[Michael Curl]

So I'm pretty knowledgeable about medieval western european armour, but my question is, what kind of armour was worn in eastern europe (poland, hungary, russia) that was not in western europe? also, any good books on the subject.

[William Knight]

I can't point you to any books, but your question might be more easily answered if you narrowed it a bit -- both in time and place.

Generally I get the impression that Poland mostly follows European (particularly german) armouring trends, but as you go further east this is less true.

[Michael Curl]

Thats exactly what I don't want to do. I know all the basics of armour now, read blair, etc. Did 2 different papers and have been studying for some time. I want to see all of the different kinds of armour in any country that we consider to be european (non muslim). Obviously there will be a lot of iranian elements in russia armour, etc. But I want to see any and all kinds of armour that have no precedent in western europe, such as the plate-mail combinations etc.

[Bartek Strojek]

Poland was pretty standard troubadour, knights, tourneys, etc.area in medieval.

It's pretty tongue in cheek description, obviously, but it fits.

Very distinctly original elements began to come up after medieval had ended, generally.

Of course, there always are regional things, but arms and armor were generally like in the rest of the Europe.

Now, further east, there would be a lot more of thing that couldn't be encountered in western Europe.

As far as Poland goes, things like early pavises that are probably of Lithuanian/Baltic in origin were pretty disctinct thing appearing at least from the half of the 13th century.

Another rather common thing would be "sulica"

http://www.freha.pl/index.php?showtopic=21560

Unfortunately, as common as it may be in 14th/ early 15th century, it's also pretty much enigmatic.

Used by Lithuanian, Polish, Prussian, Teuton combatants alike, some kind of short spear. Details are shady.

[Chad Arnow]

Have you checked out our Feature article The Winged Hussars of Poland? It shows extant 16th century armour and plenty of period art. By the 16th century certainly, the Polish had a style of armour and dress pretty distinct from what we usually think of.

[Luka Borscak]

Some interesting info on this page: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/matthaywood/Contents.htm