Contrary to what some people think, goths are not morbidly fascinated with death or the occult – but they do tend to be highly creative, artistic people with a strong intellectual bent. The Kite shield provided body cover and protection for the legs for cavalry *mounted soldiers since chain-mail was the only type of armor used in the Early Medieval Period.Tattoos are an important part of the goth look – representing that special kind of subculture that developed simultaneously in Europe and the United States in the 1980s as a reaction against the colorful disco era. Of course, their use was rendered obsolete with the increase in the use of gunpowder weapons in the late medieval periods. It was, for all practical purposes, a warrior’s best defense and without which, could render them vulnerable. Without a doubt, the shield not only served as a defensive measure against attack but could also be used to counter too. Not only were they strong but light and which meant that they could be used for faster movements on the battlefield but were less strenuous to wield too. Known not only to protect the knights from attack but they could be used for deadly counters as well. Knights Heater Shield Heraldry What is the best Medieval Shield in Battle?Īmong the types of medieval shields at their disposal, both the kite and heater shields were the most effective types of shields used in battle. The Enarmes was a leather strap attached to the back of the shield that was used by soldiers to carry the shield. There were three common parts associated with medieval shields namely the Enarmes, Bouche, and the Boss. This, in turn, led to plate armor which further resulted in the creation of thinner and sharper swords that could pierce plate armor and get into small openings. Not only were stronger and lighter weapons created for war but some of them were designed to pierce chain-mail. Quite interestingly, for the entire period of the Middle Ages, it turned out to be an arms race of sorts. The blacksmiths *armorers were the ones responsible for making both weapons (shields included!) as well as body armor. The most common type of medieval shield was made from linden wood along with leather which covered both sides of the shield apart from this, other types of materials were used to make shieldsĪs a whole, the art of making shields always depended on two factors: its weight vs its ease of use on the battlefield. The Buckler Shield *Small round shield often used for fighting and practice *Early Medieval Fighting Practice Using small Buckler Shields Medieval Shield Materials Apart from this, these types of shields were designed so to suit the purpose of either foot soldiers or knights.Ī number of them were circular in shape apart from the rectangular, kite, and heater-shaped types that were developed during the Late Middle Ages. There were a number of types of shields that were developed during the Middle Ages and that differed in shape, size, thickness, and material used. However, when the shield developed into an attacking weapon, this also became an aspect of practice when at the Pell. This was done by using a training device known as the Pell which was really a wooden stake driven into the ground.ĭuring practice, soldiers would use a wooden sword known as the medieval baton. It was important for soldiers to train for hours together so as to hone their skills when it came to using both the sword and shield in warfare. Finally, the Mantlet was a large shield that was used to stop arrows and would usually be mounted on a wooden carriage while being protected by soldiers. The Targe shield was developed in Spain and was concave, they were made from iron or iron-plated wood. Large Pavise Shield protects advanced medieval crossbowmen Among the parts of medieval shields, the boss part was generally made of wood or thick metal and was sometimes also known as the Umbo. Special attention was paid to making this part stronger in order to deflect the heavy bows of enemy swords and other weapons. It was the round central part of a shield and was, therefore, the most crucial with respect to defenses. The most important among all the parts of medieval shields was the Boss. The Vikings used Round shields that were strengthened by a metal central boss. These types of shields were developed based on earlier models that were completely made from bronze. Hoplon shields were circular in shape and made from wood and bronze. In early medieval times, the most common shield used was the round shield that originated from the ‘Hoplon Shield’ that was used by ancient Greek warriors. Early Medieval Shields 5th – 10th Century Medieval shields, as the term suggests, had a definite purpose in protecting or shielding warriors, such as knights, archers, and other foot soldiers from all sorts of attacking weapons used during the medieval period.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |