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Sallet Question
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2002 2:49 pm
by anoob
Hi,
Newbie question here
When did the first sallets appear? Were they contemporary with splinted arms and legs?
Thanks!
ANoob
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2002 3:28 pm
by chef de chambre
Hi Anoob,
Sallets first appear toward the end of the first quarter of the 14th century, and seem to have been commonplace by 1440 (a plethora of mentions of them in documents).
No, they are not really contemporary with 'splinted' limb harness, as this seems to have gone out of usage in the 1380's at latest. By the time sallets are commonplace, leather is only mentioned as used as limb armour in specific types of tournament, and are not listed at all amongst armour inventories of harness for war. Although cuirboli reenforced with cord is seen in Rene of Anjou's "Book of the Tournament"(1460's), it is invariably paired with a great bascinet with a specialized grilled exchange visor in the crest tournament (which is a mounted tournament fought with padded wooden maces and rebated swords).
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Bob R.