[Jeremy V. Krause]

Hello everyone,

I am perplexed as to the question of lower leg protection in the high midieval (first Crusade) era. During the Roman eral or during certain segments of it metal greeves seem rather common, and yet during the viking and high middle ages there is no evidence of this. What's the deal? Are we missing specimens? What do others think is the proper leg protection of this era for a kit?

Thanks.,
Jeremy

[Addison C. de Lisle]

You might try these:

http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_inf...ucts_id=48

[Jonathan Blair]

I believe that maille chausses were the standard for the European knight during the first crusade. Plate started showing up a little later.

[Chuck Russell]

mail. thats about it and thats closer to crusade rather than norman finds.

theres always the question on the splinted greeves from the byz. era

the metal in roman was bronze or iron. seems to be a lack of it in europe for larger items on the body till later

[Eric Allen]

Maille chausses were the norm if any leg protection was worn. They could either be a maille "sleeve" like metal hose, or they can be laced up the back, more like a maille greave.

Plate greaves were seen occasionally during this time. There are a couple images in the Macj. bible showing greaves (most notably the images of "Goliath"), but they seem to be more rare.

[Allan Senefelder]

What Chuck said.

They're seems to be some evidence that splinted defenses were used in the east and may have been transmited
west by some Vikings traders or those who served in the Varangian Guard but virtually all art, sculptural or drawn shown chaussettes as the standard with the exception of the Maj. Bible picture of Goliath with greaves over his maille hose.

[Jeremy V. Krause]

Thanks,

My understanding is that mail chausis tend to show up toward the middle to the end of the 13th c. Though I do recall seeing mention of those that were laced in the back in one Oakeshott book or another. Does anyone remember what Patrick used on his kit? I am really wondering of something contemporary to the first crusade (late 11th- early 12th c.).
I am slowly moving towards a kit of a man at arms of this era with gambusson but no mail as I am not satisfied with the accuracy of the selection of mail available, well, the remotely affordable selection.
Thanks again

[Jared Smith]

If placing a bet, I would expect to see a wide range of things such as padded gambeson/aketon only, standard knee length hauberks, chausees, and maybe even a few splint and some hardened leather on a large battlefield. This would extend even into the 13th and 14th centuries with relative popularity shifting towards better leg defenses (appearance of schynbalds, plate greaves, etc..)

Logic doesn't always work, but the types of armour should have varied depending on what type of participant (foot soldier, archer, cavalry, etc.) you are interested in. Mounted "knights" and men at arms who had good fortune would probably have the mail chauses. Greaves are not that popular in this specific time frame. I too am interested in this time frame (wanting to produce a period kit involving splint which I could make myself) and have had a devil of a time comming up with much of anything archeologically provable other than the chauses. (One 7th century European warrior excavation did find mention splint leg armour. No good pictures or text description in the academic article I saw though..)

The Bayeux tapestry was delivered not that long (1077) before the time frame you are interested in. It illustrates a small variety of things (some appear to have wrapped leather bands, many have nothing, some have good hauberks.) More than a few have studied it and tried to keep track of who is being shown in which scene, catalogue total number of participants, etc. Some of these have stated that less than half of individual participants (79 out of 210?) really have a significant degree (other than gambeson/aketon) of armour at all. Just a thought.... no leg armour is probably a credible possibility.

[Allan Senefelder]

Patrick used nothing as he was going for earlier Norman c.1066. although one figure in the Bayeaux tapestry believed to be William tilting his helmet back to show he's still alive has what is believed to be chassettes on. Chaussettes seem to have been in regular use by the mid 12th century and just plain common at least as far as the art from the period indicates by the end of the century.

[Jean Thibodeau]

Just an idle speculation not supported by anything but my imagination: We seem to see these wrapped leather band. Could loose strips of steel, bone or even wood be wrapped by these leather or fabric leg wrapping as improvised splints to spoil a cut to the legs ? No proof this was ever done and I know is would be impossible to disprove, but that is not the point.

I just had this stupid, maybe, idea that one could add strips of steel to those wraps as an alternative to actually riveting strips to a leather or fabric base. Just a though, i have no idea if this was ever done.

[Jeremy V. Krause]

I just reviewed Patrick's article on Albion's site and noticed that he has chosen to wear "reproduction military putees" on his lower legs. Now I don't know what a "putee" is but I will look into it. He also writes about "winingas". Something else I am unfamiliar with. I am going to check it out on the web.

[Allan Senefelder]

Putee's were common on both sides during WWI for wrapping the boot top and pants below the knee to keep them getting tangled in brush ect. The cavalry often used leather "gators" (a top of ankle to below the knee buckle on leather "greave") if lace up boots were wore instead of knee high boots. Putee's were simpley tightly wrapped narrow cloth strips. This based on illustrated and sculptural evidence seems to have been a very common feature dating back to at least the later dark ages and seems to be shown often in Norman art. The gator of WWI actually dates back to at least the 18th century here in the Americas where the aboriginal population used them(in most all cases "as" the lower leg covering rather than in addition to) and they were adopted by European armies troops serving here in the very forested frontier enviornment in which they often served as they had been by the colonials.

[Jared Smith]

There were cloth and leather versions of these wraps. Also, archeological finds have documented that sometimes there were small metal hooks. It seems reasonable to speculate that some devised better ways of putting them on than simply tucking in loose ends.

http://users.bigpond.net.au/quarfwa/miklagard...wraps1.htm

[Jeremy V. Krause]

Thanks Guys,
Jared that's a great recourse. If I knew anything about sewing I am sure it would even be more informative. It even states that blue and purple/red were popular colors for the viking period. Pretty cool. It seems that purchasing plain woolen sheets may be a doable option. Interestingly it states that modern wool is often not up to the quality of the original stuff. I have bookmarks this site.

Thanks again,
Jeremy

[Chuck Russell]

[Bruno Giordan]

froma a famous alsatian manuscript

[Bruno Giordan]

2nd

[Chuck Russell]

those are great. more intigraded coif pictures

[Elling Polden]

[Chad Arnow]