History of shields. "Scarlet shield

Battle shields of the Slavs!

A battle shield is an ancient military armor that warriors used to protect themselves from cold and thrown weapons. Shields could be made of wood, wicker rods, leather, which were bound with bronze and iron. The shapes of the shields could be round, oval, rectangular, triangular, often with a curved plane.

Despite the fragility of this element, which is part of the defensive weapons complex, it was given enough great importance. Shields assembled and decorated with precious metals and gems were considered very expensive gifts; they were presented to the most noble warriors. Shields were securely attached to the rider’s shell on the back and forearm, leaving the warrior’s hands free to control the horse and operate the weapon. With a slight turn of the shoulder and arm, the warrior could change the position of the shield and cover one or another part of the body from being hit by the enemy’s weapons. Shields with armor covering were worn by noble warriors and warriors-combatants.

Round shields are a universal category of shields that optimally combine the width of the shape and average weight, which makes it possible to quickly reflect blows delivered from any side. Such a shield was additionally reinforced with steel upholstery and a durable umbo - a curved steel plate on which they tried to take a blow and which turned it into a serious barrier not only for piercing, but also for slashing blows. The shield was convex and the weapon slid off it. It had belt loops on the inside: the shield was held by one, and the other was put on the shoulder. However, at the same time, the weight also more than doubled, which required remarkable strength from its owner.

Later they began to use almond-shaped shields that covered almost the entire body from the chin to the knees. Foot soldiers could stick them into the ground and rest a spear on them, creating an insurmountable barrier for the enemy. Then triangular, trapezoidal, rectangular shields appeared, sometimes with a figured cutout for a spear; usually they were gable, fitting well to the body.

Ancient Russian shields and their types

The oldest Russian shield (VIII-XI centuries), round, reaching a quarter of human height, was convenient for parrying blows. In profile, such a shield is oval or funnel-shaped, which enhanced its protective properties.

The round shield was replaced in the 12th century by an almond-shaped one, which protected the rider from the chin to the knees. As the helmet improves, the top of the shield becomes more straightened. In the second quarter of the 13th century, a triangular shield with an inflection appeared, that is, a gable shield pressed tightly against the body. Then there were curved trapezoidal shields. Since the end of the 13th century, complexly figured tarch shields have come into use, covering the rider’s chest during spear rams. In the 14th century, the evolution of defensive weapons led to the appearance of a shield with a lobe groove, which served as a receptacle for the hand and made it easier to maneuver the shield in battle. In Western Europe, such shields, reaching a height of 130 cm, were called “pavezas”.

It is known that shields of various shapes have existed for a long time. For example, along with round ones, trapezoidal shields, etc. could be used. Shields were made of iron, wood, reeds, and leather. The most common were wooden shields. The center of the shield was usually reinforced with a metal top - a “umbon”. The edge of the shield was called the crown, and the space between the crown and the pommel was called the border. The back side of the shield had a lining; the shield was held on the arm with bindings - “columns”. The color of the shield could be very different, but throughout the existence of Russian armor, red was given clear preference.

In the army Kievan Rus(IX-XII centuries) triangular shields were widespread. Not only were Russian knights armed with them, they were also installed on the sides of Russian boats (longships) for protection from enemy arrows and spears. At the same time, on the Kulikovo Field (1380), the Russians also fought with round shields.

Another type of shield was the walk-gorod, a mobile field fortification made of wooden shields with loopholes cut into them, used by Russian troops in the 16th century. They were transported behind the troops in a convoy, which was called a grad-convoy. The shields were moved towards the enemy by archers (gunners) hiding behind them, in the summer - on wheels, in the winter - on runners. When the troops were encamped, various fortifications - walls and towers - were also assembled from the shields of the Gulyai-city; when attacking fortresses, shelters and assault structures were also assembled. The shields were fastened with wooden, iron and rope ties and coated with clay.

Triangular shields can also be found in weapons medieval knights era crusades. In chivalry, shields were integral part noble coats of arms. But there were cases when shields played the role of a serious defensive weapon.

In the cavalry of the Mongol-Tatars of the XII-XIV centuries. Small round shields were common.

"Scarlet shield"

Regardless of the era, Slavic warriors are most often depicted with almond-shaped shields, apparently believing this to be a characteristic national feature of the Russian army. Sometimes you even hear that such a form is primordial and intended for foot combat, while round shields were used, they say, by horsemen.

Round shield with umbo and basic forms of umbos. 9th–10th centuries

Meanwhile, everything is just the opposite. Excavation data indicate that in the 8th-10th centuries, the shields of the Slavs, like those of their neighbors, were round, about a meter in diameter. Layer by layer, removing the earth that covered the ancient burials, scientists find rivets and other metal parts on which particles of decayed leather and wood are still preserved. These details made it possible to establish that the oldest round shields were flat and consisted of several wooden planks (about 1.5 cm thick), connected together, covered with leather and fastened with rivets. Iron shackles were located along the outer surface of the shield, especially along the edge, and a round hole was sawed in the middle, which was covered by a convex metal plaque designed to repel a blow - the “umbon”. Initially, the umbons had a hemispherical shape, but in the 10th century more convenient ones appeared - sphero-conical. Experts attribute their appearance to the spread of similar-shaped helmets.

On the inside of the shield, straps were attached, into which the warrior threaded his hand, as well as a strong wooden strip that served as a handle. There was also a shoulder strap so that a warrior could throw the shield behind his back during a retreat, if necessary, act with two hands, or simply when transporting.

Round shields remained in military use for a long time. In the 11th century, they changed from flat to convex; surviving images of such a shield “in profile” convey its shape as “funnel-shaped” - this is especially noticeable in the drawings of the 13th-14th centuries. In the 11th-12th centuries, round shields were almost completely replaced by almond-shaped ones, but then, having somewhat decreased in size, they returned again.

Warrior with a round shield. From a miniature of the Radziwill Chronicle. 15th century

Almond-shaped shields have been known among our ancestors since the second half of the 10th century. There is an interesting story connected with them that I want to tell. Scientists, and not only them, have long known the famous “Bayeux carpet”, or rather, embroidery created in the 11th century and telling about the conquest of England by the Normans in 1066. “Normans” in this case are the inhabitants of the Duchy of Normandy, located in northern France. This duchy received its name after Scandinavian Vikings (“Normans” - “northern people”) settled there at the beginning of the 10th century and won a number of victories over the troops of the French kings. Naturally, the Scandinavians never made up the majority of the population in Normandy. Scientists write that the army of Duke William (the future Conqueror), which went to England in 1066, was a completely ordinary knightly army of the Western European model, and not at all a Viking squad. Nevertheless, until relatively recently, the state of archaeological science in our country and abroad was such that the Bayeux carpet was proclaimed almost a classic “Viking encyclopedia.” And although science has come a long way since then, not everyone is a master visual arts take into account her arguments. This is where in some paintings - even those by famous artists - ships with sails turned out in an impossible way appear, as well as “Vikings” with weapons, shields and helmets that they had no trace of.

