This is, of course, an oversimplification, since in Italy This is the shape that predominated until theĮarly 15th century. The end of the 13 th century the shield became even smaller and the Not quite disappear, especially as it reappears in the forms of the Renaissance Later prime use in tournament jousting, thus it is noted that the shield does Gives a good review of the heater from its beginning through its use to its (1998) disappears almost completely, but this is not exactly true. It would seem that the shield, according to Clements Weapon, because of the better armour there was no need for the shield Smaller and smaller, and eventually abandoned due to need for both hands on This in the 1300s andġ400s, foot combat became more common, due to better armour, the heater became This stage armour was improving for foot combatants.

The 14 thĬentury knight’s equipment included both, a shield and a sword (Grant,Ģ009:67), the shield being in the classic smaller heater form. Heater shield, and this is discussing in very general terms. This is where the change went from the kite shield to the “the shield began to evolve into a shorter and wider triangular shape.” Pride, 1200, from the Trier Jungfrauenspiegel, Kestner Museum,īe noted in the change in shape of the shield. As the 12th century progressed, the curve at the top of the shieldīecame less prominent and at the beginning of the 13th century it flattened The shields still featured a convex shape to offer better Shields much like the ones from the Bayeux Tapestry, but the Winchester Bible,ġ170, and an illustration from the 12th century work The Life of Guthlac depict smaller size kite-shaped shields The so-called Temple Pyxīronze casket fragment from 1140-1150 shows knights carrying bossed kite Though not all depicted shields had central bosses. During the 12th century the main shape of the shield remained the same, These shields have rounded upper edges, central bosses and an outwardly convex Portrays many of the Norman warriors carrying kite shields of half-body length. The single best source for the shapeĪnd form of this shield during the 11th century is the Bayeux Tapestry. Period at 1066 until the beginning of the 13th century the most widely usedįorm of shield was the kite-shaped shield. The use of the kite shield available, from its beginning to the beginning of its (2017) gives an excellent presentation of some of the documentary evidence for Of the kite shield it was to hold on for at least another hundred years. Significant and alludes to the development and progression to the next stage ofĭevelopment of the shield, the heater. Used by armies throughout the centuries.” (Kelly, 2017)įlattening of the top of the kite shield will be discussed below, as it is Not only was the shield an integral part of the soldier'sĮquipment, but it was also responsible for the development of the basic tactics Scottish targe, the shield was more than simply an afterthought in the To really understand the use of swords, especially on the battlefield, it is necessary to understand shields. The shield was a part of the fighting man's kit for longer than it has not been used in later periods, ever since someone had the smart idea of putting a large surface area between them and the opponent's weapon. There is also often a sort of evolutionary view, that one form of shield replaced another as it became more popular, not the case either. This is a subject which is often pushed aside or ignored as it is often assumed that shields are pretty simple in their construction and development. So for the following post, as indicated the discussion will be about shields.

Parts of a medieval shield