In this selection of photographs from museums in Russia and Ukraine, I tried to collect Russian armor that was used by the Russians, if not in battle, then at least in parades. At first glance it may seem that own style There was no armor in Russia; it is Turkish-style armor with a mixture of Caucasian and Indo-Persian. But nevertheless, it has its own characteristics. In Moscow Russia and on the territory of Ukraine and Belarus, turban helmets were never used. Corps bekhterts armor was always fastened at the sides. Circular mirror armor in Muscovy was made with a corrugated surface, and was so popular that in English-language weapons science the term “krug armor” is used even for mirror armor brought from Turkey or Egypt.
But nevertheless, the Russian warrior of the 16th and 17th centuries was often very similar to those he fought against. Because his armor was bought from the “basurman”, received as a trophy or gift. This applies not only to weapons, the upper class of the Moscow state used things and luxury goods of eastern origin and did not see anything wrong with it - they focused on beauty and quality.
Russian gunsmiths, in tribute to the style of their eastern teachers, carefully minted Arabic script on their products, although with errors and abbreviations.
Russian helmets
Helmet attributed to Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. Diameter 19.5 cm. Armory Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin.
Dome-shaped, the crown is forged from one piece of iron, the nosepiece is riveted separately. A row of small round holes for attaching the aventail. Chained to the frontal part is a large plate of gilded silver, a board embossed with the figure of the Archangel Michael, surrounded by an engraved inscription in Cyrillic: “In the name of the Archangel Michael, help your servant Feodor.” The top is decorated with silver plates showing the Most High God and the saints: Basil, George and Feodor. The edge is framed with silver gilded embossing with figures of birds, griffins, and floral patterns.
Front view.
Helmet s. Nikolskoye former Oryol province. Chance find, 1866 (Hermitage). Photo by A. N. Kirpichnikov
The three-piece crown is forged with longitudinal grooves to increase strength. Attached to the front is an overlay with cutouts for the eyes and a humped, pointed nosepiece. The edges of the half-mask overlay and the edge of the nosepiece are equipped with small holes for the aventail, which covered, in addition to the neck, the entire lower part of the face. At the bottom of the body there are visible remains of 8-9 loops for the back of the aventail. The hoop has not survived. The entire helmet is covered with thin silver gilded sheeting, which is damaged and crumbled in many places.
Hat with Deesis. Byzantium, XIII-XIV centuries. Iron. Forged, gold incised, silver incised. Diameter - 30.0 cm; weight - 2365.7 g. Armory Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin.
The helmet cap is cone-shaped, divided into equal-sized segments by eight gold rods inlaid in iron and extending from the top down. On the straight, almost cylindrical crown there are carved gilded images of the Savior Almighty, along with naming inscriptions, Holy Mother of God and John the Baptist (Deesis), Archangel Michael, Archangel Gabriel, two cherubim, two evangelists and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Wide, slightly sloping brims are attached to the crown. The entire surface of the helmet is covered with the finest grass ornament.
Half mask found by B. A. Rybakov in 1948 during excavations of the detinets of the chronicle city of Vshchizh (Zhukovsky district, Bryansk region, Russia). Kept in the State Historical Museum (GIM, inventory 1115B; No. 2057). The restoration in 2010 featured silvering and gilding using the amalgamation method.
Dating: second half of the 12th -13th century.
"Mugal" that is, from North India helmets with masks. Armory Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin. These masks have the remains of forehead hinges, and characteristic Mongoloid features. One of the masks is rigidly riveted to the helmet directly through the hinge - obviously, this is the later “creativity” of museum workers. In reality, the masks were attached to the helmets using a forehead hinge and a fixing flag, which in the closed position passed through a special slot inside the protective semicircular collar. Both the helmet and the mask are decorated with similar floral patterns, which may indicate that they are complete. Another helmet from the Armory. It is interesting that this helmet has a nose, consisting of two parts, soldered to the mask with copper solder, and characteristic “scars” are made on the cheeks, which are present on almost all later masks.
Big shot of Tsar Mikhail Romanov. Armory Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin. Master. N. Davydov. 1613-1639. Iron, leather. Forging, gold notching, riveting.
Spoon hat of boyar Nikita Ivanovich Romanov. Russia, XVI century State Armory Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin. The nose piece is lost, but there is a fastening for it; the face is protected by a chain mail cloth. The ears are covered with earflaps woven into chainmail fabric. The chain mail also belonged to Nikita Romanov.
Helmet of Alexander Nevsky, which belonged to Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich. Deut. floor. 16th century In 1621, remade by master Nikita Davydov: he probably added a figurine of a saint to the nosepiece and an image of a crown to the crown.
Along the rim there is an Arabic inscription from the Koran: “Give joy to the faithful with the promise of help from Allah and speedy victory.”
Armory Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin. Steel, gold, precious stones, pearls, silk fabric. Carving, forging, embossing, gold incision, enamel. Diameter - 22 cm. Height - 35 cm. Weight - 3285 g.
