_TERMINE_RELATIVO_CAVALLERIA_E_TORNEI_MEDIEVALI_(INGLESE)
_SPIEGAZIONE_DEL_TERMINE_(INGLESE)
ABBEY
SOCIETY OF MONKS OR NUNS GOVERNED BY AN ABBOT OR FOR WOMEN, AN ABBESS, AND BY EXTENSION THE BUILDINGS THEMSELVES. ABBEYS GATHERED UNTO THEMSELVES LARGE TRACTS OF LAND AS WEALTHY MEN BECAME MONKS, BUT THE CONSTANT STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE SECULAR AUTHORITY AND THE CHURCH RESULTED IN MANY CONFISCATIONS.
ABBOT
A "CHIEF MONK" IN THE HEAD OF A MONASTARY OR AN ABBEY.
ACCOLADE
CEREMONY CONFERRING THE HONOR OF KNIGHTHOOD. GENERALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THE ACCOLADE HISTORICALLY WAS THE GIRDING ON OF THE SWORD, THE GIVING OF THE MILITARY BELT THAT SIGNIFIED THE "COMING OF AGE" IN A MARTIAL SENSE. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #5 FOR MORE KNIGHTING CEREMONIES.
ACCOUTREMENT
ALL THE PIECES OF A KNIGHT'S OFFICE: HIS SWORD, SYMBOLIZING JUSTICE AND MERCY; HIS SPURS, CHAIN OF FEALTY, AND MILITARY BELT.
ACRE
A PORT CITY ON THE BAY OF HAIFA IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN, A CRITICAL CITY IN THE HOLY LANDS, SEIZED BY CHRISTIAN ARMIES IN 1104, BUT RETAKEN BY SALADIN IN 1187, RECAPTURED BY RICHARD I IN 1191, FINALLY FALLING TO THE SARACENS FOR THE LAST TIME IN 1291.
ACTON
A KIND OF ARMING COAT WORN DURING THE 13TH - 15TH CENTURY BOTH AS A COMPLETE ARMOUR UNTO ITSELF AND AS PADDING FOR ADDITIONAL ARMOUR WORN OVER THE TOP. THEY WERE GENERALLY QUILTED, EITHER SEWN OR STUFFED WITH LINEN, TOW OR EVEN GRASS. MOST OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE 14TH CENTURY SHOW MANY BUTTONS OR LACES UP THE FRONT, AND THERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES THAT FEATURE A HIGH COLLAR TO ASSIST IN THE DEFENSE OF THE NECK. 14TH CENTURY AKETONS WERE GENERALLY CUT WIDE AROUND THE ARM HOLES IN A MANNER THAT FOLLOWED THE LINE OF THE BREASTPLATE OR CUIRASS. THESE EXTRA-LARGE ARM-HOLES SERVED TO GRANT COMPLETE MOBILITY FOR A FULL RANGE OF ARM MOTION WHILE PROVIDING A LAST-DITCH DEFENSE OF THE AREA UNDER THE ARM. I CAN FIND NO EVIDENCE OF AKETONS EVER BEING OPEN UNDER THE ARM, THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON SCA STYLE. SEE ALSO THE POURPOINT, A GARMENT WORN UNDER THE ARMING COAT USEFUL FOR ATTACHING THE LACES FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF A LEG HARNESS. A WORKABLE PATTERN FOR A 14TH CENTURY MODEL CAN BE FOUND IN CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #2.  MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE 14TH CENTURY - 1300-1350 KNIGHTS WORE THE HAUBERGEON OVER THEIR AKETON - 1350-1400 AKETON SHORTENED AND BEGINS TO BE WORN UNDER THE JUPON, SOMETIMES THE ONLY BODY DEFENSE. STRONGLY WASP-WAISTED FORM COMMON TO THE PERIOD. - 1350-1400 SLEEVES WERE SOMETIMES "BANANA SLEEVED" OR BALLOONING OUT OR WERE NARROW SO AS TO FIT UNDER THE ARM HARNESS. BOTH SEEM POPULAR FOR THE ENTIRE PERIOD.
ADMIRAL
DERIVED FROM AN OLD SARACEN TERM 'EMIR,' MEANING PRINCE. SOMETIME DURING THE LATE 13TH CENTURY IT BECAME USED AS NAVAL TERM OF RANK AS LEADER FOR A FLEET OF SHIPSPOSSIBLY 'PRINCE OF THE SEA.'
ADOUBEMENT
THE GIRDING OF THE MILITARY BELT, THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF A KNIGHTING CEREMONY. SEE ALSO ACCOLADE AND CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #5.
ADVENTUROUS SHIELD
A SHIELD IN THE WHITE ABBEY, DESTINED FOR GALAHAD, THE PERFECT KNIGHT IN ARTHURIAN LEGEND.
AGINCOURT, BATTLE OF
25 OCTOBER 1415. THE MONUMENTAL BATTLE BETWEEN HENRY V AND THE FRENCH FORCES ARRAYED AGAINST HIM, SLAYING THREE FRENCH DUKES, THE CONSTABLE OF FRANCE, NINE COUNTS, 90 LORDS AND MORE THAN 5,000 KNIGHTS. THE BATTLE CRUSHED THE FRENCH RESISTANCE TO HENRY'S RENEWED CLAIM TO THE FRENCH THRONE, RESULTING IN THE TREATY OF TROYES, 1420, IN WHICH HENRY WAS BETROTHED TO CATHERINE AND THUS THEIR HEIR OF FRANCE. IT WAS THIS BATTLE THAT SHAKESPEARE IMMORTALIZED IN HIS "SAINT CRISPEN'S DAY" SPEECH IN HENRY V.
AIGUILETTE
LITERALLY "POINT OF A SHIELD," THE SMALL METAL END THAT WAS CAPPED ONTO A LACING POINT IN ORDER TO KEEP IT FROM FRAYING. ALSO CALLED AGLET, AIGLET, ANGLET.
AILETTES, AILETS
(FR. "LITTLE WINGS") SMALL SQUARE SHIELDS APPLIED TO THE SHOULDERS COMMONLY WORN DURING THE 13TH CENTURY. COMMONLY WORN BY CRUSADERS. THEY WERE OFTEN PAINTED WITH A HERALDIC DEVICE; THE LAST REFERENCE I WAS ABLE TO LOCATE WAS FROM 1313 WHEN PIERS GAVESTON WORE A PAIR COVERED IN PEARLS. NOT POPULAR AFTER THE MID-14TH CENTURY.
AKETON
A KIND OF ARMING COAT WORN DURING THE 13TH - 15TH CENTURY BOTH AS A COMPLETE ARMOUR UNTO ITSELF AND AS PADDING FOR ADDITIONAL ARMOUR WORN OVER THE TOP. THEY WERE GENERALLY QUILTED, EITHER SEWN OR STUFFED WITH LINEN, TOW OR EVEN GRASS. MOST OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE 14TH CENTURY SHOW MANY BUTTONS OR LACES UP THE FRONT, AND THERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES THAT FEATURE A HIGH COLLAR TO ASSIST IN THE DEFENSE OF THE NECK. 14TH CENTURY AKETONS WERE GENERALLY CUT WIDE AROUND THE ARM HOLES IN A MANNER THAT FOLLOWED THE LINE OF THE BREASTPLATE OR CUIRASS. THESE EXTRA-LARGE ARM-HOLES SERVED TO GRANT COMPLETE MOBILITY FOR A FULL RANGE OF ARM MOTION WHILE PROVIDING A LAST-DITCH DEFENSE OF THE AREA UNDER THE ARM. I CAN FIND NO EVIDENCE OF AKETONS EVER BEING OPEN UNDER THE ARM, THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON SCA STYLE. SEE ALSO THE POURPOINT, A GARMENT WORN UNDER THE ARMING COAT USEFUL FOR ATTACHING THE LACES FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF A LEG HARNESS. A WORKABLE PATTERN FOR A 14TH CENTURY MODEL CAN BE FOUND IN CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #2.  MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE 14TH CENTURY - 1300-1350 KNIGHTS WORE THE HAUBERGEON OVER THEIR AKETON - 1350-1400 AKETON SHORTENED AND BEGINS TO BE WORN UNDER THE JUPON, SOMETIMES THE ONLY BODY DEFENSE. STRONGLY WASP-WAISTED FORM COMMON TO THE PERIOD. - 1350-1400 SLEEVES WERE SOMETIMES "BANANA SLEEVED" OR BALLOONING OUT OR WERE NARROW SO AS TO FIT UNDER THE ARM HARNESS. BOTH SEEM POPULAR FOR THE ENTIRE PERIOD.
ALBION
BRITAIN.
ALBUQUERQUE
SPANISH CASTLE BUILT BY ALFONSO SANCHES DURING THE VERY EARLY 14TH CENTURY. IT IS SITUATED ON A COMMANDING PINNACLE OF ROCK, OVERLOOKING RICH COUNTRYSIDE. IT WAS BESEIGED MANY TIMES DURING THE CONFLICT BETWEEN CASTILE AND PORTUGAL.
ALEXANDER
A LATE 14TH CENTURY ENGLISH PROSE WORK IN WHICH ALEXANDER THE GREAT ENCOUNTERS AN AMAZON QUEEN, BATTLES DARIUS AND LATER MARRIES HIS DAUGHTER ROXANA, AND ACCOUNTS FOR HIS DEATH BY POISON AT AGE 33. ALSO AN INCOMPLETE HIGH GERMAN COURTLY EPIC BY RUDOLF VON EMS, WHERE HE IS DEPICTED AS THE IDEAL MEDIEVAL RULERBRAVE, JUST, AND GENEROUS.
ALEXANDRE,  ROMAN DE
AN OLD FRENCH EPIC AFTER WHICH THE UNIQUE 12 SYLLABLE VERSE FORM WAS NAMED 'ALEXANDRINE.' THE WORK WENT THROUGH MANY HANDS, EVOLVING DURING TWO CENTURIES.
ALEXIAD
THE 12TH CENTURY ACCOUNT OF THE BYZANTINE PRINCESS ANNA COMNENA, WHEREIN THE EARLIEST RELIABLE REFERENCE TO TOURNEY-LIKE GAMES IS FOUND. THE FOLLOWING QUOTATION IS FROM A FRENCH CRUSADER HEARD AT COURT TO SAY:   "I AM A PURE FRANK AND OF NOBLE BIRTH. ONE THING I KNOW: AT A CROSSROADS IN THE COUNTRY WHERE I WAS BORN IN AN ANCIENT SHRINE; TO THIS ANYONE WHO WISHES TO ENGAGE IN SINGLE COMBAT GOES, PREPARED TO FIGHT; THERE HE PRAYS TO GOD FOR HELP AND HE STAYS AWAITING THE MAN WHO WILL DARE TO ANSWER HIS CHALLENGE. AT THAT CROSSROADS HAVE I OFTEN SPENT TIME, WAITING AND LONGING FOR THE MAN WHO WOULD FIGHT, BUT THERE WAS NEVER A ONE WHO DARED."
ALLERON
THE WING-TIP OF A HAWK.
ALLURE
WALKWAY ALONG THE RAMPARTS OF A CASTLE.
ALMAIN
GERMANY
ALMERIE
A PANTRY OR BUTTERY.
ALMONER
MEMBER OF THE PRIEST'S STAFF IN COURT OR IN A CASTLE, RESPONSIBLE FOR OFFERINGS TO THE POOR. THE ALMONER GATHERED LEFTOVERS FROM THE TABLE, MADE GIFTS OF CLOTH AND TALLOW TO THE POOR.
ALMS
MONETARY PENANCE. USUALLY A PRIEST HEARING CONFESSION OF A MEMBER OF THE NOBILITY WOULD ASSIGN A SMALL VALUE IN ALMS TO BE PAID TO THE POOR.
ALMS HOUSE
ORIGINALLY AN A HOUSE ATTACHED TO AN ABBEY WERE ALMS AND FOOD WERE DISTRIBUTED, THEY EVENTUALLY BECAME HOSPITALS.
AMBLER
A SADDLE HORSE, DISTINCT FORM A COURSER, DESTRIER OR WARHORSE.
AMORETTE
A LOVE-KNOT INTERLACED LIKE A ROSETTE.
ANNEAL
THE PROCESS OF SOFTENING METAL. FOR FERROUS METALS, THAT IS THOSE CONTAINING IRON, THE PROCESS INVOLVES HEATING THE STEEL UP TO ITS CRITCAL TEMPERATURE AND THEN SLOWLY COOLING IT. FOR NON-FERROUS METALS SUCH AS BRASS, BRONZE, SILVER, GOLD, ALUMINUM AND THE LIKE, THE PROCESS IS EXACTLY OPPOSITE. THE METAL IS HEATED TO THE CRITICAL TEMPERATURE AND THEN QUICKLY QUENCHED IN WATER, SNOW, URINE, OR OIL. WHAT ANNEALING ACTUALLY DOES ON A MOLECULAR LEVEL IS TO ALLOW THE METAL CRYSTALS TO REALIGN, MOVING THEM INTO THEIR MORE RELAXED STATE. WHEN THE METAL IS WORKED, THE CRYSTALS ARE MOVED OUT OF ALIGNMENT, CONTRIBUTING TO BOTH HARDNESS AND BRITTLENESS. PRACTICALLY, IN THE PRODUCTION OF ARMS AND ARMOUR THE METAL MUST BE ANNEALED AS IT IS WORKED, OTHERWISE THE METAL MIGHT STRESS ENOUGH THAT IT WILL CRACK.
ANOINT
THE HOLY ELEMENT OF A CORONATION CEREMONY WHERE HOLY OILS WERE APPLIED TO THE HEIR'S BODY (USUALLY THE HEAD) TO SEAL THE DIVINE NATURE OF THE KINGSHIP. - 15TH CENTURY CORONATION CEREMONY
ANTIOCH, BATTLE OF
28 JUNE 1098. THE MOST FAMOUS BATTLE OF THE FIRST CRUSADE, THE BESEIGED CRUSADERS, INSIDE OF ANTIOCH, SALLIED FORTH ARRANGED INTO SIX DIVISIONS, DEFEATING THEIR SARACEN ATTACKERS IN A BRUTAL ENGAGEMENT, WERE THE HEAVY CAVALRY OF THE KNIGHTS, USING COHESION IN A FRONTAL CHARGE, SHATTERED THE BULK OF KERBOGHA'S ARMY. PRESENT AT THE BATTLE WAS GODREY DE BOUILLON, ONE OF THE NINE WORTHIES.
ANUEAL
THE PROCESS OF SOFTENING METAL. FOR FERROUS METALS, THAT IS THOSE CONTAINING IRON, THE PROCESS INVOLVES HEATING THE STEEL UP TO ITS CRITCAL TEMPERATURE AND THEN SLOWLY COOLING IT. FOR NON-FERROUS METALS SUCH AS BRASS, BRONZE, SILVER, GOLD, ALUMINUM AND THE LIKE, THE PROCESS IS EXACTLY OPPOSITE. THE METAL IS HEATED TO THE CRITICAL TEMPERATURE AND THEN QUICKLY QUENCHED IN WATER, SNOW, URINE, OR OIL. WHAT ANNEALING ACTUALLY DOES ON A MOLECULAR LEVEL IS TO ALLOW THE METAL CRYSTALS TO REALIGN, MOVING THEM INTO THEIR MORE RELAXED STATE. WHEN THE METAL IS WORKED, THE CRYSTALS ARE MOVED OUT OF ALIGNMENT, CONTRIBUTING TO BOTH HARDNESS AND BRITTLENESS. PRACTICALLY, IN THE PRODUCTION OF ARMS AND ARMOUR THE METAL MUST BE ANNEALED AS IT IS WORKED, OTHERWISE THE METAL MIGHT STRESS ENOUGH THAT IT WILL CRACK.
APPATIS
AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE LOCAL CITIZENRY OF A DEFEATED REGION AND THE OCCUPYING SOLDIERY. ESSENTIALLY A PAYMENT SYSTEM THAT UNDER THE LAWS OF WAR FORBADE THEFT AND MISTREATMENT OF THE LOCALS SO LONG AS THE APPATISIZED COUNTRY PAID THE RANSOM.
APPRENTICE
THE FIRST RUNG ON THE GUILD STRUCTURE LADDER. AN APPRENTICE SERVED HIS MASTER FOR NUMEROUS YEARS, GENERALLY SEVEN OR MORE, TO WORK OF THE DEBT OF HIS TRAINING. FOLLOWING A SUCCESSFUL APPRENTICESHIP, THE APPRENTICE BECAME A JOURNEYMAN, EVENTUALLY WORKING TO TRY TO BECOME A MASTER OF HIS CRAFT.
ARBALEST
(FR: ARBALTE, GER. ARMBRUST, CROSSBOW) THE CORRECT TERM FOR A CROSSBOW, INTRODUCED EARLY IN THE 14TH CENTURY. THE CROSSBOW CONSISTED OF A BOW MOUNTED ON A STOCK THAT COULD BE CRANKED OR PULLED INTO PLACE USING MORE LEVERAGE THAN COULD BE USED ON A CONVENTIONAL LONGBOW. THE RESULT WAS A VERY HIGH-POWERED, LOWER TRAJECTORIED WEAPON OF GREAT DESTRUCTIVE POTENTIAL. IT FIRED A BOLT, A SHORTER VERSION OF AN ARROW. HOWEVER, THE FIRING TIME ON A CROSSBOW WAS SLOW COMPARED TO THE LONGBOW, AND FOR THAT REASON AND OWING TO THE VASTLY HIGHER EXPENSE DURING THE PERIOD, THE LONGBOW REMAINED THE FAVORED MISSILE WEAPON OF THE 14TH AND 15TH CENTURY IN ENGLAND AND IN FRANCE. FROM TIME TO TIME THE CROSSBOW WAS BANNED BY VARIOUS LAWS, BUT IT REMAINED A WEAPON OF GREAT POPULARITY DURING THE LATE 14TH CENTURY IN THE LOW COUNTRIES, THE SWISS STATES, IN GERMANY AND IN ITALY.
ARBALESTIER
A CROSSBOWMAN OR WIELDER OF A ARBALEST. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY THEY GENERALLY WORE A MAIL HAUBERK TO DEFEND THE BODY, A BASCINET TO DEFEND THE HEAD, SOMETIMES WITH A COLLARETTE OF IRON TO DEFEND THE THROAT. ALMOST ALWAYS A FOOTMAN, THE CROSSBOWMAN SOMETIMES WORE A SURCOAT BEARING THE LIVERY OF AFFILIATION. DURING THE 15TH CENTURY THE HAUBERK WAS GENERALLY REPLACED WITH A BRIGANDINE AND THE USE OF A PAVAISE, A HEAD-TO-TOW SHIELD, WAS OFTEN BROUGHT OUT AS A SEMI-PORTABLE DEFENSE THAT THE MAN COULD HIDE BEHIND AS HE RELOADED SO THAT HE WOULD NOT BE CUT DOWN BY ARROWS, OTHER CROSSBOW BOLTS, OR BY CHARGING HORSEMEN.
ARCH-DUKE
TITLE FOR THE DUKES OF AUSTRIA, LORRAINE, AND BRABANT, THERE IS AN INFORMAL SCA MEANING FOR THIS TERM USUALLY CONSTRUED TO MEAN A 'DUKE' WHO WAS REIGNED MORE THAN FIVE TIMES.
ARCHER
A MAN WIELDING A BOW, AN EARLY FORM OF ARTILLERY USED WITH GREAT EFFECT DURING THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR BY EDWARD III. MOST ARCHERS OF THE 14TH CENTURY WERE ARMED WITH A PADDED JUPON, MAIL SHIRT, OR LIGHT BRIGANDINE. SOME ALSO CARRIED LIGHT SWORDS AND HELMETS SUCH AS THE CHAPEL DE FER, BUT THE MAJORITY WERE PROBABLY BARELY ABLE TO FIELD MORE THAN THEMSELVES, A KNIFE, AND THEIR BOW / QUIVER OF ARROWS. GRADUALLY REPLACED DURING THE 15TH CENTURY BY THE ARBALESTIER (CROSSBOWMAN) AND IN THE 16TH CENTURY BY THE RIFLEMAN AND CANNON, THE USE OF ARCHERS WAS A FIRST STEP TOWARDS COMBINED ARMS IN AN ERA DOMINATED BY HEAVY CAVALARY. MASSES ARCHERS COULD DESTROY A MOUNTED UNIT OF CAVALRY OR INFANTRY IF THEY COULD GET IN ENOUGH VOLLEYS BEFORE BEING CRUSHED UNDERHOOF.
ARGENT
HERALDIC FOR SILVER OR WHITE, A METAL, ALONG WITH GOLD (OR).
