Medieval Armour

With 180 photographs and illustrations covering every aspect of armour, Medieval Armour provides a compact, accessible guide to this complex, often decorative protective metal clothing that still fascinates modern readers.

Armour has been a key element of protective clothing since the dawn of warfare, with scale mail suits recorded from the Sumerian Empire. Chain mail was widely used by the Roman legions, and thereafter in much of Europe. In the early Medieval period, only professional warriors such as Scandinavian Huscarls and wealthy nobles could afford chain mail. However, in the High Middle Ages, the professional knights and well-drilled men-at-arms came into their own, wearing ever-more complex styles of armour to counter the effects of the longbow, horse archer, crossbow and pike on the battlefield. Medieval Armour provides a vivid and informative guide to the many types of armour worn by Medieval warriors from the 7th to the 15th centuries. Learn about the flexibility of the Carolingian Byrnie, a form of mail shirt made of small interlinking metal rings; understand the difference between the hard leather brigandine breastplate and the Gambeson padded jacket; marvel at the intricate construction of plated mail, where small plates are interwoven with metal wires to create lightweight protection; and explore the many types of helmet used, including the Cervelliere, Bassinet and Barbute. With 180 photographs and illustrations covering every main type of armour from 600–1500, Medieval Armour provides a compact, accessible guide to this highly complex protective clothing that still fascinates modern readers.