Shishak of Prince Fyodor Mstislavsky. Armory Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin. Helmet of Turkish origin, 16th century. The earflaps were added by restorers in the 19th century; they correspond to the period of the helmet, but are somewhat large.
Inscriptions on Arabic on the crown of the helmet: In the name of the good and merciful God, I gave you a clear victory, may God forgive you the sins that you have committed and that you will fulfill, may the Lord of His grace fulfill you, guide you on the path of righteousness and strengthen you with glorious help. Inscriptions on the ears: God is the consubstantial king of all, immortal, wise, holy.
Collection from the Kyiv National Historical Museum. It dates back to the turn of the 14th-15th century.
Helmet of Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich. Russia, 1557. Armory Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin. Gold, damask steel, silk fabric, precious stones, pearls. Forging, embossing, gold incision, carving, enamel.
Made by order of Ivan the Terrible for his three year old son Ivan in 1557. This is evidenced by the inscription inscribed in gold on the crown of the helmet. The pointed shape of the helmet with a high spire is typical of the first half of the 16th century.
Turkish helmet. Hermitage Saint Petersburg. Ser. - sec. floor. 16th century Steel and gold, forged, riveted and cut. Height 27.9 cm.
Shelom of Ivan the Terrible, presumably 1547. The diameter of the helmet is 19 cm - for the head of a teenager, Ivan Vasilyevich began reigning at the age of 14. The inscription at the lower edge of the crown in Arabic - “Allah Muhammad” is an abbreviated version of the well-known Muslim prayer.
On the second belt it is written: “Shelom of Prince Vasilyevich the Grand Duke from Vasily Ivanovich, the ruler of all Rus', the autocrat.”
Stored in the Livrust Camera Museum, Stockholm, Sweden (Stockgolm Livrust Kammaren).
Cappelin's helmet. Masters: Ringler, Hieronymus. Germany, Auburg.
First third of the 17th century Steel and leather, forged, carved, embossed, engraved and gilded. Vysta. 32.8 cm. Turkish style armor was made not only in Turkey.
Misyurka of the boyar Vasily Vasilyevich Golitsyn (died in 1619). Armory Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin. An early turban type, rare for Rus'.
High helmet, Russia, early 16th century. Iron, forging. Found in Moscow on the territory of Kitay-Gorod.
Trophy Russian cone, early. 17th century. Museum of the Polish Army. Warsaw.
Helmet “Jericho cap” Türkiye, 16th century. Damask steel, precious stones, turquoise, fabric, white metal Forging, chasing, gold notching, carving Diameter: 21.3 cm Belonged to Prince Fyodor Ivanovich Mstislavsky
Armor is a defensive weapon that consists of the armor itself. In this case, the following types of armor are distinguished: soft, ringed, lamellar, lamellar-ringed. Naturally, there are many more types of armor, and today we will look at some of them in more detail. The armor also includes a combat headband, leggings, bracers and other protective equipment.
Gothic armor
The solid armor of the European heavy cavalry of the second half of the 15th century, the predecessor of Maximilian, differs from the latter in greater functionality, high quality metal processing and manufacturing of parts, elegance of forms and somewhat less accuracy of joining parts, absence of grooves. Based on the totality of its properties, some researchers define it as the most advanced solid armor.
Decorative armor
Interior armor, which is produced for the purpose of designing and decorating various interiors. This type of armor is a copy of combat, hunting and other types of armor, but does not fulfill its original functions.
Heterogeneous armor
Armor that includes elements consisting of parts that are not rigidly connected and are small in size.
Homogeneous armor
Armor, which contains mainly large parts consisting of one material, as well as large ones.
Homogeneous-heterogeneous armor
Armor that combines the properties of both homogeneous and heterogeneous armor.
Gendarme armor
A classic type of solid armor, which was widespread in the second half of the 15th century. It was first adopted under King Charles VII. Used by the French gendarmes - heavy cavalry from impoverished nobles. As the head of the armor, a salad was used, in which the end of the crown goes into a long nape plate. A forearm screwed to the top of the plate breastplate protects the lower part of the face. The upper part of the face is covered with a fixed visor, in which there is a transverse slit at eye height, providing visibility.
The shoulders are covered with shoulder pads made of overlapping plaques, connected, in turn, to elbow pads. The armpits are covered with a chain mail net and, in addition, are covered with shoulder shields lowered low to the breastplate. A single-plate plate breastplate has a thickening at the bottom, called the “carapace,” which provides additional reinforcement to this part of the armor. The belly and legguards are made in the form of somewhat curved plates, stacked on top of each other like tiles. For a warrior sitting in the saddle, they cover his legs up to the knees.
The hips can be protected only with thigh guards or additionally with side guards (hips). The plate backplate (back plate) also has a “shell”, the continuation of which is the sacral covering, which reaches the saddle when the rider is sitting. Under the armor, the pelvic area is additionally protected by a chainmail skirt.
