OK so I've been changing a lot of diapers. . . -- myArmoury.com

Jeremy V. Krause

And thus the eventual question emerged,

How did medieval knights/soldiers etc. urinate/deficate in different types of armour?

I imagive this would have been sinpler in the age of mail but what about later? How did this change? What about differences between types?

Firstly, Let me say that I am very ignorant of the "ins and outs" of plate mail and full harness through the centuries and so what is crystal to many of you is not to me.

Do many harnesses make simple allowances for this?

Thanks for humoring me. . .

Surprised

Jeremy

M. Eversberg II · Posted: Wed 03 Jun, 2009 3:32 pm Post subject:

You go before.

M.

Leo Todeschini · Industry Professional

Hi Jeremy

Getting in and out of armour is generally not a quick nor a one man business and so if there was the possibility you were going to see action soon, you carried on with the only course open to you.

They didn't wear diapers so that leaves only one option.............

Must have caused hell with rust though.

Tod

Jeremy V. Krause · Posted: Wed 03 Jun, 2009 4:39 pm Post subject:

OK guys- point taken! WTF?!

D. Austin · Industry Professional

I'd imagine that most late medieval harnesses were not all that difficult to relieve ones self in, depending of course on the nature of the relief sought. If we assume that the more common (and simpler) issue was in question, I'd imagine that a simple lifting of the maille skirt and untying of the flap on the hose would suffice. Most plate armour didn't really cover the nether regions much. In the 16th century there may have been a steel codpiece to deal with but these were often easily removed, perhaps for this very purpose. Maille braies (like boxer shorts) may cause problems however, and if you're wearing something like Henry VIII's FULL suit of plate, I think the above suggestions to either "go before" or "carry on with the only course open to you" are probably the only practical solutions.

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Wed 03 Jun, 2009 9:20 pm Post subject:

Kel Rekuta · Posted: Wed 03 Jun, 2009 9:28 pm Post subject:

Apparently dysentery was rampant in the English army trooping across northern France to Calais during Henry V's 1415 campaign. A lot of men surrendered to the inevitable and left off hose and braes for easier relief on the march. The experience of wearing hose and braes all day reminds a fellow that what little we modern men have to do to prepare relieve ourselves is such a blessing. Eek!

Michael B. · Industry Professional

Hahaha. I've actually, ummm, relieved myself last year at a fair. The porta-potty was the hardest thing about it (those these weren't designed with an armoured man in mind). Granted I had chauses and braes on which may have made it easier, that and the B&B rode up. But braced against, say, a tree, I don't see where this would be too hard. Oh! I had a lowered arm removed. (Might've help) geez, what a weird posting...

Roger Hooper · Posted: Wed 03 Jun, 2009 11:20 pm Post subject:

It does put a new slant on the squire's job of cleaning his master's armor after a battle.

Gabriele A. Pini · Posted: Thu 04 Jun, 2009 12:23 am Post subject:

Some people don't belive me when I explain that an epiedemy of dysentery was akin to a half-victory: how would you run or fight with a so bad situation?

Is also true that a man can overcome such distractions, you can see for you if you go to se this....

BEWARE!!! This photo may offend the sensibility of the viewer. There isn't anything of sexual nature or related, but the rappresentation of the result of a very serious case of dysentery may give disconfort to a sesible user.

http://www.bastardidentro.it/misc/bastardiden...005014.jpg

/BEWARE!!

but I think that even in this case there is a significant drop of performances (more from the ilness per se, than from the foul)

J. Scott Moore · Posted: Thu 04 Jun, 2009 4:21 am Post subject:

I imagine it wouldn't be that far gone from using the restroom when dressed in the USN dress blues. (those buttons are hell!) they make it tight, and it does look sharp, but when you've been drinking... typically you just go before, or hold it until after.

Jonathan Blair · Posted: Thu 04 Jun, 2009 7:19 am Post subject:

Nat Lamb · Posted: Thu 04 Jun, 2009 7:21 am Post subject:

Hendrik De Coster · Posted: Thu 04 Jun, 2009 8:24 am Post subject:

oh this reminds me of my first battle i did=D
normaly the batlle had started an hour before but for some reason they delayed it and my ex captains orderd us to wait in armour. This being my first battle i hadn't thought about going to pee before hand so yeah, just when i was about to go to tha toilet we got the order to march up on the field. a bit worried i said to the men beside me: " damn, no f*cking trees around here and i have to pee!"
his response was simple "just fight hard mate, you'll be unable to pee because of hydration"
believe it or not but i did!

Robin Palmer · Posted: Sat 06 Jun, 2009 12:47 am Post subject:

Hi all.

Referance the fight on regardless might I point to the position of troops in the pacific war who had disentry most simply cut the seat out of their trousers and fought on regardless.

A small point while full hose were the fashion I would think that split hose would be more usefull even in plate given brais are made baggy split hose allow complete freedom of movement something which even the best full hose dont. I have seen enough full hose properly made cut on the bias for stretch split at crutch to know they have limits. Plus while full hose were is use in mid 15th century the split hose remained in use at least to 1525 given that split hose would certainly ease the problem considerably. Does anyone have any evidence to say that knights didnt use split hose in preferance to full hose.

Yours Bob