Is this a reasonable rule of thumb for high medievals?

[Skullzgrinda]

Of all the periods FoGAM covers, I know far and away the least about Europe in the 13 - 15th centuries.

Would it be a reasonable rule of thumb to depict some metal armor items going back one or two generations from the time period of the army or battle? For instance, would Norman style spangenhelm still be around and in use in the 12th century, or sugar loaf helmets at Agincourt?

A francisca at Hastings would bother me, and I would not model that. The armor styles and usages in the late medieval world bewilders me though; especially the 100 Years War.

[Legionbuilder]

A friend of mine from Northern California who is much wiser than me - explained it to me this way


a rough rule of thumb, knights from 1050 to about 1200 should be in
chain mail and helmet with shield. Knights from about 1200 to about 1400 should be in a combination of some plate and some chain mail with shield.
Knights from about 1400 to about 1450 would be in mostly plate with or without shield.
From 1450 on, they should be in plate without shield.

[BlackPrince]

look at it this way; if you were a senior employee at work and the boss invited you to a social function where all the management, less senior employees than you and the boss were going to be would you;

a. wear an outfit from five years ago?
b. go out and buy the best new outfit you can afford?

Note we are talking guys here so option c. go out and buy the best new outfit you cannot afford, only applies to girls.

[Skullzgrinda]

A friend of mine from Northern California who is much wiser than me - explained it to me this way

a rough rule of thumb, knights from 1050 to about 1200 should be in
chain mail and helmet with shield. Knights from about 1200 to about 1400 should be in a combination of some plate and some chain mail with shield.
Knights from about 1400 to about 1450 would be in mostly plate with or without shield.
From 1450 on, they should be in plate without shield.

That works for me. I am not going to worry about the helmet styles, Milanese, Gothic, etc.

This is simple and practical. I don't know why the fine points of medieval armour and weapons elude me, but they do.

Thanks for passing on your friend's advice.

[nikgaukroger]

look at it this way; if you were a senior employee at work and the boss invited you to a social function where all the management, less senior employees than you and the boss were going to be would you;

a. wear an outfit from five years ago?
b. go out and buy the best new outfit you can afford?

Note we are talking guys here so option c. go out and buy the best new outfit you cannot afford, only applies to girls.

And then look at it this way - your new outfit would cost the same as your house

Up to date armour was very expensive.

[philqw78]

And then look at it this way - your new outfit would cost the same as your house

Up to date armour was very expensive.

Apparently, compared to the average wage a suit of plate cost the same as a challenger tank does today. But the average wage was only sixpence every 4 yerars in the middle ages, much the same as yorkshire now.

[BlackPrince]

Isn't that the reason the Brits started to break ranks as soon as the battle looked like it had been won to go off and get prisoners not just for the ransom but also for your prisoners kit to sell. Certainly the armour was expensive but nobody turn up to the Black Princes' chevauchees wearing great granddad's armour from the Crusades. On top of a relatively modern armour you had outfit some archers as well.

[olivier]

Apparently, compared to the average wage a suit of plate cost the same as a challenger tank does today. But the average wage was only sixpence every 4 yerars in the middle ages, much the same as yorkshire now.

Pay in 1315:
Chevalier banneret 20 s.t.
chevalier 10 s.t.
Ecuyer à cheval 7s. 6 d.t;
grntilhomme de pied 3 s.t.
sergent de pied 2 2.t;

For England in 1369 to 1372
Earl : 13s 4 d st.
Knight banneret 8s. st.
knight 4s st.
men at arm 2s st.
mounted bowmen 1s st.

French until 1448
in languedoil
chevalier banneret 60 l.t
chevalier 30 l.t
ecuyer 15 l.t
capitaine d'arbaletrier 24 l.t
capitaine d'archer 30 l.t
arbaletruier à cheval 8 l.t
archer à cheval 7 l 10 s.t
archer 5 l 10 s.t

Price in 1449
dagger 8 for 6 l 13 s 3 d.t
Swords 8 for 12 l 5 s.t
Lances (in 1484) 12 for 10 l.t
Brigandines 50 for 687 l 10 s.t
Harnois 22 for 786l 10 s.t
Horse: 165 l but you can have one for 27 l.t !

So armour aren't as expensive than Horses but aren't cheap either

[Legionbuilder]

We don't sell alot of horses here in Illinois currently so I have nothing to compare to your numbers and I don't think we have alot of armor sales in our history either

But if want to buy or sell US Senate seats or Federal Jury members - this is the place for you.

Of course we were unable to buy the olympics!

I think there maybe some baseball teams for sale soon

But I do know that 60% of statistics are made up on the spot