14th century garb/armour question

Aidan Cambel · Post by **Aidan Cambel** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 11:09 am

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

Fearghus Macildubh · Post by **Fearghus Macildubh** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 12:33 pm

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.

Gerhard von Liebau · Post by **Gerhard von Liebau** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 1:25 pm

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-

Aidan Cambel · Post by **Aidan Cambel** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 5:50 pm

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.