The knight's helmet is one of the main attributes of a medieval warrior. He not only protected his head from damage, but also served to intimidate enemies. In some cases, helmets were a kind of distinction in tournaments and during combat.
Knightly armor and their evolution in time
Paradoxically, it is a fact: the heyday of the manufacture of armor falls on the period when chivalry as a leading military force has sunk into oblivion. What we imagine as knightly armor is rather a late decorative option. The fact is that a separate hand protection appeared in the 13th century, and in the middle of the 14th it was already replaced by chain mail gloves, which were much lighter, cheaper and easier to manufacture.
In an effort to lighten the armor, the gunsmiths soon abandoned the metal and began to use leather gloves with layers of metal. In the same 13th century, for the first time mention was made of bracers that completely protected the forearm. It is believed that the Byzantines borrowed this type of protection from the Arabs, and those from the Mongols. Protection for the legs appeared much earlier and was actively distributed even during the Roman Empire. In medieval Europe, leggings were sometimes wrapped in fabric just like the Arabs did. Changes were not spared and the design of helmets.
How did the knight's helmet change?
The oldest helmet is the usual round one. Perhaps its design has remained unchanged for many centuries, as the most practical and easy to manufacture. In the early Middle Ages, they were also widespread, and there were options with both a nose plate for additional protection, and without it. Sometimes the knight's helmet of a noble warrior was decorated with decorative rims. The main source of knowledge of modern scientists about the armor of that time is medieval poems, in particular French ones. They describe the helmets of prominent warriors and heroes adorned with jewels. There is also a mention that the nose plate was decorated depending on the rank of the owner of the helmet.
Crusader Helmet Design
At the time of the Crusades, helmets were pulled over the fabric in order to reduce their heating rate. Some models had a feather sultan on top. Early helmets consisted of several elements. The apex was its strongest part, below which a rim was placed to protect the face. The nasal plate reinforced the rigidity of the structure and formed the axis of symmetry. The helmet was attached with straps, including those stretched under the chin. The conditions of the battle changed the design of the helmet.
Frequent collisions with archers led to the appearance of protective plates with slits for the eyes. They protected the knight from arrows and sand, which also had to deal with. Our usual helmet, which protected the face and head of a warrior from all angles, appears in the first quarter of the 13th century. In documents dated the end of the 14th century, for the first time there is a mention of a helmet with a visor. That is, by the beginning of the 14th century, the knight's helmet had acquired the form and appearance familiar to us.
Types of knight helmets in the early Middle Ages
The centennial war forced both the British and the French to change their approach to armor in general and helmets in particular. So, the knight's helmet covering the whole head gave way to the so-called bacinet, which was a metal pot with felt comforter and chain-mail canopy. They could be either completely round or pointed, and were worn without a visor when conducting close combat, since there was no need for it.
The Hundsgugel, or “dog’s head, ” is the common name for helmets, the distinguishing feature of which was the protruding part under the viewing slits. Due to the increase in the space near the mouth and nose, the air flow in these helmets also increased significantly, making battle easier. There are also references to helmets, which in the front part had just a metal plate with breathing holes or a simple grill without decorations. This was done with the aim of making knightly armor as light as possible.
