These helmets were worn by knights
in the Holy Roman Empire from about 1200 until about 1700. Other cultures had
different styles including the ibex horned helmet of Iran or the Tarabost style
of Ethiopia.
Medieval Helmet Types
It’s no secret that medieval times were a vastly different time, fraught with danger and mystery. In those days, the knights who rode into battle donned what many historians believe to be the most significant piece of armor – their helmets. These helmets varied in design and style depending on their country of origin and purpose.
From chainmail to steel plate
covering all but the face, there was an endless variety of helmets used
throughout centuries. If you're a history buff and want to know what life in
medieval times was like, then you will find these three famous medieval helmets
to be right up your alley. This is an introduction to three of the most iconic,
talked about, and influential pieces of armor from medieval times.
- The
Great Helm:
The classic heavy steel helm with an
open face was often worn over a mail coif. Some had been equipped with eye
slits, but this was not common until later in history. Some were decorated with
a white cloth or tunic instead, and these were called "billy hats"
after King Richard the Lion-Hearted, who wore one into battle.
- The
Sallet:
This helm had a narrow face and nose guard that was often riveted onto a mail hood. The sallet came in various weights and styles; some might have crests added atop their protective caps.
This helmet was very popular
throughout the Renaissance but gradually fell out of favor at the end of the
16th century. By 1500, most knights' helmets had moved away from open faces and
included stronger visors to protect them during jousting tournaments – where
steel spikes would be thrown at opponents – as well as on battlefields.
- The
Milanese Helm:
The Milanese helmet was a great improvement on the sallet, with a totally covered face and nose that was thinner and much stronger. It was often equipped with a special visor, called a "cone," constructed as part of the helmet. These were made in various sizes to fit all different types of users, with some designed to include attachment points for attaching greaves and other armor pieces.
During the 15th century, other types
of medieval helmets were developed in Europe; some of these included spike-like
protrusions along the top, which would be used to block arrows from archers
during jousting events.
How did The Knights Choose Which
Helmet to Wear?
There were two main reasons why a knight chose a particular helmet. One was to match their armor and the other was practicality. Helmets of that era were cumbersome and not exactly as comfortable as they may look on museum display today.
It was important that the knight wore a helmet specifically made for him because it had to be comfortable enough to wear for hours at a time – and even more importantly, it had to fit correctly. The structure of medieval helmets varied depending on how they were worn by the warriors.
The most common helmets were the bascinet, which was the helmet worn under a steel and padded hauberk with a short cape, and the conical cap, which was a full helm (a complete helmet), but often worn underneath some form of chainmail armor. The other two types of helmets were less common in medieval times but not unheard of.
The barbute (a kind of plate-mail) was popular in Europe during the early years of the second millennium. The gorget or “chin-cage” is a piece of armor that went over the top of another piece to protect and cover the neck.
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