What’s your favorite kind of armour? Here are some pictures of various styles from over the years.
Gothic armour for Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I.
Parade armour of Henri II of France French royal armour was typically embossed or etched and gilded all-over with intricate decorations bearing a Classical motif. King Henri II was killed during a joust when a bit of a shattered lance went through his eye.
Maximilian armours (c. 1530) This was a German style which was characterized by a high degree of fluting of the steel, and roped edges. It was named for the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I although he himself was not known for wearing it.
Maximilian armour with a grotesque face mask.
Turkish-style armour of a German knight. It is very uncommon to see helmets that taper off in an Eastern style such as this one. Another view.
Black and white German armour from the late 1500s. This armour was noted for the contrasting colors of the steel and the bold style of decoration.
Armour of Don Sancho d’Avila, 1560. He was the Duke of Alba’s bodyguard and he fought in various campaigns at the start of the Eighty Years’ War against the Dutch.
Black and gold tournament armour of Christian I, elector of Saxony. (Late 1500s.) Eleven identical armours were made for all of Christian’s friends. It was a gift from his wife, Sophie of Brandenburg.
Armour of King Henry VIII. (Italy, 1544) King Henry was a very fat man and this armour reflects that. The entire defense for the torso is highly articulated, probably to make it more comfortable for his giant stomach. Armour of this kind is quite rare.
Armour of George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland. George Clifford was a naval commander who briefly captured Fort San Felipe del Moro in Puerto Rico. This armour was made by the Greenwich workshop, set up by King Henry VIII which continued to create noble tournament armours throughout the Tudor period.
Armour of Sir James Scudamore and Alternate armour of Sir James Scudamore. Scudamore was the governor of Herefordshire and was knighted by the Earl of Essex during the capture of Cadiz. Supposedly “Scudamour” from the Fairie Queene is a reference to him.
Child’s armour for Cosimo II de Medici, of Tuscany. 1605.
Jousting armour from the late 1500s. After Henri II died, people got more afraid of getting hurt during tournaments and the armour for jousting became heavier and more protective.
German tournament armour with very interesting face mask; from the early 1600s. Made for Elector John George I of Saxony, a gift from his wife. The detail in this one is absolutely amazing.
Cuirassier’s armour from Italy. This kind of armour would be worn in the 1600s by heavy cavalry troops used as a shock tactic to break through lines of infantry. It was the last form of full plate armour before it would vanish from combat entirely.
Another cuirassier’s armour possibly from France. Note the decorative rosettes of rivets in the steel.
A Dutch cuirassier’s armour. A Dutch cuirassier’s armour. This is very similar to the armour worn by Frederik Hendrik, Prince of Orange in this painting. You can see a regiment of cuirassiers at the far left.
What is your favorite kind?
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