Weapons & Armours

The term “arm“ covers a wide area according to medieval studies, yet there is a distinction between offensive and protective arms. Traditional weapon classes such as swords, axes, polearms, maces, knives and daggers, bows and crossbows were considered the classic medieval European offensive arms, differenciating between blunt and edged weapons, both types mostly made of wood and metal. It was not before the late Middle Ages when firearms were introduced, causing lasting changes to warfare.

The medieval European protective arms were all kinds of armour, shields and helmets. Yet only the heavy infantry of a medieval army had a complete set of protective arms, formally resembling a knightly suit of armour. Normally, the infantry was provided only with very few protective arms of different types.

In the proceeding of the Middle Ages, the extensive usage of metal armour is noticable. While in the early medieval times, wood and leather had been the primary components of a classic set of protective arms, more and more metal parts came up in the proceeding of the centuries, resulting in the plate armour of the late Middle Ages finally. The early medieval ring mail gave room to the chain mail, for it did not provide sufficient protection against the increasing efficiency of offensive arms.

In contrast to the early Middle Ages, when mostly simple men, predominatly from the cities, formed the largest portion of an army, the knights, having established their class since the 9^th century, now took over the crucial role on the battlefield...