1. Norman foot soldier and Duke William the Conqueror. From a carpet from Bayeux. End of the 11th century. 2. Norman shield, with a black and red design on a yellowish-white background. Based on a miniature from the Bible of St. Martial of Limoges. Early 12th century

So, on the carpet from Bayeux there are numerous images of almond-shaped shields. Is it any wonder that they were immediately dubbed “Norman”? As has been said more than once, Normanism dominated in Russian science of the 19th century - the hypothesis according to which the “Varangians” of our chronicles were Scandinavian Vikings and allegedly brought civilization and culture to our ancestors. Accordingly, the shields began to be called “Varangian”...

1. Warriors. From a miniature of the Radziwill Chronicle. XV century. 2. Pan-European forms of shields. XI–XIV centuries

Modern research has shown that this point of view is very far from reality. The Scandinavian Vikings, like the Slavs, until the end of the 10th century, preferred round shields with a hemispherical umbo. Spheroconic umbons found in Viking burials of the 10th-11th centuries are, by the way, considered by Scandinavian scientists to be eastern, probably brought from Russian lands. So the influence was mutual.

The inner side of the round shield and its side view. XII–XIII centuries

Almond-shaped shields were invented in Western Europe. Around the year 1000 they spread throughout Europe, not excluding the Slavic lands. This happened in connection with the strengthening of the role of equestrian combat and the formation of cavalry as the main type of army of the Middle Ages. The almond-shaped shield covered the rider from shoulder to knee and was more comfortable for him than the round one. The Vikings, to whom the almond-shaped shield was so stubbornly attributed, did not recognize mounted combat.

Nowadays, the almond-shaped shield is called pan-European, which is much more fair. Our warriors of the 11th – early 13th centuries skillfully used it, and shield masters made them in abundance. The height of such a shield was from a third to a half of human height, and not shoulder-length, as for some reason it is usually depicted in drawings. The shields were flat or slightly curved along the longitudinal axis, the ratio of height and width was two to one. They made almond-shaped shields, like round ones, from leather and wood, and equipped them with braces and a umbo. In the 12th century, according to the observations of scientists, with the advent of a more reliable helmet and long, knee-length chain mail, the almond-shaped shield decreased in size, lost its umbon and, possibly, other metal parts.

But around the same time, the shield acquired not only military, but also heraldic significance. It was on shields of this form that many knightly coats of arms appeared. Images of Russian shields from the 12th century have been preserved: emblems and symbols of princely families can be seen on them. Holy warriors were depicted with shields on which crosses were inscribed.

The warrior’s desire to paint and decorate his shield appeared, of course, long before the 12th century. It is easy to guess that the most ancient drawings on shields served as amulets and were supposed to ward off a dangerous blow from a warrior. What the Slavs of the 8th-10th centuries drew on their shields, unfortunately, is not known for certain. Their contemporaries, the Vikings, painted all kinds of sacred symbols, images of Gods and heroes on their shields, often forming entire genre scenes. They even had a special kind of poem - “shield drapery”: having received a painted shield as a gift from the leader, a person had to describe in verse everything that was depicted on it.

Almond-shaped shield and its side view. XI – early XIII century

The background of the shield was painted in a wide variety of colors. It is known that the Slavs preferred red. Literary monuments talk about “scarlet shields” that turned red “like the dawn.” Where does this passion come from? Let's try to figure it out.

Mythological thinking has long associated the “alarming” red color with blood, struggle, physical violence, conception, birth and death. Red, like white, was considered a sign of mourning among Russians back in the 19th century (see chapter “Wedding”). And if we use ethnographic data, it turns out that among a variety of tribes, red was part of the “main” color triad (white, red, black). What did this triad mean? No more no less – Past, Present and Future. Indeed: the wise gray hairs of the Past, the living blood of the Present, the impenetrable mystery of the Future. A separate book could be devoted to a discussion of the mythological meaning of the color red in general and blood in particular. We have already touched on this topic in the section on pagan faith, in the chapter “Star Bridge”. Here we will only mention that the warriors different nations there was a custom before a battle to paint shields... with one’s own blood. Blood, voluntarily shed by a person, was considered a powerful medicine for the sick, as well as a talisman capable of warding off the enemy’s weapons. Unfortunately, we do not have direct evidence, but everything that we know about the mythological thinking of the ancient Slavs allows us to most likely assume that a similar custom could exist among us.

IN Ancient Rus' The shield was a prestigious item of equipment for a professional warrior. Sources of the 11th-13th centuries mention it in third place, immediately after the sword and spear. Let us remember that, according to some versions of the pagan understanding of the structure of the Universe, the Sun itself was a fiery golden sparkling shield (see the chapter “Dazhdbog Svarozhich”). And what is the meaning of the expression “holding a shield” (against someone)! “To take on a shield” meant “to seize, to take with an armed hand.” Our ancestors swore by shields, sealing international agreements; the dignity of the shield was protected by law - anyone who dared to damage, “break” the shield or steal it had to pay a hefty fine. The loss of shields - they were known to be thrown to facilitate escape - was synonymous with complete defeat in battle. It is no coincidence that the shield, as one of the symbols of military honor, also became a symbol of the victorious state: take, for example, the legend about Prince Oleg, who hoisted his shield on the gates of the “bowed” Constantinople!

A horseman in a scaly shell with an almond-shaped shield

In conclusion, let’s say a few more words about the materials from which the shields were made. This is mainly wood and leather; metal parts were not always present. Sometimes they write that compared to metal shields, such shields are “primitive.” Is this always fair? Scientists decided to conduct an experiment. In this case, however, we are not talking about the ancient Slavs, but about the Bronze Age, but nevertheless the result is interesting. In the hands of the experimenter, a sword made according to an ancient model, with the very first blow, cut a bronze shield 3 mm thick in half. But after fifteen strong blows, only minor scratches appeared on the leather shield! Of course - after all, the leather for the shield was taken from the shoulder parts of the bull's carcass, where it is thickest, and boiled for some time in melted wax. This treatment gave it excellent hardness and even water-repellent properties. The shield turned out to be light, and it did not get wet either in the rain or when crossing the river. Is there any doubt that the famous shield masters, of whom, according to the chronicle, there was a whole street in Novgorod at the beginning of the 13th century, were fully proficient in such skill!

Soft armor (German: Der Steppwams) known as Gambesons or Aketons is armor made of soft organic materials (fabric or leather). The question of the existence of such armor in the early Middle Ages is debatable. Entries in the chronicles:

"When in the year 926 news came of the approach of the Hungarians in the monastery of St. Gallen, the abbot showed leadership skills: He built barricades simulating weapons and shields. He then put on the kukulle dress under his armor and ordered his brothers to do the same. Because it was made of thick, durable wool."(10)
In the saga of Olaf the Saint there is a mention of leather shirts used at the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030, “Now we must tell what was happening in Norway at that time. Thorir the Dog went to Finnmörk for two winters. He spent these winters in the mountains, a lot traded with the Finns and made a big profit. He ordered twelve shirts to be made from reindeer skins. These shirts were enchanted, so that no weapon could take them. They were even better than chain mail." (12).
"In addition to iron armor, which could consist of leather (...), or horn and other materials alternative to iron, there were clothes made of felt or soft, quilted fabric, which also served as armor. (...) Maybe The Bambakion was nothing more than a thick garment like a blanket, which was exposed (...) It was knee-length. With short wide sleeves, stuffed with cotton and silk as the outer material. "(1. ).