The knee pads, attached to the pads (lower part of the thigh) and leggings, consist of 5 plates, the central one (superimposed on the side ones like a ridge tile) is strongly curved in the form of a dome. Leggings consist of a greave and a shin guard, connected by hinges and fastened on the inside of the leg. The shoes are pointed, with a long point and spurs in the form of a wheel with long rays placed on a long shaft.
The points of the shoe and spurs are fastened by the squire after the knight mounts his horse, and are unfastened before he dismounts. The elbows are covered with elbow pads, the forearms are a continuation of plate gauntlets. The armor is relatively light (total weight 15-30 kg), but can only be fully donned and securely fastened with the help of a squire. Worn over soft overalls (pants and jacket), chain mail elements.
First, the shoes are put on, then the pads, connected by straps to the belt. After them, leggings, legguards, knee pads are put on, then armor, belly and shoulder pads. The last to be secured were the shoulder shields, attached to the overalls and passing through special holes in the bib with straps. Additional protection right side body is provided by the shield of the spear.
The shield is not provided as an independent weapon and is practically not used. The rider's weapons are a sword, a spear, a dagger, and a dagger; The officers, moreover, are slanderers. The horse also wears plate armor that completely covers the chest, back, croup, sides, neck and head, superimposed on or connected by a chain mail net. By the end of the 16th century. the armor has undergone changes. The spear was removed from service, and instead the gendarme received a sword and dagger, the leg guards disappeared, and the breastplate became shorter and lighter. The cuirass has been replaced by a half cuirass.
Ringed armor
Armor that is made of metal rings, but their sizes are not the same. This type of armor includes chain mail and canopy.
Laminar armor
Armor that includes plates made of hard material. The plates are quite long and arranged horizontally, they are connected to each other.
Plate armor
Armor, the basis of which is a relatively small number of large, flat or curved (often complex relief) plates (armor), connected to each other into a single whole using auxiliary parts, hinges or non-connected, independent ones. Plate as armor that provides protection to the chest, abdomen and back (analogous to a cuirass) is known already in Ancient Egypt, widespread among the Celts and in Ancient Greece, where they were made in the form of two rigid curved plates of forged bronze connected by hinges, accurately reproducing the relief of the customer’s (owner’s) muscles, and therefore were made strictly individually (Hyalothorax).
From simple plate armor (cuirass, greaves, bracers, shoulder pads), this armor later developed into continuous armor by increasing the number of parts, connecting them to each other and precise mutual adjustment. Maximum development and perfection was achieved in Gothic armor of the late 15th century. and in Maximilian armor of the early 16th century, completely covering the entire body. In Russia, armor of this type was called plank or plank.
Plate armor XVII and XVIII
Over time, solid armor becomes simpler, no longer covers the entire body, the number of parts decreases, and first of all, the legs, pelvis, and back lose coverage. The armor, especially the cuirass breastplate, is very heavy and massive to protect against bullets. The breastplate is short, there is usually no paunch, the legguards are in the form of long pads fastened to the cuirass, forming a protrusion of the knee pad with side ears above the knee. Leggings are usually absent. A helmet of the burgignot type often has a nosepiece, characteristic of this era, of the eastern type in the form of a rod, giving a curl at the bottom, and another curl above the protrusion of the visor.
Sometimes there is a similar decoration on the back of the head. The shoulder pads are symmetrical - they, like the bracers, are scaly. The last troops armed with such armor were the cuirassiers of Louis XIV. The armor is blued, the breastplate is even shorter, the belly is short, and the pads are large. The arms are covered with scales, the combat head is a chaplain with a back plate and a nosepiece, reminiscent of a Japanese head. There is a sultan on the crown.
At the beginning of the 18th century. in the armor only the chaplain and cuirass remain, very short, covering the body to the level of the ribs and deeply cut under the arms. Subsequently, the backrest is abandoned, and the breastplate of the cuirass is put on and secured to the body with belts. Sometimes, instead of a half-cuirass, they wear an iron collar, like a plate necklace, with a wide protrusion going down to the chest. Shoulder pads and forearm armor could be attached to this collar.
Maximilian armor
The armor, which became widespread during the Renaissance, was used by knights in Europe. It consists of about 200 large elements, and the outside is covered with ribs and gutters. Total There are up to 1000 parts, including buckles, connecting bolts, hooks and other small parts. The ribs (veins) and grooves are designed and directed so that the spear blows slide outside the joints of the armor, which increases the protective properties of the armor. In addition, they act as stiffening ribs and increase the strength of the armor, while simultaneously reducing its weight. Named after Emperor Maximilian I, for the weapons whose army it was developed. Average weight armor 22-30 kg, helmet - 1.5-4 kg, chain mail - 4-7 kg, shield - 3-6 kg, sword - 1-3 kg. Total weight armor rarely exceeded 40 kg.
The combat headgear - arme - has a pommel with holes near the ears; sometimes the ridge protruding from the pommel is not flat, but in the form of a tourniquet. On the back (crown) there is a tube for the plume. A visor is made of one or two parts, the upper one (visor) protects the forehead, the lower one (blowhole) protects the chin; has slots or is made in the form of a lattice. Sometimes the visor consisted of three or more parts. The chin covers the entire lower part of the face up to lower lip, it is continued by a throat cover made of several curved plates attached to it. At the back, a butt plate made of several scales is attached to the pommel using scales.
