This article will deal with the ms depictions of enarmes, how they are configured and used. So many of the period depictions of combatants holding shields only show the outer face which clearly masks the enarmes. In looking at these depictions we must be careful in not accepting them on their faces value because of; the effect of the material on the depiction itself, the artistic licence taken by the originator of the piece under study and the original functionality of the item depicted.

Topics to be covered:

Comparison of the different way of setting up the enarmes and using them;

Types of patterns vs. the shape of the shield;

Development over time;

Geographical comparison;

Schematic diagrams of shield shapes and strap configuration;

Analysis of Rivet on shield faces to determine enarmes configuration;

Note: There seems to be a lot of depictions of David and Goliath showing the enarmes.

Bayeux tapestry. Here Duke Harold dragged them out of the sand.
 

Arm and hand position	Holding left side of strap rectangle.
Number of straps	Five.
Configuration of straps	Rectangle with the long axis at right angles to the top of the shield. Guige strap attached to top two corners of rectangle.
Type of shield	Norman kite, 1066.
Leg defences	Leggings.
Right hand	Holds right hand of floundering warrior.

Bayeux tapestry. And they came to Dol.
 

Arm and hand position	Left forearm extends upwards along the long axis of the shield through two parallel straps. The hand grasps two straps forming a cross. The shield hand also holds the reins.
Number of straps	Five.
Configuration of straps	The two forearm straps run parallel closer to the right side of the shield. The attachment points of the tow hand straps form a  rectangle towards the top of the shield with the long side at right angles to the top of the shield. The guige strap appears to be the line running from the right side of the shield to the left above the hand straps.
Type of shield	Norman kite, 1066.
Leg defences	Leggings.
Right hand	Couching spear.

Bayeux tapestry. And they came to Dol.
 

Arm and hand position	Left forearm extends through two forearm straps up the long axis of the shield and the hand grasps a single strap.
Number of straps	Three
Configuration of straps	The two forearm strap attachment points form a rectangle with the left side closer to the top of the shield than the right side. The single hand strap runs across the shield closer to the top than the forearm straps and forms a large “s” shape.
Type of shield	Norman kite, 1066.
Leg defences	Presumably leggings.
Right hand	Overhead strike or throw.

Bayeux tapestry. Here William came to Bayeux.
 

Arm and hand position	The left arm holds the single hand strap closer to the left side of the shield. The shield hand also holds the reins.
Number of straps	One
Configuration of straps	The hand strap runs across the top of the shield in the      characteristic “s” shape .
Type of shield	Norman kite, 1066.
Leg defences	Mail hauberk reaches to the knees while the leggings cover the lower legs.
Right hand	Spear shaft held across the right shoulder with the spear head upright.

Bayeux tapestry. Asked whether he has seen Harold’s army, Vital points the way.
 

Arm and hand position	Left arm extends forwards parallel to the ground. The left hand grasps the single hand strap and follows the same line as the hand.
Number of straps	One
Configuration of straps	The single hand strap rans at right angles to the long axis of the shield over half way to the pointed end of the shield.
Type of shield	Norman kite, 1066.
Leg defences	Mail hauberk reaches to the knees while the hose cover the  lower legs.
Right hand	Spear shaft held across the right shoulder with the spear head upright.

Bayeux tapestry. Here the French fight.
 

Arm and hand position	The left forearm extends under the bottom strap of the diamond strap configuration and the hand grasps the opposite strap.
Number of straps	Four.
Configuration of straps	The four straps make a diamond shape which is slightly of set to the long axis of the shield.
Type of shield	Norman kite, 1066.
Leg defences	Mail hauberk reaches to the knees while the leggings cover the lower legs.
Right hand	The right is about to make the overhead strike or throw.

‘David and Goliath’ from the St.Etienne Bible for Cîteaux. French, c. 1109. (MS. 14, Bibliothéque Municipale, Dijon).
 

Arm and hand position	Left hand grasping two straps. Arm and hand pointing towards top of shield.
Number of straps	Two hand straps and one guige strap over right shoulder
Configuration of straps	The two hands could either cross over in the middle of the palm or are parallel and be pulled together by the hand. The four hand strap anchor points make a small rectangle near the top of the shield, with the long axis at right angles to the shield.
Type of shield	Long kite (acute point), from head to boot top.
Leg defences	Mail hauberk down to knees, legs bare to boots at mid shin.
Right hand	Over head spear strike.

‘David and Goliath’ in a carved relief, southern French, c.1145, from the Church of St. Gilles at St. Gilles du Gard.
 

Arm and hand position	The left hand grasps single strap at right angles to forearm which runs towards the top of the shield along the up and down axis of  the shield.
Number of straps	Two straps, one for the hand and one for the forearm.
Configuration of straps	Forearm strap runs diagonally across forearm, low on the outside to higher up on the inside. The hand strap is long and is positioned on the right top of the shield. The line between the hand strap anchor points slope a little to the left of the up/ down axis of the shield.
Type of shield	Middle size kite, from head to hip.
Leg defences	None perceptible.
Right hand	unpreceptable, David is in the process of removing Goliath’s head.

From the Maciejowski Bible, French, c.1250 (M. 638, f.23v, The Pierpont Morgan Library, New York).
 

Arm and hand position	Shield is slung over right shoulder by a giuge strap.
Number of straps	One visible on right side of shield.
Configuration of straps	The visible strap attached to lower right side of  shield by a buckle arrangement. The strap appears to extend towards the upper centre section of the shield.
Type of shield	Large kite shield with straight top, cover from shoulder to knee.
Leg defences	Padded quisses with solid greaves.
Right hand	Resting on right hip while the left hand holds a spear close to the spear head socket with butt on the ground.

‘Camilla and Turnus besiege Montalbanus’ from the Eneide of Heinrich von Veldeke manuscript, German, late 12th or early 13th centuries. (MS. germ. fol. 282, f.46v, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin.
 

Arm and hand position	The left hand grasping two straps. Arm and hand pointing towards the right top corner of shield.
Number of straps	Two hand straps.
Configuration of straps	The two hands could either cross over in the middle of the palm or are parallel and be pulled together by the hand. The four hand strap anchor points make a small rectangle towards the top of the shield and in the middle of the side to side axis, with the long axis parallel to the left side of the shield.
Type of shield	Triangular heater with rounded corners.
Leg defences	Presumably mail guisses.
Right hand	Holds single handed sword in a ready stance.

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