Weapons and armor were essential for survival in the Middle Ages. This was true of all classes and types of people. All armies used weapons and armor from medieval times. All men had to be able to fight. When called upon to fight, they were to be available and ready. Military training was incorporated into their everyday lives. The lords provided weapon training. Knights valued their armor, weapons and war horses the most. Knights were only able to afford these items because they were so expensive. Some knights thought they would recoup their cost by plundering the enemy cities and towns. Weapons, armor and other protective gear were crucial to survival in Medieval Times.
In the Middle Ages many different weapons were used in order to hunt, fight and generally survive. A sword is an edged, long piece made of metal. The Old English term “sweord”, is derived by a Porto Indo European “Swer”, that means to cut. The blades of swords could have a single or two blades, straight or curve. In the Middle Ages, there were four different types of swords: Arming, Falchions and Long Swords. “The Broadsword’s blade was two-edged and measured between 2-3 inches in width at its base. It tapered to a sharp point. Broadswords were 30 -45 inches long and weighed from 3 to 5 pounds. Medieval Knights returning from Crusade often preferred Falchion Swords. Medieval Falchion blades were heavy, short and had only one edge. Longswords, also called Hand and a Halfswords, are a type of sword. Longswords were available in lengths ranging from 44-50 inches. Early Medieval Knights used the arming swords. The Vikings also liked them. Daggers are double-edged blades that are used primarily for stabbing and thrusting. Daggers are used as a secondary defense during a fight. Knives were used to cut food, the natural world, and people. Over the course of time, four different types daggers were used. Anelaces was one type, a long bladed dagger which was similar in length to a sword. Stilettos are a type with a shorter blade and a longer slender, used mostly for stabbing.
Poigands are light weight daggers with fancy designs. The Poigands were light daggers that had fancy designs. They were created in the Renaissance. Rondels are casual daggers which were commonly used by merchants, peasants, and knights. Armor was essential for survival. There were many different types of armor. Two types of armor are most popular: leather and steel. Metal armor was worn by knights. Steel armor comes in two types: plate armor and chainmail. Chain mail The metal rings that made up chain mail were thousands. Hauberks, a type of chainmail armor, were long cloaks. Knights wore an under-armor cloak to support the weight. A chainmail hauberk weighed up to 30 pounds. While chain mail offered excellent protection and was flexible, it can be penetrated with an thin blade or arrow. For added protection, some knights started to place metal plates over their vital body parts. They stopped wearing chainmail and were soon completely covered with plate armor. (Price Brian “Techniques Of Medieval Amour Reproduction”)
Leather armor became very popular in this period. The use of leather in battle gear decreased as the Middle Ages progressed. It was easy and cheap to get leather armor. Leather armor also became popular because it required less skill to produce than ringmail, platemail, or other forms of mail. Soldiers could repair their own armor if needed. Leather armor was used primarily by lower-classes, although some nobility also wore it because they couldn’t afford to buy more expensive armor. As ringmail, platemail, and other cheaper armors became available, leather armor began to become less popular. A soldier will always wear some form of leather armor whether it is just on his legs or worn under ringmail. The base was made of leather.
From the Middle Ages onward, armor has evolved significantly while maintaining its basic design. About 500 BC, the interlocking metal rings that make up chainmail were invented in Eastern Europe. The mail began to be augmented with small iron plates, discs or plates to protect the vulnerable areas. Arm and legs pieces were made from hardened, splinted leather. It was invented a coat of plate, which is like armor. Large plates were sewn in a coat of leather. In the 13th-15th centuries, early plates were made from iron in Italy and elsewhere. Iron armor can be case-hardened to produce a steel surface. Medieval Review: “Evolution of Armor in the Middle Ages”. In the 15th-century, mail became more cost effective than plate because it required a lot less work. As labour costs increased after the Black Death. Armpits, crooks of elbows, and the groin were all covered by plate armor. A lance rest was also possible to be attached to the breastplate. The bascinet was a larger version of the small skullcap, which had been lengthened to cover the sides and backs of the heads.
In the late 1300s, new types of helmets with fully enclosed visors were also introduced. In the late Middle Ages, the European knights wore plate armor. This style is perhaps the most well-known armor around the globe. In the year 1400, a full set of plate armour was available. The armor of heavy cavalry allowed them to dominate the battlefields for many centuries. Infantry were able to defeat knights with armored shields in the 15th century thanks to advances in weaponry. Armies grew larger and armor thicker. The metal quality in armor decreased. In the 14-15th century, armor rarely weighed over 15kg. By the 16th century, it was 25 kg. Medieval Review, “Evolution of Armor throughout the Middle Ages”. The armor of the 16th century was heavier and thicker, providing increased resistance.
The Middle Ages saw a relatively small evolution in weapons, but many improvements were made as needed. The weapons changed a lot, not because of evolution but because the changes were made to keep them effective in different situations. Crossbows, with their increased range and greater power by the 14th Century, became the weapon of choice in war. The crossbow was the decisive factor in the Crusades. Not the knights fighting one-on-one. Crossbowmen, who were mounted, were very common in Spain. However, they could not shoot quickly and were therefore vulnerable when reloading. From a safe distance, missile fire was devastating. However, the archer couldn’t hold ground in open terrain against a cavalry charge. The long pike spear was used on several occasions to successfully hold the ground. Ford, Roger, “Weapon: a visual history of arms and armor” Smithsonian Institution 2016
These spears, also called the pike or halberd, were renowned as being skilled. Footmen, if well-trained and disciplined, could hold their ground, but could rarely take it because they moved too quickly to maintain the order they needed for survival. A well-timed charge would break open any disordered group. It was discovered that adding weight to armor would make it more resistant to crossbow bolts. There was an ongoing race between inventions in order to stay up to date with the latest upgrades.
To survive during the Middle Ages and to conquer the world, people were forced to continually improve their weapons. In order to have an edge over others and win battles, people improved their weapons and armor. Weapons, armor and armour were used by every class from the knights up to the lords. The Medieval Period was a time when armor and weapons were essential to living. The Middle Ages were an important time in history. Weapons and Armor innovations played a major role. They also paved the way for other modern weaponry and armor.
