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PREFACE
PREFACE
The study of Arms and Armour is one of absorbing interest to a large and ever increasing number of the community, inasmuch as it appeals in a marked degree to the student of history, the antiquarian, and to those who work in the realms of art. To the first it appeals as a concrete reminder of the struggles of nations for liberty, independence, power, or conquest; to the second it breathes of the age in which it saw the light with all the feeling and tone which characterised it; to the third it i
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WEAPONS OF PREHISTORIC MAN
WEAPONS OF PREHISTORIC MAN
Celts. —The word “celt,” said to be derived from a doubtful Latin word signifying a chisel, is the name by which a particularly large and widely distributed class of weapons or implements is known. The word has no connection with the Celtic people, and should be pronounced “selt” and not “kelt,” as one frequently hears. The form of the celt is well known, inasmuch as many hundreds exist in our museums and private collections. They are found widely distributed in all parts of Europe, and generall
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THE ASSYRIANS
THE ASSYRIANS
The bas-reliefs of Assyria afford us ample materials for becoming acquainted with the arms and armour of that great and warlike empire, and our own national collection probably contains the richest store of detail. The Tunic. —This appears to have been of thick quilted linen or of leather, as sometimes long hair is shown upon it. It reached to the knees and had half-sleeves: at times a pectoral is shown of large proportions. Another, and much more military style, consisted of rope fastened side
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THE EGYPTIANS
THE EGYPTIANS
The Tunic. —This was invariably of a quilted material, thickly padded, and generally composed of linen several times folded; it could resist a cutting weapon but not the point of a sword or lance. Over it was placed the pectoral, which covered the shoulders as well as the chest, and was very similar to the mediæval camail. The Helmet was of the semi-globular form as a basis with various additions, none, however, of a distinctive national character. The material used was quilted linen of many thi
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THE GREEKS
THE GREEKS
For the better understanding of the arms of the Greeks it is desirable to consider those of the two distinct ages into which their history naturally falls, viz. the Heroic and the Historic. This period is approximately 1000 years b.c. , of the time of Homer, from whom we obtain all, or nearly all, of the particulars respecting arms and armour. The Cuirass. —This was made of bronze, as was the whole of the defensive armour at that time. It was worn over a linen tunic, and apparently consisted of
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THE ETRUSCANS
THE ETRUSCANS
Fig. 47.—Etruscan helmet. With regard to the arms and armour of the Etruscans we find but little difference existing from those of the Greeks, but certain developments occurred which distinguished them from those of the parent country and were subsequently adopted by the Romans, thus laying the foundation for a separate and distinct style of equipment. The helmet in general followed the Greek lines but had a tendency towards the formation of a deep bowl-shape for the head; also wings were adopte
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THE ROMANS
THE ROMANS
The defensive armour of the Romans differed essentially in the early form from the later, or, broadly speaking, between the Republican Period and the Imperial Period; though it overlapped considerably it may be as well to accept these periods for differentiation. Fig. 55.—Lorica of Roman General (Republican). Cuirass or Lorica. —This was formed upon the Greek style of armour based upon the Etruscan model, and consisted of a back- and breast-plate, strapped together at the sides and fastened by b
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THE FRANKS
THE FRANKS
were a nation of Germanic origin, and originally occupied the land lying upon the north bank of the Rhine, stretching from Mayence almost to the sea. They successfully resisted the advance of the Romans in the second and third centuries, and eventually began an aggressive migration southwards, which finally resulted in the subjugation of the modern countries of Holland, Belgium, France, and partly of Germany and Italy. Long before this consummation, however, we find that the Franks freely enlist
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SAXONS AND DANES
SAXONS AND DANES
