| We've all learned about the crusades in History | | | | Chainmail in general was also much lighter than |
| class. But just in case you fell asleep or weren't | | | | plate armor and provided a greater freedom of |
| quite listening, here is a quick overview. The | | | | movement. Chainmail leggings was also usually |
| Crusades were a series of military expeditions to | | | | worn as well, which was made out of the same |
| the Middle East from 1096 to 1291 ad. They were | | | | material. Over the chainmail a surcoat was often |
| launched because they believed the Holy Land of | | | | worn. This was usually white or black in color and |
| the Israelites were in the hands of unbelievers, | | | | had a crusader cross sewn on the front of it. |
| mainly the Muslims. | | | | During traveling, a cloak may have been worn as |
| The main objective was the city of Jerusalem, to | | | | well, and this also bore the cross sign on it.The |
| recapture it from the Muslims. Now that you've | | | | last main item was that quite common for many |
| had a quick lesson on the crusades, let us go into | | | | soldiers was the crusader helmet and the sugar |
| the battle cress and armor of the Crusader | | | | loaf helmet. |
| knights who made that long voyage to the Holy | | | | Crusader medieval helmets were signified by the |
| Land. Though there were many different types of | | | | flat top and crusader cross, often times |
| attire for the soldiers, one of the main ones was | | | | embossed on with brass, on the front of the |
| a standard chainmail armor battle dress. This | | | | helmet going down the center. This was probably |
| usually consisted of a full length/full sleeves | | | | the only "armor" item that the soldiers wore, as |
| chainmail made out of riveted/flat ring | | | | everything else was cloth, leather, and chainmail. |
| combination. This was the strongest form of | | | | Occasionally, a chainmail coif (or hood) was worn |
| chainmail available and it provided the most | | | | in stead of the helmet. |
| protection as well. | | | | |