ARM HARNESS
ALL OF THE ELEMENTS USED IN THE DEFENSE OF THE ARM. UNDER THE ARMOUR MIGHT BE AN AKETON OR GAMBESON. PRIOR TO THE 14TH CENTURY, THE ARM WAS DEFENDED BY A MAIL SLEEVE OVER AN AKETON. THE EARLY 14TH CENTURY SAW THE ENHANCEMENT OF A COUTER ADDED TO PROTECT THE ELBOW POINT. DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE 14TH CENTURY THIS COUTER WAS ATTACHED BY RIVETS AND LAMES TO THE VAMBRACE WHICH DEFENDED THE LOWER ARM AND THE REREBRACE THAT DEFENDED THE UPPER ARM. GENERALLY THE RESULTING "ARM HARNESS," IN ONE PIECE, WAS LACED TO THE GAMBESON BY A POINT FROM THE TOP EDGE OF THE REREBRACE AT THE OUTSIDE OF THE ARM. OVER THE REREBRACE WAS THEN LAID THE SPAULDER, A DEFENSE THAT COVERED THE SHOULDER AND UPPERMOST ARM. THIS PIECE WAS ALSO LACED TO THE GAMBESON BY A POINT ALONG THE TOP EDGE. THIS DEFENSE REMAINED MORE OR LESS CONSTANT DURING THE 15TH CENTURY, EXCEPT THAT THE WING WAS EXPANDED IN SIZE TO COVER MORE OF THE INSIDE OF THE ELBOW AND THE SPAULDER WAS SOMETIMES EXPANDED TO BECOME MORE CUMBERSOME BUT MORE PROTECTIVE PAULDRON. DURING THIS PERIOD REINFORCES WERE SOMETIMES FITTED TO THE COUTER TO ENHANCE THE PROTECTION FOR THE JOUST. THE 16TH CENTURY SAW AN EXPLOSION OF THIS KIND OF DEFENSE, BUT IT WAS USED ONLY IN THE JOUST. ALSO DURING THE 16TH CENTURY, THE SIZE ON THE COUTER WING WAS REDUCED AGAIN AND THERE WAS A BRIEF FLIRTATION WITH ARTICULATION ON THE INSIDE OF THE ELBOW JOINT. MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE 14TH CENTURY - 1300 THREE-PIECE VAMBRACE, COUTER, AND REREBRACE DOMINATE EARLY EXPERIMENTATION WITH ARM DEFENSES. GERMAN AND ITALIANS USE SPLINTED DEFENSES FREQUENTLY, AND EXAMPLES IN BOTH COUNTRIES OFTEN RETAIN THE THREE PIECE MODEL EVEN AFTER THE SPLINTED DEFENSES HAVE BEEN SUPPLANTED BY PLATE. ITALIAN, ENGLISH AND FRENCH DEVELOPMENT FOLLOWED THE FOLLOWING POINTS, THOUGH THERE TOO THE SIMPLER THREE-PIECE MODEL IS SOMETIMES FOUND FOR THE DURATION OF THE PERIOD. - 1320 EARLIEST KNOWN DEFENSE KNOWN FROM THE EFFIGY OF DON ALVRO DE CABRERA IN THE MONASTERY OF SANTA MARIA DE BELPUIG, BELLAGUER, SPAIN. A SPLINTED DEFENSE, THREE PART CONSTRUCTION. - 1325-1330 VAMBRACE BEGINS TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN TWO PARTS, HINGED AND SECURED WITH BUCKLES. - 1330S ON SMALL PLATES DEFENDED THE SHOULDER POINTS, AS FOUND AT WISBY AND SHOWN ON CONTEMPORARY EFFIGIES. THESE WERE OFTEN ATTACHED TO THE BRIGANDINE DEFENSES OR TO THE GAMBESON ITSELF. - 1330S LAMINATED SPAULDER SHOWN ON IFIELD, SUSSEX (ENGLAND), REINFORCED WITH DISKS BEARING A LION MASK, THE SAME BEING ATTACHED TO THE COUTERS. - 1335 LAMES AND COUTER ARTICULATED IN ENGLISH EXAMPLES  - 1340 FULLY ARTICULATED ARM HARNESS IN PLATE APPEARS IN ENGLAND (SEE CLEHONGER, HEREFORDSHIRE)  - REREBRACE FULLY ENCLOSED - VAMBRACE FULLY ENCLOSED  - SPAULDER FORMED IN LAMES EXTENDS DOWN THE ARM, PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO THE REREBRACE  - COUTER OFTEN FORMED OF SMALLER PLATES, RATHER THAN THE POINTED VARIETY. OFTEN ROUNDED IN SHAPE.  - 1350 BESAGEWS DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY (MORE...) 
ARM HARNESS-CONT.
- 1360 COUTER IS POINTED IN SHAPE AND IS GENERALLY ARTICULATED WITH TWO OR THREE LAMES, BUT SOMETIMES NO LAMES ARE PRESENT, GENERALLY ATTRIBUTED TO ITALIAN WORKSHOPS AS OPPOSED TO THE GERMAN METHOD OF ATTACHING THE COUTER VIA INTERNAL LEATHER STRAPS. - 1360 DISC-SHAPED COUTER WINGS GIVE WAY TO HEART-SHAPED WINGS. - 1360 TULIP-SHAPED VAMBRACES FORMED IN ITALIAN EXAMPLES, BULGING TO MATCH THE FORM OF THE FOREARM MUSCLE AND FLARED TO ACCOMMODATE THE WRIST. - ~1360S DEVELOPED THE SLIDING VAMBRACE THAT COULD TURN IN THE ARTICULATION TO ACCOMMODATE A GREATER RANGE OF ARM MOVEMENT AND A REINFORCE WAS SOMETIMES ADDED TO THE VAMBRACE JUST AHEAD OF THE COUTER  - ~1395 DEVELOPMENT OF THE PAULDRON, WHERE THE SPAULDER WAS ENLARGED TO COVER MORE OF THE ARMPIT AND PART OF THE BACK AND CHEST.  
ARM, DEFENSE OF
ALL OF THE ELEMENTS USED IN THE DEFENSE OF THE ARM. UNDER THE ARMOUR MIGHT BE AN AKETON OR GAMBESON. PRIOR TO THE 14TH CENTURY, THE ARM WAS DEFENDED BY A MAIL SLEEVE OVER AN AKETON. THE EARLY 14TH CENTURY SAW THE ENHANCEMENT OF A COUTER ADDED TO PROTECT THE ELBOW POINT. DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE 14TH CENTURY THIS COUTER WAS ATTACHED BY RIVETS AND LAMES TO THE VAMBRACE WHICH DEFENDED THE LOWER ARM AND THE REREBRACE THAT DEFENDED THE UPPER ARM. GENERALLY THE RESULTING "ARM HARNESS," IN ONE PIECE, WAS LACED TO THE GAMBESON BY A POINT FROM THE TOP EDGE OF THE REREBRACE AT THE OUTSIDE OF THE ARM. OVER THE REREBRACE WAS THEN LAID THE SPAULDER, A DEFENSE THAT COVERED THE SHOULDER AND UPPERMOST ARM. THIS PIECE WAS ALSO LACED TO THE GAMBESON BY A POINT ALONG THE TOP EDGE. THIS DEFENSE REMAINED MORE OR LESS CONSTANT DURING THE 15TH CENTURY, EXCEPT THAT THE WING WAS EXPANDED IN SIZE TO COVER MORE OF THE INSIDE OF THE ELBOW AND THE SPAULDER WAS SOMETIMES EXPANDED TO BECOME MORE CUMBERSOME BUT MORE PROTECTIVE PAULDRON. DURING THIS PERIOD REINFORCES WERE SOMETIMES FITTED TO THE COUTER TO ENHANCE THE PROTECTION FOR THE JOUST. THE 16TH CENTURY SAW AN EXPLOSION OF THIS KIND OF DEFENSE, BUT IT WAS USED ONLY IN THE JOUST. ALSO DURING THE 16TH CENTURY, THE SIZE ON THE COUTER WING WAS REDUCED AGAIN AND THERE WAS A BRIEF FLIRTATION WITH ARTICULATION ON THE INSIDE OF THE ELBOW JOINT. MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE 14TH CENTURY - 1300 THREE-PIECE VAMBRACE, COUTER, AND REREBRACE DOMINATE EARLY EXPERIMENTATION WITH ARM DEFENSES. GERMAN AND ITALIANS USE SPLINTED DEFENSES FREQUENTLY, AND EXAMPLES IN BOTH COUNTRIES OFTEN RETAIN THE THREE PIECE MODEL EVEN AFTER THE SPLINTED DEFENSES HAVE BEEN SUPPLANTED BY PLATE. ITALIAN, ENGLISH AND FRENCH DEVELOPMENT FOLLOWED THE FOLLOWING POINTS, THOUGH THERE TOO THE SIMPLER THREE-PIECE MODEL IS SOMETIMES FOUND FOR THE DURATION OF THE PERIOD. - 1320 EARLIEST KNOWN DEFENSE KNOWN FROM THE EFFIGY OF DON ALVRO DE CABRERA IN THE MONASTERY OF SANTA MARIA DE BELPUIG, BELLAGUER, SPAIN. A SPLINTED DEFENSE, THREE PART CONSTRUCTION. - 1325-1330 VAMBRACE BEGINS TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN TWO PARTS, HINGED AND SECURED WITH BUCKLES. - 1330S ON SMALL PLATES DEFENDED THE SHOULDER POINTS, AS FOUND AT WISBY AND SHOWN ON CONTEMPORARY EFFIGIES. THESE WERE OFTEN ATTACHED TO THE BRIGANDINE DEFENSES OR TO THE GAMBESON ITSELF. - 1330S LAMINATED SPAULDER SHOWN ON IFIELD, SUSSEX (ENGLAND), REINFORCED WITH DISKS BEARING A LION MASK, THE SAME BEING ATTACHED TO THE COUTERS. - 1335 LAMES AND COUTER ARTICULATED IN ENGLISH EXAMPLES  - 1340 FULLY ARTICULATED ARM HARNESS IN PLATE APPEARS IN ENGLAND (SEE CLEHONGER, HEREFORDSHIRE)  - REREBRACE FULLY ENCLOSED - VAMBRACE FULLY ENCLOSED  - SPAULDER FORMED IN LAMES EXTENDS DOWN THE ARM, PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO THE REREBRACE  - COUTER OFTEN FORMED OF SMALLER PLATES, RATHER THAN THE POINTED VARIETY. OFTEN ROUNDED IN SHAPE.  - 1350 BESAGEWS DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY (MORE...) 
ARMA PATRINA
(LATIN): SQUIRES WHO HAD EITHER GROWN TOO OLD TO QUALIFY FOR KNIGHTHOOD OR WHO HAD FORGONE THE EXPENSE OF KNIGHTHOOD BUT WHO WERE ALLOWED TO CARRY A LANCE AND SHIELD EVEN THOUGH THESE WERE GENERALLY RESTRICTED BY THE CUSTOMS OF WAR TO THE CHIVALRY.
ARMBRUST
(GER. FOR CROSSBOW, SEE ARBALEST)
ARMED AT ALL POINTS
READY FOR TOURNEY OR BATTLE.
ARMED TO ALL RIGHTS
COMPLETELY ARMED, FULLY EQUIPPED, READY FOR BATTLE.
ARMET ( RONDEL)
THE DOMINANT HELMET DURING MUCH OF THE 15TH CENTURY, THE ARMET GRADUALLY EVOLVED INTO THE FIRST TRULY INTERNATIONAL STYLE OF HELMET, THE CLOSE HELMET. ARMETS WERE BUILT OF A SNUG-FITTING BOWL THAT CAME TO JUST ABOVE THE EARS, FITTED WITH CHEEK PLATES THAT ATTACHED BY HINGES TO THIS BOWL. USUALLY THE CHIN PIECES CLASP IN THE FRONT AND SECURE IN THE BACK ALONG A STRIP OF STEEL THAT EXTENDS FROM THE SHALLOW SKULL BOWL. THE BOWL ITSELF IS OFTEN REINFORCED WITH AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF STEEL ACROSS THE BROW, AND A VISOR FILLS IN AROUND THE NOSE AND EYES TO MAKE AN EXCEPTIONALLY FUNCTIONAL CLOSED HELMET. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, A DISC OF METAL WAS SOMETIMES ATTACHED TO THE BACK OF THESE HELMETS; THE PURPOSE OF THIS RONDEL IS UNKNOWN. THE ARMET SUCCEEDED THE BASCINET AS THE MOST COMMON HELMET IN EUROPE, TAKING ELEMENTS FROM THE GREAT BASCINET. THEY WERE EXCEEDINGLY POPULAR IN ITALY, FRANCE AND ENGLAND, WHILE THE SALLET ENJOYED GREAT POPULARITY IN THOSE REGIONS AND ALSO IN THE GERMAN LANDS AS WELL.
ARMIGER
THE NORMAN PREDECESSOR OF WHAT CAME TO BE KNOWN AS SQUIRE, YOUNG MEN WHO WERE IN TRAINING TO BE KNIGHTS, A TERM POPULAR DURING THE 13TH CENTURY. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #8.
ARMING CAP
A SMALL QUILTED CAP WORN UNDER THE MAIL COIF THAT OFFERED PROTECTION AGAINST BLOWS AND THE FRICTION OF MAIL AGAINST THE HEAD. THEY SEEM TO HAVE FALLEN OUT OF USE BY THE BEGINNING OF THE 14TH CENTURY.
ARMING COAT
A KIND OF ARMING COAT WORN DURING THE 13TH - 15TH CENTURY BOTH AS A COMPLETE ARMOUR UNTO ITSELF AND AS PADDING FOR ADDITIONAL ARMOUR WORN OVER THE TOP. THEY WERE GENERALLY QUILTED, EITHER SEWN OR STUFFED WITH LINEN, TOW OR EVEN GRASS. MOST OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE 14TH CENTURY SHOW MANY BUTTONS OR LACES UP THE FRONT, AND THERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES THAT FEATURE A HIGH COLLAR TO ASSIST IN THE DEFENSE OF THE NECK. 14TH CENTURY AKETONS WERE GENERALLY CUT WIDE AROUND THE ARM HOLES IN A MANNER THAT FOLLOWED THE LINE OF THE BREASTPLATE OR CUIRASS. THESE EXTRA-LARGE ARM-HOLES SERVED TO GRANT COMPLETE MOBILITY FOR A FULL RANGE OF ARM MOTION WHILE PROVIDING A LAST-DITCH DEFENSE OF THE AREA UNDER THE ARM. I CAN FIND NO EVIDENCE OF AKETONS EVER BEING OPEN UNDER THE ARM, THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON SCA STYLE. SEE ALSO THE POURPOINT, A GARMENT WORN UNDER THE ARMING COAT USEFUL FOR ATTACHING THE LACES FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF A LEG HARNESS. A WORKABLE PATTERN FOR A 14TH CENTURY MODEL CAN BE FOUND IN CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #2.  MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE 14TH CENTURY - 1300-1350 KNIGHTS WORE THE HAUBERGEON OVER THEIR AKETON - 1350-1400 AKETON SHORTENED AND BEGINS TO BE WORN UNDER THE JUPON, SOMETIMES THE ONLY BODY DEFENSE. STRONGLY WASP-WAISTED FORM COMMON TO THE PERIOD. - 1350-1400 SLEEVES WERE SOMETIMES "BANANA SLEEVED" OR BALLOONING OUT OR WERE NARROW SO AS TO FIT UNDER THE ARM HARNESS. BOTH SEEM POPULAR FOR THE ENTIRE PERIOD.
ARMING NAIL
A WORD FOR RIVET USED IN THE MAKING OR REPAIR OF ARMOUR.
ARMING POINTS
LEATHER DISCS ATTACHED TO ARMOUR SO THAT IT COULD BE LACED TO THE GAMBESON, HAUBERK, OR ANOTHER PIECE OF ARMOUR. GENERALLY THESE PIECES OF LEATHER WERE RELATIVELY THIN AND FLEXIBLE AND FEATURED TWO HOLES TO ALLOW A LACING TO PASS THROUGH AND BE TIED OFF.
ARMING SQUIRE
THE SQUIRE WHOSE DUTIES INCLUDED ACCOMPANYING HIS KNIGHT TO WAR, CARING FOR HIS GEAR, AND HELPING HIM TO PUT ON HIS ARMOUR. GENERALLY A FIVE YEAR APPRENTICESHIP FROM AGE 13 TO 18. SOMETIMES THE ARMING SQUIRES WOULD ACCOMPANY THEIR KNIGHT AS PART OF HIS LANCE, OR HOUSEHOLD UNIT. THESE DUTIES ARE DISTINGUISHED FROM THE SQUIRE OF THE TABLE, WHOSE DUTIES WERE GENERALLY HELD TO DRESSING THE KNIGHT AND SERVING AT TABLE, FUNCTIONS FOR YOUNGER SQUIRES AND SOMETIMES BY PAGES. THERE IS NOT ALWAYS A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TWO. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #8.
ARMORICA
ANCIENT NAME 'ON THE SEA' IN THE BRETON LANGUAGE, OFTEN CONFUSED WITH AMONICA IN NORTHERN WALES. GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH MADE THIS ERROR, PLACING THE EVENTS OF KING ARTHUR ON THE CONTINENT RATHER THAN IN WALES, WHERE THEY MAKE MORE SENSE.
ARMORY
A PLACE FOR STORING WEAPONS AND ARMOUR. SOMETIMES THIS CAN MEAN A ROYAL STOREHOUSE, AS IN THE ROYAL ARMOURIES IN THE TOWER OF LONDON OR IN GRATZ, AUSTRIA, OR MORE GENERALLY ANY STOREHOUSE IN A CASTLE OR STRONGHOLD. IT CAN ALSO MEAN A WORKSHOP IN WHICH ARMS ARE MADE OR REPAIRED, AND LASTLY, THE CORRECT TERM FOR ALL THINGS RELATING TO A HERALD. IN MODERN USAGE ARMORIES REPAIR AND BUILD FIREARMS.
ARMOUR (ARMOR)
THE DEFENSE OF THE KNIGHT AGAINST THE WEAPONS OF HIS OPPONENTS, CONSISTING OF HIS COMPLETE HARNESS. OFTEN THIS WAS USED ONLY TO DENOTE THE "HARD" BITS OF THE HARNESS, THE HARDENED LEATHER OR PLATE DEFENSES, RATHER THAN THE SOFTER ARMING GARMENTS, THOUGH SOMETIMES LAYERED CLOTH WAS ALSO USED AS THE SOLE DEFENSE, AS IN A JUPON. I USE THE ENGLISH SPELLING WITH THE "-OUR" RATHER THAN THE AMERICANIZED VERSION TO DENOTE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MODERN ARMORED COMBAT VEHICLES (E.G. TANKS) AND ARMOUR THAT IS MEANT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL MEDIEVAL SOLDIER.
ARMOUR, AS INSURANCE
KILLING KNIGHTS WHO WERE OPPONENTS WAS NOT NECESSARILY THE RULE IN MEDIEVAL CONFLICTS. IN WAR, A KNIGHT WEARING AN EXPENSIVE HARNESS MIGHT WELL BE CAPTURED RATHER THAN KILLED BOTH BECAUSE KNIGHTS TENDED TO SEE THEMSELVES AS A MORE OR LESS HOMOGENEOUS, ALMOST BROTHERLY CLASS, AND ALSO BECAUSE A RICH SUIT OF ARMOUR INDICATED THAT THE KNIGHT HAD MONEY-IT WAS MORE IN THE FINANCIAL INTEREST OF THE CAPTURING KNIGHT TO TAKE HIM ALIVE AND DEMAND A RANSOM THAN TO SLAY HIM OUTRIGHT AND LOSE THE RANSOM. FINE ARMOUR AND HORSE BOTH CONTRIBUTED TO COMMUNICATING THIS INTENT ON THE BATTLEFIELD, THOUGH IT WAS NOT ALWAYS EFFECTIVE, AS AT AGINCOURT WHEN MORE THAN 1,500 KNIGHTS WERE SLAIN OUTRIGHT FOLLOWING THE BATTLE.   
ARMOUR, BUYING
DURING THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES, ARMOUR COULD BE PURCHASED FROM GUILD MEMBERS IN MAJOR CITIES, RETRIEVED FROM LESS FORTUNATE MEN-AT-ARMS FROM BATTLEGROUNDS, OR IMPORTED FROM ARMOURING CENTERS, ESPECIALLY IN ITALY AND GERMANY, BOTH VERY HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTION CENTERS DURING THE PERIOD. MODERN COLLECTORS AND RE-ENACTORS HAVE TWO MAIN OPTIONS. THEY CAN PURCHASE REAL PIECES FROM AUCTION HOUSES SUCH AS SOTHEBY'S OR CHRISTIES, OR THEY CAN ORDER REPRODUCTION PIECES FROM THE THRIVING ARTISTS WORKING WITH TOURNAMENT SOCIETIES ALL OVER THE WORLD. IF YOU ARE BUYING ARMOUR TO USE IN A TOURNAMENT RE-ENACTMENT, BE SURE THAT YOU TELL THE ARMOURER WHAT USE YOU INTEND TO PUT THE ARMOUR TO SO THAT APPROPRIATE SAFETY STANDARDS CAN BE MET. GENERALLY REPRODUCTION ARMOUR CAN BE MADE IN LEVEL OF AUTHENTICITY, DETAIL, AND TECHNIQUE ACCORDING TO BOTH THE SKILL OF THE ARTISAN AND THE DESIRE AND/OR POCKETBOOK OF THE CUSTOMER.  
ARMOUR, DECORATION OF
MEDIEVAL ARMOUR, EVEN ARMOUR MEANT FOR WAR, WAS OFTEN DECORATED WHEN THE KNIGHT WAS WEALTHY ENOUGH TO PAY THE ENORMOUS COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH EMBELLISHMENT. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY, PLATE ARMOUR WAS RARELY DECORATED. LEATHER ARMOUR WAS OFTEN TOOLED; SOME SPLINTED ARMOUR MIGHT HAVE BEEN SPLINTED WITH LATTEN OR BRASS.PART OF THE REASON FOR THIS DECORATION WAS TO DISPLAY STATUS AND WEALTH, BUT ANOTHER PART WAS TO OFFER INSURANCE; A RICH ARMOUR COULD BE RANSOMED OR LED AN OPPONENT TO BELIEVE THAT THE KNIGHT HAD MONEY TO OFFER IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS FREEDOM SHOULD HE BE CAPTURED. SEE ALSO TRANSITIONAL PERIOD FOR NOTES ON 14TH CENTURY STYLISTIC ELEMENTS.  MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE 14TH CENTURY   - ENGRAVING  - ADDING BRASS, BRONZE OR LATTEN TRIM TO THE EDGES OF PIECES. SOMETIMES THIS TRIM WAS FURTHER EMBELLISHED BY THE ENGRAVING OF MOTTOES OR SIMPLE PATTERNS OR, SELDOM, EMBOSSED - USE OF COLORED LEATHER FOR STRAPPING - USE OF HERALDIC COLOR SCHEMES COORDINATED WITH STRAPPING TO CREATE A RICH VARIETY OF COLORS AND TEXTURES IN A SINGLE COMBATANTS.
ARMOUR, TECHNIQUES REQUIRED FOR BUILDING
A MIXTURE OF BLACKSMITHING, SILVERSMITHING, AND ENGINEERING, THE ARMOURER'S CHIEF TOOLS WOULD BE OF COURSE THE HAMMER AND STAKE. FLAT SHEETS OF IRON, GENERALLY PURCHASED FROM A SPECIALIST PREPARING SHEETS FOR AN ARMOURY, WOULD BE CUT INTO ROUGH SHAPES. THESE SHAPES WOULD BE DISHED, RAISED, FLUTED AND FLARED UNTIL THEY WERE GENERALLY IN SHAPE. THEN THEY WOULD BE PLANISHED AND BOUGED TO SMOOTH THEM OUT. FINALLY THEY WOULD BE HEAT-TREATED, SANDED AND POLISHED. THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE THAT FORGE-WELDING WAS BEING DONE DURING THE 14TH CENTURY; WORK DONE BY THE SWISS INSTITUTE OF ARMS AND ARMOUR IN GRANSCAY, SWITZERLAND HAS PUBLISHED SOME EXCELLENT RESEARCH ON THIS. A MODERN STUDENT OF ARMOUR WHO WANTS TO GET STARTED SHOULD INVEST FIRST IN RESEARCH BOOKS, TO BEGIN TO TRAIN HIS EYE; NEXT IN BASIC HAMMERS, STAKES AND VICES; THEN LATER IN FINISH AND WELDING EQUIPMENT. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #6.
