone and appear after 1290, but are very rare. [[Steel]] [[gauntlet]]s are also mentioned in the last 5 years of the century.
* [[espauder]]s - shoulder defences of unknown form or material are mentioned at the end of the century.
* [[ailette]]s - flat diamond shaped, disc or square [[plate]]s laced to the shoulder and made of [[leather]] or [[parchment]] which appear primarily to provide identification of a [[knight]].
* [[poleyn]]s - apear in the middle of the century and were [[cup]] shaped [[plate]]s of [[steel]] laced to the [[chausses]].
* [[couter]]s - small disc shaped defences for the elbows appear at around 1260 but are very rare.
* [[schynbald]]s - gutter shaped [[plate]]s of [[steel]] that were laced to the [[chausses]] to protect the shins.

===Clothing===
* [[tunic]] of [[wool]]
*under[[tunic]] of [[linen]]
*[[hose]] of [[wool]]
* turn[[shoe]]s of [[leather]]
* [[surcoat]] - sleeveless reaching to mid-thigh [[surcoat]]s became very common after 1210 and began very plain without [[heraldry|heraldric]] adornment.

===Misconceptions===
* two handed swords - not known (although we do see the introduction of the "hand and a half" or "bastard" sword which could be used with two hands but was not a true zwiehander)
* double-bitted [[axe]]s - not known

* swords with elaborate basket-style hand guards - not known

==Internal Links==
''See also:''
*[[12th century fighting equipment]]
*[[14th century fighting equipment]]
[[category:fighting kit]]
[[category:13th century]]
[[category:starting out]]

13th century fighting equipment

2007-04-16T08:12:51Z

61.95.65.186: added info

The fighting equipment of a [[13th century]] warrrior is described by recovered artefacts, manuscript images and contemporary references and depictions in sculpture.

==Equipment==
===Arms===
* [[spear]] - sometimes with [[wing]]s and generally [[socket]]ed.
* [[lance]]- [[ash]] [[shaft]] and rarely shorter than 10-12 feet (3 to 3.7m) long. Small, sharply pointed head.
* [[axe]]
* [[sword of war]] - single handed weapon with longer, heavier [[blade]]s appear as the [[great helm]] appeared. The [[blade]] is about 40-42 inches (101 to 106cm). They featured wide [[crossguard]]s that could be tapering and inclined towards the [[blade]] or spatulate and straight. The [[blade]] still sports a central [[fuller]], the [[hilt]] is longer and the [[pommel]] takes the form of wheels, balls or trefoils from the middle of the century. Still worn by [[noble|nobility]] as a symbol.
* [[thrusting sword]] - [[diamond section]]ed [[blade]]d [[arming sword|sword]] designed for thrusting rather than the cut.
* [[falchion]] - favoured by all classes for it's powerful cuts.
* battle [[axe]] - large axe designed for use with two hands with and well liked by high ranking warriors. Large heavy head on a 4 to 5 foot (1.2 to 1.5m) [[shaft]].
* [[mace]] - increasingly popular with the [[noble]] classes with [[bronze]] or [[iron]] flanged or pyramindal projections head on a 3 foot (1.0m) [[shaft]].
* [[longbow]] - of [[elm]] and possibly of [[yew]] used by the common infantry.
* [[arrow]]s socketed heads and self nocks. Needlelike bodkin [[arrowhead|points]] and broadheads for hunting were used.
* [[crossbow]] - with a [[wood]]en [[tiller]] and composite wood, sinew and [[horn]] [[lath]] covered in [[leather]] or [[parchment]]. Spanned with a hook attached to the belt as it became increasingly powerful.
* [[knife]] - Blades are usually 8 to 10 inches (20-25 cm) long and used point down. The quillions of the [[crossguard]] typically point down.
* [[sling]]s - used by foot [[soldier]]s

