Shields of the Medieval Knight

 

Here is a comprehensive listing of the various types of shields that were used during the medieval period. Many of these were carried by knights but they were not just part of the armament of mounted knights. Some types were used by infantry and ground troops.

 

 

 

Types of Shields

• Buckler - A small round shield often carried by infantry troops.
• Heater Shield - A large shield that first appeared around 1270 AD. It takes its name because it was shaped much like the bottom of a flat iron.
• Kite Shield - This was a large elongated shield that was rounded at the top and came to a point at the bottom. It was very common between the 10th and 13th centuries.
• Parma - round shield used by the Roman Army.
• Renntartsche - A very large shield that covered all of the wielders body. It was made of wood and leather and often reinforced with metal.
• Scutum - A rectanbular and semi-cylindrical body shield carried by Roman legionnaires.
• Targa- Generic word for Shield.

Parts of Shields

• Boss - (also called an Umbo) A round center part of the shield that is reinforced and made for deflecting blows away from the center of the shield. Often made of wood or thick metal. these were mounted on round shields.
• Bouche - a notch cut in the top of a shield to rest a lance in when jousting.
• Enarmes - The straps inside a shield which an arm was passed into in order to carry the shield.

Shields evolved over the centuries as technology and weapons evolved. They got stronger and lighter. One of the most important aspects of a shield was that it was often adorned with the crest of a knights family, order, or of the crest for his lord or king. This shows the Knights Templar Cross.

Medieval Shield Armor Coat of Arms Cross	Medieval Shield Armor Knights Templar Red Cross	Hylian Shield-Full Size Shield

 

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Materials of Shields - Shields were originally made of treated leather. Later they were made of wood and often banded with metal for strength and to protect against hacking weapons.

The Art of Shield Building was always an arms race between the strength of the shield vs its weight.

The Types of Shields

• Buckler: Was round and small
• Scutum: large and rectangular shaped

 

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