ARMOUR, WEIGHT OF DURING THE 14TH CENTURY
THE WEIGHT OF THE WHOLE CHURBURG HARNESS IS APPROXIMATELY 28 POUNDS, INCLUDING HAUBERK, BUT TO THIS YOU MUST ADD ANOTHER 6-12 POUNDS FOR THE LEG HARNESS. NOTE THAT A FULL HARNESS DURING THE 15TH CENTURY ONLY AVERAGED 56 LBS AND THAT A MODERN INFANTRYMAN'S HARNESS WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 55 LBS. AND MOST OF THAT IS ON THE BACK, NOT DISTRIBUTED AROUND THE BODY. (SEE MALCOM VALE, WAR AND CHIVALRY) IT IS A COMPLETE MYTH THAT MEN HAD TO BE LIFTED INTO THE SADDLE WITH A CRANE!    
ARMOUR,COLLECTIONS
AROUND THE WORLD THERE ARE SEVERAL WELL NOTED MUSEUMS WHERE THE BULK OF THE SURVIVING ARMOUR PIECES MIGHT BE VIEWED.  - CHICAGO: WARREN C. HARDING COLLECTION AT THE ART INSTITUTE  - NEW YORK: METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART  (HTTP://WWW.METMUSEUM.ORG/)  - PHILADELPHIA: KIENBUSCH COLLECTION AT THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART (HTTP://LIBERTYNET.ORG/~PMA/HTML/ARMOR.HTML)  - WORCESTER, MA: THE HIGGENS ARMOURY - CHURBURG CASTLE, COLLECTION (WONDERFUL!) - GRATZ, AUSTRIA: THE GRATZ ARMOURY LEEDS: THE ROYAL ARMOURIES (FORMERLY IN THE TOWER OF LONDON) (HTTP://WWW.LEEDS.GOV.UK/TOURINFO/ATTRACT/MUSEUMS/ARMOUR.HTML)  - LONDON: THE WALLACE COLLECTION  (HTTP://WWW.DEMON.CO.UK/HERITAGE/WALLACE/)  - MADRID: THE REAL AMERIA - PARIS: THE MUSE DE L'ARM - VENICE: THE BARGELLO COLLECTION (HTTP://WWW.THAIS.IT/SCULTURA/FMNDB.HTM)  - VIENNA: THE WAFFENSAMLUNG 
ARMOURER (ARMORER)
THE ARTIST/CRAFTSMAN RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING ARMOUR. IN THE 14TH AND 15TH CENTURIES ARMOURING WAS A HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER FAMILY BUSINESS, WHERE CAREFULLY GUARDED TECHNIQUES MADE FOR A GOOD DEAL OF SECRECY AND NATIONAL JEALOUSY. FAMILIES SUCH AS THE MISSIGLIAN AND THE NEGROLI AND THE SEUSENHOFERS KEPT A HUGE INDUSTRY ALIVE FOR MORE THAN TWO CENTURIES. MODERN SCHOOLS OF ARMOURING HAVE PRODUCED SIMILAR STYLISTIC FAMILIES, WITH THE "VALERIUS SCHOOL" BEING THE MOST PROLIFIC ACROSS THE U.S.. WE USE THE ENGLISH SPELLING "-OUR" TO DISTINGUISH FROM THE KIND OF ARMORER WHO WORKS ON FIREARMS WHO IS A MACHINIST-ENGINEER/ARTIST RATHER THAN A SILVER-/BLACKSMITH / ARTIST. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #6.
ARMOURER'S MARK
THE STAMP THAT WAS PLACED ON A PIECE OF ARMOUR TO SIGNIFY THE MAKER, MUCH LIKE A HALLMARK THAT IS STILL USED ON JEWELRY. SOMETIMES THREE OR FOUR MASTER'S MARKS APPEAR ON A GIVEN PIECE, ESPECIALLY IN THE ITALIAN EXAMPLES WHERE ARMOUR SHOPS OFTEN HAD TWO OR THREE ARMOURERS WORKING ON DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE HARNESS. JOURNEYMEN AND APPRENTICES DO NOT SEEM TO HAVE HAD THEIR OWN MARKS, AND SOMETIMES A FAMILY OR GUILD MARK IS INCLUDED AS A STATEMENT OF QUALITY.  IN ENGLAND THERE REMAIN FROM THE 14TH CENTURY STATUTES THAT DELINEATE WHICH ARMOUR MAY BE STAMPED AND SOLD WITHIN LONDON AND WHICH CANNOT. THE CITY GUILD SEEMS TO HAVE HELD A STRONG CONTROL OVER THE IMPORT/EXPORT MARKET BY THIS "QUALITY" FILTER THAT COULD BE CONVENIENTLY APPLIED TO REDUCE IMPORTS OR RESTRICT UNGUILDED CRAFTSMEN. SEE CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #6.
ARMOURER, ART OF THE
THE ABILITY TO GO BEYOND THE CRAFT OF ARMOUR CREATION AND TO MAKE AN ARTISTIC STATEMENT THAT IS COMMUNICATED TO THE VIEWER THROUGH THE PIECE. FOR MORE DETAIL SEE THE ARTICLE IN CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #6.
ARMS
WEAPONS OR ARMOUR, OR A HERALDIC DEVICE.
ARPENT
A UNIT OF MEASURE MENTIONED IN THE STAR'S CHARTER--'KNIGHTS OF THE STAR SHALL NEVER FLEE MORE THAN 40 ARPENTS FROM A BATTLE....'
ARRIRE-GUARD
THE REAR-GUARD IN A 14TH CENTURY ARMY. THE LEADING DIVISION WAS KNOWN AS THE AVANT-GUARD  
ARROW-SLIT
THE NARROW OPENING IN A CASTLE WALL, A WINDOW, THROUGH WHICH ARCHERS COULD SHOOT BUT STILL HAVE SUBSTANTIAL COVER. THE INSIDE OF THE OPENING WAS OFTEN TAPERED TO ALLOW THE ARCHER A LARGER FIELD OF FIRE.
ARSOUF, BATTLE OF
RICHARD THE LIONHEART AND SALADIN FOUGHT THIS IMPORTANT BATTLE IN 1191, AS RICHARD NEEDED A PORT TO CONDUCT HIS OPERATIONS AT SEA.
ART OF COURTLY LOVE, THE
WRITTEN BY ANDREAS CAPPALLANUS BETWEEN 1174 AND 1186 FOR MARIE DE CHAMPAGNE. THE WORK SPEAKS OF THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE SEXES, PARODYING OVID'S ART OF LOVE. HE PROVIDED 31 RULES FOR LOVING, AMONGST HIS DIALOGUES AND ADVICE, HE OFFERED THE FOLLOWING: 1. MARRIAGE IS NO REAL EXCUSE FOR NOT LOVING. 2. HE WHO IS NOT JEALOUS CANNOT LOVE. 5. THAT WHICH A LOVER TAKES AGAINST THE WILL OF HIS BELOVED HAS NO RELISH. 11. IT IS NOT PROPER TO LOVE ANY WOMAN WHOM ONE WOULD BE ASHAMED TO SEEK TO MARRY. 12. A TRUE LOVER DOES NOT DESIRE TO EMBRACE ANYONE IN LOVE EXCEPT HIS BELOVED. 13. WHEN MADE PUBLIC LOVE RARELY ENDURES. 15. EVERY LOVER REGULARLY TURNS PALE IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS BELOVED. 24. EVERY ACT OF A LOVER ENDS IN THE THOUGHT OF HIS BELOVED. 26. LOVE CAN DENY NOTHING TO LOVE. 27. A LOVER CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH OF THE SOLACES OF HIS LOVE. 28. NOTHING FORBIDS ONE WOMAN FROM BEING LOVED BY TWO MEN OR ONE MAN BY TWO WOMEN.  CERTAINLY THESE RULES STRIKE US AS ODD TODAY; THEIR IMPACT ON THE MORALITY OF THE 12TH CENTURY WAS EVEN MORE RISQU. THE COURTS OF LOVE HELD BY COUNTESS MARIE, THE COUNTESSES OF NORBONNE AND FLANDERS AND ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE WERE RENOWNED FOR THEIR AMUSEMENTS; INDEED THE IDEALS OF COURTLY LOVE, WHILE EXTREME, BORE A MARK IN THE CHIVALRIC IDEALS LATER EXPRESSED IN THE ROMANCES, WHICH IN THEIR TURN, IMPACTED ON THE EXPECTATIONS SOCIETY HELD FOR KNIGHTLY CONDUCT.
ARTICULATION
THE TECHNIQUE FOR JOINING PLATES TOGETHER USING RIVETS. IN ORDER TO WORK PROPERLY, THE RIVETS MUST BE NEARLY PARALLEL AND OPTIMALLY OPPOSITE ONE ANOTHER TO WORK. FREQUENTLY, POOR ARTICULATION IS THE REASON THAT MANY REPRODUCTION HARNESSES MIGHT LOOK LIKE THE REAL THING BUT DON'T MOVE LIKE THEM. IT IS ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT ARTS FOR THE ARMOURER TO LEARN. PLATES THAT ARTICULATE TOGETHER SHOULD NOT PRODUCE GAPS, PLACES WHERE WEAPONS MIGHT FORCE THEIR WAY IN, WHERE PIECES CAN FREEZE IN AN AWKWARD POSITION (IT HAPPENS!) OR COME APART. MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT SOUNDS....
ARTILLATOR
MAKER OF BOWS, ARROWS, AND OTHER ARCHERY GOODS.
ARTILLERY
TECHNICALLY THE USE OF HEAVY MISSILES, DURING THE BULK OF THE MIDDLE AGES THE ROLE OF ARTILLERY WAS CONFINED TO USE IN THE SIEGE. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY, HOWEVER, THE ENGLISH UNDER THE GENERALSHIP OF EDWARD III EXPERIMENTED WITH COMBINED ARMS USING ARTILLERY IN THE FORM OF ARCHERS, INFANTRY AND CAVALRY WITH DEVASTATING EFFECT. CANNONS WERE KNOWN AS EARLY AS 1300, THEIR PRESENCE IS NOTED IN MANY SIEGES, SUCH AS AT HARFLEUR AND EDWARD'S SIEGE OF CALAIS IN 1346, BUT UNTIL THE EARLY 16TH CENTURY THEY HAD LITTLE EFFECT ON THE BATTLEFIELD PROPER. DURING THE 18TH CENTURY THE DEVASTATING EFFECT OF ARTILLERY GAVE IT THE NICKNAME IT STILL CARRIES TO THE CURRENT DAY, 'QUEEN OF THE BATTLEFIELD.'
ARON
A SADDLE-BOW, THE PIECE RISING IN THE FRONT OF THE SADDLE.
ASCALON, BATTLE OF
14 AUGUST 1099. OPEN FIELD ENCOUNTER BETWEEN EL-AFDAL OF EGYPT AND THE CRUSADERS OF DUKE GODFREY DE BOUILLON. GODFREY'S GENIUS FOR MANEUVER ROCKED THE SARACEN ARMY, FORCING IT BACK ONTO ITSELF, INTO THE SEA, AND UP INTO SYCAMORE TREES WHERE MANY OF THEM WERE BURNED TO DEATH. A HUGE AMOUNT OF BOOTY WAS TAKEN FROM THE SARACEN BAGGAGE TRAIN, INCLUDING THE VIZIER'S BANNER, SWORD AND ARMOUR. SCABBLING OVER THE BOOTY KEPT THE CRUSADERS FROM SEIZING THE TOWN OF ASCALON, BUT IT EARNED A POOR RENOWN FOR THE EGYPTIANS THAT WAS RECOVERED ONLY AT THE BATTLE OF RAMELAH A FEW YEARS LATER.
ASH, AS A MATERIAL FOR LANCES
SEVERAL CHRONICLES MENTION THAT ASH WAS USED AS THE MATERIAL FOR LANCES AND PIKES, BECAUSE OF ITS RESILIENT QUALITY AND EASE OF AVAILABILITY IN WESTERN EUROPE.
ASSASSINS
A RADICAL SECT OF MUSLIM SHI-ITES ORGANIZED IN THE LATE 11TH CENTURY TO FIGHT THE OPPONENTS OF ISMALI BY ANY MEANS POSSIBLE. KNOWN TO FORTIFY THEMSELVES FOR THEIR WORK USING HASHISHIN--'HASHISH', THEY CAME TO BE KNOWN IN FRENCH AS ASSASSINS, AND THE NAME BECAME SYNOMYNOUS WITH PLOTTED MURDER. THE FOLLOWERS HAD A STRONGHOLD NEAR ANTIOCH UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SINAN IBN SALMAN IBN MUHUMMAD, CALLED RASHID AD-DIN, THE OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN. IN 1192 THEY MURDERED CONRAD OF MONTFERRAT, SUPPOSEDLY AT THE BEHEST OF RICHARD LIONHEART, BUT THIS CHARGE WAS DISPROVED. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #9.
ATTEINT
A COMMON 15TH CENTURY TERM USED TO DETERMINE A HIT IN A JOUST.
AUQUETON
A KIND OF ARMING COAT WORN DURING THE 13TH - 15TH CENTURY BOTH AS A COMPLETE ARMOUR UNTO ITSELF AND AS PADDING FOR ADDITIONAL ARMOUR WORN OVER THE TOP. THEY WERE GENERALLY QUILTED, EITHER SEWN OR STUFFED WITH LINEN, TOW OR EVEN GRASS. MOST OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE 14TH CENTURY SHOW MANY BUTTONS OR LACES UP THE FRONT, AND THERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES THAT FEATURE A HIGH COLLAR TO ASSIST IN THE DEFENSE OF THE NECK. 14TH CENTURY AKETONS WERE GENERALLY CUT WIDE AROUND THE ARM HOLES IN A MANNER THAT FOLLOWED THE LINE OF THE BREASTPLATE OR CUIRASS. THESE EXTRA-LARGE ARM-HOLES SERVED TO GRANT COMPLETE MOBILITY FOR A FULL RANGE OF ARM MOTION WHILE PROVIDING A LAST-DITCH DEFENSE OF THE AREA UNDER THE ARM. I CAN FIND NO EVIDENCE OF AKETONS EVER BEING OPEN UNDER THE ARM, THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON SCA STYLE. SEE ALSO THE POURPOINT, A GARMENT WORN UNDER THE ARMING COAT USEFUL FOR ATTACHING THE LACES FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF A LEG HARNESS. A WORKABLE PATTERN FOR A 14TH CENTURY MODEL CAN BE FOUND IN CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #2.  MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE 14TH CENTURY - 1300-1350 KNIGHTS WORE THE HAUBERGEON OVER THEIR AKETON - 1350-1400 AKETON SHORTENED AND BEGINS TO BE WORN UNDER THE JUPON, SOMETIMES THE ONLY BODY DEFENSE. STRONGLY WASP-WAISTED FORM COMMON TO THE PERIOD. - 1350-1400 SLEEVES WERE SOMETIMES "BANANA SLEEVED" OR BALLOONING OUT OR WERE NARROW SO AS TO FIT UNDER THE ARM HARNESS. BOTH SEEM POPULAR FOR THE ENTIRE PERIOD.
AVALON, ISLE OF
ASSOCIATED WITH THE ISLE OF MAN IN THE IRISH SEA, THE ISLE IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH GLASTONBURY, WHERE THE BODY OF KING ARTHUR WAS SAID TO REST.
AVANT-GUARD
THE FIRST DIVISION IN A 14TH CENTURY ARMY, ALSO KNOWN AS THE 'VANGUARD'. THE REAR-GUARD WAS KNOWN AS THE ARRIRE-GUARD.
AVENTAIL
A SKIRT OF MAIL ATTACHED TO A BASCINET OR ARMET DURING THE 14TH AND 15TH CENTURIES. IT DEFENDS THE NECK FROM ATTACK, USUALLY HANGING TO AT LEAST 1" BELOW THE SHOULDER POINT FOR BASCINETS. GENERALLY IT WAS ATTACHED TO A LEATHER CUFF THAT WRAPPED AROUND THE BASE OF THE BASCINET AND UP THE CHEEKS, WHICH WAS PIERCED WITH HOLES AND LACED TO THE HELMET THROUGH VERVELLES.
AZURE
HERALDIC FOR 'BLUE.'
BABIECA
THE STEED OF EL CID.
BACELE
TEN LANCES OF CAVALRY FORMING A DIVISION OF APPROXIMATELY 600 KNIGHTS.
BACHELIER
BACHELOR KNIGHT. BEFORE A KNIGHT SETTLED AND ATTRACTED FOLLOWERS, THEY HELD THE RANK OF BACHELIER. THEY MIGHT THEN GO OUT AT WAR OR TOURNEY OR JUST ADVENTURING, SIMILAR TO THE ERRANT KNIGHT OF ROMANTIC HISTORY. SEE ALSO KNIGHT BANNERET.
BACKPLATE
ARMOUR FOR THE BACK. SEE THE PARTICULAR KINDS OF BREASTPLATE, BRIGANDINES, CUIRASSES AND COATS OF PLATES FOR A MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION.
BADGE
A MARK OF DISTINCTION, SIMILAR TO A COAT OF ARMS, A SUPPLEMENTAL CHARGE OFTEN USED TO MARK MILITARY UNITS OR OTHER MORE INFORMAL GROUPS OF SOLDIERS OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS. FEUDAL LORDS OFTEN GAVE HOUSEHOLD BADGES TO THEIR MEN, TOKENS OF CLOTH OR, MORE ELABORATELY, OF JEWELRY WORN AS A MARK OF DISTINCTION TO IDENTIFY THEM WITH THE NOBLE.
BAILEY
A PALISADED ENCLOSURE, PART OF EARLY CASTLES, ANY AREA SURROUNDED BY A WALLED ENCLOSURE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE DEFENSE. SEE ALSO WARD.
BAILIFF
AN OUTSIDER FREQUENTLY EMPLOYED BY A FEUDAL LORD TO LOOK AFTER HIS ESTATES. SUCH MEN COLLECTED RENTS, MANAGED THE PRODUCTION OF THE HOLDINGS, PROTECTING THE LORD'S INTERESTS ON THE ESTATE IN HIS ROLE AS FREEMAN. ONCE PER YEAR AN AUDIT WOULD GENERALLY BE HELD, TO BE CERTAIN THAT THE BAILIFF, A MAN OF GREAT POWER IN THE ABSENCE OF THE RIGHTFUL LORD, WOULD BE CHECKED. BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR TREACHERY, LARCENY, AND ABUSE, BAILIFFS WERE GENERALLY VERY WELL PAID.
BAILIWICK
THE AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR A SHERIFF, RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING THE PEACE AND FOR ENFORCING THE ROYAL LAWS.
BALEYN
A MEDIEVAL WORD FOR THE WHALEBONE USED FOR WEAPONS AND ARMOUR DURING THE 14TH CENTURY.
BALINGER
A SMALL GALLEY ABLE TO MANEUVER ON RIVERS AND, IN THE LATER MIDDLE AGES, KNOWN FOR SPEED, USED AS A SMALL WARSHIP.
BANDA, ORDER OF THE
[
BANDORELLE
A SMALL STREAMER ATTACHED TO THE HEAD OF A LANCE, CALLED A 'PENCIL' IN ENGLISH.
BANNER
A KNIGHT WHO LED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF TROOPS INTO BATTLE WAS ENTITLED TO CARRY A BANNER. THIS BANNER, EMBLAZONED WITH HIS DEVICE OR A BADGE OR A RECOGNIZABLE SYMBOL, WAS USEFUL FOR RALLYING TROOPS INN THE CONFUSION OF BATTLE. THE FORM OF THE BANNER WAS LARGELY DEPENDENT UPON THE RANK OF THE KNIGHT AND SIZE OF HIS CONTINGENT. KNIGHTS WITH SMALL HOUSEHOLD UNITS, CALLED LANCES OR ON THEIR OWN TYPICALLY BORE A SMALL TRIANGULAR PENNANT RATHER THAN A BANNER. KNIGHTS WITH LARGER GROUPS WERE KNOWN AS KNIGHTS BANNERET, A RANK THAT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN VAGUELY FORMALIZED DURING THE 14TH CENTURY. SEE CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #11.
BANNERETTE, BANNERET
THE RANK OF A KNIGHT JUST ABOVE THE BACHELIER, OR BACHELOR KNIGHT. THE KNIGHT BANNERET WAS A UNIT LEADER OF A GROUP LARGER THAN A LANCE (TEN OR LESS).
BANNERS DISPLAYED
TO DECLARE OPEN WARFARE AGAINST ONE'S LIEGE LORD, AS IN THE 1322 INCIDENT WHEN ROGER DAMORY WAS ACCUSED OF SUCH IN A COURT OF CHIVALRY (THOUGH IT WAS NOT CALLED THAT AT THAT TIME) UNDER THE CONSTABLE AND MARSHAL.
BANNOCKBURN, BATTLE OF
THE BATTLE NEAR STIRLING, 23 JUNE 1314, WHERE THE ENGLISH, COMMANDED BY EDWARD II, WAS DEFEATED BY ROBERT BRUCE, KING OF SCOTLAND. THE ENGLISH SET OUT TO RELIEVE STIRLING CASTLE, BUT THE ENGLISH CAVALRY, MET BY THE SCOTS IN THE FORTH VALLEY PLAIN. BOTH SIDES PREPARED FOR A MORNING BATTLE. THE SCOTS, USING SPEARS, MANAGED TO CATCH THE ENGLISH CAVALRY BETWEEN THE TWO RIVERS AND CUT TO PIECES. ONLY BERWICK REMAINED IN ENGLISH HANDS; THE LEGEND OF ROBERT THE BRUCE CARRYING SCOTLAND CLOSER TO INDEPENDENCE.
