| The knight�s equipment - defensive armour The basic defensive garment of the knight was a coat of mail (often erroneously called "chain mail", a term invented in the 19th century), known as a hauberk. This was made up of thousands of interlinking rings, and although it remained in essence the same it changed in appearance over the years. In the 10th and early 11th centuries it was a short thigh-length garment with sleeves ending at the elbow. It was generally worn over the normal civilian costume of woollen tunic and hose. By the late 12th century the hauberk had become longer, reaching to the knees and split back and front for ease of riding. The sleeves were now long, reaching to the wrist and with mail mittens attached; and the mail hood or coif was also attached, making it an all-in-one garment. To add further protection a padded garment known as a gambeson was worn under the hauberk. Mail leggings called chausses were also worn: in the 12th century these had covered only the front of the legs, being laced at the back, but by the 13th century they had become a complete enclosed covering reaching to the hip, and could be joined to the inner side of the hauberk. In texts, a man wearing a hauberk was said to be "armed" - a man without a hauberk was "unarmed", no matter what weapons he might be carrying. In the mid 13th century small pieces of plate began to be added to the mail as extra defences to cover the more exposed parts of the body: first the coudi�res and genouilli�res (to protect the elbows and knees respectively), and then the �pauli�res for the shoulders. These pieces were the forerunners of the complete suits of plate which appeared in the 15th century. The other principal item of defensive equipment worn during this period was the helm. In the early 12th century the favoured style was still the conical nasal helm (as worn by the Normans on the Bayeux Tapestry). The helmet later became flat-topped and the nasal widened to cover the whole face like a mask. By the early 13th century the great helm, an enclosed barrel-shaped helm, was in use. Many layers of padding could be worn underneath: in his book The Archaeology of Weapons R. Ewart Oakeshott suggests a coif of linen, possibly padded, a steel skull-cap, a mail coif and a padded roll of material to keep the helm away from the head. These defences seemed so great that some knights preferred to use them instead of the claustrophobic great helm, rather than in addition to it. Oakeshott cites the example of Sire Everard, who tried this at Mansourah and lost his nose! The introduction of the great helm made recognition of knights difficult, and this was one of the contributing factors in the establishment of heraldry as a form of identification. The surcoat, a generally (but not always) sleeveless garment of linen or silk normally worn over the hauberk, had been introduced to Europe sometime during the latter half of the 12th century. This garment, which had hitherto been plain, became an ideal place to display the arms of the wearer, thus facilitating recognition. The final piece of defensive equipment used by knights at this time was the shield. This too changed in appearance during the period in question. In the first half of the 12th century it was rounded at the top and the lower end was long and pointed, giving it the distinctive "kite" shape, which can also be seen on the Bayeux Tapestry. This was carried on the left arm, and while on horseback would be held on the left side of the horse to cover the rider�s leg and side, leaving his right side free for weapons. This large shield was however quite unwieldy, and as leg protection became more complete it was unnecessary: the shield then became smaller and assumed the triangular "heater" shape. The shield would have four straps on the back; the guige, a long strap adjusted by a buckle which held the shield around the knight�s neck; and three enarmes, shorter straps for the knight to put his left arm through which held his forearm, wrist and fingers. While on horseback his fingers would be needed for the reins but the pressure of the other two enarmes would be sufficient to hold the shield in place. From the late 12th century the shield also became a useful place to display the bearer�s arms. |