How to spot the difference between 13th- and 15th-century knights
Knights in armour figured in English history throughout the Middle Ages, but what they wore and how they fought changed a lot over this time. Take a close-up look at the key differences in knightly equipment between two key periods of history.
13th-century knights
In the 1200s English knights were involved in many wars, including struggles against the French, Welsh and Scots. They were also involved in civil wars, such as the two Barons’ Wars of 1216–7 and 1264–7.
In the 13th century, all-enclosing helms – known as ‘great helms’ – became popular. These helmets often featured a single slit for vision, making it difficult for knights to be recognised.
The most common body armour of a 13th-century knight was mail, consisting of interlinked iron rings made up into garments. A shirt of mail, known as a 'hauberk', protected the torso and arms and could sometimes reach down as far as the knee. Padded cloth layers were worn beneath the armour to provide added protection and comfort.
Lances, often made of ash with steel heads, were used underarm to deliver unstoppable cavalry charges in battle or tournament. They could pierce armour and shields and could even knock opposing knights out of the saddle.
Because spectators couldn't recognise a knight's face underneath the great helm, knights developed a system of colours, shapes and animals, known as heraldry. Unique ‘coats of arms’ could be painted onto shields, banners and other devices in order to identify the wearer and proclaim their rank and status.
The 'surcoat' was a cloth garment worn over armour. The length varied from above the knee down to the ankles and the skirts were split for ease when riding. Surcoats allowed knights to display their heraldry and may have been copied from Muslim fashion during the Crusades, where the fabric helped keep armour cool in the heat of the sun.
Knights would be firmly seated on their horses on built-up saddles.
A knight's legs were covered by mail stockings called 'chausses', fitted with leather soles to aid grip and held up by a belt worn at the waist.
Horses were sometimes covered in a 'trapper' or 'caparison', a cloth garment coming down to the lower leg and sometimes covering the tail. It was increasingly used to display the arms of the rider, although many were plain.
15th-century knights
The Hundred Years War (1337–1453) between England and France, which involved Carisbrooke and Portchester castles, saw new-style iron- or steel-plate armour increasingly used to protect arms, legs and bodies.
By the Battle of Agincourt (1415), many knights were wearing complete 'suits' of plate armour. Armour design continued to develop during the 1400s, becoming increasingly sophisticated and leading to different regional styles.
By 1400 most knights wore a 'basinet', an open-faced conical helmet that had a removable mail neck-defence (an 'avantail') attached. These helmets had more rounded surfaces than great helms, providing improved protection against blows from weapons and missiles, such as arrows. By the late 1400s basinets had largely been replaced by new forms of helmet such as 'sallets' and 'armets'.
The body of the knight was now covered in plate armour. Individual components were tied together and articulated, allowing the wearer to be fully mobile. Mail was still worn, often sewn onto a cloth arming doublet. This doublet protected vulnerable areas not covered by plate armour, such as the armpits.
Gauntlets (armoured gloves) had flared cuffs and the knuckles might be furnished with 'gadlings', raised pyramids or spikes of steel.
By the late 1400s, specialist armour was developed for the tournament. Heavier and more cumbersome than armour used in war, tournament armour was designed to give the wearer better protection against accidental injury.
The main knightly weapon was the sword. At the beginning of the century, some swords tapered to an acute point (as seen here), while others had a broader blade.
Swords could either be used to hack at foot soldiers or to stab fully armoured knights where an armpit was exposed or visor lifted. By the late 1400s other weapons, such as cavalry maces and pollaxes, were introduced in order to counteract the increased effectiveness of plate armour.
Horses would wear shaffrons, a plate defence to protect their head and face.
Built with Shorthand