Knight

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Knight - Noble Warrior of England 1200-1600
Author: Christopher Gravett
Hardback - 228 pages
Publisher: Osprey
Series: General Military
Price: £20
ISBN: 978-1-84603-342-1

Introduction

Everyone is familiar with the image of the Medieval Knight charging into battle mounted on his huge charger, lance poised, visor down, thundering into the enemy. Many also see the Knight as a figure of romanticism, with tales of chivalrous deeds and honour and glory, clad in shining Armour from head to toe. Not many people are aware of the Knight's daily life and the hardships and horror faced when in battle or how he coped with wounds, capture and the aftermath of his death, (many ended their days almost naked and mutilated on the field of battle, and this includes one English King).

This beautiful 288 page book brings the English Knight to life, and covers the whole period of their existence from the mail clad Knights of the 13th Century up to the ornately decorated armoured Knights of the Elizabethan period. The 148 illustrations allow the reader to follow the evolution of the English Knight in all his glory using both wonderfully colourful contemporary paintings and drawings along side more modern line illustrations. Also included are 34 colour plates by the renowned artist, Graham Turner. These plates come direct from the series of Osprey Warrior books of which this book is an amalgamation. The books in question being;
No.35 English Medieval Knight. 1400 to 1500
No.48 English Medieval Knight. 1200 to 1300
No.58 English Medieval Knight. 1300 to 1400
No.104 Tudor Knight
Christopher Gravett has brought these volumes together to bring about a sumptuous and beautiful book worthy of any student of the Medieval period's library.

Contents

After a short introduction, a full chronology takes us from 1199 and the death of Richard 1 (the Lion Heart) right up to 1603 and the death of Elizabeth 1, covering the many power struggles within England and the Hundred years war. One noticeable and often quoted line here is, 'French defeated by the English'. Also covered are the many Anglo Scottish wars and the later wars against France and Spain.

The four main chapters cover each 100 year period in great detail and are subdivided into the following sections,
Introduction
Organization
Training
Armour and weapons
Ideals and customs
Campaigning
Each chapter details the changes of the Knight throughout the period in question showing the changes in Armour protection for both the man and his mount.

1200 to 1300

This first period is purely one of mail and padded leather protection along side the distinctive Great helm. The Knight was clad from head to toe in mail with just the added protection of padded leather on the knees and elbows and also under the mail. Also covered is the development of the Shield, from the familiar Norman 'Kite' shaped shield to the smaller 'heater' type shield. The illustrations show how this equipment was worn and how it was put on. This chapter covers the various 'Baronial' wars within England and brings to life such historical figures as Simon De Montfort and his victory at the Battle of Lewes.

1300 to 1400

This period sees the gradual introduction of plate Armour in the second half of the 14th Century. The Great Helm has gone, apart from the Tournament, and we see the introduction of the 'basinet' head gear with separate visor. Steel plate begins to replace the mail protection for the body and for the knees and elbows. As the period progresses the whole body is slowly encased in plate rather than mail. Mail by now is relegated to a secondary function either as decorative 'aventail' (base of the helmet) or in the gaps between the plates. The shield has almost become redundant by the end of this period, again like the Great Helm only used when jousting, or as a means of identification along side the surcoat often worn over the Armour. This period covers the larger part of the Hundred years war and covers such Victories as Agincourt, Crecy and Poitiers.

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1400 to 1500

For me on a personal basis this period covers the evolution of the Knight into the classic Armoured fighting man. From the mid 1400's we see that the suit of Armour worn by the English Knight has developed into a highly sophisticated piece of equipment and enables it's wearer to perform just about any task whilst wearing his Armour. Some years ago a BBC TV programme showed its two presenters playing golf while wearing full Armour. As at the end of the previous period the Knight is now encased in steel from head to toe but distinctive designs have appeared, the rounded 'Milanese' Italian Armour, the fluted and pointed 'Gothic' Armour from Germany and the 'home grown' English Armour, a mixture of the two styles. Breast plates are now in two sections and huge 'pauldrons' protect the joints at shoulder and elbow. The shield has all but disappeared from the battle field. Another very noticeable feature of this period is the Sallet, a dome shaped helmet either with or without a movable visor, this headgear tends to give the Knight a very sinister appearance as some had a long tapered back piece. In fact the sallet is the forerunner of the Helmets worn by the German forces in both world wars and hence the modern American helmets. This period covers the end of the Hundred Years war and the Wars of the Roses in England, a war that saw the English Knight embroiled in battles such as Towton, where the opposing forces hacked at each other for almost 11 hours before the Lancastrian forces gave way leading to pursuit and butchery almost unknown in any other battle either English or European of the Medieval period.

It may be pertinent to point out at this point the fact that unlike all European Knights, the English Knight from the latter half of the 14th Century preferred to fight on foot.

The Tudor Knight

This chapter covers the final years of the English Knight as a fighting man, and encapsulates the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. The Knights of this period who fought often did as officers in an increasingly professional army. The main change in the Armour was the development of a collapsible 'skirt' of Armour plates that flared out from the waist to just above the knee. Later in this period this skirt disappeared and was replaced by fixed tassets, thigh protectors that eventually extended down to the knee. Armour was also ornately decorated as can be seen in the various photos of existing suits owned by Henry VIII. In the last years of this era the breast plate can be seen to copy civilian fashion and was shaped like the doublet with a pointed lower section.

The final chapter describes the demise of the Knight as a fighting force, due to the advent of gunpowder and newer military tactics such as the Swiss Pike-men, so prevalent in the 30 years War (1608-1638).

Conclusion

I could easily write a great deal more about this book. It is a visual feast and a delight to look through. It is also very difficult to put down. The illustrations lead one through the history of the English Knight and the narrative is packed full of information both factual and anecdotal. This book is an ideal source of reference for the Medieval modeler and will I'm sure be the inspiration for many like me who have a special affinity for English Medieval history.

Very highly recommended.

For full information on all Osprey Publishing titles, please see their website: Osprey Publishing