Unfortunately no 100% authenticated English armour, dating from the late 15th century, exists today. So how is it possible to recreate such armour? Fortunately we have a wealth of information available to us, largely in the form of funeral effigies created in the period by skilled artisans.
The details depicted on the effigies show a style typified by spiral fluting on the limbs designed to resist crushing from axe and hammer blows while engaging in battle on foot. In some cases the stone and cast bronze effigies are so accurate it is possible to recreate a complete harness of functioning armour representing this elusive but beautiful style.
We are truly fortunate to have several, authenticated Italian armour pieces and whole ‘harness’ dating from the fifteenth century. Much of what remains (which must be only a very small proportion of what originally existed) resides in Museums and as such can be studied relatively easily. This style is typified by its smooth, largely flute free, surfaces that flow and blend together. Looking on Italian armour of the mid fifteenth century is to see the grace and beauty of the naked human form created in steel but at a practical level favours the Italian knight’s propensity for equestrian combat, best suited to deflecting lance and sword point when delivered from horseback.
The German armours of the mid to late fifteenth century are truly like no others. Typified by their lithe, insect-like form and heavily fluted surfaces, some of the later Helmschmied armours would not look out of place stepping from a spacecraft. This style really can appear ‘other worldly’ but it, like the other styles, is biased towards a particular type of fighting, in this case foot combat. The heavily fluted surfaces of the armour allow for a lighter, more impact-resistant body defence adapted for close quarter combat with sword, dagger and mace.
Armouring the horse – for tournament and for war – is as important as armouring the man that rides it. Experimentation with modern day jousting and battle re-enactment has allowed ‘Englyshe Plate Armourie’ a unique insight into the creation of authentic functioning saddlery and ‘barding’ (horse armour).