This is evident from Tactica (about 900) and other Byzantine works devoted to the art of war. In addition, there are recommendations for a thickness of 4 cm of cotton. But these works deserve separate consideration and, moreover, they are Byzantine and therefore unnecessary for the rest of Europe.

Further arguments in favor of the existence of soft armor in 11-in are purely practical considerations. Chain mail was very expensive compared to Gambeson. A warrior who couldn't afford chain mail was probably still trying to protect himself. Even with chain mail, soft armor makes sense. This reduces wear and absorbs the force of blows, while chain mail offers little or no impact cushioning.

(F), Romanesque Cathedral of Cluny III, Burgundy, France
Left: Fragment of decoration of the main portal (1115-1125)
Right: Detail of the capital of the Humanities presentation, depicting Rhetoric. (Late 11th/early 12th century) (23)

In the sculpture in Fig. F of the left knight it is clearly visible that the sleeves of ordinary clothing are folded into folds that are visible from under the armor. Squares could represent quilted armor or chain mail. But in Figure I7 I show two knights, one has an open front flap which is clearly chain mail, and the other has a closed front flap depicted in squares.

Shields 11 in the first half of the 12th century

In the 11th century, three types of shield shapes were popular: the round shield, the almond shield, and the oval shield.

(N2). Red-green-lilac almond-shaped shield. From the Bible of the Benedictine monastery of Saint-Vaast, near Arras. (MS 435, Bibliothèque Municipale, Arras) MS 435, Bibliothèque Municipale, Arras, first half of the 11th century.

Round shield already many centuries ago and was known in the 12th century, widely used in the 11th century. See E, I1, Q2, Q3, U. This shield consisted of separate wooden boards and had a central cutout where an iron umbon was placed.

(D) round shields on the Bayeux Tapestry.

(G3) Gokstadschild Shield.

The so-called “Goksta Shield” (Norway, around 900) is quite well known, but there are many other sources for similar shields: well-preserved shields and fragments, illustrations, sculptures, references in literature).

Their sizes vary greatly, from as little as 42cm to over 1m. Most measure from 75 to 95cm. The thickness of most is from 5-10mm, the thickness decreases more and more towards the edge. Many shields were probably simple unpainted wooden covers. However, there is also evidence that they were covered with leather and then painted. Pasting with fabric, and covering with primer and paint, characteristic of the 13-14th century, has not been recorded for the period of interest to us. The most common iron piece was the Umbon - a round curved plaque above the hole in the center of the shield, which should accommodate a warrior's fist. Some shields were bound at the edges with specially U-shaped curved iron plates. In addition, additional reinforcement along the edges with a separate piece of thick leather is also possible.

Asgard Association Library;

And an article from the Zeighaus magazine posted on this site.

Round shields can be curved, not only flat; there are several pictorial sources for this, and the shape of some Umbons suggests this. Curved shields are likely stronger and more effective in combat, which is why they often don't have emblems in images.

Oval shield appears from time to time in illustrations and sculpture, and there is fortunately an archaeological find of a shield of this type.

(EE) Oval shield from Trondheim, Norway, end 11 - beginning. 12th century.
Right: (D) Bayeux Tapestry.

The shield found in Trondheim has the following characteristics: height 100 cm, width 50 cm, thickness 1.0 cm. Two layers of wood laid perpendicular to each other. Slightly curved, but not bent! Probably oak or similar dense wood. There is no handle, the presence of a belt is assumed (see "almond-shaped shield"). It was completely covered with rawhide, sewn along the edges with an overlap of 1 cm. The distance between the holes and the diameter of the holes was 1 mm. (24)

Similar shields are shown on a holy water vessel in Aachen Cathedral (L), dated around 1000. In addition, on the Bayeux Tapestry, an oval shield is also found. But that oval shield with Umbo.

Almond-shaped shield appears in Northwestern Europe in the second quarter of the 11th century. It enjoyed the greatest popularity in the 2nd half of the 11th century, and throughout the entire 12th century. It is also known as the Norman Shield, Kite Shield, Dragon Shield, and Kite Shield in related literature. It has been known in Byzantium since the end of the 10th century. Some authors also put forward the thesis that Byzantium influenced Western Europe in the late 10th and early 11th centuries in matters of war. This is interesting from the point of view of external protection (see below). An influence in the opposite direction occurs about 100 years after the First Crusade. (1)

A typical shield on the Bayeux Tapestry is an oblong shield that tapers to a lower point with a rounded top. Look at the various photographs in this text. It can be pointed at the bottom (Q4, M, J) or rounded (Q5, D4). Its shape varies from the flat leaf shown in (W2, I4) to the convex, ovoid shape (Q5, w3, Y). There is more than one pictorial source for these shields.

(D) shields on the Bayeux Tapestry

The original shield in Fig. Y is the oldest surviving heraldic shield. Whether this shield is a cut almond-shaped shield, or whether it was made in this form in 1200 is a controversial issue. In any case, with a little imagination we can "restore" its "original" form. The surviving original size: 87 cm in height, and the reconstructed one is about 109 cm. It is covered on both sides with parchment, painted and also has gold leaf patterns. The width of its lower edge is 20 cm, and the upper edge is 67 cm. The thickness is about 1.5 cm (19). Unambiguous statements about the height and width of the shields are impossible. Detailed illustrations and descriptions of this would take up too much space. But this shield still does not reach dimensions comparable to the shields on pictorial sources. Very often shields are depicted covering the warrior almost completely

Two shields are known from the Spanish monastery of San Salvador de Ona, which were probably made around 1500. Since, it is likely that these are two copies of ancient shields 11 and 12. Therefore, they should be of interest to us. One shield has a height of 114 cm and a width of 61 cm, and a thickness of 1.5 cm. The second one is 59cm wide and the height cannot be determined due to corruption. (19). A small base plate with an ornament was discovered in southern Germany and Switzerland from the 11th or 12th century, about 1.3 cm thick from the screen. For comparison: even manuscripts describe shields of that era: height from 100 cm and 135 cm, width 60 cm (19). Presumably the almond-shaped shields were flat (see D4), curved (various samples) and with a hump (see P3, W3, E2). The first pictorial sources that clearly show curved shields are known from the 12th century. That is, the shields of the 11th century are flat or almost flat with a rounded upper edge (such are found throughout the 11th-12th centuries). Looking at the sources, including later shields with a straight top edge, we notice that the later the date, the more curved the shield is (11th-12th centuries). For the mid-11th century, we must assume a shield with the weakest curve.

