15c Byzantium armour

Stefan ap Llewelyn · Post by **Stefan ap Llewelyn** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 6:59 am

Hello all,

My girlfriend's brother is just getting into re-enactment and has decided that he would like to play a warrior of 15c Byzantium. The unit begins with a V and was responsible for guarding the emperor. They were called upon for ceremonial duties as well as combat.

I have scoured the web but cannot find a pictures of the tyoe of harness that was worn. From the computer game Medieval: Total War it looks like mail with a kettle hat and coif, kite shield and sabre or axe but I am not sure.

If anyone can help me with this I would be most appreciative!

Stahlgrim · Post by **Stahlgrim** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 7:10 am

Varangian they were made up of scandinavians,russians, normans, and english.

Lance · Post by **Lance** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 8:13 am

Umm....don't use video games as research sources. Use a book.

RandallMoffett · Post by **RandallMoffett** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 8:26 am

Constantinople fell in 1453 so being a Byz guard in the 15th century maybe a fairly limited persona. As for the Varangian guards, what I assume you are speaking fo they were usually much earlier. I am guessing about 100 or 200 hundred years earlier. By 10 century I am sure they were there and I think by 13th century they are still mentioned but in 1204 constantinople was taken by the Crusaders for about 60 years so you may want to check out a book and get some more specifics about them. Video games are terrible sources for persona by the way. Not bad for inspiration but never take anything in it at face value. Example in point in the Age of Empires II expansion, Cannons being used in William the Counquerers time? Its arguable that they were used in the 14th century effectively but the 10th century? NO WAY! Even if you type Varangian in on a google search you will be better off. Good luck have fun, a interesting note is in Haggia Sofia, in constantinople there are names of some of the Varangian guards etched into some banisters, Saw pictures my professor took.
RPM

Thomas of Tadcaster · Mon Jun 07, 2004 12:24 pm

in his chronicle of the 4th crusade Villehardouin wrote that during the breaching of the walls of Constantiople the Crusaders met the 'Englishmen and Danes... with their battle-axes' which is most likely a reference to the Varangian Guard. After the fall, The greek court was moved. So as late as 1204 there are references to the varangian guard.

This site explains every side of the crusader conflict, and has some really inspiring photos of armor from each side.
http://www-personal.une.edu.au/~tdawson ... index.html

Stefan ap Llewelyn · Post by **Stefan ap Llewelyn** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 6:43 pm

Thanks guys!

Egfroth · Post by **Egfroth** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 7:05 am

Welcome to the Varangian world!

If you want to know a bit about the Varangian Guards, look at my page at http://www.geocities.com/egfrothos/Varangians.html - I've assembled a fair bit of info on them, including some stuff on the armour they are likely to have worn., at http://www.angelfire.com/empire/egfroth ... Armour.htm

If you REALLY want o do 15th century Byzntine, you'd be in for a very interesting time. There IS information out there ( a book written about a year ago, the name of which escapes me, but it has an article by Tim Dawson in it), which also has quite bit of stuff on Late Byzantine armour.

In the meantime, there's more stuff on specifically Byzantine armour at http://www.geocities.com/egfroth1/ByzAr ... 6424880530 and http://www.geocities.com/egfrothos/Dovecote.html
but this relates to the 10th -12th centuries in particular.

The Viking graffito is the name "Halfdan". It's scratched on a marble railing, up on the upper floor gallery, on the right as you go in fram the narthex (entry hall). The first time I went to Byzantium, it was a bit hard to find unless you knew where to look. Nowadays, they've darkened the letters and put transparent plastic over it, so it's much easier to locate. I have photos, if I can work out where they are . . .

Honestly, tho', Hagia Sofia is COVERED with graffiti.

RandallMoffett · Post by **RandallMoffett** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 8:32 am

Thats awesome Egfroth. I want to go to the Haggia Sofia someday in person but it is still fun to see pictures. My professor that has the pictures is a history nut and took pictures of things like that as a conversation piece. Nice websites.
RPM

Stefan ap Llewelyn · Post by **Stefan ap Llewelyn** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 7:01 am

AHA!!

That is perfect, thanks muchly!!!

Egfroth · Post by **Egfroth** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 3:59 am

RandallMoffett wrote:Thats awesome Egfroth. I want to go to the Haggia Sofia someday in person but it is still fun to see pictures.

Yes, you really HAVE to go. When it's time to do so, contact me - can put you onto some good things to see.

My professor that has the pictures is a history nut and took pictures of things like that as a conversation piece.

Me too, sort of.

Nice websites.
RPM

Thanks.

Eynar, glad to be of service. You might also like to see my reconstructed armour, to a design by Tim Dawson. See http://www.angelfire.com/empire/egfroth/EgfrothLam3.jpg and http://www.angelfire.com/empire/egfroth/MyLamellar2.jpg and http://www.angelfire.com/empire/egfroth/MyLamellar6.jpg and http://www.angelfire.com/empire/egfroth/MyLamBack1.jpg for the lamellar (angelfire, being a crap host, won't let these links work directly - you have to cut and paste into the adress bar) - and Tim Dawson's site at http://www.levantia.com.au/