Mail

The earliest form of medieval armor -- mail (a.k.a. "chain mail") -- traces its origins back to around 500 BC. The Celtic people developed this kind of armor -- iron rings woven together into a protective garment -- and the Roman Army later copied this engineering to protect its soldiers. In the early Medieval Ages, armor craftsmen added discs, plates, and groin caps to standard mail gear to protect vulnerable areas. Leather coats, kneecaps, underarm protectors (a.k.a. "besagews"), and skullcaps (such as early forms of the bassinet) all provided critical support for soldiers as well.

As the Middle Ages progressed, however, advanced new weapons -- like the crossbow, battle-axe, long bow, and mace -- gained popularity among warriors, making mail and even plated mail far less effective at defense.

Plate Armor

The full body suit of armor that is typically conjured up when one imagines King Arthur at the Round Table didn't come into being all at once; rather, it evolved over hundreds of years to meet the latest technological advances in weaponry. After the advent of such weapons as hand cannon and crossbows in the 1500s, warriors began adding plated armor to their battle gear, shielding more and more parts of their body with steel.

As early firearms made their way onto the battlefield, armored knights responded by adding yet more protection and plating. In a sense, the Middle Ages saw a kind of "arms race"; as weapon strength increased, so did armor strength. By the 18th century, the firepower had become so devastating that even heavy suits of tempered steel armor were no longer sufficient to protect infantrymen.

Armor for Horses

Knights provided a kind of armor called "barding" for their steeds. This metal plate protection served a dual purpose. On the one hand, it provided practical resistance against all manner of firearms, swords, axes, maces, and the like. On the other hand, it served an aesthetic purpose. Gilded barding announced a knight's social position and served as a badge of ownership. Cavalry armor for the steeds included helmets, back plates, and central steel pieces.

Shields

The medieval soldier's shield armor likewise evolved over the course of the centuries to respond to developments in offensive weaponry. In the early Middle Ages, medieval warriors used wooden shields covered in leather (or other soft material). As advanced bows and weapons made their way onto the battlefield, however, soft shields proved ineffectual. Craftsmen began to incorporate iron and steel support in shield designs.

Shields also became status symbols, reflecting a given knight's social position, family heraldry, and other key identifying aspects. Some aristocrats and artisans decorated their shields with elaborate designs, jewels, and other adornments. The shield evolved to be much more than just a functional piece of defensive equipment. It became a key social signifier of rank. Interestingly, as the aforementioned "arms race" between plate armor and offensive weapons built to its climax during the late Middle Ages, shields became less and less common -- simply because they became redundant (and also because they were expensive and heavy to carry around).

Offensive Uses of Medieval Armor

While most people today think of armored pieces like helmets, chain mail, shields, and plating to be purely defensive mechanisms, these items, in fact, were often used to devastating effect as aggressive weapons. Well-trained knights would wield heavy shields as battering rams, engaging in complex military ballet. True, knights had their fair share of purely "aggressive" weapons, such as battle hammers, swords (which could weigh in at well over 35 pounds), lances, and maces. However, on the medieval battlefields during hand-to-hand combat, anything could become a weapon. A helmet designed merely to shield against blows to the head could, for instance, suddenly be transformed into lethal projectile in close combat.

The aesthetics and functions of medieval armor suits, shields, and defensive weapons varied widely, not just from decade to decade, but also from region to region. Styles came and went relatively rapidly; military historians can speak volumes about the evolution of European cultures simply by looking at how specific defensive artifacts spread from group to group throughout the Middle Ages.

What do you think of when you think of a knight in shining armor. Bravery? Valor? Chivalry? Well, chivalry was indeed a part of the knight's code, but this same chivalry and code of ethics (political correctness of old) got in the way of their becoming effective fighters. I have several good reasons for this take:

#1 - Heavily Armored Knights Had Every Inch Of Their Body Covered With Metal Protection - This indicates to me that the most heavily armored knight, who was also the wealthiest, had very little confidence or skill in attacking or avoiding getting hit. How could they execute much movement and agility in these heavy and clunky metal suits? In fact, the suits weighed about 50 or 60 lbs., and there was not a lot of mobility and flexibility at the joints.

Sometimes when knights in heavy armor were knocked down on their backs, like cockroaches with their feet twirling desperately in the air, they couldn't get back up on their feet. This really made them sitting ducks to an opponent who may have been more agile, quicker and dressed with little or no armor.

#2 - Only Rich Noblemen Could Afford Fancy Armor - Armor was very expensive and took sometimes 3 to 4 years to build. Much of the shiniest armor was decorated, very ornate and showy. Having a finely decorated suit of armor in your household was indeed a status symbol and a "babe magnet" for all of the fair maidens in the land. Only the very rich could afford the most elaborately decorated and opulent metal suits.

Why would anyone go to so much trouble to create flashy armor if its true purpose was to get it all banged up in battle by someone who is out trying to kill you! The wealthy have never been the type to go out in battle versus sending the real fighters and soldiers first to do battle for them.

#3 - Flashy Armor Was Used A Lot For Sport And Jousting - The parallel to this is the modern-day Mixed Martial Arts sports fighter and the trained reality-based fighter of today. One looks good in the sport. The other knows how to survive in a life or death struggle.

#4 - Medieval Knights Had To Fight Under A Code Of Restricted Rules Of Chivalry - A knight, before being a warrior, was a gentleman who had to follow the politically polite correctness of chivalry. This meant, for example, that if a knight was lucky enough to knock his opponent to the ground, in many cases, he would not be allowed to continue attacking or be allowed to leave him on the battlefield to die.

So, from this historical perspective of medieval fighting and warfare, we could say of the romanticized knights of old that, the flashier the armor, the less of the warrior.

The wearing of chain mail and body armor has been an effective means of protection in combat and war for centuries. Its use dates back to the Greeks and early roman empire where warriors and legionnaires donned metal plate and mail armour. The medieval era knights are most remembered for their elaborate medieval armor and battle shields in brilliant colors. But a knight's armour was more than protection. It reflected his status and lifestyle. The quality of the armour was as important and the overall look and the battle efficiency. Indeed it was a fashion statement also.

The evolution of chain maile and armour through the Maximilian era was a direct response to improvement in weaponry of the time. As weapons became more sophisticated, so did the thickness of the battle shields and the armour of the knight. Most had to not only be effective against attack but also flexible and agile.

The period of plate armour runs from about the early 1300's to about the mid to late 1500's. During this medieval time period the evolution went from a few pieces of plate to entire suits of highly crafted works of art in metal. Prior to this time, chain mail was the most prevalent and effective type of body armament. Maile weighed about the same as full body plate style. The average weight was about 45 - 55 pounds. However, a well made suit of plate armour was more comfortable to the wearer because it could be more evenly distributed over their body. It was always worn with padding and protective clothing to further protect and insulate from the heat and cold. The mid fourteen century was the period wear knights wore both type of body armour. During this time period, it was difficult for the warrior to get back up on if knocked down due the combined weight of the plate and the maille. By the early fifteenth century, most all body armament was plate as the designs and flexibility improved. A mid sixteenth century knight in full plate armour was surprisingly agile due to proper fit on the wearer.

The onset of the modern gun spelled the swan song for full body armament although body armour is worn even today in a more modern form such as kevlar (tm) vests and such. Even still we romanticize this period of European history. The medieval knight is well engrained in our minds and impressions of the medieval period.