Sometimes an Umbon was placed on the almond-shaped shield. It was necessary to repel spear blows. That is, if an umbo was usually placed on a round shield, an umbo was rarely placed on an almond-shaped shield. We know these small hills as the finds of Altenberg Castle (Fuelingsdorf, canton of Basel-Länder, Switzerland), Baldstein Castle (Hammertingen, Baden-Württemberg), Haus Meer Castle (7) and numerous representations of the Bayeux Tapestry (see especially the drawings from the series D). The iron protrusion appears to be on a plate with straight edges, and the edges can also be decorated with cutouts and holes. The projections were hemispherical (P4, I4, L) or tapering (W2, V, F). They were made of iron, rarely bronze, and were chained. There are also umbons without protrusion.

There were belts that allow you to carry the shield by hanging it on your shoulders and neck (I5, J, K). The handles for the hand and forearm were arranged either in a square (D5) or in two intersecting pairs (I5). They were nailed directly to the boards of the shield or attached to rings movably mounted on plates (I6), respectively, nails with wide flat heads or with a narrow head in which there was a through cutout for the ring were used. There are several visual sources to reinforce the material:

(D4) Here the boards are used as a tabletop; such use is only possible with almost flat boards.

(Q4) Apocalypse of Saint Sever, dated between 1028 and 1072

(Q5) Life of Saint Aubin (Leben des St. Aubin, Kloster von St. Aubin in Angers), monastery of Saint Aubin in Angers (National Library MS Nouv.acq.lat.1390 F7R), around 1100. Almond and oval shields with umbons and rounded at the bottom.

(I6) Great Seal of King Henry I (Great Seal von König Henry I), 1100-1135. The rings for attaching the belts are clearly visible.

(W2) Almond-shaped shields, Rotunda of St. Catherine, Znojmo, Czech Republic (Znaim, St. Kateriny-Rotunde), fresco 1134. Interestingly, shields are depicted from different types and from different angles.

(P3) relief element, Zurich, ministry building (Großmünster), first half of the 12th century. Humpbacked shields, without umbons, with a clearly defined edging of the edges.

(W3) bronze door of the south portal of the Gniezno Cathedral (Südportals des Gnesener Doms), 1170-1190. The shields are small, without edge reinforcement; on one shield the umbon is barely visible.

Plate armor

In the first third of the 11th century during the civil war in Normandy between Robert, Count of Hemois and his brother Richard III, Duke of Normandy. Many of the battles of this war took place in other lands and countries, particularly in southern Italy (14). This and some other episodes indicate contacts between Western Europe and Byzantine territories. Therefore, plate armor was probably known to chivalry. Tanks have been found in the fins of Scandinavia, including at Birka (15). Scale armor was used by the horsemen of Charlemagne's Skola. Several lamellar hulls were found during excavations at the site of the Battle of Viby. But we have very little evidence of the use of plate armor in 11th century Christian Europe (Spain was under Muslim control and the armor and weapons there were slightly different). Scale and lamellar armor appear in pictorial sources of the 12th century, after the First Crusade, when chivalry was already very familiar with the weapons and armor of the Saracens and Byzantines, but even then they were rarely used.

(Z1) Bas-relief from the 12th century. "David and Goliath." Abbey Church St. Gilles. France. In addition to the interestingly placed straps of the almond-shaped shield, the scaly armor of Goliath attracts attention.

More photos

(U), Saint Peter's Cathedral in Angouleme, Poitou, France. Eastern façade. 1108-1125. The horseman carries a sword directly under the chain mail. Only the handle is visible. It is noteworthy that the helmets can be interpreted as riveted from several parts. But the armor of these horsemen can also be interpreted as scaly, and their helmets are painted with stripes.

(F) fragment of the lintel of the façade of Cluny Cathedral. It was made at the same time as the Romanesque Cathedral of Cluny, Burgundy, France (1115-1125) (23). Today it is housed in the Museum of Archeology and Art in Cluny.

(V) Stave church in Hylestad (Stabkirche in Hylestad), about 70 km north of Bergen, Norway. Wood carving at the entrance, 12th century. It is curious that the warrior does not have chain mail, but he has a sword, a helmet and a shield, and it seems like quilted armor is peeking out from under the tunic. The aventail on the helmet covers only the back of the head. There is an opinion that the neck is also protected by a leather Gorget, but in my opinion it is just a bare neck.

(I4) Detail of the Tabernacle (Temple Pyx) (c. 1140-1150) Gilded bronze. Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow. Knights are depicted wearing long chain mail and long sleeves, but still without chain mail gauntlets. Also interesting are the humpbacked almond-shaped shields with umbons and edging around the edges

(D3) again the Bayeux Tapestry. The process of loading weapons and equipment is depicted here. Whether chain mail or quilts are carried on the rocker arms has long been a cause for heated debate. But scientists generally agreed that these were chain mail. Also depicted are helmets, swords, spears, and a two-handed axe, a barrel plugged with a cork.

(E2) Vézelay Abbey Cathedral (Kathedrale von Vezelay), Burgcandy, France, 1120. Humpbacked almond-shaped shield with a decorative umbon, the border edging is clearly highlighted.

(Z) Another illustration from Apocalypsis Beati Liebanensis (Codex Urgellensis) aus dem Museo Diocesa de La Seu D'Urgell, Spain 980. Quilted robes may be shown here, but this is Spain. The Spanish Moors and the local population subordinate to them even shoot differently from bows.

(BB) Mail patch from the Lednice Lake region of Gniezno in the province of Poznan in Poland. Perhaps a part of the aventail from the helmet found there, but this is not certain.

conclusions

The first conclusion is simple:

The knight of the 11th first half of the 12th century was dressed in chain mail with sleeves up to the elbows, and the lower skirts of the chain mail were knee-length. The head was protected by a helmet made of riveted segments or solid forged. In the vast majority of cases, the helmet was equipped with a nosepiece. Under the helmet there was a chainmail hood; what the chainmail hood was worn on is not yet known, but thick liners are not expected. He wore chain mail over a woolen and/or leather tunic. There is no convincing data on soft-filled quilted protection. At the beginning of the period considered here, only some knights had chain mail stockings and long-sleeved chain mail, but gradually towards the end of this period such equipment became common among the majority of knights. There is no chainmail or any other noticeable protection of the hand. It was not until the 12th century that some began to develop scales and lamellae.

The main means of defense was an almond-shaped shield.

The main weapon was a spear, the length of which was about 3 meters, and a sword of the A family, link

Also, by the middle of the 12th century, some knights had helmet forms: Phrygian cap and Skullcap.

Second conclusion:

Bracers and leggings, if used at all, were used only in isolated cases.

