The Armour Archive

Was this actually historical?

Its something we see all the time in the SCA. And granted, on the Bayeux Tapestry, many of the men look like thier tunics could be split up the front and back, to about crotch level. Hell, it looks like half of them are wearing on piece flightsuits from shoulder to knee.

Who wore them and when?

There were a number of styles. You see some on 14th century effigies as well as here in the Morgan Bible. (these are just off the top of my head, a little more perusing should reveal more)

http://www.themorgan.org/collections/swf/exhibOnline.asp?id=205

the split "norman style" tunics existed. They're not usually constructed the way sca folks make 'em though.

The ones i've seen are constructed similarly to the boksten tunic; they have had front and side gores put in - and then the front and rear gores were split. Long sleeves only.

so the split style was typically Norman. and the non-split were for saxon and norse.

Manesse Codex, too.

They carry through to the 12th century as well as full skirts. Not just Norman, across Europe.