Roman technology survived in the armament of the most typical figure of the European Middle Ages, the knight. By the 11th century a knight's armor consisted of a thigh-length shirt of mail (known as a hauberk) with elbow-length sleeves and a conical helmet with nose guard. In the 12th century the mail shirt gained an attached hood (coif), and the sleeves were full length, terminating in mittens. Mail chausses protected the legs. A mail shirt, containing up to 250,000 metal rings, might weigh about 11 kg (about 25 lb). Mail offers resistance to sword cuts, but it can be penetrated by the points of spears or arrows and is too yielding against a heavy blow. A padded undergarment, or acton, and a shield were, therefore, essential as shock breakers.In the 11th century it became acceptable battle technique to charge with the lance couched, that is, held under the right armpit. The left, or shield, side of the knight was always turned to the enemy. The former oval-shaped shield was, therefore, modified to an elongated form with a sharp lower point, to protect the horseman from eyes to knee, but this protection locked the fighter in too rigid a position. After a face-covering visor was developed and added to the helmet, the upper part of the shield was cut straight; and after solid knee protectors and greaves of plate had been developed, the lower point of the shield was shortened. Since the visor made the knight's face unrecognizable, identifying marks had to be placed on his shield, the most convenient surface. This was the origin of heraldry. Crusaders wore a sleeveless surcoat over their mail armor as protection against the hot sun; these surcoats too became emblazoned with heraldic emblems and were known as coats of arms.
Bolts released by the improved crossbows introduced in the first quarter of the 14th century were able to penetrate mail with ease. Armor with deflecting surfaces, therefore, became necessary. This was achieved, about 1350, by the development of full plate defenses for arms and legs and body armor made of small plates riveted inside the surcoat, known as a coat of plates or brigandine. The loose-fitting mail shirt was slipped on over the head, but the coat of plates had to be tight-fitting and opened in front. The fighting position was with the left, shield-protected side toward the enemy; to deflect spear points and sword blades, therefore, the coat of plates had to be buckled with its left side overlapping the right. (For this reason, men's jackets are still buttoned left over right.)
Medieval Helmet A visor was added to the basic helmet in the 11th century to protect the face, but the added protection was counteracted by the loss of recognition by comrades. Identifying marks were subsequently added to shields, initiating the art of heraldry.Dorling KindersleyThe fully articulated plate armor developed in the first half of the 15th century is called Gothic, because of its emphasis on vertical lines and its spiky silhouette reminiscent of Gothic architecture. About 1500 the style changed, with the more rounded shapes characteristic of Renaissance style dominant; a variant favored in Germany for its additional strength (the so-called Maximilian armor, after the emperor Maximilian I) had fluted surfaces, like corrugated iron.
Suit Of Armor A complete suit of armor would nearly encase a medieval soldier; however, due to its extremely flexible joints, a great range of movement was still possible.Dorling Kindersley
In the construction of armor the weight problem was crucial; armor was supposed to give maximum protection with minimal weight. A full suit of battle armor was not to exceed about 29 kg (about 65 lb); such a suit, well articulated and fitted to the body, was expected to give a knight full mobility so that he might mount a horse without stirrups in an emergency. Tournament armor was up to twice as heavy, safety rather than mobility being the prime consideration.
Mid-Fifteenth-Century Pavise The pavise, or shield, was used to protect a crossbowman, who would crouch behind it, occasionally peeking over to make a shot.Dorling Kindersley
Armor-making centers were located in Milan and Brescia, Italy; Augsburg, Nürnberg, and Landshut, Germany; Innsbruck, Austria; Paris and Tours, France; and Antwerp and Brussels, Belgium. Metal armor was expensive and thus restricted to the wealthy warrior. Some reigning princes (notably in Burgundy, France, and England) had court armories of their own, mainly for the manufacture of elaborate suits of armor to be used as diplomatic presents. Armor as a status symbol was enhanced by decoration. Surface ornamentation by etching and gilding did not lower its defensive value (gilding was actually a rust-proofing device), but highly embossed plates defeated the purpose of armor as a deflecting surface. The embossed parade armors popular in the 16th century were strictly body jewelry, made by specialist artisans.