Literature

(1) Byzantinische Waffen, Taxiarchis G. Kolias, Verlag der östereichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien 1988, ISBN 3-7001-1471-0
(2) Catalog of Scandinavian Mail, Sonia A. O"Connor, The Archeology of York, Volume 17: The Small Finds, York Archaeological Trust for Excavations and Research 1992.
(3) Letter form Irmelin Martins, Senior Curator, Universitets Oldsaksamling in Oslo, Norway, 16/11/94
(4) Europas Mitte um 1000, Ausstellungskatalog, Konrad Theiss Verlag Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-8062-1545-6
(5) Osprey Campaign Series 13 (Hastings 1066)
(6) Bayern Ungarn 1000 Jahre, Katalog zur Bayerischen Landesausstellung 2001, Haus der Bayerischen Geschichte, ISBN 3-927233-78-1
(7) Das Reich der Salier 1024-1125, Katalog zur Ausstellung des Landes Rheinland-Pfalz, Jan Thorbecke Verlag Sigmaringen 1992, ISBN 3-7995-4140-3
(8) The Construction and Metallurgy of Mail Armor in the Wallace Collection by David Edge B.A., Dip. Cons. (Curator of Arms and Armor)
(9) Otto der Große, Magdeburg und Europa", Katalog Bd II, Verlag Philipp v. Zabern, 2001
(10) Ekkehardi IV (Kap 51): Casus Sancti Galli. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 1980 (Ausgewählte Quellen zur Deutschen Geschichte des Mittelalters) (Freiherr vom Stein-Gedächtnisausgabe 10)
(11) Wargames ResearchGroup Publication, 2nd edition, 1980
(12) Osprey Warrior Series 3 (Viking Hersir)
(13) Ritter und Söldner im Mittelalter von Garry Embleton, VS-Books, ISBN 3-932077-06-7
(14) Wilhelm der Eroberer, David C. Douglas, ISBN 3-424-01228-9
(15) Steppe nomadic armor from Birka, Niklas Stjerna, Fornvännen 99 (2004). Stockholm.
(16) Armor from the Battle of Wisby 1361, von Bengt Thordeman, ISBN 1-8914-4805-6
(17) Ring weave, A metallographical analysis of ring mail material at the Oldsaksamlingen in Oslo, Vegard Vike, Oslo 2000
(18) Rüstkammer, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Deutscher Kunstverlag 2004, ISBN 3-422-06417-6
(19) Der Mittelalterliche Reiterschild, Jan Kohlmorgen 2002, ISBN 3-935616-10-4
(20) Ring Mail, Breaking the Chain, Russell Scott, The Vikings 1997
(21) Illerup Adal: Archeology as a Magic Mirror, Ilkjaer, Moesgard 2002, ISBN 8787334372
(22) Otto der Große - Magdeburg und Europa, Katalog, Philipp von Zabern 2001, ISBN 3-8053-2616-5
(23) Führer durch das Museum für Archäologie und Kunst in Cluny, Ville de Cluny 1998, ISBN 29512780-0-4
(24) Medelelser Nr. 20, Eine Funktions- und Aktivitätsanalyse basierend auf Gegendstandsmaterial, Saebjorg Walaker Nordeide, Trondheim 1989; sowie weitere Angaben der zuständigen Professorin, des Archivars und das Grabungsleiters (Grabung 1975)

My translation from, amendments and corrections will be

The first thing you need to know about a shield is that a shield is a weapon. Not an element of protective equipment, like a helmet or a knee pad, no - this is precisely a weapon that needs to be actively used. Yes, in most cases, his tasks are to substitute for a blow, or to attack directly the enemy weapon, and not to strike the enemy’s body. But, nevertheless, the shield must be perceived as an actively used object, and not just as something that protects against missed blows.

Types of shields

Shields are different, but now we will focus on the three most common groups in fencing: small, medium and large.

Small shield, also known as the fist shield or buckler, is historically the youngest of the shields. It appeared when the function of protection against arrows was no longer relevant due to the use of firearms, from which a shield of sane mass could not save in any way. A small disk, the size of a saucepan lid, with a crossbar for gripping and a umbo (a dome-shaped recess on the inside and a protrusion on the front side for placing a fist inside it) may seem like something frivolous in comparison with its older and larger relatives, but it is not should be underestimated. Yes, it doesn’t save you from arrows, and generally doesn’t provide passive protection, but with the right skill it’s an excellent thing.

It is also worth remembering about tarch - a type of small shields that is less popular in modern times. These are flat (without a umbon) shields of various (often round or rectangular) shapes, equipped with an additional belt for fixing the forearm at the elbow. In this case, the brush is located closer to the right (from the side of the shield) edge, there is a handle or a belt loop for it.

Medium shield- Perhaps the most common option. Its shape can be almost any: circle, trapezoid, triangle with rounded sides, and so on. Most of the medium shields are worn as tarch, that is, with an elbow mount. There are also medium shields with a umbo and a central wrist position, similar to a buckler - these are most often round and lighter specimens. The average shield already provides passive protection and weighs relatively little. Although “a little” is an elastic concept, it’s very difficult when you’re not used to it. Another drawback is that it does not cover your legs.

Big shield- This is, most often, a droplet shield, essentially similar to a medium shield with an additional loop, but more elongated vertically, already covering the legs. There is only one drawback: it’s as heavy as I don’t know what. The advantages are obvious: attacking an enemy protected by such a shield is very problematic. In addition to droplets, there are even more massive trapezoidal or even rectangular “armored doors”, in which both the advantages and disadvantages of the droplet are expressed even more clearly.

Offensive with different shields

How to defend yourself with a shield is more or less clear, although we’ll talk about that too. The main weakness of the shield carrier is the relatively short comfortable working distance coupled with low mobility due to the increased weight of the equipment. Buckler does not have this weakness, but he has his own difficulties. The offensive options typical for each shield can be applied to a limited extent with other types of shields, it all depends on the specific circumstances.

Big shield

With a large shield, everything is quite simple: you need to hide behind it. The main thing is to realize which areas are completely closed and which are still vulnerable. We calmly accept the hail of blows, prepare and respond, reducing the distance with a powerful jerk at the right moment. It is inconvenient to hit with a large shield, so it is better to use it with the following diagram offensive:

We bring our left hand with the shield forward. The left leg is in front, the bottom of the shield covers the shin.
We take blows to the shield, maneuver, preventing the enemy from entering from the side.
We step forward with our right foot, pulling our body under the shield, and bend our left arm. At the same time, we deliver a powerful blow, most often from the top right, although variations are possible.

Medium shield

Compared to the large one, the medium one protects the legs less well, so you can’t feel very strong - you have to react to downward clicks and notice feints with changes in height. The main method of attack, characteristic of a medium shield with an elbow mount, is a shield repulse.

The starting position is standard for a shield: the left arm is extended and the left leg is extended.
If necessary, we make a swing, slightly pulling the left fist towards us, that is, the elbow is pointed forward.
We lean forward with our body, take a step with our right foot, and straighten our left arm at the elbow, as if opening the door wide open. Working surface In this case, the shield must come into powerful contact with at least the enemy’s weapon, and at maximum with his hands and even his body, if the protective equipment allows such gestures. At the same time, we strike at the resulting hole in the defense.

If your average shield is mounted not on the elbow, but on the fist, then there are much more attacking opportunities. However, such shields are less able to withstand a really powerful blow, plus they are more demanding on the strength of the left hand.

