The Armour Archive

Besides the conical, what would be some common helm styles in the 9th and 10 centuries ??


Thanks !

This is an interesting question. There's not all that much available pictorially from that period, as far as helmets go, so we're reduced to extrapolating from earlier and later.

Unfortunately, Ikons or portrayals of military saints (one of our best sources for many items of arms and armour) usually show the saints bare-headed, so they're not much help.

I'll have a bit of a look at what I've got on this and see if I can rustle something up.

Note that the late 10th century military manuals suggest light-armed troops wear kamelavkia (felt caps) with turbans over them - presumably if they can't obtain helmets.

I've seen alot of what look like a kettle helm variant around the Crusader period.

So far I've only found one Byzantine helmet pic from the 9th or 10th century, and I'll have to wait a while to scan it.

But basically, it's fairly conical, but rising to a spike or possibly plume holder in the centre.

If I can, I'll post it when I get it scanned.