The Armour Archive

My persona *was* late 13th century, and over my armour i wore a long, flowing surcoat with my heraldry. I am moving my persona forward to 14th century, around 1320-1340. I fight in a padded gambeson with pointed elbows, gamboised cuisses with pointed knees. I am going to be adding more to it to make it fit, so I need some guidance/advice.

First and for most - what would I wear over my armour to display heraldry? Eventually I intend to have a corrazina with full arms and legs for special tourneys, and with it I would imagine a jupon (even though that is a little outside of the years i mentioned).

I think the long, flowing surcoat is a little early for the time frame, but I need something spiff to wear over my armour if/when I am attending someone in crown list. I want to look good and be as historically accurate as possible.

can anyone help me?




in Service,
Aidan

Depending on when exactly in the early 14th century you are aiming for, you could make a cyclas, which is similar to a surcote. Here's a link to a funeral brass dated 1327ish.
http://www.mbs-brasses.co.uk/pic_lib/St ... _brass.htm

Or a little closer to 1340 would be Sir Hugh Hastings, the number two brass on this page.
http://www.mbs-brasses.co.uk/pic_lib/pi ... mour.htm#2

It also depends on where you armour personna is from. In Sicily, the cyclas hung around a bit longer, at least according the Nicolle's big green book of everything.

Eventually I intend to have a corrazina with full arms and legs for special tourneys, and with it I would imagine a jupon (even though that is a little outside of the years i mentioned).

This would all indeed be outside of the era of 1320-1340. The corrazina dates to the latter parts of the 14th century, and is close-fitting. It would look awkward with an outfit dated earlier in the century. Long surcoats were not out of the question, but it's likely that you'd want a tighter surcoat that did not extend below the knees by the 30's. I'd suggest making a simplistic coat-of-plates to go under it, or considering integrating the surcoat patter into the coat-of-plates, with strips hanging below the plated area.

A pair of finger gauntlets with multiple plates, rather like the Wisby pieces, would be appropriate. A sugarloaf helm or semi-round topped great helm would also look good. A visor would be an option. A cerveilles could be worn below, or alone with a bargrill and aventail.

Gambeson and the likes sound good, as far as your description goes. Steel or cuir bouilli greaves and rerebraces would be an option, or splinted pieces.

Cheers!

-Gregory-

thanks! I knew the corrazina was way outside of what i am shooting for, but i like the look of it so i am doing that as a secondary kit for special occasions only, not as part of my main persona. I fight currently with finger gauntlets and and a sort of sugarloaf with a visor that was made from a bascinet pattern... LOL.. we call it my basiloaf.

i'll have to post a pic sometime.