It could take as long as several months to create one complete mail shirt. Yet, even if it was heavy, the weight distribution across the knights body allowed them to still move freely.Īnother issue with mail was the time and cost of making a single piece. The layer of the gambeson added protection but could weigh as much as 22 kilograms. They made them through quilting with various stuffings such as scrap cloth or horsehair. These were called gambesons, which are padded jackets that were made mostly out of wool or linen. To prevent this, the knights wore another layer of protection under the mai.

It could even fracture their bones making them ineffective in combat or cause death. Even if a knight wasnt cut, the energy from blows could cause bruises. However, mail was flexible and thus didnt distribute energy equally. Mail was great at preventing bladed weapons from slicing and piercing through.

These were made of thousands of small metal rings that were linked together to create a net-like layer of metal. This prevented most of the energy from harming or reaching the wearer.Įarly Knight armor in the 13th century consisted mostly of mail. It also prevented weapons and arrows from piercing through and damaging vital organs.Īn armor worked by distributing the energy from an attack across its surface. Two Types of Knight ArmorĪn armors main purpose was to reflect or distribute the power from strikes and blows. With their purpose rooted in combat, it made sense that they would be well-armed and well protected. Knights were warriors that were in the lower class of nobility. To aid them in battle, they wore suits of armor that protected them from arrows, blades, hammers, and other weapons. They were skilled in melee combat as well as fighting on horseback.Ī Knights primary purpose was combat. The knights in their time served as elite warriors, mercenaries, or bodyguards to their lords. The knight armor has become famous and it became the symbol for the Middle Ages. Almost everyone can recognize what a knight looks like. The Knight has become an iconic figure of the medieval ages.

Skyrim medieval knight armor