"Common Misconceptions about Medieval Arms and Armor" Topic

"The field of arms and armor is beset with romantic legends, gory myths, and widely held misconceptions. Their origins usually are to be found in a lack of knowledge of, and experience with, genuine objects and their historical background. Most of them are utter nonsense, devoid of any historical base.

Perhaps the most infamous example is the notion that "knights had to be hoisted into their saddles with a crane," which is as absurd as it is persistent even among many historians. In other instances, certain technical details that escape an obvious explanation have become the focus of lurid and fantastically imaginative attempts to explain their original function. Among these, the lance rest, an object protruding from the proper right side of many breastplates, probably holds first place…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Good article. Thanks for bringing to our attention.

Jim

A votre service mon cher ami! (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

One of the problems that we have is that some Victorian and Edwardian 'historians' would trot out any old tosh and claim it was 'history'.

Modern re-enactors have found that close-fitted steel armour is not as cumbersome as first thought. I weighs only half what the average British soldier was carrying on his back during WW1 or the Falklands Conflict.

The medieval French test for knighthood included a 'physical' which involved having to vault into the saddle and climb up the underside of a ladder as if assaulting a castle. Armour was to be worn for these test but, for the ladder exercise, the helmet could be left off.

Where armoured knights DID have trouble getting into the saddle or even picking themselves up was with the so-called tournament/jousting armours where all the armour was on the front and left with very little on the back and right. This produced an armour which was so optimised for a lance strike from the front left that it was off-balance and difficult to wear.
Combat armours were more evenly placed and spread out. They were about the same effect as being in a +0.3G to +0.4G environment. Inconvenient but not impossible.

Barry

" In other instances, certain technical details that escape an obvious explanation have become the focus of lurid and fantastically imaginative attempts to explain their original function. Among these, the lance rest, an object protruding from the proper right side of many breastplates, probably holds first place…"

Yes, nearly everybody knows it doubled as a cup holder… ;-)

Thanks!.

Amicalement
Armand

Part of the "How Did Men in Armor Go to the Toilet?" is dependent on time period and type of armor involved.

The trews, leg coverings, were not joined into a single garment until relatively late in the middle ages. So when wearing mail or similar armor loosening clothing worn under armor for access is not difficult.

Visit your local SCA or other historical reenactment group and talk to the guys (and women) in armor.

Hint: Always go to the bathroom before donning any serious armor (or replica thereof).

Dehydration also has an impact on this, lots of exercise in clothing that breathes little and your need goes way down quickly.
I have spent hours in three-quarter plate drinking at every opportunity and sweated it out very quickly.

Thanks also!…

Amicalement
Armand