'Gothic' armour

Plate armour is personal armour made from large metal plates, worn on the chest and sometimes the entire body. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1276x2283, 233 KB) Work by Rama File links The following pages link to this file: Plate armour Sabaton ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1276x2283, 233 KB) Work by Rama File links The following pages link to this file: Plate armour Sabaton ... Armour is protective clothing intended to defend its wearer from intentional harm in combat and military engagements, typically associated with soldiers. ... Hot metal work from a blacksmith In chemistry, a metal (Greek: Metallon) is an element that readily loses electrons to form positive ions (cations) and has metallic bonds between metal atoms. ... Chest of a human male The chest is a part of the anatomy of humans and various other animals. ... With regard to living things, a body is the integral physical material of an individual, and contrasts with soul, personality and behavior. ...

Medieval European History

Plate armour protecting the chest and the lower limbs was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans, but it fell into disuse after the collapse of the Roman Empire. Single plates of metal armour were again used from the late 13th century on, to protect joints and shins, and these were worn over a full mail haubergeon. By the end of the 14th century, larger and complete full plates of armour had been developed. During the early 1500s the helmet and neckguard design was reformed to produce the so-called Nürnberg armours, many of them masterpieces of workmanship and design. European leaders in armouring techniques were northern Italians and southern Germans. This led to the styles of Milanese from Milan, and Gothic from the Holy Roman Empire. Eventually, England produced armour in Greenwich which equalled the masters of Europe, and they developed their own unique style. Maximilian style armour immediately followed this, in the early 16th century. Maximilian armour was typically denoted by fluting and decorative etching, as opposed to the plainer finish on 15th century white armour. This era also saw the use of Close helms, as opposed to the 15th century style sallets and barbutes. Area under Roman control  Roman Republic  Roman Empire  Western Empire  Eastern Empire Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a city-state founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... Motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) The Roman Empire at its greatest extent, c. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... David rejects the unaccustomed armour (detail of fol. ... hauberk, Museum of Bayeux. ... This 14th-century statue from south India depicts the gods Shiva (on the left) and Uma (on the right). ... The decade of years from 1500 to 1509, inclusive. ... Nuremberg (German: Nürnberg, Polish: Norymberga) is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. ... Milan (Italian: ; Lombard: Milán (listen)) is one of the biggest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. ... The extent of the Holy Roman Empire in c. ... Greenwich (pronounced grenn-itch or by some grinn-itch ) is a town, now part of the south eastern urban sprawl of London, on the south bank of the River Thames in the London Borough of Greenwich. ... Maximilian armour is a modern term applied to the style of early 16th century armour apparently first made for the Emperor Maximilian I. Maximillian probably used it himself when he was a young prince and presumably presented it to his uncle Sigmund[1]. The armour is characterized by armets and...

Full plate armour was very expensive to produce and remained therefore restricted to the upper strata of society, and lavishly decorated suits of armour remained the fashion with 17th century nobles and generals, long after they had ceased to be militarily useful due to the introduction of firearms in the battlefield. Reduced plate armour, typically consisting of a breastplate, a burgonet, morion or cabasset and gauntlets, however, also became popular among 16th century mercenaries. From the 15th century on, armour specifically designed for jousting (rather than for battle) and parade armours also became popular. Many of the latter were decorated with biblical or mythological motifs. (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This can also refer to a piece of riding equipment, see Breastplate (tack). ... The Burgonet helmet was a late mediæval/early modern helmet. ... Francisco de Orellana wearing a morion A morion was a type of helmet used throughout Europe during the middle of the 16th century, although today it is most often associated specifically with the Spanish conquistadores in the New World. ... Pair of gauntlets, Germany, end of the 16th century Gauntlet is a name for several different styles of glove. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... A mercenary is a person who takes part in an armed conflict and is motivated to take part in the hostilities essentially by the desire for private gain and, in fact, is promised, by or on behalf of a Party to the conflict, material compensation substantially in excess of that... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... Jousting is a staple entertainment at Renaissance Fairs. ...

16th century plate armour for men and horses (Metropolitan Museum)

King Philip II of Spain (r. 1556-1598) in a luxurious half-armour

15th century depiction of a melee. A breast plate is pierced by a sword (it is debatable whether the depiction is realistic).

