Shoes & Armour

To discuss research into and about the middle ages.

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Bertus Brokamp
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Shoes & Armour

Post by Bertus Brokamp »

hmmm...
I know that there were sabatons worn over ordinary shoes, but has anyone ever heard of sewing mail to shoes. I saw this pictured once in an osprey graphic (dunno which one etc, sorry) and I would like to know if it is
historically accurate (te be precise for the 1360's) or just an artists imagination. Does anyone have any sources to support mail on shoes?
Thanks!

Bertus
wcallen
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Post by wcallen »

Clarification:

Are you looking for proveable mail on shoes, or are you looking for mail protection for the feet when plate greaves are worn on the legs?

If it is the second, then there is lots of surviving evidence for it in the 15th and 16th centuries. It was often attached to a small pate articulated from the bottom of the greave and the (presumably) tied/laced to the shoes. 16th. cent. ones are actually attached to the bottom of the greave directly as well as to a small plate. I have a 16th c. greave front that was made to have mail directly to its bottom edge. Lots of little holes and a really weeny roll on the edge.

We don't have as much to work from in the 14th c...... Most of what I remember off the top of my head is images of plate sabatons or just shoes - but that is no proof that it was not done.

Wade
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Alcyoneus
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Post by Alcyoneus »

Charles V's c 1520 Tournament Armoor has mail between the greave and the toe-cap. p119

As does his tonlet armor c1525-1530 p 139, both suits are by Kolman Helmschmid.

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