The arm is extended straight forward, slightly bent. The shield is held almost like a buckler, with the fist positioned with the little finger towards the ground.
The wrist bends to the right, the left edge of the shield goes forward. At the same time, we group ourselves and slightly move our hand towards ourselves so that the shield does not hit the enemy’s weapon ahead of time.
We place the plane of the shield to the right of the enemy’s weapon, so that his weapon threatens to hit directly into the hand holding the shield. This technique must be done very quickly because of this vulnerable moment.
The wrist bends to the left, the shield catches the enemy's weapon and takes him to the side. Let's ungroup. Optionally - a blow with the right edge of the shield directly at the enemy, otherwise we just attack with a weapon.

An alternative attack option with a medium elbow shield, suitable for cases when you have an advantage in physical strength and, preferably, mass, and if the enemy is also taller than you, then it’s generally great. Equipment for gnomes and ogres.

Crouch down and cover yourself with a shield in front and above to repel an almost inevitable blow.
Immediately after the enemy hits the shield, rush forward, making contact with his body with the edge of the shield.
Get up, lifting and throwing the enemy with your shield. At the same time, attack him in the leg.

This method of attack cannot be used without protective equipment.

Small shield

The buckler is usually held in one of two ways. The first is similar to the average shield, but on a more extended arm, simply putting it forward. The second - like a small tarch, they cover the hand of an armed hand. This is a very convenient aid for working with a bastard sword: your hands are completely protected, you can safely deliver a hail of blows from different sides, leaving your hands in the center. At the same time, you can always open up and hit what you need with your buckler, as if it were simply placed in front.

An attack with a buckler does not feel like an attack with larger shields; it is impossible for them to specifically disable the enemy’s weapon. Here you have to combine a quick sequence of strikes with the buckler and your weapon on the enemy's weapon and on his body.

We hit the enemy's sword with the buckler. The sword is deflected, but quickly returns and is launched into a counterattack.
We block the attack with our own sword.
We hit the buckler in the hilt area, once again deflecting the enemy’s sword. At the same time, we attack with our own sword.

Or vice versa:

We knock down the enemy's sword with our own weapon.
Either we hit the enemy in the body with a buckler, or we add it to the enemy’s weapon.
We finish off the enemy with our weapon while he is trying to recover from a blow with a buckler or return his own sword.

Countering the Shieldman

I remember my first experience of fencing against a short, more experienced opponent than me (a green beginner at that time) with a drop shield, despite the fact that I was armed with something like one and a half and that’s all. It was sad.

General principles

At first glance, everything is obvious: you need to hit a part of the enemy’s body that is not protected by a shield. And, if we are talking about a buckler, then it is really not difficult, especially if you have something like a long light sword. But when the enemy is hiding behind a round Viking shield or, even worse, behind a droplet, then after several attempts to break through it, it seems that he is completely invulnerable. This is wrong. Next we will talk specifically about medium and large shields, because a buckler in this sense is not very different from a dagger, the counteraction to it is quite obvious.

The main vulnerability of the shield fighter is the combination of the large mass of the shield and its dimensions, which limit visibility. The shield guy sees worse, but real speed substituting a shield for an attack most often lags somewhat behind what is desired, although this, of course, is a matter of preparation. The easiest way to break through a shield warrior is known to every shield warrior, so in its pure form it does not work very well.

We deliver a blow to the head with a feint, that is, we can actually hit without calculation and readily use the enemy’s defense to accelerate the next blow.
The enemy is forced to raise his shield and temporarily lose visual control of your weapon.
We immediately strike downwards in an arc, under the shield, in the area of the thigh of the left leg, or wherever necessary.

I repeat: this trick is known to everyone, so any adequate shield fighter, after defending against a blow to the head, firstly, protects the leg, and, secondly, goes on a counterattack. You need to deal with the counterattack as the action progresses: if you also have a shield, then use it, if not, then dodge. If you see that the opponent really protects his leg after a blow to the head (you can try it once, in case he forgets), then use this as manipulation. When you know that after hitting the head the shield will go down, you don’t need to hit down.

We deliver the same blow to the head with a feint.
The enemy defends himself with a shield, then lowers it down and attacks you with a sword.
Immediately punch him in the head again, or hit him diagonally from the top left, from the side of his armed hand. Don't forget to protect yourself from counterattacks.

Master the essence of this manipulation: feint - moving the shield to protect against a feint, moving the shield to protect from an expected attack - an unexpected attack. The directions of action themselves can be anything.

Various weapons against shield

The general principles are general because they are suitable for everything, although in general it is assumed that you also have a shield and a one-handed weapon. But this is not at all necessary.

Katana

The Japanese sword is not very well suited for fighting shield warriors, because shields were not used in Japan. The main trump card you have in this situation is the speed of your weapon. A light Japanese sword, held in two hands, can be where it is needed faster than an enemy armed with a heavy shield and a weapon, albeit light, but held in one hand, will react.

Constantly maneuver, try to attack not on the shield, but on the weapon. If you manage to get around your opponent, then good. If he turns around, then wait and just walk in an arc on the left side right at the moment of attack. Try to provoke the enemy to defend with a sword, not a shield. Feel free to go into close combat: you have less bulky equipment. If you manage to get past the shield and at least briefly open the enemy by moving his sword to the side, then there should be enough time to attack.

Epee, rapier

Later European dueling weapons are tactically almost equivalent to the katana in a counter-shield situation: it is a fairly light weapon that just needs to hit. There are a lot of feints, working at a distance - and here lies the only difference: do not go into close combat. Keep cool and wear down your opponent. If you move faster than him, then you will most likely win.

Saber, broadsword

Heavier one-handed blades take away your speed advantage. The saber should be attacked from various directions, forcing the shieldman to frantically defend himself, and sooner or later open up. The broadsword, with all my love for it, is quite inconvenient against a shield, since its main trump card - control of the center - is completely nullified by the shield blocking the center. Use saber technique and add injections from different sides and directions.

Spear, naginata

Long and light polearms have few problems - few can easily go with an ax against a naginata or a katana against a spear. But with a shield - why not. In general, the principles are quite obvious to everyone who has worked with a polearm: no close combat, keep your distance, don’t let the shieldman block and move your weapon to the side, followed by a jump in distance. Lots of attacks to the legs, lots of head-to-leg feints.

Axe

The ax - both one-handed and two-handed - is one of the the best means fighting shields. There is one point that is practically not taken into account in fencing with training weapons. Shields are usually made of wood. What are axes used for? That's right, for cutting wood. That is, after several good hits with an ax on the shield, the latter becomes unusable. The main thing is that your ax does not get stuck in the half-broken shield, leaving you vulnerable to a sword attack.

But that's okay, I'm not suggesting breaking equipment in every sparring. Your ax is most likely safe for your partner and his shield, so it’s for the best. The remaining main trump card of the ax is its beard, the lower part of the piece of iron, with which you can perfectly cling to the enemy’s shield and move it to the side, and then hit it when you see fit.