Download high resolution version (495x640, 113 KB)Medieval armors in Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. ... Download high resolution version (495x640, 113 KB)Medieval armors in Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. ... This 15th century depiction of Charlemagne and Pope Adrian I shows a well-bred Medieval horse with arched neck, refined head and elegant gait. ... There is also the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), located in Manhattan. ... Philip II by Titian from [1] This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Philip II by Titian from [1] This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Philip II (Spanish: Felipe II de Habsburgo; Portuguese: Filipe I) (May 21, 1527 – September 13, 1598) was the first official King of Spain from 1556 until 1598, King of Naples and Sicily from 1554 until 1598, King of England (as King-consort of Mary I) from 1554 to 1558, King... The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ...

Effect on Weapon Development

Plate armour is virtually sword-proof. It also protects the wearer well against spear or pike thrusts and provides decent defense against blunt trauma. The evolution of plate armour also triggered developments in the design of offensive weapons. While this armour was effective against cuts or blows, their weak points could be exploited by long tapered swords or other weapons designed for the purpose, such as poleaxes and halberds. The effects of arrows and bolts is still a point of contention in regards to plate armour. Some argue that longbows and/or crossbows could regularly pierce plate armour and some contend that they could do so only rarely. The various flutings on the armour are not only decorations, but they reinforce the plate against bending under blunt impact and can cause any strike by a thrusting weapon that grazes the armor rather than hit squarely to glance off the surface of the plate and be less likely to slide into a more vulnerable joint. In armoured techniques taught in the German school of swordsmanship, the attacker concentrates on these "weak spots", resulting in a fighting style very different from unarmoured sword-fighting. Because of that weakness, most warriors wore a mail shirt (haubergeon) beneath their plate armour (or coat-of-plates). Later, full mail shirts were replaced with mail patches, called goussets, sewn onto a gambeson or arming jacket. Further protection for plate armour was small round plates called besagews that covered the armpit area and couters and poleyns with "wings" to protect the inside of the joint. The evolution of the 14th century plate armour also triggered the development of various polearms. They were designed to deliver a strong impact and concentrate energy on a small area and cause damage through the plate. Maces and the hammer-heads pollaxes of were used to inflict blunt trauma through armour. An estoc is a type of sword common in the 16th century. ... A bardiche or long poleaxe is a type of polearm that was used during times of war in medieval Europe. ... Swedish halberds from the 16th century Halderdiers from a modern day reenactor troupe. ... Lemonwood, purpleheart and hickory longbow, 45 lbf draw force. ... A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles. ... page of Mscr. ... Late fifteenth century gothic armor: the suit at left has gousset at the hip and probably included it at the elbow and armpit. ... Armour displaying besagews (full image) Besagews are circular defences designed to protect the armpits, as part of a harness of plate armour. ... A pole weapon or polearm is a close combat weapon with the main fighting part of the weapon placed on the end of a long shaft, typically of wood. ... An advance on the club, a mace is a strong, heavy wooden, metal-reinforced, or metal shaft, with a head made of stone, copper, bronze, iron or steel. ...

Composition

Plate armour could have consisted of a helmet, a gorget (or bevor), pauldrons (or spaulders), couters, vambraces, gauntlets, a cuirass (back and breastplate) with a fauld, tassets and a culet, a chainmail skirt, cuisses, poleyns, greaves, and sabatons. While it looks heavy, a full plate armour set could be as light as only 20 kg (45 pounds) if well made of tempered steel. This is less than the weight of modern combat gear of an infantry soldier, and the weight is better distributed. The weight was so well spread over the body that a fit man could run, or jump into his saddle. Modern re-enactment activity has proven it is even possible to swim in armour.^{[citation needed]} It is possible for a fit and trained man in armour to run after and catch an unarmoured archer. The notion it was necessary to lift a fully armed knight onto his horse with the help of pulleys is a myth originating in Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, and only rarely occurred in the 19th century.^{[citation needed]} Even knights in enormously heavy jousting armour were not winched onto their horses. This type of "sporting" armour was meant only for ceremonial lancing matches and the design had to be extremely thick to prevent severe accidents, such as the one causing the death of King Henry II of France. For other meanings, see Helmet (disambiguation). ... Sir Philip Sidney wears a gorget for a portrait A gorget is a type of armor designed to protect the neck. ... A bevor is a piece of plate armour designed to protect the neck, much like a gorget. ... A pauldron is a component of plate armour, which evolved from spaulders in the 15th Century. ... Spaulders. ... The couter is the defense for the elbow in a piece of plate armour. ... Vambraces are tubular or gutter defenses for the forearm, developed first in the ancient world mainly by the Romans, but only formally named during the early 14th century, as part of a suit of plate. ... Pair of gauntlets, Germany, end of the 16th century Gauntlet is a name for several different styles of glove. ... This article is devoted to the type of armour known as a cuirass. ... A partial suit of armor with a prominent fauld. ... A suit of three-quarter plate with prominent, segmented tassets Tassets are a piece of plate armour designed to protect the upper legs. ... A culet is an piece of plate armour consisting of small, horizontal lamés that protect the small of the back or the buttocks. ... David rejects the unaccustomed armour (detail of fol. ... cuisses is the plural of the French word cuisse meaning thigh. In English it refers to the segment of medieval plate armour that is worn on the front of the thigh. ... Ludwig III wearing gothic armor with prominent poleyns, from a fifteenth century manuscript. ... A greave (from 12th century French greve shin, of uncertain origin) is a piece of armour that protects the leg. ... A Sabaton or solleret is part of a Knights armour that covers the foot. ... Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910),[1] better known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American humorist, satirist, writer, and lecturer. ... A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court is an 1889 novel by American humorist and writer Mark Twain. ... Henry II (French: Henri II) (March 31, 1519 – July 10, 1559), a member of the Valois Dynasty, was King of France from March 31, 1547, until his death. ...

