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Jonathan Fletcher
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Posted: Sun 01 Sep, 2013 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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And from this morning, St Columba's church on the Isle of Lewis, a superb effigy of a knight, supposed to be Roderick MacLeod (d.1498).
Again, if this a correct attribution, very dated armour but a fine hand-and-half sword with a lobed pommel and down sloping cross, broad blade with straight edges.
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Stephen Curtin
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Posted: Mon 02 Sep, 2013 11:42 am Post subject: Re: West Highland sword hilts |
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Jonathan Fletcher wrote: |
The armour, similar to other Hebridean and West coast monuments from the period of the Lordship of the Isles, seems a little dated by Lowland and English standards, assuming the attributions are correct. Perhaps the attire depicted was formalised/traditional, not supposed to be a true representation? Or, perhaps the padded gambeson, maille hauberk and bascinet was still the standard in the West Highlands despite European trends: Could this account for why these broad bladed cutting swords continued in use at such late dates?
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Hi Jonathan, yes this form of armour was the standard in Ireland, and the Islands, and Highlands of Scotland up until the late 16th century. And yes, this is probably why broad bladed cutting swords persisted in these areas. I don't think that it right to assume that these men were using outdated equipment. The way I look at it is, these guys fought as infantry, unlike the rest of nobility of western Europe who usually fought as heavy cavalry. So the conditions which led to the switch to full plate armour just didn't exist in the highlands.
Éirinn go Brách
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Jonathan Fletcher
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Posted: Mon 02 Sep, 2013 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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Stephen.
Thanks for the information which makes a lot of sense: Indeed, I cannot see the knee length gambesons like those depicted being worn whilst mounted. Interestingly, neither of the figures wearing the typical coif/aventail, gambeson, bascinet garb appeared to have maille hose, in fact the only maille depicted were the coifs; legs were smooth, but these possibly greaves though no hinges or straps to be seen. Also, perhaps hauberks, if owned, were worn under the gambeson to afford some protection from the elements? Alastair Crotach & son William, or at least their harness, must have set them apart from their peers, regardless of its' age/appearance at the time of their deaths in the early 16th century and in fairness to the father, if he had this made in his youth it would have been reasonably fashionable when made.
P.S. Not many horses to be seen on Lewis still today. Lots of peat, not much grazing.
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Stephen Curtin
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Posted: Mon 02 Sep, 2013 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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Well Jonathan, some grave slabs do show a hauberk worn over a gambeson (which is often called a cotun in the Irish and Highland Scots context). Of course in the cases where a hauberk isn't clearly visible, it could be worn under the cotun. As far as the smooth legs go, this is because a lot of highlanders went bare legged, though some did wear tight fitting trews, either of which options would account for the smooth legs on these carvings. And mail hose are another one of these things that were developed for heavy cavalry, that weren't really necessary in the Highlands.
Éirinn go Brách
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