The basis and support for the armor is a mantle-aventail made of three front and rear plates covering the neck; armor, shoulder pads, and armor are attached to it. An aventail is a kind of necklace; it has a hinge on the left side and clasps or cufflinks on the right. It was always made to measure, carefully adjusted in accordance with the anthropometric data of the owner of the armor, as it ensured mobility and strength of joints, and the ability to move the head.
A poorly selected aventail causes pain and deprives a warrior of mobility and the ability to control weapons. Sometimes, instead of arme, they used a helmet with a necklace, with a straight base, which did not have a throat cover and a butt plate. When the head was turned, the lower smooth edge of the helmet slid in a groove or along the upper rounded edge of the neck covering (necklace). The necklace served as a cover for the throat and back of the head; in appearance it resembled an aventail, only very wide and worn over the head, which is why it did not require adjustment to the owner.
However, the lower edge of the helmet and the necklace were adjusted to each other very carefully so as not to interfere with the movements of the head. This design, unlike the previous one, did not allow the head to be tilted or thrown back in battle without threatening the safety of the knight. The armor consisted of a breastplate connected by hinges, equipped with a large rib, and a backrest. The breastplate was usually forged from a single sheet of iron. The rib deflected the blow, the grooves directed it.
The shape of the breastplate changed - convex, pointed at the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th centuries, in mid-16th century V. it becomes elongated oblong, from the 1570s. made with a point, and from the beginning of the 17th century. - blunt and short. Very rarely, the entire cuirass was made of scales. Axillary scales were attached to the bib in the armpits using straps.
The abdomen consisted of 2-3 plates. Gaiters covered the sides, starting from the waist, and the upper part of the legs (the upper third of the front and lateral surface of the thigh), often being a continuation of the abdomen. Consisted of several scales or plates, at the end of the 16th century. lengthened to cover the thigh from hip joint to the knee and compensate for the lack of obsolete pads.
The lower part of the back was covered by a sacral cover of 1-3 scales that did not have a cutout, which was made in Gothic armor for a tight fit to the surface of the saddle. On top of the armor, mantles were attached to the aventail with straps. The right shoulder is always smaller so as not to interfere with arm movements; in addition, the left side, which is usually hit, requires more protection.
Armor for left-handers is known. Not all armor has neck covers and they are ridges or wings over the shoulders that protected from hooks and prevented the knight from pulling off the helmet. Sometimes round plaques were attached instead. The bracers are divided into two parts by the elbow pad. The top one is a cylinder and several scales attached to it. The lower one, protecting the forearm, was made in the form of a double-leaf cylinder with hinges and cufflinks, and was attached to the upper one with belts. The elbow pad is convex, in early models with a point, and is attached to the bracers with screws.
Tin-lined mittens (gloves) in some Spanish and Italian armor had fingers, then each finger was covered with scales or rings; in other armor, the fingers were covered with common scales, sometimes only indicated on the outside. Thumb in all cases it is separated from the others and has a separate scaly covering. The opening of the glove is decorated with a bracelet or edge with a hinge and clasp.
The frame (bracket) is composite, with the lower part (support) fixedly attached to the cuirass, and the hook itself could, if necessary, be lowered on a hinge. The pads consisted of two plates (the front and the outer side) and were fastened with belts. The kneecap consisted of a conical or spherical front part and an outer side, as well as four scales. Leggings for the lower legs are semi-cylindrical, their flaps are called greaves and greaves (spreaders and greaves), connected on the outer surface of the leg with a hinge and fastened on the inside.
Later, the leggings lost the back half and began to be secured with straps. The foot greaves are attached to the greave with a leg joint. Under the armor they wore suede leggings, overalls, chain mail to mid-thigh or slightly shorter, with long sleeves. The armor scales were attached to each other from bottom to top. Large scales were attached on top of smaller ones. The blow of the spear and the tip of the sword slid along the scales until it met the next scale, then with raised ribs and stripes, where it lost power. The weak parts of the armor were doubled with chain mail underneath.
Soft armor
Armor made from fabric and leather. There were varieties that also included reservations.
Hunting armor
Armor that became widespread among hunters who hunted large animals - for example, wild boar.
Ceremonial armor
Armor that was worn only for especially special events. In all cases, it differed from the battle armor of the same time in its lighter weight, lower quality fitting of parts and rich finish. There are known ceremonial armor and plates made entirely of gold, silver, inlaid precious stones, and the thickness of the armor sometimes does not exceed 5 mm (the earliest golden armor was discovered in a Bronze Age burial). European plate ceremonial armor, in addition, was distinguished by the absence of a fokra (spear hook) and the symmetry of the shoulder guards. Sometimes it was covered with expensive fabrics.
Plate-ringed armor
Armor that consisted of rings and plates. This type of armor includes bakhterets and yushman.