BANS
A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OR PROCLAMATION, 'BANS' WERE OFTEN 'CRIED' FOR AN UPCOMING MARRIAGE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE TIME FOR ANY OBJECTORS TO COME FORWARD. OFTEN THE BANS WERE CRIED 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE. FOR TOURNAMENTS, BANS WERE OFTEN ISSUED TELLING OF THE TIME AND PLACE OF THE TOURNAMENT. SEE CRY THE TOURNAMENT.
BAR
IN HERALDRY, AN ORDINARY STRIPE, CROSSING THE CENTER OF THE HERALDIC FIELD IN A HORIZONTAL MANNER. NORMALLY IT OCCUPIES 1/3 OF THE SHIELD.
BARBICAN
AN APPROACH TO A TOWN OR CASTLE WHICH IS DEFENDED BY A FIELD OF FIRE FROM ONE OR MORE TOWERS, GENERALLY TWO. THE BARBICAN ITSELF, AN OUTCROPPING FROM THE GATEHOUSE, ALLOWED APPROACH TO THE GATE ONLY THROUGH A NARROW, EASILY DEFENDED PASSAGE.
BARBUTE
THE ITALIAN HELMET DERIVED FROM THE BASCINET RECALLING THE CORINTHIAN STYLE HELMETS POPULAR IN THE GREEK EMPIRE. CHARACTERIZED BY A ROUNDED SKULL; A "T-SHAPED" OPENING FOR THE FACE, SOMETIMES EXPANDED INTO A FULLY OPEN FACE; A STRONGLY FLARED TAIL AND CHEEK PIECES ALL EXECUTED TO FORM A VERY ELEGANT, FLOWING DEFENSE FOR THE HEAD. EARLY BARBUTES FEATURED AN OPEN FACE, AND CAN BE FOUND AS EARLY AS 1410; USUALLY THEY WERE RESTRICTED TO THE ITALIAN PENINSULA OR ON ARMOURS INTENDED FOR EXPORT BY ITALIAN ARMOURIES. THEY SEEM TO HAVE BEEN MADE IN VENICE AND IN MILAN-THE FINEST EXAMPLES ARE OF THE MISSIGLIAN SCHOOL. POPULAR DURING THE MIDDLE YEARS OF THE 15TH CENTURY, THEY WERE SEEN ON THE FIELD EITHER POLISHED OR COVERED IN CLOTH, SOMETIMES VELVET, WHICH WAS IN TURN SOMETIMES COVERED WITH CHASED BRONZE OR LATTEN FLORAL ADORNMENT.
BARDED
AN ARMOURED WARHORSE.
BARDI
FLORENTINE BANKERS WHO LOANED THE ENGLISH CROWN MONEY TO SUPPORT MILITARY OPERATIONS FROM THE LATE 13TH CENTURY UNTIL THE 1340S. FOLLOWING EDWARD III'S DEFAULT, THE FAMILY WENT BANKRUPT WITHIN TEN YEARS.
BARDING
THE DEFENSE FOR THE HORSE, SOMETIMES REFERRING TO THE ARMOUR AND SOMETIMES REFERRING TO THE CLOTH DECORATION THAT SERVED TO IDENTIFY THE OWNER. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY ARMOUR FOR THE HORSE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN USUALLY RESTRICTED TO THE CHAMFRON FOR THE HEAD AND THE CRINET FOR THE NECK, BUT THERE ARE ALSO REFERENCES TO CUIRBOILLE ARMOURS. NO ARMOUR FROM THIS PERIOD HAS SURVIVED, SADLY. DURING THE 15TH CENTURY, AS THE KNIGHT HIMSELF ADOPTED THE FULL WHITE HARNESS, THE HORSE WAS ALSO SOMETIMES FULLY ARMOURED. SEE ESPECIALLY THE VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF A GERMAN "GOTHIC" HARNESS IN THE WALLACE COLLECTION, LONDON.
BARGE
A MEDIUM-SIZED SEA-VESSEL. SEE ALSO SHIPS.
BARGELLO COLLECTION
THE ARMOUR COLLECTION IN VENICE, ITALY, FEATURING MANY FINE BARBUTES, BASCINETS, AND IN PARTICULAR A VERY FINE SET OF GAUNTLETS THAT ARE A MATCH TO THE CHURBURG #13 HARNESS, THE FIRST HOMOGENEOUS HARNESS KNOWN. THESE GAUNTLETS FEATURE LATTEN WORK ON THE CUFF, METACARPAL, AND ALONG THE EDGE OF THE GAUNTLET. THEY ARE WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST EXAMPLES KNOWN OF 14TH CENTURY GAUNTLETS. WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.THAIS.IT/SCULTURA/FMNDB.HTM
BARNET, BATTLE OF
IMPORTANT BATTLE IN THE WARS OF THE ROSES, IN WHICH RICHARD NEVILLE, THE 'KINGMAKER ', WAS SLAIN ON 14 APRIL, 1471. EDWARD IV'S VICTORIOUS TROOPS DESTROYED THEIR OPPONENTS, SLAYING A REPORTED 30,000.
BARON
AFTER 1066, THE TENANTS-IN-CHIEF WHO HELD THEIR LANDS DIRECTLY FROM THE KING. GRADUALLY, A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE GREATER AND LESSER BARONS EMERGED, SO THAT BY THE LATE 13TH CENTURY THE GREATER BARONS BEGAN TO ATTEND PARLIAMENT UNDER SUMMONS FROM THE KING. THE FIRST USE OF THE STYLE 'BARON' IN AN INDIVIDUAL'S NAME CAME IN 1387. THE BARON RANKS IN PRECEDENCE BELOW A COUNT, CARRYING THE TITLE 'YOUR EXCELLENCY.'  IN THE SCA, A BARON IS A REGIONAL LORD RESPONSIBLE FOR A UNIT, GENERALLY A CITY. 'LANDED' BARONS ARE THUS ATTACHED TO A CITY, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THOSE LANDS. 'COURT' BARONS HAVE NO SUCH LAND, AND ARE GRANTED THE TITLE AS A COURTESY GRANT, USUALLY FOR SERVICE TO THE CROWN OR KINGDOM.
BARONESS
WIFE OF A BARON OR A WOMAN WHO HELD A BARONY IN HER OWN RIGHT; IN LITERATURE 'BARONESS' GENERALLY REFERS TO A HOLDER IN HER OWN RIGHT, WHILE THE TITLE 'LADY' IS RESERVED FOR BARONS' WIVES.
BARONET
A POST-MEDIEVAL TITLE CREATED BY JAMES I ON MAY 22, 1611, RANKING BELOW A PEER AND ABOVE A KNIGHT.
BARREL
A MEASURE FOR DRY-GOODS--  ALE - 32 GALLONS BEER - 36 GALLONS WINE - 31.5 GALLONS HERRING OR EELS - 30 GALLONS FULLY PACKED SALMON - 42 GALLONS BUTTER - 256 LBS SOUP - 280 LBS
BARRIER (COMBAT OVER THE)
DEPICTED OCCASIONALLY IN MANUSCRIPT REFERENCES, MOST OF THE 14TH CENTURY EXAMPLES SEEM TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE DURING A SIEGE. THE GATEWAY TO A CASTLE IS OPENED, AFTER A WOODEN BARRICADE, RESEMBLING A CONVENTIONAL WOODEN FENCE, HAS BEEN SET UP AROUND THE OPENING. THIS SERVES TO KEEP THE CASTLE FROM BEING OVERRUN DURING THE " PLAISANCE" ENGAGEMENT. IN THE SURVIVING ILLUSTRATION, KNIGHTS COMPETE WITH SPEARS ONLY, ON FOOT. SOME OF THEM ARE WOUNDED, BUT THERE ARE NO SERIOUS INJURIES. DURING THE 15TH CENTURY COMBATS OVER THE BARRIERS BECAME A PART OF THE PAS D'ARMES, GAINING IN POPULARITY AS THE CENTURY PROGRESSED. THEY REMAINED IN FASHION EVEN DURING THE 16TH CENTURY, WHEN ELABORATE GARNITURES WERE CONSTRUCTED.
BARRIERS (COMBAT OVER THE)
DEPICTED OCCASIONALLY IN MANUSCRIPT REFERENCES, MOST OF THE 14TH CENTURY EXAMPLES SEEM TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE DURING A SIEGE. THE GATEWAY TO A CASTLE IS OPENED, AFTER A WOODEN BARRICADE, RESEMBLING A CONVENTIONAL WOODEN FENCE, HAS BEEN SET UP AROUND THE OPENING. THIS SERVES TO KEEP THE CASTLE FROM BEING OVERRUN DURING THE " PLAISANCE" ENGAGEMENT. IN THE SURVIVING ILLUSTRATION, KNIGHTS COMPETE WITH SPEARS ONLY, ON FOOT. SOME OF THEM ARE WOUNDED, BUT THERE ARE NO SERIOUS INJURIES. DURING THE 15TH CENTURY COMBATS OVER THE BARRIERS BECAME A PART OF THE PAS D'ARMES, GAINING IN POPULARITY AS THE CENTURY PROGRESSED. THEY REMAINED IN FASHION EVEN DURING THE 16TH CENTURY, WHEN ELABORATE GARNITURES WERE CONSTRUCTED.
BASCINET
THE HELMET THAT EVOLVED OUT OF THE CERVELLAIRE, A SMALL "SKULL CAP" WORN UNDER THE GREAT HELM, BY EXTENDING THE PLATE DOWN OVER THE NECK AND CHEEKS. GRADUALLY THE GREAT HELM WAS DISCARDED ALTOGETHER IN FAVOR OF THE BASCINET BECAUSE OF THE SUPERIOR VISION, GLANCING SURFACE, AND LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN. EARLY BASCINETS HAD NO VISORS, BUT BY THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE 14TH CENTURY THEY WERE FITTED WITH KLAPPVISIERS, VISORS, USING A CENTRALIZED HINGE SYSTEM. MANY OF THESE HINGES WERE EASILY REMOVED, POSSIBLY MEANING THAT THEY WERE INTENDED TO BE DISCARDED AFTER THE BATTLE WAS JOINED. DURING THE 1370S VISORS BEGAN TO BE ATTACHED TO THE SIDE OF THE HELMET, A MORE SECURE ATTACHMENT SYSTEM THAT OFTEN ALLOWED THE VISOR TO PIVOT COMPLETELY BACK AROUND THE HELMET, MEANING THAT IT MIGHT NOT BE LOST IN BATTLE. DURING THE 1390S STEEL VENTAILS GRADUALLY REPLACED THE MAIL AVENTAIL THAT HAD BEEN FITTED ALONGSIDE THE KLAPPVISIER TO DEFEND THE NECK, CREATING A NEW KIND OF HELMET, THE GREAT BASCINET, POPULAR ESPECIALLY IN THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR IN BOTH FRANCE AND ENGLAND. MANY EXAMPLES CAN BE SEEN IN FUNERY EFFIGIES OF THE PERIOD. THIS INNOVATION OF HINGED NECK DEFENSES GRADUALLY EVOLVED INTO THE ARMET, THE DOMINANT HELMET OF THE 15TH CENTURY. THE BASCINET ITSELF WAS POPULAR THROUGHOUT EUROPE DURING THE 14TH CENTURY, SHOWING A GREAT VARIETY OF FORMS WITHIN THE STYLE. IT IS NOW THE MOST POPULAR HELMET IN THE SCA BECAUSE OF THE PRONOUNCED GLANCING SURFACE, EASE WITH WHICH A GRILLE MAY BE ATTACHED AND INTERCHANGED WITH A VISOR, SUPERIOR DEFENSE FOR THE HEAD AND NECK, AND SLEEK APPEARANCE. SEE CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #12.
BASELARD
A KNIFE OR SHORT SWORD BEARING A HILT IN THE SHAPE OF THE LETTER 'I', ORIGINATING IN SOUTHERN GERMANY DURING THE LATE 13TH CENTURY. IT QUICKLY BECAME THE WEAPON OF CHOICE FOR MANY FOOTSOLDIERS.
BASKET-HILT
[
BASSE-PRIME
THE TIME JUST AFTER THE BREAK OF THE DAY (PRIME). SEE ALSO CANONICAL HOURS.
BASTARDSWORD
THE MODERN WORD FOR A HAND AND A HALF SWORD. THESE BLADES, POPULAR DURING THE 15TH CENTURY, WERE GENERALLY BETWEEN 44" & 50" IN LENGTH, BUT FEATURED AN EXTENDED HANDLE THAT ALLOWED THE BLADE TO BE USED IN TWO HANDS, ALTHOUGH IT WAS SHORT ENOUGH TO WIELD ONE HANDED IF REQUIRED.
BASTION
ANY OUTCROPPING ON A CASTLE.
BATH, KNIGHT OF THE
[
BATTERING RAM
RAM DESIGNED TO POUND DOWN THE GATE ON A BESIEGED CASTLE.
BATTLE (BATAILLE)
FR. A FORMATION OF COMBATANTS CONSISTING OF SEVERAL CONROIS, DRAWN INTO A FORMATION TWO OR THREE MEN DEEP AND FIFTY OR SIXTY WIDE.
BATTLE CRY
THE SHOUTED EXPRESSION OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND TO SUMMON AID DURING OR BEFORE A BATTLE. THE BATTLE-CRIES OF THE NOBILITY, OFTEN USED FOR RALLYING TROOPS, EVENTUALLY BECAME THE MOTTOES OF THOSE SAME FAMILIES.
BATTLE-AXES
OFTEN CITED IN TOURNAMENT DECLARATIONS OF THE 14TH AND 15TH CENTURY, I TEND TO THINK THAT THIS TERM REFERRED TO POLE-AXES, SINCE ILLUSTRATIONS GENERALLY SHOW KNIGHTS ON FOOT COMPETING WITH THESE WEAPONS.
BATTLEMENT
A PARAPET OR CRENELLATIONS IN A CASTLE, HELPFUL IN PROTECTING THE DEFENDERS.
BAYARD
STEED OF INCREDIBLE SPEED GIVEN BY CHARLEMAGNE TO RENAUD AND THE OTHER SONS OF AYMON. THE HORSE WAS NORMALLY THE REGULAR SIZE, BUT COULD ELONGATE TO ACCOMMODATE ALL FOUR BROTHERS.
BAYEAUX TAPESTRY
[
BEAR-PIT STYLE TOURNAMENT
AN SCA FORM OF TOURNAMENT WHERE EACH COMBATANT MAY CHALLENGE ANY OTHER COMBATANT. SOMETIMES, A VICTORY IS ACCORDED A SET NUMBER OF POINTS, OTHER TIMES THEY CAN GAIN POINTS ACCORDING TO THE RANK OF THE DEFEATED OPPONENT. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE POINTS ARE TALLIED TO DETERMINE A VICTOR. TRADITIONALLY, IT IS HELD THAT THIS FORM OF TOURNAMENT IS BEST FOR ENDURANCE, THAT THE ABILITY TO GO THE FURTHEST IS THE BEST METHOD TO VICTORY.
BEAU-FRRE
'GOOD FELLOW', A TERM OF ENDEARMENT POPULAR DURING THE 14TH CENTURY.
BEAU-SANT!
BATTLE CRY OF THE TEMPLARS, THE MOTTO THEY BORE ON THEIR BANNER.
BENEFICE
A POSITION IN THE CHURCH WITH LANDS A BENEFITS ATTACHED.
BERFROIS
A GRANDSTAND, USUALLY BUILT A FULL STORY ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE LISTS, HOUSING THE LADIES AND OTHER NOBLE SPECTATORS OF THE GALLERY FOR A HASTILUDE OR TOURNAMENT. ALSO KNOWN AS A SCAFFOLD OR ESCAFAUT.
BESAGEWS
SMALL ROUND "SHIELDS" THAT WERE LACED TO THE MAIL AT THE SHOULDER TO DEFEND THE ARMPIT. DEVELOPED AS AUGMENTATION TO MAIL DEFENSES IN THE LATE 13TH CENTURY, THEY FADED IN POPULARITY DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE 14TH CENTURY, DISAPPEARING COMPLETELY BY 1350 AS SPAULDERS BEGAN TO SERVE THE SAME PURPOSE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME DEFENDING THE SHOULDER JOINT ITSELF. DURING THE LATTER HALF OF THE 15TH CENTURY THEY MADE A COMEBACK, ADDED OCCASIONALLY TO TOURNEY GARNITURES DURING THE EARLY 16TH CENTURY.
BEVOR,  BUFF,  BEVIER
A CUPPED DEFENSE FOR THE CHIN ATTACHED TO A GORGET. POPULAR WITH SALLETS DONE IN THE GERMAN STYLE, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE ALSO FITTED TO ITALIAN EXAMPLES, ESPECIALLY ON ARMOURS INTENDED FOR EXPORT.
BISHOP
A RANK IN THE MEDIEVAL CHURCH, USUALLY PRESIDING OVER A DIOCESE OR SEE, BEARING THE TITLE 'EXCELLENCY '.
BLACK
IN HERALDRY, KNOWN AS 'SABLE ', A COLOR AS OPPOSED TO A METAL.
BLACK ADDER
THE EXTRAORDINARILY SNARKY BRITISH SITCOM THAT PLACES THE MAIN CHARACTER, ROWEN ATKINSON, IN THE ROLE OF A STEADILY DECLINING MEMBER OF THE GENTRY, FIRST AS RICHARD III, THEN AS AN ELIZABETHAN NOBLEMAN, NEXT AS THE PRINCE OF WALES BUTLER IN THE ENGLISH REGENCY, THE 'NICEST MAN IN ENGLAND' UNTIL VISITED BY THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, AND LASTLY, A CAPTAIN IN WW I IN BLACK ADDER GOES FORTH. THE SERIES WAS IMMENSELY POPULAR WITH TOURNAMENT RE-ENACTORS.
BLACK ARMOUR, EVIDENCE FOR
THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME GROUNDS TO THE RUMOR THAT THE ARMOUR OF EDMUND, PRINCE OF WALES, WAS ACTUALLY FINISHED WITH A BLACK POLISH. ALTHOUGH HE WAS NOT GIVEN THE NAME "THE BLACK PRINCE" UNTIL AFTER HIS DEATH, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS REPRESENTS A FINISH USED DURING THE 14TH CENTURY. HOWEVER, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF MANUSCRIPT ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE 14TH CENTURY, AND THEY ALMOST ALWAYS DEPICT THE ARMOUR AS SATIN OR GLOSS FINISHED.  DURING THE 15TH CENTURY BLACK FINISHES ON ARMOUR BECOME COMMONPLACE IN MANUSCRIPT ILLUSTRATIONS, ALTHOUGH IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THIS IS PAINT OR SOME KIND OF CONTROLLED OXIDATION PROCESS. MODERN ARMOURERS HAVE USED BLACK OXIDE FINISHES DONE THROUGH COMMERCIAL HOUSES TO APPROXIMATE THIS EFFECT, BUT I HAVE ONLY SEEN ONE ACTUAL PIECE WITH SOMETHING APPROACHING THIS FINISH, A GOTHIC COMPOSITE HARNESS HELD IN THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, C. 1480 OR SO. I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER THE FINISH IS ORIGINAL OR NOT. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THIS IS A ROUGH FINISH DIRECT FROM THE HAMMER OR FROM HEAT TREATING, LEFT ON LOW-QUALITY MUNITIONS PIECES TO REDUCE COSTS.
BLACK DEATH
THE PLAGUE, BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN BUBONIC PLAGUE, SWEPT WESTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE 14TH CENTURY, KILLING 1/3 OF THE POPULATION OF 20 MILLION PEOPLE. IN ADDITION TO THE SOCIAL AND PERSONAL UPHEAVAL THE PLAGUE BROUGHT, IT ALSO DESTROYED THE ECONOMY OF THE AREAS STRUCK, INCREASING THE PRICE OF LABOR AND REDUCING THE VALUE OF LAND.
BLANC
14TH CENTURY FRENCH SILVER COIN.
BLANCHART
A COMMON FRENCH NAME FOR A WHITE HORSE, FOUND IN MANY ROMANCES.
BLAZON
THE CORRECT TERM FOR DESCRIBING HERALDIC ARMS IN THEIR ARMORIAL BEARING.
BLEEDING LANCE
A LANCE THAT FIRST APPEARS IN CHRTIEN DE TROYES' PERCEVAL, WHERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE GRAIL IN A CEREMONY AT THE FISHER KING'S CASTLE. THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ROMANCES, THE SPEAR REMAINED A SYMBOLIC PART OF THE GRAIL LEGEND, EVENTUALLY BECOMING THE SPEAR THAT PIERCED CHRIST'S SIDE. THE LANCE WOULD ISSUE A DROP OF BLOOD FROM THE TIP, TO WHICH IN THE VULGATE CYCLE IT WAS ATTRIBUTED TWO ELEMENTS OF HOLINESS: WRATH AND MERCY.  
BLOOD CHANNEL,  BLOOD GROOVE
THE ERRONEOUS NAME GIVEN TO THE FULLER OF A SWORD BLADE BY MORE FANCIFUL MODERN WRITERS.
BLOOMERY PROCESS
ALSO KNOWN AS THE 'DIRECT REDUCTION' METHOD OF SMELTING IRON, THIS PROCESS WAS KNOWN FROM AS EARLY AS 900 B.C. THE ORE IS HEATED IN A LOW, CYLINDRICAL SHAFT FURNACE, CONSTRUCTED OF STONE, FUELED WITH CHARCOAL, AND FANNED WITH A BELLOWS TO A TEMPERATURE FROM 1100-1220 DEGREES C AND REDUCED DIRECTLY TO A SPONGY LUMP, PRODUCING IRON ORE AND LARGE QUANTITES OF SLAG. THOUGH NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL THE 15TH CENTURY, THIS IRON COULD BE CONVERTED TO STEEL BY LEAVING IT WITHIN THE FURNACE FOR A LONGER TIME, SO THAT THE IRON SPENT MORE TIME IN CONTACT WITH CARBON MONOXIDE GAS.