===Armour===
* none (especially [[longbowman|longbowmen]] although these would have at least a [[buckler]].
* padded armour (''gambeson'' or ''aketon'') - vertically quilter of layers of [[linen]] stuffed with tow, rags, etc. Whilst the terms are often used interchangably at the time, general consensus has a [[gambeson]] fitting over armour and an [[aketon]] under. [[Soldier]]s might wear a [[gambeson]] that was sleeveless with a stiffened collar or one that was plain, knee length with full sleeves.
* [[maille|mail]] [[hauberk]]- include sleeves ending in [[muffler]]s, thigh length and and sporting integral [[coif]]s and a [[ventail]]. The middle of the century saw the [[mitten]]-like [[muffler]]s split into separate fingers. Towards the end of the century, separate [[coif]] reappears, sometimes with thick [[mail]] rings or [[plate]]s of metal reinforcing the neck. Short sleeved [[haubergeon]]s were worn by better off [[soldier]]s.
* [[scale]] [[hauberk]] - occasionally appear at the beginning of this century.
* [[cuirasse]] or ''cuirie''- a [[leather]] defence for the chest and back, found under the [[surcoat]] were developed in the latter part of the century.
* [[armoured surcoat]]s - rectangular [[steel]] [[plate]]s arranged in three rows and attached to the [[surcoat]] with rivets.
* an early form of a [[pair of plates]] appears late in the century as well.
* [[chausses]] - of [[mail]] are ubiquitous for mounted [[noble]]s throughout the century and developed into form of joined [[mail]] [[hose]].
* [[gamboised cuisse]]s - [[velvet]], [[silk]] or other rich [[fabric|material]] covering padded funnel shaped tubes that covered the thigh. They could be [[embroidery|embroidered]] for decoration and were generally laced to a belt worn underneath or possibly laced directly to the [[aketon]].
* [[kite shield]] - flat top kites that began large but were cut down in the middle of the century and to form the [[heater shield]]. Covered with [[leather]] they still had a [[guige]] and also two [[enarme]]s and were painted to display the owner's [[coat of arms]].
* conical [[spangenhelm]] - pointed [[helmet]] sometimes with [[nasal]].
* domed [[helmet]]s such as early forms of the [[bascinet]] appear before the middle of this century.
* small [[skull cap]] - worn under a [[mail]] [[coif]].
* [[kettle helm]] - worn with of without a [[mail]] [[coif]].
* [[great helm]] is introduced. This is worn with a padded [[coif]] which could sit either under or over a [[mail]] [[coif]].
*[[gauntlet]]s - likely of [[leather]] reinforced with whalebone and appear after 1290, but are very rare. [[Steel]] [[gauntlet]]s are also mentioned in the last 5 years of the century.
* [[espauder]]s - shoulder defences of unknown form or material are mentioned at the end of the century.
* [[ailette]]s - flat diamond shaped, disc or square [[plate]]s laced to the shoulder and made of [[leather]] or [[parchment]] which appear primarily to provide identification of a [[knight]].
* [[poleyn]]s - apear in the middle of the century and were [[cup]] shaped [[plate]]s of [[steel]] laced to the [[chausses]].
* [[couter]]s - small disc shaped defences for the elbows appear at around 1260 but are very rare.
* [[schynbald]]s - gutter shaped [[plate]]s of [[steel]] that were laced to the [[chausses]] to protect the shins.

===Clothing===
* [[tunic]] of [[wool]]
*under[[tunic]] of [[linen]]
*[[hose]] of [[wool]]
* turn[[shoe]]s of [[leather]]
* [[surcoat]] - sleeveless reaching to mid-thigh [[surcoat]]s became very common after 1210 and began very plain without [[heraldry|heraldric]] adornment.

===Misconceptions===
* two handed swords - not known (although we do see the introduction of the "hand and a half" or "bastard" sword which could be used with two hands but was not a true zwiehander)
* double-bitted [[axe]]s - not known

* swords with elaborate basket-style hand guards - not known

==Internal Links==
''See also:''
*[[12th century fighting equipment]]
*[[14th century fighting equipment]]
[[category:fighting kit]]
[[category:13th century]]
[[category:starting out]]

Talk:Kettle helm

2007-04-16T07:59:33Z

61.95.65.186:

Hi, I just added some info on the use of the kettle helm by Nobles, I'm not sure where to site the source - it was "English Medieval Knight 1200-1300" written by Christopher Gravett and published by Osprey.

Kettle helm

2007-04-16T07:57:37Z

61.95.65.186: added info on use of kettle helm by nobles

The '''kettle helm''' or '''kettle hat''' is a helmet with a round bowl and a brim that extends around the entire circumference of the item. This appearance is in many ways, similar to many [[medieval]] [[cauldron]]s.

It appears in the [[12th century]] with a multiplate construction with reinforcing bands and this style remains in use right up until the middle of the [[15th century]] (often worn with a [[mail]] [[coif]]). It was very popular with soldiers, and those below the rank of knight, however some nobles favoured this helmet over the vision limiting Great Helm, such as King Louis of France in the mid [[13th century]], and many crusaders although it does not seem to have been very popular with the [[Italy|Italians]].

After about the first quarter of the [[14th century]] the kettle hat developed a tall conical [[skull]], and [[15th century]] versions might have an integral [[brim]] and an [[eyeslot]] cut into the crease. It might also be worn with a [[bevor]] in the manner of a [[sallet]]. Versions from just before the middle of the century have small [[comb]]s and versions from the second half of the century might have spiral [[bowl]]s. A [[Switzerland|Swiss]] version had had a shallow cone top and a circular cone shape that flared out from the brim upwards.

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