Plate armor
Armor, which includes plates, and their shape and size can be different.
Full armor
Armor, which includes armor, leggings, helmet, bracers, shield and other elements.
Knight's armor
Full armor worn by knights in Europe during the Middle Ages.
Solid armor
One of the varieties of scaly or ring-scale armor that completely protected the warrior’s body.
Sports armor
Armor used to protect athletes during military sports competitions. Tournament armor is also considered sports armor.
Quilted armor
Soft-shaped armor consisting of layers of leather or fabric. Between the layers, a cotton or wool interlining was usually sewn, which was sewn along both straight and oblique lines.
Training armor
Armor that was worn during the training of warriors, that is, when military exercises were practiced.
Tournament armor
Armor worn by European warriors in tournaments. As a rule, it is a solid, heavy armor that greatly limits the mobility of a knight, which over time has been greatly simplified and transformed into incomplete armor, providing protection only for the head, the front surface of the body (mainly its left part) and the left leg, hips. Made from very thick iron.
The armor for the equestrian spear tournament with a barrier (lattice) excluded the use of leggings. To prevent injury from sliding along the barrier, the leg was protected by a special design of the saddle pommel in the form of a box. The guards and legguards were made from a single plate. The hands were usually not protected, the left had a mitten, the right was covered with a shield. The cuirass had one, sometimes two (front and rear) fokras, and later began to be equipped with blow counters.
Later, the back plate of the cuirass was abandoned - thus, only the front surface of the body was covered. An additional shield is often screwed to the left side of the breastplate. The space between the shoulder and chest is covered by armpit covers in the form of discs. If there is only a left disc, then the right shoulder shield is enlarged and often has a cutout for a spear. The left shoulder pad is sometimes integral with the solid helmet. Combat head - lattice helmet, burgignot, early 16th century. a “toad head” headband is used. This helmet is attached to the breastplate, and sometimes to the backrest. At the end of the 16th century. Mostly lettuce was used.
Tarch transformed into a wooden cloak. If the spear did not have a shield, right hand acquired a bracer that protected its front surface. The total weight of the armor reached 80 kg.
Tournament armor for foot combat remained complete (solid) until the cessation of tournaments; it differed from contemporary combat armor in the absence of a belly, leg guards and sacral cover, replaced by a bell-shaped skirt that more reliably protected the pelvic area. The shoulder pads are almost symmetrical. The total weight of the armor ranged from 25-40 kg. Combat head - lattice helmet, burgignot, in the 16th century. - salad.
Knotted armor
Protective weapons in the form of a covering worn on the body, woven from wood fibers, bark, twigs, vines, and tarred ropes. Thick knots, tightly tied close to each other, provided reliable protection from arrows, blow needles, and chopping blows from bronze and even iron blades. Various varieties of this armor were widely used by the natives of Africa, Polynesia, and America.
Scaled armor
The armor, consisting of plates, is shaped like scales.
People rich enough to not have to work constitute a privileged class, strictly separated from the rest of society. In this upper class, everyone, excluding clergy, are warriors by profession, in the terminology of the Middle Ages, “knights”.
Charlemagne also obliged everyone free people his empire to bear arms. The need to protect oneself, a penchant for idleness and adventure, and a predisposition to military life led throughout medieval Europe to the formation of a military aristocracy. To attract people to military service, there was no need for the highest authority of the state. Since secular people believed military life the only honorable way of life, then everyone strove for it; the military, knightly class included everyone who had enough money to join it.
The first condition for becoming a knight was the opportunity to purchase weapons at your own expense. Meanwhile, starting from the 9th century, they fought exclusively on horses. Therefore, the medieval warrior was called chevalier in France, caver in the south, caballero in Spain, Ritter in Germany, in Latin texts ancient name soldier, miles, became synonymous with knight.
Throughout feudal Europe, war is fought in the same way, and the warriors are armed almost identically.
Armor and weapons medieval knights
A person who is fully armed for battle, a knight, has his body protected by armor. Until the end of the 9th century, this was armor, a tunic made of leather or fabric, covered with metal plaques or rings; later armor is everywhere replaced by chain mail, a shirt made of metal rings with gauntlets and a hood and with a slit at the top so that it can be worn like a shirt. At first the chain mail reached the feet; when it was shortened to the knees, they began to cover their legs with hoop stockings for protection; Spurs shaped like the tip of a spear were attached to these stockings. The hood covered the back of the head and head and reached the chin, leaving only the eyes, nose and mouth open.
During battle, a medieval knight put a helmet on his head - a conical-shaped steel cap surrounded by a rim and ending in a metal or glass ball (cimier); the helmet was equipped with an iron plate that protected the nose (nasal - nasal, it disappeared by the end of the 12th century) and was tied to the chain mail with leather straps. Only in the XIV century. armor made of metal plates and a helmet with a visor appear, which survived until the 17th century - weapons Bayard and Henry IV, which, however, is often mistaken for the usual armament of a medieval knight.
