 
|
-
Medieval bascinet helmet and chainmail
Posted on June 12th, 2009 2 commentsThe Medieval Basinet
A basinet is a kind of headpiece or helmet, and the word itself is a diminutive form of the word ‘basin’. Originally, the small basinet consisted of a peaked, open cap made of light material. These were either used with the heavier ‘heaume’, or simply by themselves. A ‘heaume’ was a medieval helmet of significant size which was supported by the wearer’s shoulders and head. By the end of the 13th century, the gigantic heaume was phased out as the basinet evolved into a more complete headdress for battle.
The basinet was considered a ‘true headpiece’, as its weight was placed on the wearer’s shoulders and didn’t cover the head, as opposed to the heaume. This later form of the basinet was heavier and larger than previous forms, and it also included a fixed visor; later headdresses, like the armet, would include a pivoting visor and would come to international dominance in battle during the 15th century. The visor was adjustable to allow for better breathing and vision. The visor was closed during battle for protection. A mail hood, or a ‘camail’, connected the basinet to the gorget, which completely covered the vulnerable neck and head areas. The face was also protected by a complete, heavy enclosure. The front side of the basinet is sometimes compared to an animal’s muzzle. The peaked crowd distinguishes the basinet from other forms of headdresses. The word ‘basinet’ also has various spellings, such as ‘bassinet’, ‘basnet’, ‘bacinet’ or ‘bascinet’. -
Medieval Armor, a knight’s battle helmet
Posted on June 10th, 2009 No commentsA Helmet For Knight Combat
The origin of "helmet" stems from the extinct French word helme, now known in present day France as heaume or "helm" in English. This headgear is to protect the head from attack. This type of historic helmet has no brim, a sharp top and is constructed of anything from basic metal to leather or oddly, wood reinforced with steel. The most noticeable part of the helmet is by far the guard that stretches across the upper face to safeguard it from slashing injuries. The chin is used to secure the helmet to the head via a tight strap but the chin is usually not covered, and to protect the neck, ears and head a heavy quilted hood is worn. Read the rest of this entry »
-
Norse – medieval viking warriors
Posted on May 21st, 2009 2 commentsThe True Viking Warriors
The term viking is taken from the word Vikingr from the Old Norse Iceland language, modern use denotes a sea explorer or pirate. "Viking" also {exist|can be found in} in the Icelandic language meaning a predatory voyage. The beginning of the Saga Age (900-1050 AD) saw the origins of Norse literature, and in these times the word vikingr did not refer to a particular class of people. Any young Icelander with the means and a high enough ranking in society as well as any number of young Norsemen, commonly participated in viking expeditions. Read the rest of this entry »