Gothic Armor (available for sale at http://www.armae.com!)
Welcome back to armor week at Ferrebeekeeper! Yesterday I introduced an ancient order of armored mollusks, the chitons, with an allegorical story about a knight of the Holy Roman Empire. This reminded me of gothic armor, one of the most beautiful and functional styles of plate armor ever devised. Gothic armor was, in fact, used by knights of the Holy Roman Empire (and lands beyond) throughout the 15th century. The style was characterized by a full plate armor which covered the entire body. This plate was designed with intricate structural flutings, ridges, and curves influenced by the ornamentation of Gothic art and architecture. However the ridges and crenellations of gothic armor served a double purpose: such features strengthened the armor and deflected arrows (which had become more prevalent in the warfare of the day). Additionally the major joints and breaks of gothic armor (armpits, crotch, and knees) were protected with chain mail underneath. A warrior in gothic armor was well protected (particularly considering he was most likely an insane German nobleman carrying a great sword).
A Fine German Sallet with associated Bevor, circa 1475
In the 1480s, gothic armor from Germany was considered the finest in Europe. Protective headgear had changed as well: although some knights still wore bascinets from the previous era, the most prevalent helmet of the day was the gothic sallet, a close fitting helmet with a long sharpened tail to protect the neck. The sallet was complimented by a bevor which protected the knight’s chin.
Ludwig III wearing gothic armor with prominent poleyns, from a fifteenth century manuscript
Illustration of a knight in Gothic armor (from Concilium zu Constanz, 1483, woodcut)
Gothic armor influenced English and Italian suits of armor. By the sixteenth century, Italian innovations in turn caused the style of German armor making to change. Gothic armor was left behind as armor suits became even more rounded and covered in grooves (a style known as Maximilian armor after the Holy Roman Emperor). However the great German printers, painters, and illuminators of the 15th century had already immortalized gothic armor–which is forever associated with knights to anyone familiar with such art.
Knight (Albrecht Durer, 1498))
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3 comments
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July 27, 2011 at 12:56 AM
theRealSasha
That armor certainly looks beautiful. What’s with the pointed shoes though?
July 27, 2011 at 10:33 AM
Hieronymo
They are called sabatons and the picture at the top is historically accurate: The length of the toe was indicative of the wearer’s rank (longer pointier toes equaling higher rank). Noblemen were expected to ride everywhere and long sabatons indicated a life lived from horseback. They were really an expensive & outrageous expression of fashion not worn by people who weren’t stupidly rich (like 5 thousand dollar bikinis and such like).
July 27, 2011 at 5:22 PM
Diana
I’m loving the armor week!