Costume -- Great Britain -- History; Great Britain -- History; Great Britain -- History -- Pictorial works
(Figs. 1 and 2): The ordinary costumes of Norman soldiers.
Each is clothed in a military hauberk, which fitted the
body very closely, and was probably slit a little before
and behind. In the case of these two the hauberk ends in
close-fitting trousers to the knee. The heads are protected
by conical helmets with nasal pieces, fitting over hoods of
mail. In Fig. 1 the warrior is armed with a sword, an axe,
and a spear. The shield is of the kite shape. The hauberk is
covered with ringed mail, and the sleeves reach to the wrist.
In Fig. 2 the sleeves reach to the elbow only, and are covered
with rings, but the body is covered with what is known as
“trellised” armour, formed of strips of leather fastened on a
body of quilted cloth and crossing each other diagonally, with
knobs of steel fastened in the angular spaces as an additional
protection. He holds in his hand a _gonfanon_ or lance with a
small flag--carried only by the leaders of the army. (Fig. 3):
A Norman sword. (From the Bayeux Tapestry.) (Fig. 4): Two
Norman soldiers, each carrying a decorated shield and spear,
one being armed with a sword. Each wears a flat-topped helmet,
one only being fitted with a “nasal.” The shield of the
right-hand one is curved to the form of the body. The hauberks
of mail are shown, and also the tunics worn under them
reaching nearly to the knee. (Figs. 5 and 6): Norman axes.
(From the Bayeux Tapestry.) (Fig. 7): A Norman archer. (From
the Bayeux Tapestry.) Dressed in a close-fitting vest with
narrow sleeves, and full breeches, gathered apparently above
and below the knee, and ornamented with large red spots. He
carries a quiver of arrows slung over his back. Other archers
are represented in the Tapestry fully dressed in ringed mail.
(Fig. 8): The head of a mounted soldier. (From the Bayeux
Tapestry.) A peculiar custom existed among the Normans at the
Conquest of shaving the back of the head as well as the face.
When spies sent by Harold reconnoitred the Norman camp, they
saw the Normans with shaven heads, and they returned with
the news that “the Duke had far more priests than knights
or other troops.” (Fig. 9): Guy, Count of Ponthieu. (From
the Bayeux Tapestry.) He is armed with an axe, and wears a
hauberk of scale armour. These scales were either of iron,
bronze, or _cuir bouilli_. (The latter was leather which had
been softened by boiling in oil and stamped or moulded into
a definite form while in that condition. When it was dry it
became very hard and tough.) He also wears a mantle gathered
on the right shoulder, but has no head covering.]
THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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