The military equipment of our Saxon and Danish forefathers is of much interest to us as a nation, inasmuch as we are curious to ascertain with what weapons and with what personal defences our ancestors were able, apart from personal courage, to overcome the fierce opposition of the Romanised Britons. That this resistance was of a formidable character we may judge from the extended time occupied in the conquest of England, running into hundreds of years and necessitating waves of invasion. They w
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THE NORMAN PERIOD TO 1180
THE NORMAN PERIOD TO 1180
With the advent of the Normans in 1066 the subject of arms and armour in England becomes more definite and exact. This is chiefly owing to the Bayeux Tapestry, to the multiplication of MSS., carvings in ivory and metal, and the records preserved upon seals. The date of the famous tapestry has long been a matter of dispute, but it is universally agreed that if it was not woven by Matilda and her handmaidens it was certainly begun and completed within fifty years of the Conquest. Hence its reliabi
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THE CHAIN MAIL PERIOD, 1180-1250
THE CHAIN MAIL PERIOD, 1180-1250
Fig. 96. The essential differences between this period and the last are: (1) the substitution of chain mail for the jazeraint, mascled, and scale armour which had formerly been used; (2) the adoption of the pot-helm or heaume as a secondary defence for the head in place of the conical helmet, the coif-de-mailles, or the pot-de-fer under the mail; (3) the introduction of the sleeveless surcoat and the crest. Fig. 97.—Painted “Pot Helmet,” c. 1241. The Heaume. —The term “heaume” may perhaps by som
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CHAIN MAIL REINFORCED, 1250-1325
CHAIN MAIL REINFORCED, 1250-1325
The special points which distinguish this period are:— 1. The introduction of Banded Mail. 2. The use of Ailettes. 3. The invention of the Conical Heaume borne by the shoulders. 4. The reinforcement of the Chain Mail by Plate. 5. The development of the Crest. Fig. 113.—Sir John d’Aubernoun, 1277. Stoke d’Aubernoun Church, Guildford, Surrey. One of the most remarkable brasses in existence is that of Sir John d’Aubernoun, in Stoke d’Aubernoun Church, near Guildford, Surrey ( Fig. 113 ). It is the
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THE CYCLAS PERIOD, 1325-1335
THE CYCLAS PERIOD, 1325-1335
Probably at no time in the history of defensive armour has it presented a more picturesque appearance than during the brief ten years of the Cyclas Period. Fitting closely to the figure, the various garments followed the outlines of the human form, and in no parts showed any marked peculiarities or eccentricities. The evolution of the style was undoubtedly derived from the experience gained during the Chain Mail Period, when that defence was proved to be ineffectual against the terrible effects
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THE STUDDED AND SPLINTED ARMOUR PERIOD, 1335-1360
THE STUDDED AND SPLINTED ARMOUR PERIOD, 1335-1360
PLATE XV* Tilting Armour, Prince Philip II., by Wolf of Landshut, 1554 A. F. Calvert The Studded and Splinted Armour Period was essentially an era of transition, intermediate between a mode of defence which had proved inadequate by reason of its sheer cumbersomeness and multiplicity of details, and the light and easy effectiveness of the succeeding style, the Camail and Jupon, which was ushered in about 1360. During the studded mail period the prolonged struggle of King Edward III. for supremacy
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THE CAMAIL AND JUPON PERIOD, 1360-1410
THE CAMAIL AND JUPON PERIOD, 1360-1410
PLATE XVI* Helmet of Philip II., by Wolf of Landshut, 1554 A. F. Calvert With the advent of the camail and jupon we enter upon a period which presents a certain amount of uniformity, and is in marked contrast to the tentative styles which preceded it. Throughout the Surcoat, Cyclas, and Loose-skirted Jupon Periods, defensive armour was in a state of transition; warriors sought to render themselves immune by every conceivable expedient, discarding those which failed upon trial, and augmenting tho
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THE SURCOATLESS PERIOD, 1410-1430
THE SURCOATLESS PERIOD, 1410-1430
Fig. 242.—Helmet, c. 1415. Fig. 243.—Robert, Lord Ferrers of Chartley, 1407. Merevale Abbey Church, Warwickshire. With the advent of this period we find the knightly defence consisting essentially, for the first time in English history, of a complete suit of plate with no textile covering whatever worn over it. Hence the term “Surcoatless Period,” which distinguishes it from any preceding or succeeding era. The camail was now finally abolished after being in vogue in one fashion or another for o
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THE TABARD PERIOD, 1430-1500
THE TABARD PERIOD, 1430-1500
