Medieval armor, or armor in general, is the name given to the full-body protective equipment that medieval knights wore during battle. In Europe and the Middle East from around 1000 to 1550 AD, this ensemble of clothing included a helmet, cuisse (thigh guards), poleyns (forearm guards), greaves (shin guards), a hauberk suspended by raising straps over the shoulders, and attaching to plates known as "jacks" on either side of the chest; but sometimes just leather pieces would be used. It served as protection from slashing weapons such as swords and axes. The most common types of armor were plate armor and chainmail hauberks, although it is likely that many other kinds of armor were worn both by the wealthy and the ordinary soldier. As the Arabs entered North Africa, Sicily, and Spain with their Berbers, Moorish warriors in Spanish service became known later as "Tartaros" or "Tartars". After overrunning the Iberian Peninsula in 711 AD, some of them remained behind. History of Medieval Armor Medieval armor is a type of armor, used in the periods of European history known as the Middle Ages. The term typically refers to any kind of body armor worn by knights and soldiers of this era. Clothing made by craftsmen from linen or leather was commonly used for protection; however, ancient Greek and Roman soldiers are not thought to have worn body armor. The earliest surviving evidence of armor is a Roman military mosaic from the 2nd century AD in the villa of Dastides near Córdoba, Spain. The earliest depiction of full body armor in Eastern countries comes from a Chinese painting dated to the 2nd century BC. Chinese warriors are shown wearing metal lamellar body armor covered with leather. The first mention of chain mail is seen during the 5th century BC in China during war campaigns against neighboring states. The Romans were probably the first to make use of leather armor and its accompanying equipment when they invaded southern France (43 BC). The leather was clear enough that it did not need painting. Varieties of Medieval Armor Medieval weapons are a huge part of the Camelot and Arthurian legends, with swords and armor used as power symbols by kings and queens. All kinds of different types of medieval armor have been seen in movies, books, and games throughout history. Types range from simple chainmail links to full suits of shining plate armor that have a segmented skirt with gussets behind it that protect the backside. There are even depictions of knights wearing helmets on top of their heads while they've been shown riding horses. But did all types of medieval armor really exist? When thinking of different types of medieval armor, the most obvious ones are chainmail, leather, and plate.
During the medieval period, the armor was used to protect soldiers from injury during battle. The most common types of armor were chainmail and metal helmets.
The only time when mail and plate would be worn together would have been if someone had a knight's tabard or coat, and underneath it a layer of armor. In those times, mail would be worn under the tabard for protection. If you're thinking about wearing something that encases all of your body like armor does but you don't want to wear a suit like that, then you should consider wearing a half-scale suit. Benefits of Wearing Armor Before getting into detail about why you should wear armor, it's important that we first talk about what benefits there are to wearing medieval armor. There are many different types of benefits that there are to wearing armor, but just a few have been listed below:
The second part of this benefit is through your inner layer which can be a form of low-density foam, but also lightweight and highly protective materials. These layers will protect your body from many different types of attacks such as bullets and many sharp objects that could otherwise hurt you if you weren't wearing any armor.
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Before we get started, let's set some parameters. What exactly constitutes medieval armor? For the purposes of this blog post, we'll be discussing armor used in Europe from approximately the 5th to the 16th centuries. Now that we've got that out of the way, let's take a look at some of the most popular types of armor used during the medieval period! The first thing to consider when discussing middle ages armor is its function. The armor was designed to protect the wearer from being injured in combat. It was also used to signify the wearer's status and position in society. Types of Medieval Armor There were many different types of armor used during the medieval period, and each had its own advantages and disadvantages. The most common types of armor were mail and plate, which were made up of small metal rings that were linked together. Mail was effective at stopping cuts and thrusts from weapons, but it was not very good at stopping blunt-force trauma. Plate armor was much heavier than mail, but it offered much better protection against blows from weapons. Plate armor could also be very expensive, so it was usually only worn by the wealthiest knights. Plate armor consisted of metal plates that were fitted together to create a suit of armor. The plates were often riveted or welded together. The metal plates used in plate armor were usually made of iron or steel. The process of making metal plates was known as smithing. Typical Armor Pieces There were many different pieces that made up a suit of medieval armor. Each piece had a specific purpose and function. A medieval suit of armor would typically include a helmet, breastplate, gauntlets, leggings, and boots. The helmet would protect the head from blunt force trauma, while the breastplate would protect the torso from piercing weapons. The gauntlets would protect the hands and wrists from cuts, while the leggings would protect the legs from blows. The boots would provide some measure of foot protection. The following is a list of some of the most common pieces of armor used during the medieval period:
What Was the Purpose of Armor? There are many reasons why people use medieval armor. For some, it is a way to protect themselves and their loved ones from harm. Others use it as a form of self-expression or to make a statement. And still, others simply enjoy the look and feel of this type of armor. Whatever the reason, there is no doubt that the armor continues to be famous among all types of people. it is simply a matter of historical reenactment or cosplay. Others find the look of middle age armor to be appealing and enjoy wearing it as a fashion statement. Some people also use this armor for practical purposes, such as in LARPing (live-action role-playing) or other forms of combat training. Whatever the reason, there is no denying that medieval suits can be both beautiful and functional. |
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