| The first Medieval knights rode in chain mail. This material was made of interlinking iron rings. It�s purpose was to protect the knight from blows of swords and weapons, but it didn�t offer complete protection. Sometimes it could be pierced by sharp objects, such as arrows, swords, or daggers. Underneath their coat of mail they wore cotton undergarments called aketon. Over time, metal crafters developed a more durable material called plate armor, like that shown on the left. Plate armor was made of steel and completely covered all of the body parts. |
In the 11th & 12th centuries, most knights wore a cone-shaped helmet with a nosebar, or nasal. That type of helmet is shown above on the far left. Other parts of the uniform included the breastplate, gauntlet, and shield. The breastplate and gauntlet are shown below. Go to COAT-OF-ARMS to see shields.
Many knights, such as Tristram, in the Arthurian Legend battled fire-breathing dragons. However, these creatures were really extinct by the Middle Ages. This is why Arthur is a legend. A legend is something that many people believe is historical and true, but it cannot be proven. Arthurian Legend is fantasy. In reality, knights fought other knights and enemies.
