Throughout history, there can be seen a huge change in the way of wearing body armor. Some of the prevalent medieval armor that was used throughout the entire history is-
Roman Armor
During the Roman period, a wide variety of metal body armors were used. Roman armor was specially designed for protecting both close and ranged and combat attacks. The soldiers wore this armor during wars and battles to protect themselves. As this body armor was a bit heavy, soldiers used to wear some clothes inside to limit chafing and to reduce the discomfort of wearing sharp & heavy metal.
The Romans wore mainly three types of armor during the entire period and these includes-
- Lorica Hamata (mail) which was a chain mail
- Lorica Squamata (scale) which consisted of fine-scaled metal plates
- Lorica Segmentata (plate) which was an infuriating arrangement
The design and material of body armor used by the Roman army changed significantly over time. These changes were made because of the introduction of technology and tactics. Interestingly, mail armor was the most common and reliable body armor which was worn and used throughout the Roman history. One can easily find real and high quality medieval armor for sale from different trusted sites now. These days, medieval armor finds great application in theaters, movies, performances, and shows.
Greek Armor
Ancient Greek armor that was used on the battlefields by the soldiers was mainly for combating individuals. During any sort of war, Greeks followed the technique of phalanx which was a rectangular mass military formation. For such formation of the soldiers in the military, there was a need for heavy frontal armor that could protect them from frontal attacks.
- One of the armors that were worn by the lower-grade Greek military soldiers was the Linothorax armor which was made of linen fabric. This was relatively light and cheaper than any other body armor.
- Along with this, bronze breastplate armor was also used as it was perfect for protecting the upper body from attacks.
- Cavalry armor was another study armor that was designed to be lightweight. It was worn over a sleeveless tunic by the cavalry soldier.
In 490 BC, Greece started changing its tactics and body armor during its battles with Persia. In that period, Greeks wore heavily armored and this was the key to their victory over Persia. After defeating Persia, the Greek people started making lightweight body armor by reducing its thickness and removing extra materials.
Viking Armor
Viking armor was functional as well as decorative that gave immense protection to the body from any kind of attack in battles. Some of the armors that were worn by the Vikings are bracers, greaves, and many more. All of these were crafted from fine materials like leather and steel to add an extra layer to the armor. Some commonly used armor by Vikings are-
Chainmail
Chainmail consisted of small metal rings that were linked together to form a pattern of mesh. Also known as mail armor, it was used for thousands of years during wars across the world. Chain mail was used for giving protection to the soldiers and warriors all over the world, especially the Vikings.
Lamellar
Lamellar is another medieval armor that was metal armor with breastplates. It was widely demanded by the Vikings as these were perfect for wars and battles.
Leather and quilted cloth
The lower category of the soldiers used to wear armor that was designed with leather and quilted cloth. The main benefit of using this sort of armor was the lightweight that made it easy to carry during the wars.
Spartan Armor
the way of wearing armor by the Spartans was a bit different from other body armor. They preferred Corinthian form of armor which consisted of flanged bronze cuirasses, leg greaves, and a helmet.
One of the most used Spartan armor was MJOLNIR armor which mainly is a subset of powered armor worn by the Spartan-II soldiers. It consisted of shields of wood and leather with the face completely covered in a thin sheet of stressed bronze. The good part was that this body armor was able to protect the body and face from different kinds of weapon attacks. The shield of the Spartan armor was considered the most valuable piece because it strengthened the whole body by providing it with great protection.
Making Of The Medieval Body Armor: How To Make Medieval Armor?
How to make medieval armor? This is a common query that was in everyone’s mind. Right from the material to the techniques of the making of armor, some questions came to people’s minds.
There were no specific technologies of plate armor craftsmanship. But, emperors and soldiers of different eras made body armor to the best of their abilities. According to historical sources, there was an illustration of the blacksmiths and other forge workers that contributed to the making of the medieval body armors.
Until the 17th century, mostly steel plates were used in the armor that was made from metal blocks. Blacksmiths used to make such body armor by using a special hummer. This hummer was then moved with the help of a water-powered mechanism. Cold forging was another technique that was used to get a basic shape for the armor during its design. The curved edges were used to be done the process of heating and tempering.
How To Wear Medieval Armor?
Another question that strikes people’s minds was how to wear medieval armor. The medieval body armor was heavy weight because of the metal used in it. Before wearing the armor, soldiers used to wear anything quilted cloth inside. Because of this, wearing and carrying heavy armor was a lot easier.
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