Andrea Cefalo is a Medieval fiction author and Medieval history blogger. Her debut novel, The Fairytale Keeper,  was a quarter-finalist in Amazon’s 2013 Breakthrough Novel Contest. The sequel–The Countess’s Captive—was published earlier this year.  She regularly posts about Medieval history on Facebook and Twitter.

As a Medieval fiction novelist, I do oodles of research and the easiest way to keep track of what I learn is to blog about it. But creating a list of terms and definitions is a bit boring. No one wants to read a dictionary, but most of us enjoy a good catalog, especially on a long flight. I’d imagine a knight making the long journey from home to a military campaign might have enjoyed flipping through a catalog to pass the time, too. Obviously, thirteenth century knights didn’t have access to Sky Mall or anything like it. But let’s pretend they did, and let’s call our publication Kingdom Market.  Below is just a single page. The subject? Thirteenth century armor.

The  Aketon or Gambeson is perfect for every warrior.

From the foot soldier on a budget to the cavalry knight seeking extra protection, this fabric coat hits the mark for ever warrior. With up to thirty sheets of linen and wool stuffing in between, the quilted aketon and gambeson offers light-weight protection. Wear it over or beneath your mail hauberk to keep those pesky arrow and lance impacts from injuring internal organs. Even alone, these quilted coats offer better defense than a surcote alone.

• Available in red, blue, brown, and cream
• Sizes small through extra large
• Comes with matching belt
• Now available in chausses to protect legs, too!
• Note: Gambesons are worn over mail shirts while aketons are worn beneath.

Protect yourself like a king!

Until now, this cutting-edge technology had been donned by kings and counts alone. Now you too can protect your chest with a coat of plates. This series of durable iron plates are riveted into a leather vest made by the finest tanners in France. Worn beneath or over a mail hauberk, a coat of plates will make you the best protected knight on the battlefield.

• Available in brown and dark brown
• Sizes small through extra large
• Extra charge for plus sizes

Tried and true, no knight should be without a mail hauberk.

With Kingdom Market’s steel mail hauberk, protect your greatest asset—YOU! Our armorers forge the finest steel Christendom has to offer. Each steel ring is flattened and riveted by hand before being woven together to create a light-weight shirt of armor that offers maximum maneuverability and protection.

• Sizes small to extra large
• Extra charge for plus sizes
• Add a pair of mail chausses to protect the legs, too!

Make a statement with a one-of-a-kind surcote.

A few yards of linen can offer as much protection as steel—especially if the battle is lost.  ‘Tis  better to be ransomed than killed, and nothing says “Ransom me!” like a heraldic surcote from Kingdom Market. Our custom-made linen surcotes are brightly dyed so that—even through the blood of your victims—the enemy can easily identify your family’s crest. Whether a dragon, lion, or serpent, your heraldic emblem will be boldly embroidered for all to see.

• Register your heraldic emblem so it’s NEVER reproduced
• Available in all colors and sizes
• Wool available upon request

Protect your legs with cutting-edge technology.

A cavalry knight’s legs are particularly vulnerable during battle. Shield your thighs, knees, and shins with cuisses,  poleyns, and greaves. Crafted by Christendom’s finest armorers, these molded plates add extra protection. When combined with quilted cuisses and mail chausses, not even the sharpest Damascus steel swords can penetrate it!

• Stand out from the cavalry crowd! Etching, engraving, and gilding now available.
• Sizes small through extra large
• Extra charge for plus sizes

Works Cited

• “Arts of the Armorer.” Rotarian Mar. 1956: 18-20. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
• DeVries, Kelly Robert. Medieval Military Technology. Peterborough, Ont.: Broadview, 1992. Print.
• Johnson, Craig. “Metallurgy and Production of European Armor.” Metallurgy and Production of European Armor. N.p., 1999. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.