Posts: 29
Tue 16 Feb, 2010 10:54 am
so... international forum, english speaking but we both are Italian reenactors :) isn't funny?
well: about chausses de
maille... vexata quaestio... but some references can be given:
1) Verone cathedral, half of 12th century, Roland statue. As you can see, there is a lacing system tying the chausses around the foot and a zig zag pattern on the ankle which probably is used for closing a slit (this slit is necessary for wearing the leggings because heels are too big for passing). There is no sole :)
http://www.randyasplund.com/asplund/cb/chausse5.jpg
2) that's a kneeled statue from Hidelsheim dome... well, we can say that there is a "sole"
http://www.brandenburg1260.de/kettenbeinlinge4.jpg
what is sure is that, wearing opened
chainmail leggings, you must wear shoes beneath but it is not sure if, when you wear completely closed chainmail leggings, you have also to wear civilian shoes or if these leggings have themselves a thick leather sole or if, finally, they have a leather sole but beneath you wear you civilian shoes too(you must consider that medieval turnshoes are lighter than those you see in reenactment events with a thick outer sole)
There is the Lindenburg chronicle of 13th century that talks about a knight which, in order to be lighter for running faster on battle field, he put off his chainmail leggings and so he run faster. Running without shoes? mhm i do not think so