Hi Everyone!

I have been contemplating on changing my 16th Century Kit from a Tudor/Late Elizabethan Garniture into a 16th Century Condottiere Harness.

My question is this.

What kind of armor did the 16th Century Italian Condottiere wear during the Reniassance. Can anyone show me examples of early, middle and late Renaissance Condottiere armor?

Any help is appreciated.

Thank you.

Joshua Santana

Hi Joshua,

Happy to help. However, the Renaissance was well under way long before the 16th Century, which is ironically when the Condottieri died out under the Spanish Dominion in Italy. The only example is actually a real armour, buried on the body of Lodovico de' Medici, known as Giovanni delle Bande Nere (Giovanni of the Black Bands), 'Last of the Condottieri'. Note 'Last'. It dates to around 1520 and is now in the Stibbert Museum, Florence.

Here's a picture: http://www.immaginidistoria.it/immagine2.php?...&id=44

The arms and armour field is way behind the rest of the art history field in thinking that the Renaissance begins in the 16th Century. As far as armour is concerned, as with the visual arts, it really kicks off with the arrival of the full plate harness in the first years of the 15th Century.

Thank you very much, much helpful.

Another question of mine was this.

What were the changes of armor styles for 16th Century Italian Armor?

Does it retain is 15th Century Characteristics such as single piece tasstes, armet helmets, besegews? Or does it change it to 16th century Peascod style armor such as Greenwhich style armor?

Dear Joshua,

That answer would fill an entire book! And the book in question is this one:

Lionello Boccia and E.T. Coelho L'Arte dell'Armatura in Italia (Momoli, Milano 1967).

It's in Italian only, and very rare, so at least $600 to acquire I would think. If you want info on this period though, I am going to start putting short articles free on my website. To access them you would need to register and login, but they will be genuinely free.

My website is: www.masterarmourer.com

If you want to sign up, let me know: chris.dobson@masterarmourer.com

Regards,
Chris Dobson

Chad,

You'd be right....

(thanks for the link! ;) )

Greg