BODY,  DEFENSE OF
PRIOR TO THE LATE 13TH CENTURY, THE KNIGHT DEFENDED HIS BODY WITH A COMBINATION DEFENSE OF MAIL AND UNDERLYING PADDED AKETON. AT THE VERY END OF THE CENTURY WE BEGIN TO FIND REFERENCES TO COTES OF PLATES BEING OCCASIONALLY WORN IN ADDITION TO THE HAUBERK DEFENSE. BY 1350 THE COTE OF PLATES SEEMS TO HAVE PROGRESSED MORE USUALLY INTO A SINGLE GLOBULAR DEFENSE, A BREASTPLATE COVERED OR POLISHED. BY THE END OF THE CENTURY, THE BREAST AND BACKPLATE HAD ADVANCED TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WERE FULLY ENCOMPASSING, AND WITH THE ADDITION OF FAULDS DEFENDED NOT ONLY THE BODY BUT THE HIPS AS WELL. DURING THE 15TH CENTURY THIS DEFENSE WAS REFINED ONLY BY DEGREE; THE BASIC SOLUTION DERIVED IN THE LATTER 14TH CENTURY SERVED WELL UNTIL THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE 16TH C..   MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE 14TH CENTURY - 1275-1350 THE COTE OF PLATES FEATURES THE USE OF SEVERAL LARGE PLATES RIVETED TO THE INSIDE, OR VERY OCCASIONALLY, TO THE OUTSIDE OF A CLOTH COVERING. - 1335-1370 THE GLOBOSE BREASTPLATE DEVELOPS, AT FIRST COVERED WITH CLOTH BUT LATER A POLISHED PIECE OF IRON IN ONE OR MORE (OFTEN 2) PIECES. BACKPLATES STILL USUALLY FORMED FROM SEVERAL LARGE PLATES COVERED IN CLOTH. - 1350-1380 GUARD CHAINS SOMETIMES ATTACHED FROM THE BREASTPLATE, SWORD, DAGGER AND HELMET TO PREVENT LOSS. - 1360-1400 BRIGANDINES, DERIVED FROM THE COTE OF PLATES, ALSO FIND WIDE USE. THE SIZE OF THE INDIVIDUAL PLATES DECREASES AS THE BRIGANDINE PROGRESSES, UNTIL DURING THE LATE 15TH CENTURY THEY BECOME A COAT USING HUNDREDS OF VERY SMALL PLATES, A JACK. - 1370'S CLOTH COVERED BREASTPLATES DISAPPEAR,COVERED HIP DEFENSES NOW TAKING THE FORM OF FAULDS ATTACHED DIRECTLY TO THE BREASTPLATE. SOMETIMES BREASTPLATES ARE WORN WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL DEFENSE FOR THE BACK OR HIPS EXCEPT FOR THAT PROVIDED BY THE PADDED GAMBESON OR JUPON. - 1400 THE FULL CUIRASS IS DEVELOPED IN ALL DETAILS.
BOLTS,  CROSSBOW
SHORTENED ARROWS USED IN ARBALESTS, SMALL STOCKY MISSILES CAPABLE OF INCREDIBLE PENETRATION.
BOMBARD
A PIECE OF HEAVY ORDNANCE FOR HEAVING STONES USED DURING A SIEGE.
BOOK OF THE COURTIER
THE BOOK BY BALDASARRE CASTIGLIONE THAT DETAILS A FICTIONAL DISCUSSION AT THE COURT OF URBINO, NORTHERN ITALY, BETWEEN THE DUCHESS OF URBINO AND VARIOUS MEMBERS OF HER COURT. IN THIS DISCUSSION, THE ASPECTS OF THE PERFECT COURTIER ARE DISCUSSED IN METICULOUS DETAIL. IT IS AN EXTREMELY VALUABLE BOOK, ONE THAT SHOWS HOW THE ROUGH FIGURE OF THE KNIGHT HAD, BY THE RENAISSANCE, FULLY METAMORPHASIZED INTO THE GENTLEMAN.
BOOK OF THE ORDER OF CHIVALRY
WILLIAM CAXTON'S 1494 TRANSLATION OF RAMON LULL'S LE LIBRE DEL ORDE DE CAUALYERIA, IN WHICH A YOUNG SQUIRE. LOSES HIS WAY ON HIS WAY TO BE KNIGHTED, MEETING AN OLD HERMIT, AN ANCIENT KNIGHT, WHO INSTRUCTS HIM IN THE WAYS OF CHIVALRY, INCLUDING THE FANCIFUL ORIGINS OF THE KNIGHT, HIS DUTIES, VIRTUES AND VICES, THE SYMBOLISM OF HIS WEAPONS AND ARMOUR, HIS CUSTOMS, AND THE HONOR DUE A KNIGHT. HIMSELF ONCE A KNIGHT, RAMON LULL'S WORK STANDS AS ONE OF THE FINEST WORKS ON CHIVALRY, EXTANT OR KNOWN, AS VALUABLE AS GEOFFREY DE CHARNAY'S LIVRE CHEVALERIE OR THE ANONYMOUS ORDENE DE CHEVALERIE. THE BOOK WAS IMMENSELY POPULAR SINCE IT WAS FIRST DONE IN CATALAN DURING THE EARLIEST YEARS OF THE 14TH CENTURY, AFTER WHICH IT WAS TRANSLATED INTO MORE THAN A DOZEN LANGUAGES. SEE CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #8 AND THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION DONE BY THE CHIVALRY BOOKSHELF.
BOOK OF THE TOURNAMENT
THE BOOK OF ESSAYS ON THE TOURNAMENT OF CHIVALRY BY BRIAN PRICE, ENCOMPASSING ALL ASPECTS OF THE TOURNAMENT IN TERMS OF PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE. IT IS THE FIRST MODERN 'CHIVALRY HANDBOOK', DONE IN SOMETHING OF THE TRADITION OF KING REN'S AND RAMON LULL'S BOOKS. YOU CAN FIND DETAILS ABOUT THE BOOK ELSEWHERE ON THIS WEBSITE!.
BOOK ON THE FORM AND THE DEVISING OF A TOURNAMENT
THE MOST FAMOUS TREATISE ON THE TOURNAMENT, WRITTEN BY REN D'ANJOU IN THE 15TH CENTURY. THE WORK DESCRIBES WHAT REN CONCEIVED OF AS HIS 'IDEAL' TOURNAMENT, THOUGH HE INTERSPERSES HIS DESCRIPTION OF SUCH A TOURNAMENT WITH OBSERVATIONS ON ARMS & ARMOUR AND THE TOURNAMENT CUSTOMS OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES OF EUROPE. THE ORIGINAL WAS DONE IN FRENCH, REPRINTED IN THIS CENTURY BY B. HERSHER, PARIS, AND TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY DR. ELIZABETH BENNETT.
BOOTY
THE RIGHT OF A MEDIEVAL SOLDIER TO RANSOMS, RICHES AND OTHER ARMOUR OR HORSES AVAILABLE FROM A BATTLE. THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT INCENTIVE SINCE MOST MEDIEVAL ARMIES WEREN'T PAID, AT LEAST NOT REGULARLY, BUT IT ALSO PROVED A GREAT PROBLEM BECAUSE ARMIES HAD A TENDENCY TO BREAK UP AT THE FIRST CHANCE FOR BOOTY, SUCH AS DURING THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS OR AT THE SACK OF LIMOGES.
BOROUGH
ORIGINALLY MEANING A FORTIFIED TOWN IN ENGLAND, THE NAME CAME TO INDICATE A TOWN WITH A CORPORATION OF CITIZENS AND PRIVILEGES CONFERRED BY ROYAL CHARTER. THE MARKETS AND FAIRES OF THE BOROUGH GREW IN IMPORTANCE DURING THE MIDDLE AGES, AND GRADUALLY THE BOROUGHS ELECTED THEIR OWN MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.
BOROUGHBRIDGE, BATTLE OF
(1322) THE BATTLE IN YORKSHIRE IN WHICH THOMAS, 2ND EARL OF LANCASTER WAS SLAIN AFTER A TRUCE HAD BEEN DECLARED THE NIGHT PREVIOUSLY.
BOSSON
A 'BATTERING RAM' DESIGNED TO POUND DOWN THE GATE ON A BESIEGED CASTLE.
BOSWORTH FIELD, BATTLE OF
22 AUGUST 1485. BATTLE WHICH ENDED IN THE DEATH OF THE LAST PLANTAGENET RULER, RICHARD III AT THE HAND OF HENRY TUDOR. THOUGH RICHARD'S ARMY WAS LARGER, MORALE WAS LOW. DURING THE BATTLE, TROOPS OF THE STANLEY FAMILY, HITHERTO LOYAL TO THE KING, TURNED ON RICHARD AND SLEW HIS GUARD. IT WAS AT THIS BATTLE THAT THE FAMOUS SHAKESPEARE LINE, 'MY HORSEMY KINGDOM FOR A HORSE!' IS ABOUT; RICHARD IS SAID TO HAVE HAD HIS HORSE SLAIN AND, CASTING ABOUT FOR ANOTHER, WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, DYING ON FOOT.
BOUCHE
THE SMALL CORNER CUT INTO THE TOP OF THE SHIELD TO ACCOMMODATE THE LANCE, NOT POPULAR UNTIL THE 15TH CENTURY.
BOUGING
THE ROUGH-FINISH PROCESS BY WHICH THE LARGER LUMPS ARE TAKEN OUT OF A ROUGHLY SHAPED PIECE OF ARMOUR LEFT FROM RAISING OR DISHING. IT GENERALLY TAKES 500-1000 HAMMER STROKES TO GET A CLEAN, BOUGED SURFACE. NEXT THE PIECE IS PLANISHED, AND FINALLY POLISHED.
BOURDONASSE
A LONG, ELABORATELY PAINTED LANCE DESIGNED TO SPLINTER ON CONTACT IN LATE JOUST OVER THE BARRIER.
BOUT
A SINGLE FIGHT, SOMETIMES CALLED A 'PASS', GENERALLY A MODERN TERM USED MOSTLY IN THE SCA AND IN OTHER RE-ENACTMENT GROUPS.
BRASS (FUNERARY BRASS)
DURING THE 14TH AND 15TH CENTURIES GISANTS OR FUNERARY BRASSES WERE OFTEN USED AS MEMORIALS FOR KNIGHTS AND THEIR CONSORTS. THESE PLATES WERE CONSTRUCTED IN PIECES OF SHEET BRASS AND INSTALLED IN THE FLOOR OF A LOCAL CHURCH IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE KNIGHT'S DEEDS. OFTEN HIGHLY DETAILED, THEY ARE ONE OF THE BETTER REFERENCES FOR WHAT ARMOUR LOOKED LIKE DURING THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD, WHEN FEW ACTUAL EXAMPLES OF THE ARMOUR HAVE SURVIVED. ONE MUST USE CAUTION WHEN DATING ARMOUR USING A FUNERARY BRASS, HOWEVER, BECAUSE A KNIGHT WAS GENERALLY DEPICTED IN HIS OWN HARNESS, WHICH MIGHT BE AS MUCH AS FORTY YEARS OUT OF DATE AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH. IN MODERN TIMES, THESE BRASSES HAVE BEEN THE BASE UPON WHICH THE POPULAR BRASS RUBBINGS ARE MADE, A PROCESS BY WHICH A WAX CRAYON IS USED TO TAKE AN IMPRESSION OF THE KNIGHT. MANY ENGLISH AND FRENCH CHURCHES PRODUCE INCOME BY SELLING FINISHED RUBBINGS OF THE BRASSES IN THEIR FLOORS OR SELL THE COMPONENTS AND ALLOW TOURISTS TO TAKE THEIR OWN RUBBINGS.
BRATASCHE, BRETECHE
THE WOODEN COVERING PLACED OVER A WALL DURING WAR TO PROTECT THE ARCHERS AND SOLDIERS FROM ATTACK, GENERALLY A DEFENSE DISMANTLED DURING PEACETIME.
BREASTPLATE
ORIGINALLY EVOLVING OUT OF THE COTE OF PLATES AS THE SIZE ON EACH INDIVIDUAL PLATE INCREASED AND THE FRONT PLATE WAS INCREASINGLY GLOBULAR, THE BREASTPLATE WAS FULLY FORMED BY 1360 OR SO BUT WAS NOT IN WIDE USE UNTIL THE 1380S. THIS GLOBULAR DESIGN PROVIDED AN EFFECTIVE GLANCING SURFACE THAT DEFLECTED BOTH HAND AND MISSILE WEAPONS. DURING THE 1360-1400 PERIOD IT WAS SEEN BOTH IN THE COVERED AND OPEN FORM, OFTEN WORN OVER A GAMBESON, THOUGH IT WAS SOMETIMES WORN UNDER AS WELL. THERE ARE ILLUSTRATIONS THAT SHOW THE BREASTPLATE WORN BOTH OVER AND UNDER OF AN OUTER HOUPELANDE, BUT BY 1400 THE USUAL PRACTICE WAS TO ATTACH THE BREASTPLATE TO THE BACKPLATE AND PROVIDE FAULDS FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE HIP, THE SOLUTION WIDELY IMPLEMENTED DURING THE WHOLE OF THE 15TH CENTURY. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 14TH CENTURY A "STOP RIB" WAS OFTEN ADDED TO THE AREA JUST BELOW THE NECK TO KEEP LANCES AND SWORD POINTS FROM SKIPPING UP INTO THE THROAT. DURING THE SAME PERIOD, A LANCE REST WAS ADDED TO ENABLE THE KNIGHT TO MORE EASILY COUCH THE LANCE FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. THE EDGE AROUND THE NECK AND ARM OPENINGS WAS ROLLED OUTWARD, SOMETIMES OVER A WIRE, TO GUARD AGAINST CHAFING AND TO HELP DEFLECT A WEAPON FROM THESE VULNERABLE AREAS.  15TH CENTURY BREASTPLATES INCREASED THE SIZE OF THE ROLLS AROUND THE NECK AND ARM HOLE, AND EXPERIMENTS WERE MADE WITH MAKING THE BREASTPLATE FROM MULTIPLE PIECES TO INCREASE THE KNIGHT'S MOBILITY WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY INCREASING THE PROTECTION.
BREVIARY
BOOK WHICH CONTAINED THE OFFICES OF RELIGIOUS FIGURES AT EACH OF THE CANONICAL HOURS. VERY POPULAR WITH THE NOBILITY, WHO WERE ABLE TO COMMISSION MANY FINE BOOKS OF HOURS FOR THEIR OWN USE.
BRIGANDINE
ARMOUR FORMED BY THE COVERING OF SMALL PLATES WITH CLOTH. USUALLY THESE WERE ATTACHED WITH RIVETS; AN EXCELLENT AND POPULAR DEFENSE FOR THE BODY AND UPPER LEGS DURING THE 14TH CENTURY, AS EVIDENCED BY THE MASSIVE FIND AT WISBY, WHERE THOUSANDS OF BODIES WERE BURIED IN A PEAT BOG IN 1365. BRIGANDINE COVERINGS MIGHT BE USED FOR BODY DEFENSES, CUISSES, VAMBRACES; ARE EASY TO PRODUCE AND TO FIT. BECAUSE OF THIS, THEY WERE POPULAR WITH THE LESSER NOBILITY OF EUROPE AND THE MAN-AT-ARMS. SOMETIMES THEY WERE COVERED IN LEATHER, AND OTHER TIMES CLOTH WAS USED. THE CLOTH COULD BE PAINTED OR A BRIGHT DYE COULD BE SELECTED TO GIVE AN INDIVIDUALISTIC EDGE TO THE DECORATION. BRIGANDINES SHOULD BE DISTINGUISHED FROM THE JACK POPULAR IN THE 15TH CENTURY, A COAT OF CLOTH OR LEATHER LINED WITH MANY SMALL PLATES.
BRITTLENESS
THE QUALITY OF METAL THAT DESCRIBES ITS LIKLINESS FOR THE CRYSTALS TO BECOME DETACHED, BECOMING A CRACK. METAL IS SAID TO BE 'BRITTLE' IF IT IS LIKELY TO CRACK--THIS CAN BE REDUCED BY ANNEALING THE METAL, ALLOWING THE CRYSTALS TO REALIGN. BY THEIR COMPOSITION, SOME METALS ARE MORE BRITTLE THAN OTHERS: HIGHER CARBON STEELS ARE MORE BRITTLE THAN LOWER CARBON STEELS, THOUGH THEY ARE ALSO HARDER, AND BRASS IS MORE BRITTLE THAN BRONZE. NOTE THAT HARDNESS AND BRITTLENESS ARE DISTINCT QUALITIES, HARDNESS REFERRING TO THE METAL'S RESTISTANCE TO DEFORMING AND BRITTLENESS THE TENDENCY TO CRACK.
BROADSWORD
THE GENERAL TWO-EDGED BLADE POPULAR FROM THE 6TH CENTURY ONWARD. RANGING IN LENGTH FROM 30" TO 42" IN LENGTH, THE AVERAGE SWORD WEIGHS ONLY THREE TO FOUR POUNDS. LIGHT ENOUGH TO BE USED AS A FIGHTING TOOL ALL DAY, YET HEAVY ENOUGH TO IMPART CRUSHING IMPACT ALONG THE EDGE, WHICH WAS RARELY SHARPENED. THE WEAPONS WORKS BY CONCENTRATING THE FORCE OF THE BLOW, THE KNIGHT AND THE MASS OF THE HORSE INTO THE THIN EDGE, OFTEN LEFT TO A THICKNESS OF BETWEEN 1/16" - 1/8". THE THICKNESS AT THE CENTER WAS BETWEEN 3/16" AND 1/4", AND THE BLADE GENERALLY STARTED OUT FROM BETWEEN 2-3" WIDE AT THE BASE AND TAPERED GENTLY TO A POINT. SEE CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #13.
BRONZE
NON-FERROUS ALLOY OF COPPER, TIN AND TRACE METALS. BECAUSE OF THE COPPER BASE, BRONZE IS VERY MALLEABLE AND EASY TO WORK. KNOWN INTERCHANGEABLY DURING THE MIDDLE AGES AS LATTEN, IT WAS USED FOR ADORNMENT AND DECORATION OF ARMOUR DURING THE 14TH CENTURY. EARLY MAN FIRST LEARNED TO WORK BRONZE MORE THAN 10,000 BC, DISCOVERING THAT THE METAL WORK-HARDENS QUICKLY UNDER THE HAMMER, MAKING IT A VALUABLE METAL FOR SIMPLE TOOLS.
BRUIANT
CHARLEMAGNE'S HORSE IN THE CHANSON DE GESTE MAUGIS D'AIGREMONT, MEANING 'FIERY.'
BUCEPHALUS
THE FAMOUS CHARGER OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT, THE ONLY PERSON WHO COULD MOUNT HIM, THE HORSE WHICH LEGEND HAS IT KNEELED TO ALLOW HIS MASTER TO RIDE.
BUCKLER
SMALL ROUND "TARGET" SHIELD POPULAR IN EUROPE FROM THE 13TH TO THE 16TH CENTURY. THERE IS SOME DOUBT AS TO HOW OFTEN THIS SHIELD WAS USED OUTSIDE OF SCOTLAND FOR WAR; THERE ARE MANY DEPICTIONS OF SINGLE COMBATS USING BUCKLERS AND SWORD OR DAGGER, ALTHOUGH THESE MAY REPRESENT COMBATS OVER POINTS OF HONOR, OR WHAT WE MIGHT MORE COMMONLY KNOW AS "DUELS." SHIELDS IN USE DURING THE 14TH CENTURY ARE GENERALLY NOT ROUND, BUT THEY ARE USUALLY THE POINTED "HEATER" SHAPE WE NOW ASSOCIATE WITH A "MEDIEVAL KNIGHT'S" SHIELD AND COTE OF ARMS.  THE BUCKLER MAY WELL HAVE ORIGINATED AMONGST THE NORSE PEOPLE, WHO IN THEIR REPEATED "VISITS" TO ENGLAND AND THE CONTINENT MAY HAVE BROUGHT IT WITH THEM AND LEFT IT AS A LEGACY IN SCOTLAND.
BUCKLES
THE MOST POPULAR FORM OF ATTACHMENT OF ARMOUR TO A LIMB OR ANOTHER PIECE OF ARMOUR WAS BY BUCKLE AND STRAP OR BY LACING THEM TO THE AKETON OR HAUBERK. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY THESE BUCKLES WERE OFTEN CAST IN BRONZE, AND WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT MANY LARGE DEPOSITS OF SUCH BUCKLES HAVE BEEN UNEARTHED IN EUROPEAN CITIES DURING URBAN RENEWAL PROJECTS. THEY SEEM TO HAVE BEEN DISCARDED WITH LEATHER RUBBISH AND PRESERVED AND ARE A REASONABLE ARTIFACT THAT CAN BE INEXPENSIVELY PURCHASED BY THE AMATEUR MEDIEVALIST.  STRAPS ON ARMOUR WERE OFTEN FINISHED WITH BRONZE CAPS THAT PROTECTED THE END OF THE BUCKLE AND EASED THE ARMING PROCESS BY PROVIDING A FIRM BASE THAT COULD BE EASILY GRASPED. THE OTHER END OF THE STRAP WAS GENERALLY ATTACHED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE ARMOUR WITH A WIDE-HEADED RIVET PIENED OVER ON THE INSIDE OF THE ARMOUR. SOME STRAPS WERE ATTACHED TO THE INSIDE OF THE ARMOUR AND SECURED WITH A ROUGH WASHER ON THE INSIDE AND PIENED ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT THIS PRACTICE SEEMS TO HAVE GROWN IN POPULARITY DURING THE LATE 15TH AND EARLY 16TH CENTURY.
BULBEGGAR
A COAT DESIGNED FOR THE DISCIPLINING OF APPRENTICES, A CRUDE SACK DESIGNED SUCH THAT THE UNLUCKY APPRENTICE COULD NOT SEE HIS ATTACKER.
BURGESS
HOLDER OF A TENEMENT, LAND OR HOUSE, IN A BOROUGH, AN OFFICE CARRYING SPECIAL JUDICIAL PRIVILEGES AND OBLIGATIONS TO THE BOROUGH. BURGESSES GREW IN POWER DURING THE 14TH AND 15TH CENTURIES, GRADUALLY BUILDING WEALTH BASED UPON THE COMMERCE AND PRODUCTION THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE BOROUGH.
BURGUNDIANS
SUPPORTS OF BURGUNDY DURING THEIR FEUD WITH THE ORLEANIST FACTION THAT SPLIT FRANCE BETWEEN 1388 AND 1435.