A shield is an ancient military armor that warriors used to protect themselves from bladed and thrown weapons. Most shields were usually made of wood, rods and leather, bound with bronze and iron. The shape of the shields could be round, oval, rectangular, triangular, often with a curved plane.

During excavations of a series of Scythian burials, the remains of shields with a metal coating were discovered. Despite the fragility of this element, which is part of the defensive weapons complex, it was given quite a lot of importance. Shields collected and decorated with precious metals and gems were considered very expensive gifts; they were presented to the most noble warriors.

As we will see below, the main material for the production of shields was:
- Wood covered with leather;
- Sometimes bronze plates were used;
- Early shields used metal umbos and metal strips to reinforce the shield and nails.
- a thin chalk primer was applied on top, onto which emblems with inscriptions were applied using tempera paint.
Occasionally, metal shields were encountered.
As V. Beheim points out, the first shields of medieval society, for example, among the Germans, were very simple. In general, they were similar to the shields used in the Roman legions, but with a quadrangular shape they were less curved. Made from willow twigs, they were covered with fur, usually from wolves. Fur-covered shields were used until the 13th century. From this custom comes the “heraldic fur” in the Middle Ages.

Shields in the time of Charlemagne were mostly made of wood, covered with leather and reinforced with iron strips. The rider had a light, wooden, round or pointed shield with iron stripes on nails. In the center of the round shield there was a bulge attached - an umbon (German: Schildnabel). They wore a shield on the left hand, with a wide belt into which the hand was threaded.

The foot warrior wore a large, almond-shaped, more than a meter high, strongly curved wooden shield, which was reinforced at the edges and in the middle with crossed iron strips studded with strong nails.

The Norman shield was made of wood with a chalk primer, narrow, pointed at the bottom and rounded at the top, and can be considered as a prototype of the entire later form of medieval shields.

Shields of the 11th and 12th centuries were of considerable length. Concern for the strength of the shield led to the fact that it was made very convex and equipped with iron plates.
XIII century: The shield became more and more flat, the umbons and overlays gradually disappeared.
Standing shield (German: Setzschild), or large pavese (German: große Pavese). These shields were made of wood and covered with leather; a thin chalk primer was applied on top, onto which emblems with inscriptions were applied with tempera paint.

Already in the 11th century, horsemen sought to free their left hand from holding the shield so that they could control the horse. This led to the fact that the tarch began to be hung around the neck and the chest was completely closed. This kind of tarch, although there are some made of iron, was mostly made of wood and covered with leather; they are quadrangular in shape, with rounded corners, and have a sharply protruding rib in the middle.

The old Moorish adagra was made of strong, tough leather, oval, in the shape of a heart or two cut ovals.
Adarga (Spanish adargue from the Arabic dárake, like “tarch”), in the 13th and 14th centuries from the Moors came to the Spanish troops and further to France, Italy and even to England, where it remained in use until the 15th century. The old Moorish adagra was made of strong, tough leather, oval, in the shape of a heart or two cut ovals. They wore it on a belt over the right shoulder, and on the left they held it by the fist handle. These excellent shields were made in Fez and were used until the end of the 17th century by cavalrymen armed with lances in Oran, Melil, Ceuta and further along the coast of Granada. Their images can be seen on the frescoes of the Alhambra.

Light Arab cavalrymen, and from them the wars of the border lands of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, used small round shields, called kalkan in Turkish, with a top made of fish skin, which was either left rough or polished smooth. Such shields were often made of leather with beautiful embossed patterns. Finally, there were shields made of thin fig tree twigs, which were shaped in a circle, concentrically, and intertwined with silver braid or colored silk threads in such a way that they formed arabesques, executed with great taste. These kind of round shields with a diameter of no more than 60 cm had extraordinary resistance to a blow from a sword.

Fencing shield (German: Fechtschild), which was common in fencing schools. These very long and narrow shields were made of wood, covered with leather and painted. In the middle of such a shield there was a high rib, hollow inside, and along it there was an iron reinforcing rod. Long iron points with or without irreversible hooks protruded from the top and bottom of the shield. The total length of the shield was 2.5 meters.

In more recent times, shields become more complex and are integrated with various devices.
The wooden board served as the main material from which medieval shields were made. The shield was covered with leather. Depending on the era, certain parts were added to the shield: umbons, radial steel strips to strengthen the shield, edging. I would also like to note that edging in medieval shields, such as tarch, was used extremely rarely.

Two circumstances led to the improvement of the weapons of the peoples who settled in Europe. Firstly, the relationship they entered into with Constantinople, where they received weapons at a trade crossroads, and secondly, the fact that in their raids on Rome they came into contact with countries in which iron had long been mined and weapons made. Those South Germanic peoples who were in contact with the Roman Empire at the beginning of imperial times necessarily adapted to the Roman way of warfare. From here arise first, borrowed from the Romans, and then purely Germanic, corresponding to national characteristics, forms of weapons.

And I would like to separately note that the shield is elliptical in shape, as a separate special type of shield of the early Middle Ages. Perhaps it was precisely such shields that were the primary sources of almond-shaped (drop-shaped) shields.

The Norman shield became a new milestone and the fundamental basis for the development of most shields of the Middle Ages. Norman shields of the 11th and 12th centuries were of considerable length, since it was necessary to protect the rider from impact weapons from the legs to the shoulders. They were no different for horsemen and infantry. The infantry stand in dense rows so that their long shields, overlapping each other, form a solid wall that protects from arrows.
It was at this time that armor improved significantly. This significant result, learned from the experience of the Crusades, was the reason that during the 13th century the cavalry shield gradually became shorter. It now covered the rider from hip to chin. The side edges remained strongly curved, but the upper edge was made more and more horizontal, because previously it served to protect the face, but now, thanks to the new helmets, this was not so necessary. The shield became more and more flat, the umbons and overlays gradually disappeared.

It is curious that infantry shields before the 13th and even until the 14th centuries differed very little from cavalry shields. The reason for this is that the infantry was given little importance in the war and therefore it was not considered necessary to think about its special needs. This is how the infantryman used the cavalry shield, although in its shape it was designed for protection while riding. On foot, the triangular shield clearly did not cover the person enough. Only when the cavalry shield was so reduced that it became completely unusable for infantry was the difference in armament felt. The infantry retained the old long almond-shaped shields, which the cavalry abandoned.

From about 1300, the technical improvement of armor again made significant progress, and the cavalry shield became even less important. It becomes a small triangular tarch (German: Tartsche, French: petit écu) with straight edges, which more or less covered half the chest and left shoulder. The name “tarch” comes from the Arabic “dárake”, from which the Italian “targa” is derived, as the small rounded shield was initially called.
Towards the end of the 14th and 15th centuries, the form of tarchs underwent changes, but rather not of a military-technical, but of a stylistic nature. They become semicircular from below, sometimes, as in England and Northern France, quadrangular, almost square.