To repel blows, the medieval knight wore a shield made of wood and leather, covered with metal strips and decorated in the middle with a plaque (boucle) made of gilded iron (hence the name of the shield - bouclier). At first round, the shield then becomes oblong and lengthens to the point that it covers the rider from shoulders to toes. The knights hung it around their necks on a wide belt; during battle, it was put on the left hand using handles located on the inside. It was on shields that, starting from the 12th century, they began to draw a coat of arms, recognized by one or another family for its emblem.
The knight's offensive weapons were a sword (branc), usually wide and short, with a flat hilt, and a spear with a long and thin shaft made of ash or hornbeam, ending with an iron tip in the shape of a diamond. Below the tip, a rectangular strip of material (gonfanon - banner) was nailed, which fluttered in the wind. The spear could be thrust into the ground with a handle ending in an iron tip.
Knights. Film 1. Chained in Iron
Dressed and armed in this way, the medieval knight was almost invulnerable, and over time the weapons were increasingly improved, making the warrior look like a living fortress. But at the same time he becomes so heavy that he needs a special kind of horse to fight. The knight has two horses with him: an ordinary one (palefroi) for riding, and a fighting one (dextrier), which is led by a servant by the bridle. Before the battle begins, the knight puts on his armor, sits on war horse and rushes into battle, pointing his spear forward.
Only knights were considered true warriors; stories about medieval battles tell us only about them, and only about them the battle columns consisted. But they were accompanied on their campaigns by other riders on less hardy horses, dressed in a tunic and hat, equipped with lighter and less expensive armor, armed with a small shield, narrow sword, pike, ax or bow. A knight who had heavy weapons could not do without these companions: they led his war horse (on the right side, hence the name dextrier), carried his shield, helped him put on armor at the moment of battle and sit in the saddle. Therefore, they were usually called valets (servants) or ècuyers (shield bearers), and in Latin - scutifer (shield bearer) or armiger (armiger). In the early Middle Ages, knights kept these squires in a subordinate position. Composed at the end of the 11th century. " Song of Roland"They are referred to as the lower class. They shaved their heads like servants and received coarser bread at table. But little by little brotherhood in arms brought the squires closer to the knights; in the 13th century both groups already constituted one class - the upper class secular society, and to both those and others they applied the ancient Latin name noble (nobilis), which constituted belonging to upper class(edel in German).
A protective covering used to protect a person from various types weapons, both melee and ranged (for example, bows). Armor was used to protect both soldiers and war animals such as war horses (horse armor was called barding).
Armor has been used throughout history and was made from a variety of materials; Starting with the simplest leather armor, personal armor has evolved to armor. For most of military history the production of metal armor in Europe was the most technologically advanced process. The production of armor was the reason for the development of many technologies ancient world, such as wood processing, mining, metal cleaning, manufacturing Vehicle(for example, chariots), leather processing, and, later, decorative metal processing. This production influenced the development of the Industrial Revolution, and influenced the commercial development of metallurgy and engineering.
Technologies armor were the single most influential factor in the development firearms, which revolutionized the battlefield.
Materials
Has been used for centuries big variety materials for the production of armor: hides, leather, bones, linen, wood, bronze, iron plates. The armor's resistance to penetrating impact depends on the thickness of the steel - 2mm thick steel can withstand 3 times more impact energy than 1mm thick steel.
Characteristics of armor
Since the 15th century most human body was protected by specialized steel elements, usually worn over linen or wool underwear, which were secured to the body with leather straps, clasps and ties. Chain mail protected areas that could not be protected by plate armor; for example, the back and knees. Known components of plate armor include the helmet, gauntlets, breastplate, and.
Complete for the elite armor was made individually. Most of armor was purchased “as is,” but some armor was customized for the individual owner. The cost of armor varied greatly depending on the era and place, and included both the cost of production and the cost of decoration of the armor. In the 8th century, chain mail cost 12 oxen; by 1600, a horse's armor cost 2 oxen. A typical full plate suit of armor cost approximately £1 in 14th century England, with a warrior earning around 1 shilling per day during the same period. Thus, the armor cost approximately 20 days of service. But plate armor was only available to those who could buy it: the nobility, landowners, and mercenary professional warriors who were the bulk of armies in the Medieval period. Lower ranking soldiers wore significantly less armor. Full plate armor made the wearer virtually invulnerable to sword blows, and also provided significant protection against arrows, clubs, and even early firearms. The edge of the sword could not penetrate the relatively thin plate (only 1 mm). Additionally, although arrows from bows and crossbows, as well as early firearms, could pierce plates, especially with close range, Later improvements in steel processing techniques and armor design made this method of attack much more difficult. As the pinnacle of development, the hardened steel armor was almost impregnable on the battlefield. Knights were more vulnerable to polearms such as halberds and blunt weapons such as maces or war hammers, the blows of which caused damage without piercing armor, and resulted in injuries such as fractures, internal hemorrhages, and/or traumatic brain injuries. Other tactics were aimed at striking between pieces of armor, using daggers, spears and the points of other weapons, hitting the eyes or joints.