BURRES
LANCE AGAINST THE BODY AT THE MOMENT OF IMPACT, OFTEN CITED IN INVENTORIES BUT WHICH ARE RARELY SEEN. THESE ARE SEEN IN AN ILLUMINATION ELSEWHERE ON THIS SITE DATING FROM THE 15TH CENTURY.
BTON
A TOURNEY SWORD FROM THE 14TH OR 15TH CENTURY. THERE ARE SEVERAL CONTEMPORARY ILLUSTRATIONS THAT DEPICT KNIGHTS FIGHTING ON HORSEBACK WITH SUCH "WANDS," ALTHOUGH IN ONE OF THE PRIMARY REFERENCES, KING REN D'ANJOU'S LIVRE DE TOURNOI, THE AUTHOR USES THE WORD "MASSE". THERE IS ALSO CONTEMPORARY EVIDENCE FOR THESE BTONS BEING MADE FROM ASH OR WHALEBONE. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF REFERENCES ALLUDING TO THE USE OF BTONS IN THE VESPERS CHALLENGES, COMPETITIONS FOR SQUIRES AND YOUNG KNIGHTS BACHELIER HELD THE NIGHT BEFORE A LARGER TOURNAMENT. THESE ARE REFERRED TO SOMETIMES A BEHOURDS, AND SEEM TO HAVE BEEN FOUGHT IN A FRIENDLY MANNER, TO SHOW PROWESS IN FRONT OF THE ASSEMBLED KNIGHTS. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #10.
BHOURDS
 PLAISANCE TOURNEYS POPULAR DURING THE 14TH CENTURY THAT SEEM TO HAVE BEEN FOUGHT WITH BTONS AND POSSIBLY WITH SPECIALIZED ARMOUR, MAYBE LIGHT COURBOILLE AND AUGMENTED CLOTH ARMOURS (IN LENEIS ET LEVIBUS). THERE IS EVIDENCE FOR SUCH EQUIPMENT IN THE ACCOUNT OF THE TOURNEY AT WINDSOR IN 1278. (BARKER & BARBER, TOURNAMENTS, P. 30)
CABAL
ACCORDING TO NENNIUS, KING ARTHUR'S DOG.
CABALLERO
SPANISH FOR 'KNIGHT '.
CADBURY
AN IRON-AGE HILL FORT BESIDE THE VILLAGE OF SOUTH CADBURY IN SOMERSET, ENGLAND, RETAINS AN ANCIENT ASSOCIATION WITH THE LEGEND OF KING ARTHUR. THE FORT WAS ALLEGEDLY REVIVED DURING THE 6TH CENTURY, THE TIME WHEN THE HISTORICAL ARTHUR MIGHT HAVE LIVED, AND HAS COME TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE MORE WELL KNOWN NAME CAMELOT, AND HAS A HOST OF INTERESTING TALES CONCERNING IT OUTSIDE OF THE ARTHURIAN ASSOCIATION. LEGENDS OF ARTHUR HAVE BEEN POPULAR HERE SINCE AT LEAST THE 15TH CENTURY, WHEN TALES WERE TOLD OF HIDDEN DOORS THAT OPENED INTO THE HILL TWICE PER YEAR, REVEALING ARTHUR'S BODY. SINCE THE 16TH CENTURY, IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT ON MIDSUMMER'S EVE ONCE EVERY SEVEN YEARS, THE GHOSTS OF ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS RIDE OVER THE RUINS. THE CASTLE WAS EXCAVATED FROM 1966-71 UNDER THE AUSPICES OF LESLIE ALCOCK, WHERE MOST OF THE INFORMATION RELATING TO THE HISTORY OF THE CASTLE WAS DISCOVERED.
CADENCY
A MARK OF DIFFERENCE TO SHOW FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS IN THE SYSTEM OF HERALDRY. INCLUDED IN MARKS OF CADENCY ARE THE LABEL (1ST SON), CRESCENT, MOLLET, MARTEL, ANNULET, FLEUR-DE-LIS, ROSE, CROSS FLORY, OCTOFOIL.
CADET
YOUNGER SON OR BROTHER IN A FAMILY.
CALAIS
AN IMPORTANT PORT IN PICARDY, ON THE FRENCH SIDE OF THE STRAIGHT OF DOVER, AN ENGLISH POSSESSION FROM 1347 TO 1558 AFTER EDWARD III TOOK THE TOWN IN AUGUST 1347. AT THE END OF AN ELEVEN MONTH SIEGE, THE TOWN CAPITULATED, ON THE CONDITION THAT SIX PROMINENT MEN BE PRESENTED TO HIM BAREFOOT, BEARING THE TOWN'S KEYS. ACCORDING TO FROISSART, QUEEN PHILIPPA INTERVENED, PLEADING FOR THEIR LIVES. GEOFFREY DE CHARNAY, A HIGHLY REGARDED FRENCH KNIGHT, ATTEMPTED TO RELEASE THE TOWN THROUGH BRIBERY IN 13__, BUT WAS MET IN PERSON BY EDWARD AND THE BLACK PRINCE. GEOFFREY WAS THEN CAPTURED, RETURNED TO ENGLAND WERE HE SERVED AS A CAPTIVE UNTIL ____. IN 1362 EDWARD TRANSFERRED THE WOOL STAPLE TO CALAIS, MAKING THE TOWN THE ENGLISH MAIN PORT FOR ENGLISH WOOL EXPERTS ON THE CONTINENT.
CALIBURNUS
AN EARLY WELSH NAME FOR ARTHUR'S SWORD EXCALIBUR.
CALIPH
A SPIRITUAL LEADER IN AN ISLAMIC STATE, OFTEN THE HEAD OF STATE OR A POWERFUL CLERGYMAN WITH SECULAR POWERS.
CALTROP
SHARP SPIKES, RESEMBLING 'JACKS' USED TO MAIM A HORSE. ROBERT THE BRUCE USED THEM AT BANNOCKBURN, AND THERE ARE REFERENCES TO SPURS BEING USED FOR THIS SAME PURPOSE.
CAMAIL
A SKIRT OF MAIL ATTACHED TO A BASCINET OR ARMET DURING THE 14TH AND 15TH CENTURIES. IT DEFENDS THE NECK FROM ATTACK, USUALLY HANGING TO AT LEAST 1" BELOW THE SHOULDER POINT FOR BASCINETS. GENERALLY IT WAS ATTACHED TO A LEATHER CUFF THAT WRAPPED AROUND THE BASE OF THE BASCINET AND UP THE CHEEKS, WHICH WAS PIERCED WITH HOLES AND LACED TO THE HELMET THROUGH VERVELLES.
CAMELOT
ARTHUR'S RESIDENCE AND PREFERRED CASTLE, NOT FOUND IN LITERATURE BEFORE CHRTIEN DE TROYES (LANCELOT), DRAWN HEAVILY FROM GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH'S DESCRIPTION OF CAERLEON. IT BECAME ESPECIALLY PROMINENT IN THE ARTHURIAN LEGENDS DURING THE 13TH CENTURY, PARTICULARLY IN THE VULGATE CYCLE, WHERE IT SERVED AS THE POINT OF DEPARTURE FOR THE GRAIL QUESTERS.
CAMLANN
IN THE WELSH LEGENDS, THE PLACE WHERE ARTHUR MEETS MORDRED IN BATTLE, AND MOST OF THE COMBATANTS PERISHED ON BOTH SIDES. THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE THAT THE BATTLE WAS INDEED HISTORICAL, BUT NOT THAT MORDRED AND ARTHUR FOUGHT, AND THE SITE OF THE BATTLE IS UNKNOWN.
CANNON
A HEAVY METAL TUBE USED FOR FIRING ORDNANCE. FIRST IN SERVICE AROUND 1300, THE VERY FIRST CANNONS FIRED HEAVY ARROWS, BUT SOON STONES WERE USED AS WELL. GUNPOWDER, FORMED OF SALTPETER, SULPHUR, AND CHARCOAL WERE FOUND IN EUROPE, THEY WERE USED ON A LARGE SCALE ONLY AFTER 1325. EDWARD III USED THEM AT THE SIEGE OF CALAIS IN 1346, BUT THE NEW WEAPON DID NOT ACHIEVE ANY MILITARY SIGNIFICANCE UNTIL THE LATE 15TH CENTURY.
CANON
A CLERGYMAN IN A CLERICAL HOUSE OR WITHIN CATHEDRAL PRECINCTS, STRUCTURING THEIR LIFE AROUND MONASTIC LIFE.
CANONICAL HOURS
AT EACH OF THESE TIMES, THE CHURCH BELLS WOULD RING EIGHT TIMES - MIDNIGHT---MATINS  - 3 AM---LAUDS  - 6 AM---PRIME  - 9 AM---TIERCE  - MIDDAY---SEXT  - 3 PM---NONES  - 6 PM---VESPERS  - 9 PM---COMPLINE  
CANTEL
THE RAISED SECTION OF THE MEDIEVAL WAR-SADDLE, HIGH TO KEEP THE KNIGHT IN THE SADDLE.
CANTERBURY TALES, THE
THE LAST WORK OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER, WRITTEN AFTER 1387 BUT UNFINISHED AT HIS DEATH IN 1400. THE TALE, AN IMPORTANT INSIGHT INTO THE PERSPECTIVES OF THE VARIOUS MEN OF THE MIDDLE AGES, IS WRITTEN WITH AN INTRODUCTION DESCRIBING THE PROCESSION OF PILGRIMS TO BECKETT'S SHRINE AT CANTEBURY, FOLLOWED BY A COLLECTIONS IF TALES TOLD BY EACH MEMBER OF THE COMPANY.
CAP  PIED
HEAD TO TOE ARMOUR FROM THE SABATON TO THE HELMET.
CAPITULA
A BODY OF LAWS; CHARLEMAGNE, ACTING AS MOST IMPORTANT "LAW GIVER" IN EUROPE, CREATED SPECIALTY BODIES OF LAW FOR DEALING WITH THE STATE, THE ARTS, AND AND COMMERCE.
CAPITULA DE VILLIS
LAW OF THE STATE, CHARLEMAGNE'S LOOSE SYSTEM OF LAWS, JUDGEMENTS AND EDICTS THAT FIRST GAVE A FRAMEWORK FOR WHAT BECAME THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE AND MUCH OF WESTERN EUROPE.
CAPTAL
BARON.
CARNWENNAN
KING ARTHUR'S DAGGER IN THE MABINOGIAN STORY 'CULHWYCH & OWEN '.
CAROLINGIAN
PERTAINING TO THE REALM OF CHARLMAGNE, PEPIN OR LOUIS.
CARRACK
A LARGE MEDIEVAL SHIP, COMMONLY MORE THAN 500 TONS, USED BOTH FOR WAR AND FOR TRANSPORT.
CASQUE
THE IRON CASQUE, THE MAIN HEAD DEFENSE DURING THE 9TH - 13TH CENTURIES, WAS A ROUNDED OR POINTED STEEL BOWL THAT FIT SNUGLY OVER THE HEAD BUT WAS USUALLY WORN OVER A MAIL COIF AND ARMING CAP. A STRIP OF STEEL OR OTHER METAL WAS OFTEN FITTED TO THE FRONT OF THE HELMET TO PROTECT THE NOSE, CALLED A "NASAL." COMMON EXAMPLES OF THESE HELMETS CAN BE SEEN IN THE BAYEAUX TAPESTRY. THEY EVOLVED FROM THE ROMAN LEGIONNAIRE'S HELMET AND THE CRUDE SPANGEN HELMETS THAT REPLACED THEM AS EUROPE REBUILT FOLLOWING THE FALL OF ROME. DURING THE EARLY YEARS OF THE 14TH CENTURY MOST CASQUES WERE REPLACED WITH BASCINETS AS MORE DEFENSE WAS SOUGHT AGAINST ARROWS AND THE DEFENSE OF THE NECK AND HEAD WERE ENHANCED.
CASTELLAN
GOVERNOR OR CONSTABLE OF A CASTLE, GENERALLY IN THE LORD'S ABSENCE.
CASTLE
A DEFENSIVE RESIDENCE OF A LORD, DISTINGUISHED FROM OTHER FORTIFICATIONS IN THE DUAL ROLE AS RESIDENCE AND FORT. BECAUSE CASTLES WERE SYMBOLS OF LORDSHIP OVER A REGION, THEY WERE THE FREQUENT TARGETS IN WARFARE, SINCE THEY WERE EASILY DEFENDED BY A RELATIVELY FEW MEN, TYING DOWN A MUCH LARGER FORCE OFTEN FOR MONTHS AT A TIME. EARLY CASTLES, THE 'MOTTE' OR 'BAILEY ' STYLES, WERE BUILD GENERALLY ON A HILL, A 'KEEP ' DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE TACTICAL VALUE OF THE HILL. OVER THE CENTURIES, THESE SIMPLE DEFENSES WERE AUGMENTED WITH VARIOUS INGENIOUS ARCHITECTURAL ENHANCEMENTS THAT IMPROVED BOTH THEIR DEFENSIVE CAPABILITIES AND THEIR AESTHETIC QUALITIES.
CATAPULT
A CLASS OF SIEGE ENGINES DESIGNED TO THROW SPEARS AND HEAVY BOLTS.
CATH PALUG
THE CAT OF LAUSANNE, FOUGHT BY KING ARTHUR IN THE 1300 CASTILLIAN ROMANCE ZIFAR.
CATHEDRAL
THE CHURCH OF A DIOCESE, A GRAND BUILDING THAT LENT GREAT ADVANCES IN ROMANESQUE AND GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE.
CAVALRY
A MOUNTED MAN, A 'CHEVALIER ', A HORSEMAN. THE CHEVALIER IS THE ROOT OF THE WORD 'CHIVALRY '. DURING THE MIDDLE AGES IT WAS A COMMONLY BELIEF MILITARY THEOREM THAT NO FORCE ON THE BATTLEFIELD COULD STAND UP TO A CHARGE BY HEAVY CAVALRY. THIS BELIEF WAS REINFORCED BY VARIOUS DEFEATS OF INFANTRY BY CAVALRY, SUCH AS AT HASTINGS. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY A MORE BALANCED APPROACH TO WARFARE WAS EXPERIMENTED WITH BY THE SCOTS AND ENGLISH, ESPECIALLY BY EDWARD III AND ROBERT THE BRUCE. EDWARD MADE EXCELLENT USE OF ARTILLERY IN THE FORM OF ARCHERS, INFANTRY IN THE FORM OF DISMOUNTED KNIGHTS SUPPORTED BY A FLANKING UNIT OF CAVALRY.
CAVE LEGEND
IN MANY OF THE ARTHURIAN LEGENDS, ARTHUR'S BODY IS SAID TO BE HIDDEN, TIMELESS, IN A CAVE ENDOWED WITH MAGICAL QUALITIES, GENERALLY OPENING ONLY DURING CERTAIN TIMES.
CERVLLAIRE
THE SMALL SKULL CAP WORN UNDER THE GREAT HELMET DURING THE LAST PART OF THE 13TH CENTURY AND INTO THE EARLY 14TH CENTURY. BY THE 1330S THE HELMET HAD EVOLVED COMPLETELY INTO THE BASCINET, DISPLACING THE GREAT HELMET COMPLETELY EXCEPT FOR USE IN SOME JOUSTS.
CHAIN (OF FEALTY)
THE CHAINS WORN BY KNIGHTS WITHIN THE SCA TO MARK THEIR FEALTY TO THE CROWN. IN MEDIEVAL ENGLAND, THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE THAT GREAT OFFICERS AND KNIGHTS WORE SUCH CHAINS AS TOKENS OF THEIR LOYALTY.
CHALLENGE
CALLING ANOTHER COMBATANT OUT TO COMBAT, A CHALLENGE CAN BE  PLAISANCE, FRIENDLY, OR  LA GUERRE, AS IN WAR. THE CHALLENGE WAS A FREQUENT DEVICE FOR KNIGHTS WHO WOULD CALL OUT OPPONENTS KNOWN TO THEM IN WAR, TOURNAMENT, OR TO SETTLE QUESTIONS OF HONOR. DURING THE 15TH CENTURY, THE CHALLENGE BECAME A COMMON FEATURE OF THE FEAT OF ARMS, BOTH OF THE EMPRISE, WHERE SUCH ENCOUNTERS WERE HELD WITH WEAPONS OF WAR, AND SIMILAR ENCOUNTERS USING ARMS OF PEACE CALLED THE PAS D'ARMES.
CHAMBERLAIN
THE OFFICE, FROM THE 10TH CENTURY, THE DENOTED THE KING'S SERVANT RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING THE KINGS CHAMBER AND HIS SIGNET, GROWING THROUGH THE CENTURIES TO ACCOUNT FOR MATTERS OF DOMESTIC AFFAIRS AND ETIQUETTE OF THE PALACE.
CHAMFRON
THE PLATE DEFENSE GUARDING THE HORSE'S FACE. 14TH CENTURY EXAMPLES SEEM TO BE VERY RARE, WITH LITTLE REFINEMENT, USING GLOBULAR PIERCED DEFENSES FOR THE EYES. THE CHAMFRON BECAME WELL DEVELOPED IN THE 15TH CENTURY, WHEN THE HORSE WAS MORE FULLY ARMOURED IN PLATE. THE CRINET, ANOTHER PORTION OF HORSE BARDING, DEFENDED THE HORSE'S NECK.
CHAMPION FOR ORDEALS
IN TRIALS BY COMBAT OR JUDICIAL DUELS, FREQUENTLY HELD IN ENGLAND AND ON THE CONTINENT PRIOR TO THE 14TH CENTURY, THESE CHAMPIONS WERE PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS HIRED ON THE SLY TO CHAMPION A TENANT UNABLE TO DEFEND HIMSELF. TECHNICALLY SUCH CHAMPIONING WAS ILLEGAL, BUT DIFFICULT TO PROVE. THE DETERRENCE CAME FROM THE CONTINENTAL PENALTY THAT THE LOSING CHAMPION LOST HIS HAND, SINCE IN ORDER TO TAKE TO THE LISTS THEY HAD TO SWEAR TO THE CHARGE, AND IN LOSING THEY WERE FORSWORN.
CHANCELLOR OF ENGLAND
ORIGINALLY A CLERK AND CHAPLAIN, THE CHANCELLOR GRADUALLY EVOLVED INTO ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL OFFICES IN ENGLAND, KEEPER OF THE KING'S SECRETARIAT. THE CHANCELLOR, WELL SCHOOLED, WAS TO KEEP THE KING'S SEAL AND AUTHENTICATE IMPORTANT STATE DOCUMENTS. THE CHANCELLOR WAS THE 'KING'S CONSCIENCE' AND THE APPEAL OF LAST RESORT IN LEGAL CASES NOT COVERED BY COMMON OR STATUTE LAW.  - CORONATION CEREMONY REFERENCE (14TH - 15TH C.)
CHANCERY
FROM THE LATE 10TH CENTURY, THE ENGLISH OFFICE RESPONSIBLE FOR WRITING THE KING'S CHARTERS, WRITS AND LETTERS. IN THE LATE 12TH CENTURY, UNDER HUBERT WALTER, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY AND CHANCELLOR OF ENGLAND, THE OFFICE BEGAN RECORDING LETTERS IN LONG ROLLS; THESE ROLLS HAVE PROVEN A VALUABLE HISTORICAL RECORD FOR THE STUDY OF ENGLISH HISTORY. THE CHANCERY ISSUED THREE MAIN TYPES OF DOCUMENTS-CHARTERS (MAKING PERMANENT GRANTS OF LAND OR PRIVILEGES); LETTERS PATENT (MAKING TEMPORARY PRIVEDGES); AND LETTERS CLOSE (BEARING SECRET INSTRUCTIONS FOR ROYAL OFFICIALS).
CHANSON D'ANTIOCHE
THE WORK IS A 'HISTORY' OF THE FIRST CRUSADE SURROUNDING THE CAREER OF GODFREY DE BOUILLON, BEGUN C. 1180 AND ADDED TO DURING THE 13TH AND 14TH CENTURIES.
CHANSON D'ASPREMONT
EPIC FROM THE LAST DECADE OF THE 12TH CENTURY, THE POEM DETAILS AN INCIDENT AT CHARLEMAGNE'S COURT WHERE A MESSENGER FROM KING AGOLANT SO INFURIATES CHARLEMAGNE THAT HE SETS OUT WITH HIS ARMY AND A YOUNG, UNTRIED KNIGHT NAMED ROLAND. THE WORK DETAILS ROLAND'S EARLY CAREER, HOW HE WON HIS MYSTICAL SWORD DURENDAL AND HIS HORSE.
CHANSON DE ROLAND
THE MOST FAMOUS CHANSON DE GESTE, COMPOSED BETWEEN 1098-1100, DESCRIBING THE BETRAYAL OF COUNT ROLAND AT THE HAND OF GANELON, AND HIS RESULTING DEATH IN THE PYRANEE MOUNTAINS AT THE HANDS OF THE SARACENS. ROLAND WAS A LOYAL DEFENDER OF HIS LIEGE CHARLEMAGNE, AND THE TAKE HAS BECOME A LANDMARK IN THE ICONOGRAPHY OF CHIVALRY.
CHANSONS DE GESTE
OLD FRENCH EPIC POETRY, AVERAGING ABOUT 3900 LINES, IN TEN-SYLLABLE VERSE. THEY GLORIFIED THE FRANKS, THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, AND A FEW OF THE FAMOUS CAROLINGIAN KNIGHTS. THOUGHT MUCH OF THE SUBJECT MATTER WAS LEGENDARY, THEY WERE EXTRAORDINARILY POPULAR; MANY BELIEVED THEM TO BE HISTORICAL. THEY REMAINED POWERFUL TESTAMENTS TO THE INGENUITY AND SINCERITY.
CHANTRY
ENDOWMENT IN A WILL FOR PRIESTS TO SING MASSES TO HONOR THE DECEASED-THE WORD WAS ALSO APPLIED TO THE PRIESTS WHO WERE THUS EMPLOYED.
