 | |
| [Based on the Silos Beatus Codex, Spain, 1090-1109AD] | [Based on a capital at Estella in Navarre with Farragut & Roland, last third of the 12th century] |
79 & 80. ANDALUSIAN HEAVY CAVALRYMEN, 11th-12th CENTURIES
It is clear from the work of contemporary Moslem poets that, unlike the North African Berbers, by the 12th century most Andalusian regulars wore armour - Ibn Quzman, for example, mentions corselets of light mail, while others mention double-thickness corselets called halaq or muda'afa. Though some such armour was doubtless imported from the Christian kingdoms, it was also produced within the Moslem territories, Ibn Said recording in the 13th century that Murcia was an important centre for the manufacture of mail and cuirasses (ie, scale corselets). Though both from Christian sources, the figures depicted here would appear to represent such Moslem warriors. Their equipment is undeniably similar to that of the Christians, but one distinct difference is the continued preference amongst Moslem cavalry for round shields, though it would seem that kite-shields may have come into use amongst their infantry during the 12th century.
Figure 79 is taken from illustrations in a Mozarab (see next note) ms. of Beatus of Liebana's 'Comentarios al Apocalipsis' dating to c.1091-1109. He wears a long mail hauberk over a yellow tunic, mail hosen, and a fluted helmet with nasal and leather aventail. In the original the pattern on his shield is brightly coloured in green, yellow, black and red. Figure 80 comes from a 12th century Navarrese sculpture, in the ducal palace at Estella, of the mythical Saracen giant Faragut. He carries a similarly decorated shield suspended from a guige-strap, and wears a scarf round his helmet.