Since the 14th century, the desire to use the power of the infantry and equip it accordingly has become increasingly noticeable. These aspirations led again to the most ancient infantry defensive formations, which were used with great success by the Romans and were often used in the early Middle Ages in Germany. The technique consisted of creating a solid wall of shields tightly placed one next to the other, behind which the warriors took cover and could use their ancient weapons.
For such purposes, a new type of shield has appeared, originating from the tarch shield - a standing shield (German Setzschild), or a large pavese (German große Pavese).

The shape of these pavezas is generally a quadrangle. In the center there is a vertical groove, hollow inside, which ends at the upper end with a protrusion protruding forward (Fig. 183). Inside there were leather carrying straps, below which there was a handle. In some foot detachments of the German army at the beginning of the 15th century, instead of pavezas, the best protecting, but difficult to transport, assault walls or assault shields (German: Sturmwande), which have been preserved to this day in the Maritime Museum, were used. Often such shields had a viewing slit or eye hole at the top and were equipped with iron spikes at the bottom.
If the large paveza was an effective weapon in defense, then there was inevitably a desire to provide the same effective protection to the attacking infantryman. Therefore, a manual pavese arises (German: Handschild, kleine Pavese). It is mostly quadrangular, tapering downward and has a characteristic groove, the corners of which are sometimes rounded. The oldest of these shields have a groove with sharpened edges.

A special type of tarch was used in Hungary in the 15th century. These are trapezoidal shields, convex, so that they are pressed to the chest and cover the left side of the body. These tarchs found use not only in Hungary, but also in other countries that were to one degree or another under the influence of the East: in Poland and Muscovy. Apparently, such cavalry shields were also worn by the horsemen of King Mateusz Corvinus (1440-1490) and the Hungarian guard of Maximilian I. Some examples of such tarchs are still preserved in the Imperial Collections of Vienna (Fig. 189). Where the Hungarians came into contact with the Germans, there was a tendency to combine the advantages of the German shields with the Eastern ones. Here the Tarchi keep a notch on the right side for the shaft of a spear. But in the middle of the 15th century, “Hungarian tarchs” began to be produced everywhere in Germany.

Bucklers are small, round fist shields that are an optional defensive weapon for the infantryman. As a rule, a steel umbon was riveted to the field of the shield. Bucklers were either completely metal or with a wooden field (again, made from boards or from one wide board). The wooden edge of the buckler was upholstered with steel or leather. The usual size of buckler diameter is from 20 to 32 cm.
It is primarily an archer's or billman's infantry shield, although esquires and knights also occasionally used it.
The main function is protection and fencing against the sword, both civil and optional combat protection (along with the sword).

Slavic warriors long before the emergence of Kievan Rus, according to Byzantine authors of the 6th century. Shields are the only means of protection:
Procopius of Caesarea: “When entering battle, the majority go to the enemies on foot, having small shields and spears in their hands, but they never put on armor.”
Mauritius Strategist: "Each man is armed with two small spears, and some of them with shields, strong, but difficult to carry."
Unfortunately, it is not possible to imagine the appearance of the above-mentioned Slavic shields, since there is no pictorial or archaeological evidence from written sources. Obviously, Slavic shields of this time were made entirely from organic materials (boards, rods) and, due to the lack of metal parts, have not survived to this day.
The earliest fragments of shields found on the territory of Ancient Rus' date back to the 10th century. With rare exceptions, these are only metal parts. Thus, the information to recreate appearance And design features shields are very limited.
On the territory of Ancient Rus', fragments of at least 20 shields have been archaeologically recorded. The most common and clearly identifiable part of the shield is the umbon, which is an iron hemisphere attached to the center of the shield.
A.N. Kirpichnikov distinguishes two types of Old Russian umbos: hemispherical and spheroconic. 13 out of 16 found specimens belong to the first type. All of them are standard in shape - a hemispherical vault on a low neck, and in size - diameter 13.2-15.5 cm, height 5.5-7 cm. The metal thickness does not exceed 1.5 mm.
The second type includes three umbons, two of which come from the South-Eastern Ladoga region and another one was found in the Old Russian layer of the Tsimlyansky settlement. These are umbos of a spheroconic shape, most clearly expressed in the Ladoga specimens. They are slightly larger than the umbos of the first type: diameter 15.6 cm and 17.5 cm, height 7.8 cm and 8.5 cm. There is no neck. The umbon from the Tsimlyansky settlement is distinguished by its smaller size (diameter 13.4 cm, height 5.5 cm) and the presence of a small protrusion at the top of the arch.
The umbos of both types have fields 1.5-2.5 cm wide. On these fields, from 4 to 8 holes were punched through which nails (rarely rivets) passed, securing the umbo to the wooden field of the shield. Several fastening nails have been preserved, which make it possible to approximately calculate the thickness of the wooden field under the umbon. With a length of 2.5 to 5 cm, the nails are bent in such a way that the thickness of the wooden field is reconstructed within 7-8 mm. At the same time, on one of the umbos of the second type found in the Ladoga region, a rivet was recorded that did not have bends, 4.5 cm long. According to A.N. Kirpichnikov, such rivets simultaneously fastened the edge of the umbo, the shield board and the handle bar.
In addition to the umbons, the identifiable part of the shield are the metal fittings attached to the edge of the shield. In six cases, the bindings were found together with umbons, in three - without umbons. The number of fetters ranged from a few pieces to two dozen. They are thin (0.5 mm) iron (in one case, bronze) strips about 6 cm long and about 2 cm wide, bent in half. On one of the bindings there are traces of ornamentation in the form of two parallel lines. The bindings were fastened to the edge of the shield with two small rivets. Most Old Russian bindings had a step on both sides, which, as foreign material shows, was necessary for the placement of a leather strip running along the edge of the shield. The distance between the edges of the frame in all cases was 5-6 mm, which was equal to the thickness of the wooden field at the edge of the shield.

During pre-revolutionary excavations at the Gnezdovo burial mound near Smolensk, well-preserved remains of a shield were found. This is how the author of the excavations describes it: “Thanks to the traces of wood remaining from the shield, one can imagine approximately the dimensions of the shield by measuring the distance of these pieces of wood from the central plaque or umbon; with this measurement, the width or length of the shield reaches 1 meter. In the area of the shield that once lay, many iron clips or clips were found [meaning edge bindings - S.K.] in the form of iron plates bent in half with holes or nails at the ends, which served to fasten the edges of the shield and perfectly preserved pieces of wood inside; These pieces of wood often represent oblique layers, which are clearly explained by the fact that the boards of which the shield consisted had curves at the edges corresponding to the circumference of the circle. Taking into account the preserved traces of wood on nearby stones, we can also safely say that the shield had a circular outline. The thickness of the panel boards can also be easily determined by the iron clips; It can also be considered to some extent probable that the shield was painted red, since the wood in one of the frames retained traces of red paint.”
This is practically all that ancient Russian archeology gives for recreating the shield. Summarizing the above, we can say that that part of the Old Russian shields, which is recorded by archaeological sources, had a round field 5-8 mm thick, sometimes equipped with a metal umbon and, less often, metal fittings along the edge.