Info Favorites Register Log in
myArmoury.com Discussion Forums

Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > What was the purpose of the plaque belt? Reply to topic
This is a standard topic  
Author Message
Harry Marinakis




PostPosted: Sun 13 Apr, 2014 10:53 am    Post subject: What was the purpose of the plaque belt?         Reply with quote

What was the purpose of the plaque belt?

Was it just a fashion item of the times, or did it have some additional significance (e.g., worn only by knights)?

Did serjens wear plaque belts, too?
View user's profile Send private message
Dan Howard




Location: Maitland, NSW, Australia
Joined: 08 Dec 2004

Spotlight topics: 2
Posts: 3,636

PostPosted: Sun 13 Apr, 2014 5:00 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Fashion/decoration. They saw continuous use from the Bronze Age right through to today.
Author: Bronze Age Military Equipment, Pen and Sword Books
View user's profile Send private message
Russ Ellis
Industry Professional




Joined: 20 Aug 2003
Reading list: 42 books

Posts: 2,608

PostPosted: Sun 13 Apr, 2014 7:59 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I too think that they were fashionable. I can tell you from modern experience that they are currently a prestige item because they are prohibitively expensive to produce. That doesn't keep me from looking for a new source though... Happy
TRITONWORKS Custom Scabbards
View user's profile Send private message
Jeffrey Hedgecock
Industry Professional



Location: Ramona CA USA
Joined: 22 Jan 2004

Posts: 129

PostPosted: Tue 15 Apr, 2014 10:36 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

They were sometimes to often used to suspend sword and dagger.
Cheers,

Jeffrey Hedgecock
Historic Enterprises, Inc.
WorldJoust Tournaments™
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Elling Polden




Location: Bergen, Norway
Joined: 19 Feb 2004
Likes: 1 page

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 1,576

PostPosted: Wed 16 Apr, 2014 4:40 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Are you thinking of the belts worn around the hip by late medevial knights?


In this case, the large fittings or hinged nature is probably to make a very wide,stiff belt that does not twist or slide.
If you compare it to other belts of the period, they are usually very narrow, and apparently thinner than modern belt leather from the way they hang.
Earlier swordbelts are typically wide and made of lamb or deer hide, which is rather soft. These belts hang loosely from the waist to the hip.

If you look at the placement of the belt above, you will also notice that it does not sit around his waist. And the waistline is a lot higher than modern mens fashion. In fact, his breastplate ends at the ribs.
The belt is secured around the hip itself, not over it.
The advantage of this is that the hip is the part of the body that moves the least when running or figthing. As you can see he has his sword suspended from a single point on his belt. If the belt was carried on the waist this would be quite unpractical as upper body movement will jolt it around. But at the hip it is a lot more stable and practical.

From there, it naturally goes on to become a status item, as it is carried by soldiers AND is blinged out.

"this [fight] looks curious, almost like a game. See, they are looking around them before they fall, to find a dry spot to fall on, or they are falling on their shields. Can you see blood on their cloths and weapons? No. This must be trickery."
-Reidar Sendeman, from King Sverre's Saga, 1201
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website MSN Messenger


Display posts from previous:   
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > What was the purpose of the plaque belt?
Page 1 of 1 Reply to topic
All times are GMT - 8 Hours

View previous topic :: View next topic
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum






All contents © Copyright 2003-2024 myArmoury.com — All rights reserved
Discussion forums powered by phpBB © The phpBB Group
Switch to the Basic Low-bandwidth Version of the forum