[Daniele Trentin]

Hi!

I'm looking for evidences about the usage of splinted greaves and/or bracers in the period about 1000-1200. It would be great to have something in the germanic-north italian area, but even byzantine or crusades is ok. What I was looking for were pictorial sources, also to see how they were made (I want to make a pair of greaves), but also written sources could be very useful..in other words, all you have is welcome.

I found this page:
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~chrisandpeter/...fences.htm

The catalog is very useful, but it ends in the 10th century...I need something later.

There are other sites stating that "splinted armor was certainly used" or similar, but without providing any proof. That's why I'm asking.

Hope you have answers.

Thanks in advance!

[Robert Rootslane]

Here http://www.arheo.ut.ee/theses/BA10_Pruus.pdf on page 55 are the splinted armguards from Tartu, Estonia.

They are 14th century tho, but i must say that though i have searced, i have not yet found anything similar from the period you are intersted



R

[Daniele Trentin]

Thanks Robert for your answer.

This is quite an interesting example, it is quite clear they're made on a leather base with the plates (7?) riveted on it. They're quite similar to the ones I want to make.

Unfortunately they're a little too late for me..but I think it could be quite realistic to wear something similar in the prevoius century, isn't it..? I read on the Osprey's "Byzantine armies 886-1118" (Men-at-Arms series) that such defences were worn by byzantine cataphractos and varangian guardsmen..are there sources to confirm that?

[Márk György Kis]

Sorry, we have no evidence whatsoever for splinted limb guards on Byzantine area in that timeframe.