Learn about medieval weapons


Medieval Chain Mail Armor - A Brief History

The wearing of chain mail and body armorbody armament. Maile weighed about the
has been an effective means ofsame as full body plate style. The
protection in combat and war foraverage weight was about 45 - 55 pounds.
centuries. Its use dates back to theHowever, a well made suit of plate
Greeks and early roman empire wherearmour was more comfortable to the
warriors and legionnaires donned metalwearer because it could be more evenly
plate and mail armour. The medieval eradistributed over their body. It was
knights are most remembered for theiralways worn with padding and protective
elaborate and battle shields inclothing to further protect and insulate
brilliant colors. But a knight's armourfrom the heat and cold. The mid fourteen
was more that protection. It reflectedcentury was the period wear knights wore
his status and lifestyle. The quality ofboth type of body armour. During this
the armour was as important and thetime period, it was difficult for the
overall look and the battle efficiency.warrior to get back up on if knocked
Indeed it was a fashion statement also.down due the combined weight of the
The evolution of chain maile and armourplate and the maille. By the early
through the Maximilian era was a directfifteenth century, most all body
response to improvement in weaponry ofarmament was plate as the designs and
the time. As weapons became moreflexibility improved. A mid sixteenth
sophisticated, so did the thickness ofcentury knight in full plate armour was
the battle shields and the armour of thesurprisingly agile due to proper fit on
knight. Most had to not only bethe wearer.
effective against attack but alsoThe onset of the modern gun spelled the
flexible and agile.swan song for full body armament
The period of plate armour runs fromalthough body armour is worn even today
about the early 1300's to about the midin a more modern form such as kevlar
to late 1500's. During this medieval(tm) vests and such. Even still we
time period the evolution went from aromanticize this period of European
few pieces of plate to entire suits ofhistory. The medieval knight is well
highly crafted works of art in metal.engrained in our minds and impressions
Prior to this time, chain mail was theof the medieval period.
most prevalent and effective type of



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