Basinet or Bacinet
[bas-uh-nit, -net, bas-uh-net]
Etymology: Middle English bacinet, from Anglo-French, diminutive of bacin
Relatively light helmet with a rounded or pointed top. It might be fitted with a visor.
(Prestwich, Michael. Armies and Warfare in the Middle Ages: The English Experience, 347)
*term definition retrieved from Netserf’s Medieval Glossary (http://www.netserf.org/Glossary)
Filed under: Arms and Armor, Middle Ages History, Medieval Glossary, Medieval History on June 5th, 2009 | No Comments »
Gambeson:
Quilted linen jacket stuffed with flax or rags, worn as a body defence by infantry and over the hauberk by poor knights and sergeants.
(Wise, Terence. Medieval Warfare, 248)
*term definition retrieved from Netserf’s Medieval Glossary (http://www.netserf.org/Glossary)
Filed under: Arms and Armor, Middle Ages History, Medieval Glossary, Medieval History on May 16th, 2009 | No Comments »
Metal Body Suits vs. Weapons of Medieval Destruction discusses the evolution of armor through the Middle Ages. While it is a very brief overview — focusing more on late medieval plate armor — the article does provide a host of images to supplement the text.
The focus of my studies tends be on medieval England and […]
Filed under: Arms and Armor, Middle Ages History, Medieval History on February 16th, 2009 | 3 Comments »
Heater Shield
Semi-cylindrical shield with a flat top edge. The shield was about 95 cm. long in the first half of the fourteenth century but was shortened later in the century. (Wise, Terence. Medieval Warfare, 249)
*term definitions retrieved from Netserf’s Medieval Glossary (http://www.netserf.org/Glossary)
**image retrieved from wikipedia.org
Filed under: Arms and Armor, Medieval Timeline, Middle Ages History, Medieval History on December 12th, 2008 | 2 Comments »
“Observing this, [Duke] William gave a signal to his troops, that, feigning flight, they should withdraw from the field. By means of this device the solid phalanx of the English opened for the purpose of cutting down the fleeing enemy and thus brought upon itself swift destruction; for the Normans, facing about, attacked them, […]
Filed under: Arms and Armor, Middle Ages History, Medieval History on August 2nd, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Mail, often referred to as “chain mail” (a term later applied to this type of armor in the Victorian era), was the armor of choice worn by the medieval knight. Constructed of small rings of iron wire linked together, the mail coat formed a flexible metal mesh that was often worn over a padded tunic. The […]
Filed under: Arms and Armor, Middle Ages History, Medieval History on July 6th, 2008 | 3 Comments »
For purposes of this post, I will focus on the medieval sword of Western Europe, namely England and France and Scandinavia, from the 10th to the 13th century.
The sword was an instrumental weapon for the knight during the Middle Ages. As most combat was conducted up close hand-to-hand, you did not go into battle without […]
Filed under: Arms and Armor, Middle Ages History, Medieval History on June 28th, 2008 | No Comments »
One of the most important advances in military technology came with the invention of the stirrup. The stirrup allowed warriors on horseback to use the power of horse and rider to deliver more powerful spear thrusts from a mounted position. With the stirrup, riders could rest the lance between the upper arm and the body […]
Filed under: Arms and Armor, Middle Ages History, Medieval History on June 18th, 2008 | 4 Comments »
Pavise
[pav-is]
1. Large, free-standing shield on hinged support used by archers and crossbowmen as protection when shooting. (Seward, Desmond. Henry V: The Scourge of God, 223)
2. Large rectangular shield carried by spearmen or shield bearers (pavisers) and used to provide cover for crossbowmen. (Wise, Terence. Medieval Warfare, 250)
*term definitions retrieved from Netserf’s Medieval Glossary (http://www.netserf.org/Glossary)
Filed under: Arms and Armor, Medieval Glossary, Medieval History on June 13th, 2008 | No Comments »
Coif
Pronunciation: [koif]
Middle English coife, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin cofea
1) Mail hood covering the head (Wise, Terence. Medieval Warfare, 247)
2) a hoodlike cap worn under a veil by nuns
3) any of various hoodlike caps, varying through the centuries in shape and purpose, worn by men and women
Filed under: Arms and Armor, Medieval Glossary, Medieval History on April 4th, 2008 | No Comments »
