The Armour Archive

Well, the title pretty much says it all.

Do any of you know of reference material I can find/buy/borrow from the library that would pertain to the development of the stirrup and the development of the "knight"?

Many thanks!

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Ewan of Loch Fynne
Hearthman to Sir Gunther Rorikson.
"In this vocation one should therefore set one's heart and mind on winning honor, which endures forever" - Geoffroi de Charny

Ewan,

I'm not sure you realize it, but you've just stepped into something that folks have gone 'round and 'round in academic circles over. It's way too complicated to go into on a post, but you can start by digging up books and articles by two of the most prominent fellows in the discussion: Lynn White, Jr. and Bernard S. Bachrach.

also, try this article
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/med/sloan.html


[This message has been edited by Glen K (edited 01-23-2004).]

Your topic and question aren't quite the same.

"How did the stirrup contribute to the effectiveness of the mounted warrior?" would be a good question, that can be readily answered.

"How did the effectiveness of the mounted warrior lead to the development of the knight as a social construct" can be derived from the first.

Richard Barber's "The Knight and Chivalry" is pretty good, but I've only just begun it.