Full Description
Authoritative reference guide, using the documents in which arms and armour first appeared to explain and define them.
Medieval arms and armour are intrinsically fascinating. From the smoke and noise of the armourer's forge to the bloody violence of the battlefield or the silken panoply of the tournament, weapons and armour - and those who made and bore them - are woven into the fabric of medieval society. This sourcebook will aid anyone who seeks to develop a deeper understanding by introducing and presenting the primary sources in which these artefacts are first mentioned. Over seventy original documents are transcribed and translated, including wills, inventories, letters and chronicle accounts, from a period which saw rapid advances in military technology. The book also includes an extensive glossary, and is lavishly illustrated with images of both extant armour and weapons from the period, and contemporary artistic depictions from illuminated manuscripts and other sources. This book will therefore be of interest to a wide audience, from the living history practitioner, crafter, and martial artist, to students of literature, military history, art, and material culture.
Contents
List of Illustrations
List of Documents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Using the Sourcebook
English Pronunciation
Part I. Introduction to the Source-Types
1. Textual Source-Types
Official Source-Types
Prose Source-Types
Note on Transcription and Translation
2. Material Source-Types
Choice of Images
Armour and Weapons
Artworks
Part II. The Documents
Part III. Illustrated Glossary
Bibliography
Index