Late period cavalry armour to modern battle gear

An actor in modern made plate armor patterned after the medieval original.

Armour was not confined to the Middle Ages, and in fact was widely used by all armies until the end of the 17th century, for both foot and mounted troops. The increasing availability of firearms and state supported infantry led to more portions of plate armor being cast off in favor of mobility. Leg protection was the first part to go, replaced by tall leather boots. By the early part of the 18th century, only field marshals and royalty remained in full armour on the battlefield, as they were tempting targets for rifled musket fire. However, cavalry units continued to use front and back plates, and either helmets or "secrets", a steel protection they wore under a floppy hat. Other armor was also being hidden under decorative uniforms; Japanese musketeer troops continued to use plate armour well into the early 19th century. The cavalry armour of Napoleon, and the French, German, and British empires (heavy cavalry known as cuirassiers) were actively used through the 19th century right up to the first year of World War I, when French cuirassiers went to meet the enemy in armour outside of Paris. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (768x1152, 188 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Plate armour User:Mactographer Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (768x1152, 188 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Plate armour User:Mactographer Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Note: This article is about the military usage of the word marshal. For other usages, see the end of this article. ... Soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat are commonly known as cavalry (from French cavalerie). ... For other uses of this term, see Musketeer (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Napoleon (disambiguation). ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Allied Powers: Russian Empire France British Empire Italy United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary German Empire Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Commanders Nikolay II Aleksey Brusilov Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Ferdinand Foch Robert Nivelle Herbert H. Asquith D. Lloyd George Sir Douglas Haig Sir John Jellicoe Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna... Cuirassiers were mounted cavalry soldiers equipped with armor and firearms, first appearing in late 15th-century Europe. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ...

Plate armour briefly re-appeared during World War II on some Soviet Guard (elite) infantry units, who wore steel breastplates. In the Korean War, body armour was re-introduced for U.S. foot soldiers, more so in the Vietnam, and the U.S. soldiers in Iraq now always wear light-weight Kevlar helmets and armour vests, the latter often augmented with more-or-less rigid ceramic plate inserts. The U.S. Air Force used flak jackets as a form of plate armour. The 1970s introduction of Aramid (Kevlar or Twaron) body armour brought sheet metal (especially titanium) trauma plates back into fashion as a form of rifle-grade add-on to flexible vests. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Soviet redirects here. ... This can also refer to a piece of riding equipment, see Breastplate (tack). ... Combatants United Nations:  Republic of Korea,  Australia,  Belgium,  Luxembourg,  Canada,  Colombia,  Ethiopia,  France,  Greece,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  New Zealand,  Philippines,  South Africa,  Thailand,  Turkey,  United Kingdom,  United States Medical staff:  Denmark,  Australia,  Italy,  Norway,  Sweden Communist states:  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,  Peoples Republic of China,  Soviet Union Commanders... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Chemical structure of Kevlar. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... A flak jacket is a MILSPEC jacket used by troops in wartime conditions. ... Template:A year The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... Aramid fiber (1961) is a fire-resistant and strong synthetic fiber. ... Chemical structure of Kevlar. ... Chemical structure of Kevlar. ... A bulletproof vest – also called body armour (U.S. body armor) – is an article of protective clothing that works as a form of armour to minimize injury from being hit by a fired bullet. ... General Name, Symbol, Number titanium, Ti, 22 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 4, 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Standard atomic weight 47. ...

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