Contrary to common misconceptions, well-made medieval "battle" armor (as opposed primarily to the ceremonial "ceremonial" or "tournament" armor favored by kings and nobles of later years) hindered its wearer no more than modern military equipment. It must be remembered that the knight was trained to wear armor from adolescence, and he was able to develop the technique and endurance to run, crawl, climb ladders, as well as climb onto a horse without a crane. Full medieval plate armor supposedly weighed about 30kg, and was on average lighter than modern military equipment (up to 50kg).
History of armor
Many factors have influenced the development of armor throughout human history. The most significant factors in the development of armor include the economic and technological needs of production. For example, plate armor first appeared in Medieval Europe, when hammers powered by a water wheel made plate formation faster and cheaper. Likewise, modern militaries generally do not provide their soldiers with the best protection, as it would be extremely expensive. Throughout time, the development of armor has paralleled the development of weapons on the battlefield, and armorers have strived to create better protection without sacrificing mobility.
Mail armor
Chain mail is made of iron rings connected to each other, which can be riveted or welded. Mail is believed to have been invented by the Celts in Eastern Europe around 500 BC As the Celts moved west, chain mail began to spread. Most cultures that used chain mail used the Celtic word "byrnne" or variations thereof, implying the Celts as the creators. The Roman army used chain mail throughout most of its history. Following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD, the infrastructure for making plate armor was largely lost in Europe, leaving chainmail to be the best armor available during the Early Medieval Period.
Transition to plate armor
Gradually, small additional plates or discs of iron were added to the chain mail to protect vulnerable areas. By the end of 1200. the knees were thus protected, and two round discs called "besagews" protected the armpits. There are many known ways to improve the protection of chain mail, and in all likelihood, armorers experimented with various options for protection. Reinforced leather and pinned devices were used to protect parts of the arms and legs. The plate jacket appeared, armor made of large plates sewn onto a textile or leather jacket (sometimes quite long).
Early plate armor in Italy, and in other places in the 13-15th centuries it was made of iron. Iron armor could be carburized or tempered to produce a harder surface. Plate armor became cheaper than chain mail by the 15th century because it was less labor-intensive to manufacture, and labor became much more expensive after the bubonic plague epidemic in Europe in 1348-49, although it required more metal to produce. Mail continued to be used to protect those parts of the body that could not be adequately protected by plates, such as the armpits, elbows and groin. Another advantage of the armor was that the support for the spear could be mounted on the chest plate.
Probably the most recognizable style of armor in the world is plate armor, associated with the knights of the European Late Middle Ages.
Until about 1400, a full set of plate armor was developed in the armories of Lombardy. Heavy cavalry dominated the battlefield for centuries due in part to their armor.
In the early 15th century, small "hand guns" began to be used on the battlefields of the Hussite Wars, in combination with gorod tactics, allowing infantry to defeat armored knights on the battlefield. At the same time, crossbows became powerful enough to pierce armor. Rather than eradicating armor as a class, the threat of firearms stimulated improvements in the protective properties of armor. This was a 150 year period in which better and more metallurgically advanced steel armor was used, due to the danger posed by firearms. Thus, firearms and armored cavalry were "menace and retribution" together on the battlefield for almost 400 years. K 15c plate armor in Italy they were almost always made of steel. In southern Germany, gunsmiths began to harden their steel armor only at the end of the 15th century.
Quality of metal used for manufacturing armor, worsened as armies became larger and armor was made thicker, requiring the removal of riding horses. If during the 14th-15th centuries armor rarely weighed more than 15 kg, then by the end of the 16th century the armor weighed 25 kg. The increasing weight and thickness of late 16th century armor gave a significant increase in strength.
During the appearance of the first pistols and arquebuses, firearms had a relatively low bullet speed. Full armor, or the breaches actually stopped bullets fired from short distances. The front gaps were actually zeroed in during testing of the armor. The point of impact of the bullet was often surrounded by an engraving to indicate it. This was called "proof". Armor often bore the manufacturer's insignia, especially if it was of good quality. Crossbow arrows, if still in use, rarely penetrated good armor, nor did any bullet except those fired at close range.
In fact, rather than rendering armor obsolete, the advent of firearms stimulated the development of armor in its later stages. For much of the period, the armor allowed riders to fight while constantly in the crosshairs of arquebusiers without becoming easy targets. Full suits of armor were commonly worn by generals and royal commanders until the second decade of the 18th century. It was the only way, which made it possible to be safe at a distance from the battlefield from distant musket fire.
The horses were protected from spears and infantry weapons by steel plate "bard" protection. This gave protection to the horse and enhanced the visual impression of the mounted knight. Later, elaborately crafted bards were used in ceremonial armor .
They preferred armor. Chain armor began to lose its relevance when longbows and crossbows were invented. Their penetrating power was so great that the mesh of metal rings became useless. Therefore, I had to protect myself with solid metal sheets. Later, when firearms took a dominant position, armor was also abandoned. The rules were dictated by military progress, and the gunsmiths only adapted to them.
