Medieval Shields

Medieval Shields

Medieval Shields

A shield is part of the medieval armor that is carried by hand or it can also be mounted on one’s forearm or wrist. These are utilized to block a few attacks that either come from arrows or other projectiles and close-ranged weapons.

The medieval shields also vary in sizes and these range from huge pieces that protect the user’s full-body, to something really small just like the bucklers that were specifically made for hand to hand combat.

Additionally, these pieces also vary greatly when it comes to its thickness: some of these were created to be extremely absorbent, deep, and wooden planked to safeguard its wielder from various assaults.

It can protect the soldier from attacks coming from crossbow bolts and spears while some of the other medieval shields are thinner and lighter which is perfect for deflecting any type of blade strikes.

Additionally, shields also vary in shape which ranges from rounded ones to very angular shields; these also feature those that have proportional width and length, as well as symmetry and a patterned edge.

The reason why these shields appear in a variety of shapes is to provide optimal defense; it is also easy to carry while simultaneously providing additional use such as a secondary weapon or ship protection.

Medieval Shields Uses

Medieval Shields were primarily created to protect a knight or soldier during battles, and these would effectively deflect direct attacks from the weapons of enemies.

Additionally, the equipment utilized during the Middle Ages was not only used for protection but also functioned as bludgeoning weapons. When using the medieval shield as an actual weapon is not quite that easy which is why knights still need to practice utilizing the shield for this purpose.

They practice at the Pell which is something that demanded long and strict hours of training to further develop one’s skills, agility, as well as strength in relation to the use of medieval swords and shields.

Medieval shields were also adorned with various designs that were utilized to recognize the knight wielding these weapons on the battlefield or in tournaments.

This is necessary as a form of recognition that was highly important for the medieval knight’s armor since its helmets usually had visors that concealed the face of its wearer.

Medieval Shields

The Material of Medieval Shields

No medieval shield is similar to one another and each of these was personally handcrafted for a specific function; because of this, each of the medieval shields was made up of a variety of materials that were created in a unique manner.

The most common materials utilized to create the early medieval shields included animal hide and wood; as time progressed, other materials were more preferred over these which included metals that became the best element for creating the Renaissance shield.

Moreover, each medieval shield was created specifically for a certain purpose and it was also tailor-fit for the soldier who would carry this. If the knight or soldier relied mainly on heavy weapons and armor, the shield would be made smaller and lighter to make it easier to carry around.

Knights who wear a full suit of finely made armor will obviously have a difficult time carrying a shield that has a body length size.

This is also similar to archers who utilize longbows, they would wear just a little bit of armor and are required to be quick on their feet, so a wide and tall shield was created just for these warriors, providing cover when it was necessary for them to restring and fix their bows and arrows.

Medieval Shields

Types of Medieval Shields

There were numerous types of medieval shields in the past and the style of these has changed simultaneously as the different kinds of armor were developed:

Buckler

This is a small and rounded shield usually wielded by infantry troops; it could easily be hung from one’s belt which makes it easy equipment to carry around during battles. The shield was also made specifically for hand to hand combat.

Heater Shield

The heater shield is a huge shield that was first developed in 1270 AD; it is named the heater shield due to its appearance that has the shape of a flat iron’s bottom.

This item is primarily utilized by the jousting knights since these shields were much smaller and portable which also complimented full armor suits; additionally, these were also great for those going on horseback.

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Kite Shield

This was the shield that was largely elongated and rounded along the top which came to a fine point right at the bottom. It was considered as one of the most common types of shields between the tenth and thirteenth centuries; it was also one of the shields that were featured in the tapestry of Bayeux.

This was a highly efficient and advantageous form of protection for warriors during the Middle Ages since the chain main was also the only form of protective gear that warriors utilized during that time.

Targe or Target Shield

The targe or target shield is known as the authentic Scottish round shield and it was considered to be slightly bigger compared to the buckler, yet is used the same way.

This type of shield had a more intricate construction and its adornments were more elaborate. These were primarily made out of wood wrapped in black cowhide leather while its front portion would commonly be embossed with an intricately designed Celtic pattern.

Medieval Shields

The Pavise or Wall Shields

This was the shield mostly utilized by the soldiers who wielded crossbows; it is a kind of tall shield that provided adequate protection when an individual reloaded his crossbow.

The appearance of the pavise was a large shield with a convex shape that measured around four to five feet a size that was enough to protect a person during battle.

Medieval Shields for Sale

Shields have continued to be one of the most iconic elements of the medieval style; these are not only the typical items used for defense but it also allows the user to readily deflect and simultaneously block attacks.

Aside from defensive tools, the medieval shield has also been utilized for decorating castles as well as the great halls which are why some weapons enthusiasts search for their own medieval shields for sale to add to their collection.

When shopping for these medieval shields for sale, once can ensure that weapon shops online cater to a variety of full-range, impressive, and effective medieval shields that can be used for practice or for decorative purposes.

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