8/4/2023 0 Comments Real medieval shield![]() To be able to use effectively the bow, the samurai didn't use hand held shields the lack of defense was compensated by the way the Ousode ( 大袖) in their armor worked: There were exceptions to this rule, for example in the late 14th century, polearms started to replace bows for some cavalry warriors, and there is at least one 13th century iconography depicting a Samurai carrying a Tate shield on horseback ( like his western counterpart). Within this context, the powerful Japanese Bowwas the perfect weapon. Bellow the shield is usually the motto, a phrase or sentence on a scroll.It is in fact a widespread misconception that Japanese armies didn't rely on hand held shields, at least to some extent.Īlthough it is not arguable that hand held shield didn't play a major role anymore, for the reasons I'm going to explain, among the Samurai class, this type of defensive tool was still used by infantry and others warriors.Įarly Samurai, from the 11th to the late 14th century were mainly mounted archers, since training with bows and horsemanship were the main martial activity of the upper class.Įven if the warfare of these centuries is a topic for another article, the main role of these mounted forces was to charge and "storm" the enemy ( be it on foot or on horseback) while engaging from mid to close distance and then retreat, usually without running straight against enemies formations but rather stay on the flanks of the enemy. On the top of the helmet is the crest which initially continued into the mantling. Around the top of the helm is the torse also referred as wreath, a twisted roll of protective cloth worn over helmets depicted in two colors, usually in the same pair of colors as the mantle. Above the shield is placed the helmet or some other headgear such as crown or coronet tied with mantling, a drapery which was worn by knights from their helmets as a protective cloth covering. Under the shield and the supporters is a design called the compartment depicting some sort of landscape. On either side of the shield are the supporters, real or imaginary figures depicted holding it up. In contrary to the shape, patterns or division of the field and charges (image occupying the field) of the coat of arms were strictly regulated. The main constituent of the coat of arms is the shield or escutcheon the shape of which clearly indicates the influence of medieval shields used by knights in the battles although other shapes were possible as well. The rules of design and display of coat of arms greatly varied from country to country but there were some common standards such as the basic consisting elements and seven basic colors or tinctures (gold, white or silver (argent), red, blue, green, purple and black). Therefore the study of coat of arms is called heraldry. The use of coat of arms was strictly regulated and overseen by the herald, a professional officer of arms. A descendant of prominent parents sometimes borne ancestral coat of arms of both parents split into two parts. Ancestral arms of other descendants featured some changes such as addition of a distinguishing charge, while unmarried female descendants borne ancestral coat of arms in a shape of a lozenge or rhombus. Coat of ArmsĬoat of arms came to be considered a legal property transmitted from father to son in many medieval European countries. Patterned and ornamented shields were often crucial for identification on battlefields, while armorial insignia in the 13th century also became an instrument of identification of an individual or noble family impressed in sealing wax on documents, carved on family tombs and flown as a banner on castles and manor houses. Medieval shields worn by the knights in the battles greatly influenced the development of coat of arms and heraldry. However, the knights ceased to use the shields after the introduction of plate armor, while lightly armored troops continued to use the shields. The form and design changed through time from long, reversed teardrop shape of the Kite shield which was commonly used from the 10th to the 12th centuries to the smaller, triangular Heater shield and the round Buckler. Shield was worn on the arm or shoulder and held in hand during hand-to-hand combat. It was used as a protective weapon and often intercepted attacks of bows and arrows, swords and even blows. The shield was very important piece of defensive armor of medieval knights before the advent of plate armor.
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