A knight in chain mail with a surcoat over it
There are espaulers on the shoulders (the ancestors of epaulettes)
At first, chain mail covered only the chest and back. Then it was complemented with long sleeves and mittens. TO XII century chain mail stockings appeared. So almost all parts of the body were protected. But the most important thing is the head. The helmet covered her, but her face remained open. Then they made a solid helmet that also covered the face. But in order to put it on, a thick fabric cap was first put on the head. A chain mail headdress was pulled over him. And on top they placed a metal riveted helmet on his head.
Naturally, my head was very hot. After all, the inside of the helmet was also covered with suede. Therefore, many holes were made in it for ventilation. But this did not help much, and the knights tried to remove the heavy metal protection from their heads immediately after the battle.
Knight's helmets of the 12th-13th centuries
The shields were made in a teardrop shape. Knight's coats of arms were applied to them. The coats of arms were also displayed on special shoulder shields - espaulers. They were subsequently replaced by epaulettes. The espaulers themselves were made not of metal, but of leather, and performed purely decorative functions. Helmet decorations were made of wood and covered with leather. Most often they were made in the form of horns, eagle wings or figures of people and animals.
The knight's weapons included a spear, sword, and dagger. The handles of the swords were long so that they could be grasped with two hands. Sometimes used instead of a sword falchion. This is a cutting blade similar in shape to a machete.
Falchion on top and two knight's swords
At the end of the 12th century, the first armor for horses appeared. These were first quilted and then chain mail blankets. A mask was pulled over the animal's face. It was usually made from leather and covered with paint.
In the 13th century, leather plates began to be applied to chain mail. They were made from several layers of boiled leather. They were added only to the arms and legs. And, of course, surcoat. It was very important element clothes. It was a fabric caftan that was worn over armor. Rich knights sewed themselves surcoats from the most expensive fabrics. They were decorated with coats of arms and emblems.
This type of clothing was required. According to the concepts of Catholic morality, undisguised knightly armor was akin to a naked body. Therefore, appearing in them in public was considered indecent. That's why they were covered with cloth. Besides white fabric reflected Sun rays, and the metal heated up less on hot summer days.
Knight in armor
Knights in armor
As already mentioned, in the second half of the 13th century, large bows and crossbows appeared. The bow reached 1.8 meters in height, and an arrow fired from it pierced chain mail at a distance of 400 meters. Crossbows were not as powerful. They pierced armor at a distance of 120 meters. Therefore, we had to gradually abandon chain mail, and they were replaced by solid metal armor.
The swords have also changed. Previously they were slashing, but now they have become piercing. The sharp end could pierce the joint of the plates and hit the enemy. They began to attach visors to helmets in the shape of an elongated cone. This shape prevented arrows from hitting the helmet. They slid along the metal, but did not pierce it. Helmets of this shape began to be called Bundhugels or "dog faces".
By the beginning of the 15th century, armor had completely replaced chain mail, and knightly armor had taken on a different quality. Metal began to be decorated with gilding and niello. If the metal was undecorated, it was called “white.” Helmets continued to be improved.
From left to right: arme, bundhugelam, bikok
The helmet was quite original bicock. His visor did not rise, but opened like a door. It was considered the strongest and most expensive helmet arme. He withstood any blows. It was invented by Italian masters. True, it weighed about 5 kg, but the knight felt absolutely safe in it.
Entire schools of craftsmen appeared who competed with each other in the manufacture of armor. Italian armor was very different in appearance from German and Spanish. And they had very little common features with English.
As the craftsmanship improved, so did the price. The armor was getting more and more expensive. Therefore, armor sets came into fashion. That is, you could order the full set, or you could only pay for part of it. The number of parts in such prefabricated armor reached up to 200. The weight of a complete set sometimes reached 40 kg. If a person shackled in them fell, he could no longer get up without outside help.
But we must not forget that people get used to everything. The knights felt quite comfortable in their armor. All you had to do was walk around in them for two weeks, and they became like family. It should also be noted that after the appearance of armor, shields began to disappear. A professional warrior, clad in iron plates, no longer needed this type of protection. The shield lost its relevance, since the armor itself served as a shield.
Time passed, and knightly armor gradually turned from a means of protection into a luxury item. This was due to the advent of firearms. The bullet pierced the metal. Of course, the armor could be made thicker, but in this case its weight increased significantly. And this had a negative impact on both horses and riders.
At first they fired stone bullets from matchlock guns, and later lead bullets. And even if they did not pierce the metal, they made large dents on it and rendered the armor unusable. Therefore, by the end of the 16th century, knights in armor became rare. And at the beginning of the 17th century they disappeared completely.
Only isolated elements remained from the armor. These are metal breastplates (cuirasses) and helmets. The main striking force in European armies were arquebusiers and musketeers. The sword replaced the sword, and the pistol replaced the spear. A new stage of history began, in which there was no longer a place for knights dressed in armor.
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