CHAPEL DE FER
LITERALLY IRON CAP. THIS WAS GENERALLY A DOMED HELMET, MADE IN THREE OR MORE PIECES, WITH A WIDE BROW AROUND THE OUTSIDE. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY IT WAS WIDELY USED BY ENGLISH AND FRENCH MEN-AT-ARMS AND BACHELIER KNIGHTS WHO COULD NOT AFFORD A BASCINET. SQUIRES AND OTHER RETAINERS PROBABLY ALSO WORE THEM, AND THEY WERE OFTEN THE HELMET OF CHOICE AMONGST ARCHERS, SINCE IF AN ARCHER WERE TO LOWER HIS HEAD WHEN A SALVO OF ARROWS WAS EXPECTED, THE WHOLE FACE WOULD BE MOMENTARILY COVERED.
CHARGE
A TACTICAL MANEUVER WHERE A UNIT MOVES FORWARD AT GREAT SPEED, USING SPEED AND MASS TO ATTEMPT TO BREAK UP AN OPPONENT'S FORCES OR MOVEMENT. THE CHARGE WAS THE FAVORED MANEUVER OF THE MEDIEVAL KNIGHT, WHO USED THE MASS OF HIS HORSE, ARMOUR AND HEAVY LANCE, COMBINED WITH CLOSE-ORDER MOVEMENT BY OTHER KNIGHTS, TO FOCUS A CRUSHING MOVEMENT. FEW COULD STAND AGAINST SUCH A CHARGE, BUT THE TACTIC WAS WORN BY IMPROVEMENTS IN MISSILE TECHNOLOGY, NEW TACTICS FOR PIKES AND SPEARS, AND THE SELECTION OF MORE DEFENSIVE POSITIONS WHERE CAVALRY ARE LESS EFFECTIVE, SUCH AS IN MARSHES, ROUGH GROUND OR IN FORTIFICATIONS. AS A TACTIC THE CHARGE HINGES ON THE SEIZURE OF INITIATIVE, WHERE BOTH SURPRISE AND MASS ARE USED TO PLACE AN ENEMY OFF BALANCE.
CHARGE, HERALDIC
THE MAIN ELEMENT ON A KNIGHT'S DEVICE OR ARMS, SUCH AS A DRAGON, LION, STAR, ETC.  
CHARLEMAGNE (CHARLES THE GREAT, 724-814)
PERHAPS THE GREATEST MEDIEVAL KING, ONE OF THE NINE WORTHIES. IT WAS HE WHO UNIFIED EUROPE, WAS CROWNED AS THE ROMAN EMPEROR, AND WHO BECAME A FAVORITE HERO-FIGURE FOR BOTH HISTORICAL AND ROMANTIC TALES.   BIOGRAPHY BY WILL DURANT
CHARLEMAGNE'S TREE OF SHIELDS
A DEVICE USED IN A PAS D'ARMES FROM WHICH THE SHIELDS ARE HUNG. A CHALLENGER, THE VENAN, SELECTS THE STYLE OF COMBAT HE WANTS BY RAPPING THE SHIELD OF HIS CHOICE. THE USE OF SUCH TREES DATES TO THE 14TH CENTURY.
CHARLES MARTEL
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CHASTITY
THE IDEA OF CHASTITY AS A CHIVALRIC VIRTUE WAS ADDED CHIEFLY BY THE RELIGIOUS ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD, THE TEMPLARS AND HOSPITALLERS, WHO TOOK A VOW OF CHASTITY AS A PART OF THEIR MONASTIC ROLE. CHASTITY PER SE WAS NOT A PART OF SECULAR CHIVALRY, RATHER IT WAS TAKEN TO BE THAT KNIGHTS SHOULD REFRAIN FROM YIELDING TO CERTAIN SINFUL DRAWS OF THE FLESH-I.E. LUSTING AFTER ANOTHER MAN'S WIFE. IN THE REALM OF COURTLY LOVE, MARRIAGE WAS NOT NECESSARILY A REQUIREMENT FOR LOVE. RAMON LULL COUNSELED KNIGHTS TO FORGO THE SINS OF LUST, BUT SAID NOTHING ABOUT COMPLETE ABSTENTION.
CHAUSSES
MAIL DEFENSES FOR THE THIGH.
CHEAPSIDE TOURNAMENT
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CHEQUES
BOOKS OF ACCOUNT WHERE THE RESULTS OF JOUSTS WERE KEPT, GENERALLY FROM THE LATE 15TH CENTURY ONWARDS. OFTEN THESE BOOKS WERE ACCOMPANIED BY COLOR DEPICTIONS OF THE KNIGHT'S DEVICES, MAKING THEM A COLORFUL RECORD OF LATE TOURNAMENTS.
CHEVALIER
FRENCH FOR KNIGHT -LITERALLY 'HORSEMAN'.
CHEVAUCHE
A COMMON WAR-TACTIC OF THE 14TH CENTURY, A SORT OF SLASH-AND-BURN ATTACK CENTERING ON THE ECONOMIC PRODUCTION OF A REGION, DESIGNED TO FORCE THE OPPONENT TO ENGAGE. THE ENGLISH USED SUCH TACTICS DURING THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR AGAINST FRANCE AND SPAIN, OFTEN WITH DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON THE CITIZENRY, BUT WITH QUESTIONABLE STRATEGIC GAINS.
CHIEF ALMONER
- CORONATION CEREMONY REFERENCE (14TH - 15TH C.)
CHILDREN'S CRUSADE
1212. A TWELVE-YEAR OLD PEASANT BOY BY THE NAME OF STEPHEN OF CLOYES, CLAIMING VISIONS, LED AN ARMY OF CHILDREN TO FIGHT IN THE HOLY LAND. EMBARKING AT MARSEILLE, THEY NEVER REACHED THEIR DESTINATION, BUT WERE PROBABLY SOLD INTO SLAVERY IN EGYPT.
CHIVALRIC CHRONICLER
PRIMARILY FROISSART AND MONSTRELET, THE 'FAMILY' OF HISTORIANS DISCUSSES THE POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE REALMS OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE DURING THE TROUBLED TIMES OF THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR, TOLD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE KNIGHTLY CLASSES. AS SUCH, THEIR ACCOUNTS ARE OFTEN NOT COMPLETELY FACTUAL, BUT ARE HIGHLY DESCRIPTIVE AND PROBABLY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF THE KNIGHTS OF THE DAY, OR AT THE VERY LEAST ARE SYMPATHETIC TO THEIR POINTS VIEW.
CHIVALRIC COMBAT
GENERALLY FOUGHT BETWEEN COMBATANTS OF KNIGHTLY RANK BETWEEN THE APPELLANT AND THE DEFENDANT. A CHARGE OF DISHONORABLE CONDUCT UNDERLIES THE COMBAT, FOUGHT TO THE DEATH BEFORE JUDGES. NOT A TOURNAMENT, IT IS A FORM OF TRIAL BY COMBAT. MANY OF THE SURVIVING FECHTBUCHS SEEM TO DESCRIBE TECHNIQUES USED IN THE JUDICIAL DUEL THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FORBIDDEN IN THE TOURNAMENT, SUCH AS PIERCING AN OPPONENTS FOOT WITH THE BUTT-SPIKE OF A POLEAXE.
CHIVALRY
THE COLLECTION OF VIRTUES BELONGING TO A KNIGHT OR THE DESCRIPTION OF A VIRTUOUS ACTION EXPECTED OF A KNIGHT. BECAUSE IT DESCRIBES A SET OF VIRTUES THAT CHANGED OVER THE WHOLE MEDIEVAL PERIOD, THE MEANING OF THE WORD EVOLVED AND CHANGED OVER TIME, EVENTUALLY MERGING WITH THE CONCEPT OF THE GENTLEMAN. MODERN TOURNAMENT SOCIETIES STRIVE TO EMBODY CHIVALRIC CHARACTER IN THEIR MEMBERSHIPS, ATTEMPTING TO CREATE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF AUTHENTICITY AND ETHICAL STANDARDS. SEE ALSO THE BOOK OF THE TOURNAMENT.
CHIVALRY, THE
ANOTHER TERM FOR A GROUP OF KNIGHTS, AS IN "DISCUSS IT WITH THE CHIVALRY." IT WAS A GENERAL TERM STEMMING FROM THE FRENCH TERM FOR KNIGHTS, CHEVALIER. IT BECAME, DURING THE 12TH - 15TH CENTURIES, A TERM USED ALSO TO DESCRIBE THE VIRTUES AND IDEALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE KNIGHT AS WELL, GENERALIZED BY THE USE OF THE WORD IN A BROAD SENSE. "AN ACT OF CHIVALRY."  
CHRONICLES OF ENGEURRAND DE MONSTRELET (MONSTRELET'S CHRONIQUES)
SIMILAR IN MANY RESPECTS TO FROISSART'S CHRONICLES, MONSTRELET'S WORK, CLEARLY IN THE SAME TRADITION AND BEARING THE SAME PITFALLS, HE CHRONICLES THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE DUKES OF ORLEANS AND THE DUKES OF BURGUNDY FROM 1400 - 1485, IN THE PROCESS BECOMING A VALUABLE RECORDER OF PAS D'ARMES AND EMPRISES IN FRANCE DURING THE 15TH CENTURY. MONSTRELET IS GENERALLY HARD TO FIND, THE ONLY ENGLISH TRANSLATION I HAVE FOUND BEING PRODUCED BY EETS.
CHRONICLES OF FROISSART (FROISSART'S CHRONIQUES)
THE HISTORICAL MEMOIRS OF FROISSART DETAILING THE DIPLOMATIC, MILITARY AND CHIVALRIC AFFAIRS OF ENGLAND, FRANCE AND SPAIN DURING THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR, CHIEFLY FROM 1320 - 1400. FROISSART WAS WIDELY TRAVELED, BUT THE CHRONIQUES ARE OF DUBIOUS HISTORICAL VALUE, THOUGH SINCE FROISSART HIMSELF WAS POPULAR AT THE ENGLISH COURT, IT CAN BE EXPECTED THAT THEY REFLECT THE PERCEPTIONS OF THE CHIVALRIC CLASSES. WRITTEN IN FRENCH, THE CHRONIQUES HAVE BEEN REPRINTED MANY TIMES AND ARE EASILY AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS OF MEDIEVAL CULTURE. THE MOST AVAILABLE EDITION IS BY PENGUIN BOOKS, WHILE THE MOST COMPLETE EDITIONS WERE RELEASED IN THE 19TH CENTURY BY KERVYN DE LETTENHOVE, HUGE VOLUMES CONTAINING MORE THAN 4,000 PAGES OF VERY SMALL PRINT.
CHURBURG #13
THE FIRST HOMOGENEOUS HARNESS, DATING FROM THE VERY END OF THE 14TH CENTURY, HOUSED IN THE FAMOUS ARMOUR COLLECTION AT CASTLE CHURBURG. THE HARNESS HAS MANY VERY INTERESTING FEATURES, BOTH BECAUSE OF ITS HIGH QUALITY, UNUSUAL DECORATION, AND INTACT CONDITION.  THE PIECES THEMSELVES APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN FROM THE MISSIGLIAN WORKSHOPS IN MILAN; THEY ARE COMMONLY DATED TO 1390. THE HARNESS IS COMPLETE WITH A CAMAILED BASCINET, SEGMENTED BREASTPLATE DONE IN 11 PIECES, COMPLETE ARM HARNESS, GAUNTLETS, A MAIL HAUBERK, AND KNIGHT'S PLAQUE BELT.
CHURBURG, ARMOR COLLECTION AT
AN EXTRAORDINARY FAMILY COLLECTION HOUSED IN A CASTLE ON THE AUSTRIAN BORDER. ESPECIALLY STRONG IN ARMOUR FROM THE 15TH CENTURY, IT ALSO BOASTS THE EARLIEST HOMOGENEOUS HARNESS IN THE WORLD, A 14TH CENTURY ARMOUR INCLUDING THE HAUBERK, BASCINET, BREASTPLATE, ARM HARNESS AND PLAQUE BELT. ALL OF THE PIECES ARE TRIMMED IN BRASS AND ETCHED WITH PASSAGES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT. THE GAUNTLETS ARE RELATED BUT DO NOT MATCH THE SUIT; THE PAIR THAT MATCH ARE IN THE BARGELLO COLLECTION IN VENICE, ITALY. THE HARNESS IS KNOWN COMMONLY AS "CHURBURG #13" AFTER THE CATALOG DESCRIPTION AND IT IS SHOWN IN NEARLY EVERY ARMOUR BOOK BECAUSE OF ITS RARITY AND QUALITY. EVEN THE HELMET AND BREASTPLATE LININGS ARE INTACT AND THE AVENTAIL ACTUALLY MATCHES THE BASCINET.
CHURCH AND KNIGHTS
THE INFLUENCE OF THE CHURCH OVER THE KNIGHTS AND THE CONCEPTION OF CHIVALRY IS FAR MORE COMPLICATED THAN CAN BE COVERED IN A SIMPLE DEFINITION. ORIGINALLY ROUGH WARRIORS, THE MILITES WERE VIEWED AS A DANGER TO THE LOCAL POPULACE, WHO THEY FREQUENTLY OVERRAN IN THEIR PETTY DISPUTES AND TOURNEYS. THE CHURCH PREFERRED THAT THE SOLDIER'S ENERGY BE PUT TO HOLY USE-SOLDIERS OF CHRIST DEFENDING THE CHURCH WITH THE SWORD EVEN AS THE CLERGY DEFENDED THE CHURCH WITH THEIR MINDS AND BOOKS. ALTHOUGH THE CHURCH DID AFFECT THE CONCEPTION OF ETHICAL BEHAVIOR FOR KNIGHTS, ADDING THE VIRTUES OF HUMILITY, DEFENSE OF THE WEAK AND OF WOMEN, PIETY, FAITH AND CHASTITY TO THE CHIVALRIC ETHIC. BY PREACHING THE CRUSADES AT THE COUNCIL OF CLAREMONT, THE CHURCH DID SUCCEED IN FIRING UP THE CHIVALRY, MANY OF WHOM WERE UNEMPLOYED, WITH AN ENERGY AND A COMMON ENEMY, THUS DIVERTING THEIR ATTENTION FROM FACTIONAL DISPUTES WITHIN EUROPE. OUT OF THE CRUSADES CAME CONTACT WITH THE EASTERN WAYS OF LIFE AND ORGANIZATIONS OF RELIGIOUS KNIGHTS ORGANIZING THEMSELVES ALONG THE LINES OF A SORT OF MILITARY MONASTARIES, THE TEMPLARS AND HOSPITALLERS.
CHURCH AND TOURNAMENTS
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CHURCH COURTS
COURTS INTRODUCED INTO ENGLAND AFTER THE NORMAN CONQUEST DEALING WITH CERTAIN OFFENSES: HERESY, DIVORCE, SEXUAL IMMORALITY, DISPUTES OVER WILLS, AND OTHER CASES TOUCHING 'DISPUTES OVER THE HUMAN SOUL.' GENERALLY THESE COURTS WERE HELD UNDER THE AUSPICES OF A BISHOP OR ARCHDEACON, SOMETIMES UNDER AN ARCHBISHOP OR POPE. ANYONE WHO COULD PROVE THE 'BENEFIT OF THE CLERGY' CAME UNDER THEIR JURISDICTION. WHILE TRYING TO LIMIT THE POWER OF CHURCH COURTS HENRY II INCURRED THE OPPOSITION OF THOMAS BECKETT, LEADING TO THE EVENTS THAT CAUSED HENRY TO HAVE HIM KILLED.
CINQ PORTS
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CLAYMORE
THE LARGE TWO-HANDED SWORDS POPULAR IN SCOTLAND DURING THE 15TH, 16TH AND EVEN THE 17TH CENTURIES. RANGING IN LENGTH FROM 50" TO 72", THEY POSSESSED HANDLES THAT WERE 18" - 21" IN LENGTH. OVERALL THE SWORDS WEIGHED ONLY SIX OR SEVEN POUNDS, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE EXAMPLES THAT ARE AS MUCH AS TEN POUNDS. THESE SWORDS WERE POPULAR ALSO IN GERMANY AND IN THE SWISS STATES DURING THE 15TH AND 16TH CENTURIES, ALTHOUGH THE TERM CLAYMORE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN RESTRICTED TO SCOTLAND. THE TERM TWO-HANDED SWORD OR GREATSWORD SEEMS MORE POPULAR ON THE CONTINENT.
CLIGS
AN ALEXANDRIAN ROMANCE BY CHRTIEN DE TROYES, IN WHICH MANY ALLUSIONS TO THE TRISTAN & ISEULT TALES ARE INCLUDED, IN WHICH THE HERO'S SON PURSUES A WOMAN NOT YET FREE TO LOVE, SO SHE TAKES A POTION THAT MAKES HER APPEAR DEAD SO THAT THEY CAN BE FREE TO LOVE.
CLOSE HELMET
THE FIRST 'INTERNATIONAL' STYLE OF HELMET, EVOLVED FROM THE ARMET DURING THE 16TH CENTURY. CLOSE HELMETS WERE LIGHT, WEIGHING FROM 3 - 8 LBS, FEATURING A SINGLE PIECE SKULL, A CHIN DEFENSE OR BEVOR AND VISOR BOTH PIVOTED FROM A POINT SOMEWHERE ABOVE THE EARS. ALTHOUGH VERY CLOSE FITTING, THE NAME IS A MODERN ATTRIBUTE.
CLOUGES
"NAIL MONEY" PAID TO HERALDS FOR NAILING THE KNIGHT'S SHIELD TO THE TREE AT A TOURNAMENT.
CNIHT
ANGLO-SAXON WORD FOR SERVANT THAT BECAME THE ENGLISH WORD FOR 'KNIGHT '.
COG
A NAVAL VESSEL DEVELOPED C. 1300 BY THE HANSEATIC LEAGUE, BROADBEAMED, HIGH WALLED, THE COG WAS STABLE AND WELL SUITED TO BOTH TRADE AND WAR. IT WAS THE FAVORITE WARSHIP IF THE 14TH CENTURY, PLAYING A PROMINENT ROLE IN THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR, PARTICULARLY AT THE BATTLE OF SLUYS.
COIF
A MAIL DEFENSE FOR THE HEAD IN THE FORM OF A HOOD, OFTEN WORN UNDER A FULL HELM. THE MAIL COIF WAS WORN OVER A PADDED CAP, PROVIDING EXCELLENT PROTECTION AGAINST BOTH SHOCK AND PENETRATION.
COIN CLIPPING
SHAVING DOWN OF PENNIES AND OTHER SILVER COINS TO REDUCE THEIR VALUE. THIS WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN A METALS-BASED ECONOMY, RESULTING IN HEAVY PENALTIES, INCLUDING HANGING.
COLLAR OF S
COLLARS CONSISTING OF MANY "S" LETTERS LINKED TOGETHER, WORN BY VARIOUS GREAT OFFICERS IN ENGLAND. IT WAS APPARENTLY WORN AS A SIGN OF NOBILITY, BUT THE ORIGIN IN UNCLEAR. SOME HAVE PUT FORWARD THAT THE "S" IS FOR 'SOVEREIGN'. THE COLLAR OF 'S' WAS GRANTED BY HENRY IV AS A SIGN OF NOBILITY, AS WELL AS BEING THE HOUSEHOLD BADGE FOR THE HOUSE OF LANCASTER. THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE THAT THESE CHAINS WERE IN USE BEFORE THIS, HOWEVER, SO THEIR ORIGIN REMAINS OBSCURE.
COLLEGE OF ARMS
THE OFFICE IN ENGLAND HAVING AUTHORITY OF ALL MATTERS HERALDIC, PUT INTO PLACE AFTER 1515, COMPRISED OF KINGS OF ARMS, HERALDS, PURSUIVANTS OF ARMS.
COLOR
IN HERALDIC TERMS, AS DISTINCT FROM THE METALS. GREEN = VERT  GULES = RED  AZURE = BLUE  PURPUR = PURPLE
COLE
THE ACTUAL DUBBING OF THE NEW KNIGHT, EVENTUALLY THE FLAT OF A SWORD, USED IN GRANTING THE ACCOLADE OF KNIGHTHOOD.
COMBAT OF THE THIRTY
1351. AT PLOERMEL IN BRITTANY, THIRTY FRENCH KNIGHTS MET THE SAME NUMBER OF ENGLISH, WITH NO RESTRICTIONS TO WEAPONS, RESULTING IN NINE ENGLISH AND SIX FRENCH CASUALTIES. SEVERAL MORE DIED LATER OF WOUNDS RECEIVED. ALL OF THIS FIGHTING TOOK PLACE ON FOOT, THERE WERE MERCENARIES AROUND, BUT THE RENOWN ATTACHED TO THE COMBATANTS IN BOTH KINGDOMS FOLLOWED THEM FOR YEARS TO COME, MONEY AND OFFICES FOLLOWING THE GLORY EARNED IN COMBAT. THIS IS PERHAPS THE MOST FAMOUS EXAMPLE OF AN EMPRISE, FOUGHT AS A CHALLENGE WITH WEAPONS  LA GUERRE, AS OPPOSED TO A PAS D'ARMES, WHERE SUCH A COMBAT WOULD BE FOUGHT  PLAISANCE, FOR PLEASURE.
COMBATS OF CHIVALRY
ORIGINAL JUDICIAL DUELS, FOUGHT  LA GUERRE WITH WEAPONS OF WAR, UNTIL ONE OF THE COMBATANTS WAS TOO EXHAUSTED TO CONTINUE. THESE COMBATS WERE ALSO REFERRED TO AS EMPRISES, WHERE KNIGHTS OF OPPOSING NATIONALITIES FOUGHT TO PROVE THEIR PROWESS AND THUS EARN RENOWN.
COMMENDATION
A CONTRACT FOR VASSALAGE.
COMMENAILLES
THE FIRST ENCOUNTERS IN A TOURNAMENT WHEN A FEW KNIGHTS WOULD BE HONORED TO DISPLAY THEIR PROWESS IN SINGLE COMBATS AGAINST EQUALLY VALIANT OPPONENTS.
COMMISSIONS OF ARRAY
ROYAL ORDERS FOR TROOP LEVIES ISSUED BY THE CROWN UPON SHIRES AND BOROUGHS TO AUGMENT THE FEUDAL OBLIGATIONS OWED BY THE GREATER VASSALS. CONTRAST WITH INDENTURES.
