Tag Archives: armor

mail coif

If Thirteenth-Century Knights Had Sky Mall: Part Two

Andrea CefaloAndrea 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.

Who among us hasn’t flipped through Sky Mall on a long flight? 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. To keep from writing boring, encyclopedia-ish posts,  I’ve been writing a series on thirteenth-century armor—catalog-style. I’d imagine a knight making the long journey from home to a military campaign might have enjoyed a good catalog. Obviously, they 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.  Last week, I published a post on thirteenth-century body armor. This week let’s peruse a page on helmets.

Kettle Hat

kettle hatGive yourself the added protection of a Kettle Hat from Kingdom Market. Crafted quickly and cost-effectively by the finest armorers in Christendom, this iron helmet is perfect for the foot soldier on a budget. For easy fitting, add our breathable padded inlay. The result is comfortable, affordable protection—from the elements of nature as well as the enemy.

Comes with adjustable chin strap. Gilding, embossing, etching, and engraving available upon request. One size fits all.

mail coifMail Coif

Don’t forget to protect your neck! Kingdom Market’s mail coif is the only defense against a stab at the jugular.  Our hand-crafted mail loops are crafted from Christendom’s finest steel. Master armorers  flatten, rivet, and weave each coif by hand.

When combined with a floating pad and helmet, the mail coif offers the greatest coverage and defense. Available in small, medium, and large.

spangenhelmSpangenhelm

Tried and true, the spangenhelm has been protecting foot soldiers and cavalry alike for over a thousand years. Kingdom Market’s trademark iron spangenhelm comes with its own nasal guard.

A quilted-inlay and chin strap make for easy fitting. Use with a mail coif for extra protection or add iron cheek or face plates (extra charge). Gilding, embossing, etching, and engraving available upon request. One size fits most.

great helmGreat Helm

Completely encase your head in iron with this latest and greatest in helmet technology. When worn over a mail coif, the great helm delivers the most reliable protection that money can buy.

Comes with quilted arming cap for comfort and stability. Visor slits and piercings allow for visibility and breathing. Gilding, embossing, etching, and engraving available upon request. Available in custom sizes.

Explore Some of Our Many Options

With custom add-ons, Kindom Market’s armorers offer countless options. Visit one of our shops, to customize your own. The images below show only a few examples of what we can do!

Fancy great helm with gilded cross and trim

Fancy great helm with gilded cross and trim

Plain great helms

Plain great helms

spangenhelm with cheek plates and etching

Etched spangenhelm with cheek plates.

Plain, riveted spangenhelm with face plates

Plain, riveted spangenhelm with face plates

If you enjoyed this post, stay tuned. Next week, I’ll be covering thirteenth-century weapons. Also, let me know what you think of this post via Twitter, Facebook, or simply comment below. If you like it, there’s more where that came from, follow my blog, Twitter, and Facebook to keep up with my posts on Medieval history and fairy tales.

Works Cited:

“Catalogue of Helmets.” Catalogue of Helmets. Medieval Reproductions, 26 Aug. 2012. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. A catalog for purchasing replicas of Medieval armor

DeVries, Kelly Robert. Medieval Military Technology. Peterborough, Ont.: Broadview, 1992. Print.

Hood, Jaime. British Museum Technical Research Bulletin, Volume 2. London: Archetype in Association with The British Museum, 2008.British Museum. 2011. Web. 26 Apr. 2015.

Hunter, Edward. “Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History.” Fire Gilding of Arms and Armor. Department of Arms and Armor, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.

mail hauberk

If Thirteenth-Century Knights Had Sky Mall

Andrea CefaloAndrea 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.

13th century gambesonThe  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.

thirteenth century coat of plates

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

mail hauberk

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!

knight's surcote thirteenth century

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

Thirteenth Century Leg Armor Chausses and Poleyns

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.