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KNIGHT 1289
An extract from Armies of Feudal Europe 1066-1300by Ian Heath
15. KNIGHT 1289
Taken from a brass in Trumpington church, Cambridge, previously thought to date to 1289 but in fact probably later. In addition to full mail armour he wears poleyns and ailettes (‘little wings’), the latter being generally flimsy shoulder pieces of dubious defensive value introduced c.1270 and lasting only until c.1350. They were usually rectangular or square in shape, of leather or buckram sometimes covered in cloth or fringed, and most often attached by laces at this date. They may have been introduced as additional protection for the neck (one of their German names, Tartschen, or ‘little shields’, is often quoted in this context) but it is more probable that their use was purely decorative since they displayed the wearer’s heraldic device. 15a shows what could easily be mistaken for a circular ailette but is in fact an epauler, a shoulder defence which first appears c.1290. His helmet is of a design usually referred to as a ‘sugar-loaf’, which gradually replaced the flat-topped barrel-helm. It is here secured to the cord belt of his surcoat by a guard-chain, this being the earliest depiction of such a chain (first mentioned in a written source in 1285). Late-13th century German sources often show this type of helmet with a shoulder-length piece of material hanging down the back as depicted in 15a. This was the lambriquin or mantling, before long customarily worn in conjunction with the crest.
Heater-shaped shields of similar size and shape to that carried here first appeared c.1250 and were in general use by c.1270. Shields of steel are sometimes mentioned in late-13th century sources and these would have been this smaller type. Most shields, however, would still be of wood, canvas and leather, as is the Sitten shield of c.1300. Arms on shields were tooled in leather, moulded in gesso duro (a plaster preparation) or painted on. One or two of the extant examples have the inside painted black with a broad diagonal stripe in red; ms. illustrations also apparently sometimes show this feature, occasionally with more than one stripe, and occasionally in variant colours.
[Based on a brass in Trumpington church.]