Fig. 267.—Tabard, William Fynderne, 1444. Childrey Church, Berks. Fig. 268.—Tabard, Sir Ralph Shelton, 1423. Great Snoring Church, Norfolk. The sources of information for this period are considerably enlarged when compared with those preceding it, as, in addition to MSS., missals, brasses, and monumental effigies we may add paintings by the old masters, crude woodcuts following upon the introduction of printing, and, what is of still greater value, actual examples of arms and armour in our publi
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THE TRANSITION PERIOD, 1500-1552
THE TRANSITION PERIOD, 1500-1552
The salient features of the Transition Period are:— 1. The adoption of sabbatons in the place of sollerets. 2. The chain mail skirt. 3. The general use of a closed helmet. Figs. 345 and 346.—Helmets. (Tower of London.) The Helmet. —This defence was invariably of the “closed” pattern, and consisted of a crown with a ridge, generally roped, down the centre; two cheek-pieces meeting together at the chin and fastening there; the visor and bavière formed of one piece, pierced with oblong apertures fo
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MAXIMILIAN ARMOUR, 1525-1600
MAXIMILIAN ARMOUR, 1525-1600
This style of armour, which prevailed for so long a period, and of which examples in some form or other exist in almost every museum of importance, saw its origin in the reign of the Emperor Maximilian, from whom it is named. It is essentially the late Gothic style of armour richly decorated with fluting, and reinforced by numerous extra pieces designed to afford additional security to the wearer in the tilt-yard. For the battle-field the plain, unornamental armour of the Transition Period was i
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THE HALF-ARMOUR PERIOD AFTER 1600
THE HALF-ARMOUR PERIOD AFTER 1600
Fig. 424. Although to the average student the armour prevailing after the sixteenth century possesses absolutely no interest whatever, yet as a certain amount continued to be worn, and it possessed characteristics entirely its own, it is necessary to be acquainted with these features in order to possess a comprehensive knowledge of the entire subject. Of cap-à-pie suits it may be broadly stated that none exist; of three-quarter and half-suits there are many to be found, but extremely few of thes
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WEAPONS OF THE EARLY AND MIDDLE AGES
WEAPONS OF THE EARLY AND MIDDLE AGES
Fig. 428.—1. Halberd, 1470. 2. Bill. 3. Two-handed sword. The Guisarme. —This may be claimed with all confidence to be one of the most ancient of weapons, as its first inception occurred in the Bronze Period, and from that remote age down to the seventeenth century it was more or less in evidence ( Fig. 428 ). It terminated generally in an extremely strong and sharp point; the two sides were approximately parallel, and both brought to a keen and almost razor-like edge, while a short way down the
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PROJECTILE-THROWING ENGINES
PROJECTILE-THROWING ENGINES
No evidence is extant respecting the inventor of the first machine for missile throwing, but we know that they have existed from the earliest ages, and have been used by all the great nations of antiquity. Under the Greeks and Romans, but especially the former, they attained a remarkable degree of excellence, and many accounts of their extraordinary efficiency have come down to us. The Romans took their ideas from the Greeks as a basis to work upon; among their best authorities Vitruvius may be
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GERMAN, ITALIAN, AND OTHER INFLUENCES UPON EUROPEAN ARMOUR
GERMAN, ITALIAN, AND OTHER INFLUENCES UPON EUROPEAN ARMOUR
It may come somewhat in the nature of a shock to the self-complacency of the average Englishman to learn that in the great stores of armour in the public and private collections of Great Britain and Ireland only an infinitesimal portion is of English origin, and also that England was never celebrated in any age for the output of reliable suits. The excellent quality of English steel is, at the present time, accepted throughout the world, while the care and finish bestowed upon articles fabricate
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THE INTRODUCTION OF GUNPOWDER AND ITS INFLUENCE UPON ARMOUR
THE INTRODUCTION OF GUNPOWDER AND ITS INFLUENCE UPON ARMOUR
PLATE XXXVII* Double Breech-loading Cannon, in Bronze, used in Spain from the end of the Fifteenth Century. A. F. Calvert The invention of gunpowder and its use in propelling missiles from tubes was the signal for the abolition of armour, as we have indicated, though the struggle for supremacy between the two lasted for considerably more than a century. The Eastern nations are generally credited with the discovery of the properties of a mixture of saltpetre, carbon, and sulphur so far as their u
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