COMPANY OF SAINT GEORGE
THE FIRST OF THE TOURNAMENT COMPANIES, FOUNDED IN THE SCA KINGDOM OF CAID IN 1990, THE COMPANY OF SAINT GEORGE STRIVES TO BRING A MORE AUTHENTIC APPROACH TO SCA TOURNEYING, AS WELL AS EMPHASIZING THE CHARACTER OF TOURNEY COMBATANTS. THE COMPANY NOW HAS TWO CHAPTERS, THE LARGER ONE IN THE WEST KINGDOM, AND A SMALLER BUT ACTIVE ONE IN CAID. THE COMPANY (CSG) ACTIVELY ASSISTS OTHERS WHO WISH TO BUILD THEIR OWN COMPANIES, HAVING LENT ASSISTANCE IN THE FOUNDING OF THE COMPANY OF SAINT MICHAEL AND THE COMPANY OF THE STAR.  ADDITIONALLY, THE CSG HAS BEEN THE FIRST COMPANY TO EXPERIMENT AND TO BRING THE PAS D'ARMES BACK INTO THE SCA EXPERIENCE, EXPERIMENTING TO FIND THE BEST BALANCE FOR VARIOUS KINDS OF SCA EVENTS.  MODELED CHIEFLY ON THE ENGLISH ORDER OF THE GARTER AND THE GERMAN TOURNAMENT SOCIETIES OF THE 14TH CENTURIES, THE COMPANY IS AN ASSOCIATION OF NOBLES WITHIN THE SCA WHO WISH TO SEE THE TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE IMPROVED. (SEE ALSO THE COMPANY OF SAINT GEORGE SECTION OF THIS WEBSITE; CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #4; AND THE MONOGRAPH AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CHIVALRY BOOKSHELF.)
COMPANY OF SAINT MARK
THE FOURTH TOURNAMENT COMPANY, FOUNDED IN THE SCA KINGDOM OF ATLANTIA IN 1994.
COMPANY OF SAINT MICHAEL
THE THIRD TOURNAMENT COMPANY, FOUNDED IN THE SCA EAST KINGDOM. THE COMPANY OF SAINT MICHAEL REQUIRES SCA KNIGHTHOOD FOR MEMBERSHIP, BUT MAINTAINS A CADET HOUSEHOLD TO INCLUDE NON-KNIGHTS IN ST. MICHAEL ACTIVITIES. SAINT MICHAEL HAS BEEN MOST ACTIVE AT PENNSIC WAR, WHERE THEY WERE THE FIRST TO BRING THE PAS D'ARMES TO PENNSIC. THEY HAVE DONE MUCH WORK WITH GALLERON IN THE EAST KINGDOM WORKING AROUND THE KING REN THEME, STRIVING TO BRING GREATER AUTHENTICITY TO THE TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE.
COMPANY OF THE STAR
THE MODERN COMPANY OF THE STAR, FOUNDED IN THE SCA KINGDOM OF TRIMARIS, EMPHASIZING THE HISTORY OF THE PERIOD FROM 1350-1360. THEIR PAS D'ARMES, HELD SPORADICALLY, ARE GENERALLY NOT SCA EVENTS, HELD FOR THE PLEASURE OF THE COMPANIONS, BUT THE STAR DOES PARTICIPATE IN SCA EVENTS AND WORKS HARD TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE TO 14TH CENTURY RE-ENACTORS. THEY ARE BASED UPON THE FRENCH ORDER OF THE STAR, THE 14TH CENTURY COMPANY OF KNIGHTS ASSEMBLED BY JON LE BON.
COMPTE
ADMINISTRATIVE IN MEROVINGIAN AND CAROLINGIAN FRANCE, INHERITORS OF WHAT BECAME, DURING THE MIDDLE AGES, AS THE COUNTIES. THE TITLE OF COUNT MERGED WITH THE ANGLO-SAXON CONCEPTION OF EARL, A TITLE CARRYING MORE GOVERNING AND MILITARY RESPONSIBILITIES. THE TWO TOGETHER MERGED, BECOMING SYNONYMOUS, EARL BEING CORRECT IN ENGLAND AND COUNT OR COMPTE IN FRANCE. GRAF WAS THE GERMAN EQUIVALENT, JARL THE WELSH. COUNTS RANK ABOVE BARONS AND VISCOUNTS, BUT BELOW DUKES, AND ARE KNOWN BY THE TITLE 'EXCELLENCY'.  WITHIN THE SCA, THE RANK OF COUNT OR EARL IS APPLIED TO GENTLES WHO HAVE REIGNED ONCE, PROVING VICTORIOUS IN CROWN TOURNAMENT AND THUS REIGNING OVER AN SCA KINGDOM FOR FOUR TO SEVEN MONTHS.
CONDOTIERRI
LEADERS OF ITALIAN FREE COMPANIES, SOME OF WHICH WERE LARGE ENOUGH TO BE SEEN AS SMALL ARMIES-HIRED OUT TO CARRY ON WARS ON THE ITALIAN PENINSULA DURING THE 14TH AND 15TH CENTURIES.
CONFLICTUS GALLICUS
L. FOR TOURNAMENTS. THEY WERE LICENSED IN ENGLAND IN 1194 BY RICHARD I USING RULES BROUGHT FROM FRANCE.
CONROI
A SMALL GROUP OF KNIGHTS WHO COMPETED IN TOURNAMENTS TOGETHER FROM THE 12TH AND 13TH CENTURIES. SEE ALSO HASTILUDE AND CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #9.
CONSTABLE
THE CHIEF MILITARY OFFICER OF THE ENGLISH CROWN, WITH THE MARSHAL AS LIEUTENANT, KNOWN RESPECTIVELY AS THE 'LORD HIGH CONSTABLE' AND THE 'EARL MARSHAL.' THEIR AUTHORITY EXTENDED TO ALL AFFAIRS RELATING TO RELATIONS BETWEEN SOLDIERS AND MERCHANTS, AND IN RELATIONS BETWEEN SOLDIERS. DURING THE 16TH CENTURY, THE TWO PRESIDED OVER COURTS OF CHIVALRY.
CONSTANTINOPLE
FOUNDED IN 330 BY THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE, IT WAS BUILT ON THE SITE OF A GREEK TOWN CALLED BYZANTIUM, AND THIS GAVE ITS NAME TO CONSTANTINE'S EMPIRE, WHICH WAS TO WEATHER THE FALL OF ROME INTACT UNTIL THE LATE 15TH CENTURY.
COQUILLARDS
LARGE GROUPS OF BANDITS ROAMING THE FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE DURING THE 1450S. THEY WERE LARGELY ROUNDED UP IN BURGUNDY FROM 1455-57, BUT THEIR STRIKING LANGUAGE WAS IMMORTALIZED BY THE POET FRANOIS VILLARD.
CORONAL
THE HEAD OF A LANCE, FITTED FOR THE JOUST OF PEACE INSTEAD OF THE SHARP POINT USED FOR WAR. USING MULTIPLE POINTS (GENERALLY BUT NOT ALWAYS LIMITED TO THREE) IT SPREAD THE IMPACT AND REDUCED THE DAMAGE.
CORONATION
THE CEREMONY MARKING THE CROWNING OF A NEW MONARCH OR KING. THESE CEREMONIES BECAME VERY INVOLVED, CENTERING AROUND THE ANNOINTING, WHERE THE KING CEASES TO BECOME MORTAL AND TAKES ON A DIVINE CHARACTER.   MIDDLE ENGLISH CORONATION CEREMONY (1365-1480) MODERN ENGLISH COPY OF ABOVE (1365-1480)
CORONET
THE CIRCLETS WORN BY THE MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY OTHER THAN THE KING, AND BY MEMBERS OF THE NOBILITY, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE MIDDLE OF THE 15TH CENTURY.  WITHIN THE SCA, CORONETS HAVE A PARTICULAR MEANING. DUKES CAN WEAR CORONETS THAT FEATURE STRAWBERRY LEAVES. COUNTS, EARLS AND THE EQUIVALENTS, EACH OF WHOM HAS EMERGED VICTORIOUS FROM CROWN TOURNAMENT ONE TIME, HAVE EMBATTLED CORONETS. VISCOUNTS, WHO HAVE ATTAINED THE VICTORY IN A CORONET LIST, ARE ENTITLED TO A POINTED CORONET. COURT BARONS HAVE CORONETS WITH PEARLS. THE STANDARDS FOR CORONETS VARY FROM KINGDOM TO KINGDOM IN THE SCA, AS THEY DID IN EUROPE FOR THE PERIOD.
CORONET LIST
WITHIN THE SCA, THE LISTS FOUGHT TO DETERMINE THE WHO WILL RULE THE PRINCIPALITY FOR THE NEXT SIX-MONTH PERIOD. WINNERS OF THE LISTS REIGN FOR SIX MONTHS AS PRINCE AND PRINCESS, AT WHICH POINT THEY ARE GRANTED THE TITLE OF VISCOUNT IN TOKEN OF THE SERVICE THEY HAVE PERFORMED FOR THE SCA.
COTE ARMOUR, JUPON
A QUILTED GARMENT WORN OVER A BREASTPLATE OR COTE OF PLATES OR AS THE SOLE BODY DEFENSE DURING THE 14TH CENTURY. SUCH ARMOURS WERE POPULAR IN ENGLAND SINCE THEY REQUIRED LITTLE TECHNICAL SKILL TO MANUFACTURE, WERE LIGHT AND EASY TO TRANSPORT. POPULAR AMONGST MEN-AT-ARMS AND ARCHERS-THEY WERE OFTEN WORN WITH THE CHAPEL DE FER FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE HEAD.
COTE OF ARMS
A WORD THAT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN INTERCHANGEABLE MEANING A COTE ARMOUR BLAZONED WITH A DEVICE OR A SURCOAT BEARING THE HERALDIC CHARGE OF A MAN'S AFFILIATION. BECAUSE IT WAS THE MOST VISIBLE EXPRESSION OF A KNIGHT'S ARMS, THE WORD HAS COME TO MEAN THE HERALDIC DEVICE ITSELF RATHER THAN THE COTE UPON WHICH IT WAS SEWN, PAINTED, OR EMBROIDERED.
COTE OF PLATES, PAIR OF PLATES, PLATES
A CLOTH OR LEATHER COVERED ARMOUR FOR THE BODY WITH SEVERAL LARGE PLATES RIVETED UNDERNEATH FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE BODY. THE MOST FAMOUS EXAMPLES WERE UNEARTHED AT THE BATTLE OF WISBY SITE, DATING FROM THE MID-14TH CENTURY. FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE CENTURY THEY WERE MADE OF FLAT PLATES, BUT GRADUALLY THE BREASTPLATE WAS DISHED TO CONFORM TO THE SHAPE OF THE BODY AND THE WAIST WAS DRAWN IN FOR THE CHARACTERISTIC "WASP-WAISTED" ELEMENT OF TRANSITIONAL STYLE.
COUCH
A TECHNIQUE WHERE THE LANCE IS HELD UNDER THE ARM TO STEADY IT DURING A COURSE, SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF FLEX AND INCREASING THE ACCURACY OF A LUNGE.
COUNCIL OF CLAREMONT
A MEETING OF THE NINTH CANON IN 1130 WHEREBY THE CHURCH ATTEMPTED TO CAUSE THE CESSATION OF TOURNAMENTS, REPEATED AGAIN IN 1139 AND IN 1179. SEE ALSO THE PEACE AND TRUCE OF GOD. "WE FIRMLY PROHIBIT THOSE DETESTABLE MARKETS OR FAIRES AT WHICH KNIGHTS ARE ACCUSTOMED TO MEET TO SHOW OFF THEIR STRENGTH AND THEIR BOLDNESS AND AT WHICH THE DEATHS OF MEN AND DANGERS TO THE SOUL OFTEN OCCUR. BUT IF ANYONE IS KILLED THERE, EVEN IF HE DEMANDS AND IS NOT DENIED PENANCE AND THE VIATICUM, ECCLESIASTICAL BURIAL SHALL BE WITHHELD FROM HIM." --HISTOIRE DES CONCILES, PARIS, 1912
COUNT
ADMINISTRATIVE IN MEROVINGIAN AND CAROLINGIAN FRANCE, INHERITORS OF WHAT BECAME, DURING THE MIDDLE AGES, AS THE COUNTIES. THE TITLE OF COUNT MERGED WITH THE ANGLO-SAXON CONCEPTION OF EARL, A TITLE CARRYING MORE GOVERNING AND MILITARY RESPONSIBILITIES. THE TWO TOGETHER MERGED, BECOMING SYNONYMOUS, EARL BEING CORRECT IN ENGLAND AND COUNT OR COMPTE IN FRANCE. GRAF WAS THE GERMAN EQUIVALENT, JARL THE WELSH. COUNTS RANK ABOVE BARONS AND VISCOUNTS, BUT BELOW DUKES, AND ARE KNOWN BY THE TITLE 'EXCELLENCY'.  WITHIN THE SCA, THE RANK OF COUNT OR EARL IS APPLIED TO GENTLES WHO HAVE REIGNED ONCE, PROVING VICTORIOUS IN CROWN TOURNAMENT AND THUS REIGNING OVER AN SCA KINGDOM FOR FOUR TO SEVEN MONTHS.
COUNT OF FLANDERS TECHNIQUE
A SOURED TECHNIQUE, KNOWN DURING BOTH THE 13TH AND 14TH CENTURIES, WHEREBY A GROUP OF KNIGHTS WOULD HOLD THEMSELVES OUT OF THE ACTION UNTIL LATE IN THE MLE, WHEN THEY WOULD DESCEND UPON THE NOW-TIRED TOURNEYERS AND SCOOP UP EASY PICKINGS FOR THE RANSOMS AND EQUIPMENT.
COUNTED BLOWS
THERE ARE MANY PERIOD REFERENCES TO COMBATS OF X NUMBER OF COURSES, WHERE THE COMBAT MIGHT HAVE ENTAILED A NUMBER OF BLOWS RECEIVED, OR PERHAPS OF A NUMBER THROWN.  IN THE MODERN TOURNAMENT COMPANIES, BOTH TRADITIONS HAVE PROSPERED. IN THE 'SAINT GEORGE ' METHOD, THE NUMBER OF BLOWS THROWN IS REGULATED. THE FIGHTING TENDS TO BE MORE POISED AND PRECISE, BUT SOME SAY LESS INTENSE. IT GIVES AN ADVANTAGE TO COMBATANTS WHO ARE PRECISE IN THEIR BLOWS. IN THE 'SAINT MICHAEL ' METHOD, THE NUMBER OF BLOWS RECEIVED IS COUNTED, YIELDING A DIFFERENT KIND OF FIGHT-ONE WITH MORE BLOWS THROWN, GENERALLY WITH LESS PRECISION, BUT WITH MORE ACTION. IT TENDS TO FAVOR THOSE WHO THROW MANY BLOWS. SEE CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #4.
COUNTY
DIVISIONS OF LAND IN FRANCE FORMED IN THE 9TH CENTURY AND IN ENGLAND AFTER THE CONQUEST IN 1066. THE FEUDAL LORD OF A COUNTY, THE ENGLISH COUNT OR FRENCH COMPTE, WERE POWERFUL NOBLES WHO RANKED BELOW A DUKE AND ABOVE VISCOUNTS AND BARONS.
COUP DE GRACE
THE DEATH-BLOW A KNIGHT GAVE TO HIS MORTALLY WOUNDED OPPONENT, OFTEN USING THE MISIACORDE.
COURAGE
ONE OF THE ORIGINAL WARRIOR VIRTUES, ONE THAT IS SHARED BY ALL WARRIOR CULTURES, ALONG WITH LOYALTY AND PROWESS. TO BE COURAGEOUS, IT HAS BEEN SAID, IS DOING THE RIGHT THING REGARDLESS OF COST; IT IS A CONDITION OF A STRONG SOUL RATHER THAN OF A STRONG BODY. RAMON LULL HAD A FEW WORDS ON THE SUBJECT: "IF CHIVALRY  WERE STRONGER OF BODY THAN IS STRENGTH OF COURAGE, THE ORDER OF CHIVALRY WOULD BE MORE IN ACCORD WITH THE BODY THAN WITH THE SOUL. IF IT WERE SUCH THEN THE BODY WOULD BE MORE NOBLE THAN THE SOUL, AND THAT IS OPENLY FALSE. SO NOBILITY OF COURAGE MAY NOT BE VANQUISHED OF MEN, NOR SURMOUNTED, NOR ALL OF THESE MEN WHO HAVE BEEN WHAT SHE IS IN HER RIGHT STRENGTH. AND WHEN A BODY IS LIGHTLY TAKEN AND VANQUISHED OF ANOTHER, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE COURAGE OF MAN IS MORE STRONG AND NOBLE THAN THE BODY. A KNIGHT  WHO ACCOMPANIES HIS LORD  INTO BATTLE, WHO FOR LACK OF COURAGE FLEES THE BATTLE WHEN HE SHOULD GIVE AID, BECAUSE HE MORE REDOUBTS OR FEARS THE TORMENT OR PERIL MORE THAN OF HIS COURAGE USES NOT THE OFFICE OF CHIVALRY. NEITHER IS HE THE SERVANT NOR OBEDIENT TO OTHER HONORS, BUT IS AGAINST THE HONOR OF CHIVALRY, WHICH WAS BYGONE BY NOBILITY AND COURAGE. IF THE LESSER NOBILITY OF COURAGE SHOULD ACCORD BETTER TO THE ORDER OF CHIVALRY THAN TO THE GREATER ONE OF THE SOUL, UNTO CHIVALRY SHOULD ACCORD SLOTH OF HEART AND COWARDICE AGAINST HARDINESS AND STRENGTH OF COURAGE. AND IF IT WERE THUS, SLOTH AND COURAGE SHOULD BE THE OFFICE OF A KNIGHT, AND HARDNESS AND STRENGTH OF COURAGE SHOULD DISORDAIN THE ORDER OF CHIVALRY." 
COURSE
IN A JOUST, TO RUN A SINGLE PASS WITH LANCES OR SWORDS WAS A COURSE. BARBER AND BARKER SUGGEST IN THEIR TOURNAMENTS BOOK THAT A COURSE MIGHT ALSO HAVE BEEN A 'BOUT'; A SINGLE FIGHT DETERMINED IN A VARIETY OF MANNERS-COUNTED BLOWS STRUCK OR RECEIVED; UNTIL AN OPPONENT WAS KNOCKED TO THEIR KNEES; OR PERHAPS UNTIL A PARTICULARLY FINE BLOW WAS STRUCK. SEE ALSO COUNTED BLOWS.
COURSER
THE BEST EXAMPLES OF A KNIGHT'S WARHORSE, THE CRME DE LA CRME, OFTEN VALUED FROM POUND20 TO POUND100, PRICES SOMETHING LIKE THAT OF A MODERN MERCEDES OR CADILLAC. THE MORE COMMON WARHORSES WERE LIKE MODERN HUNTERS, KNOWN THEN AS DESTRIERS.
COURT
THE ADMINISTRATIVE, JUDICIAL, AND POLITICAL BODY OF AUTHORITY FOR A FEUDAL BODY. ADOPTED FROM THE ROMAN CONCEPTION OF THE CURIA, THE CONCEPT WAS MODIFIED BY THE GERMANIC TRIBES, WHO ATTACHED BOTH MILITARY AND POLITICAL ELEMENTS TO THE LEADER'S RESPONSIBILITIES. THIS IS, IN PART, HOW FEUDAL LORDS CAME TO HAVE SUCH GREAT POWERS OVER THEIR VASSALS. GRADUALLY, THE CONCEPT OF THE COURT CAME TO ENCOMPASS NOT ONLY THE NOBLE IN CHARGE OF A BODY, BUT THE CHIEF OFFICERS AND VASSALS WHO SERVED HIM, SINCE THEY WOULD IN MANY CASES PLAY SOME ROLE IN THE DISPENSING OF JUSTICE. THE FOUR PRINCIPAL OFFICERS OF THE COURT, THE CONSTABLE (MILITARY OFFICER), CHAMBERLAIN (TREASURER), SENESCHAL (ADMINISTRATOR OF JUSTICE IN THE ABSENCE OF THE LORD), AND STEWARD (WHO ADMINISTERED TO THE ESTATES).
COURT BARON
A COURT OF FREE TENANTS WHO DETERMINED THE FATE OF OTHER FREE TENANTS PRIOR TO THE 14TH CENTURY. ALSO A HANDBOOK BY THE SAME NAME, FOR USE BY SEIGNIORIAL LORDS, CONTAINING PRECEDENCE AND GUIDES SO THAT JUSTICE MIGHT BE MORE EVENLY ADMINISTERED.  WITHIN THE SCA, A COURT BARON IS ONE WHO IS RECOGNIZED BY THE CROWN FOR SERVICE, IT CARRIES WITH IT A PATENT OF ARMS AND ADMITS THE HONORED GENTLE INTO THE RANKS OF THE NOBILITY WITHOUT CARRYING A PEERAGE OF KNIGHT, LAUREL OR PELICAN.
COURT OF CHIVALRY
STRICTLY SPEAKING, A COURT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS CONCERNED WITH THE CONDUCT OF SOLDIERS UNDER THE CONSTABLE AND MARSHAL, THE TWO PRINCIPLE MILITARY OFFICERS IN ENGLAND OR FRANCE, OR BY THEIR REPRESENTATIVES. ALTHOUGH THE TERM 'COURT OF CHIVALRY' DID NOT EXIST FORMALLY PRIOR TO THE 1389, WHEN THE ENGLISH PARLIAMENT DECLARED THE PURVIEW OF THE COURT TO BE, 'COGNIZANCE OF CONTRACTS TOUCHING DEEDS OF WAR OUT OF THE REALM, AND ALSO TO THINGS THAT TOUCH ARMS OF WAR WITHIN THE REALM, WHICH CANNOT BE DETERMINED NOR DISCUSSED BY COMMON LAW, WITH OTHER USAGES OR CUSTOMS TO THE SAME MATTERS PERTAINING, WHICH OTHER CONSTABLES HERETOFORE HAVE DULY AND REASONABLY USED IN THEIR TIME.' SO THIS DECLARATION OF 1389 MERELY FORMALIZED A PROCESS WHICH WAS ALREADY BEEN IN PLACE. DURING THE 15TH CENTURY, WHEN THE FEUDAL TERMS OF SERVICE HAD BEEN REPLACED BY A KNIGHT'S TENURE OF SERVICE, SUCH COURTS HEARD DISPUTES IN THE CONTRACTS OF SUCH SERVICE, THE CASES ARGUED BY LAWYERS RATHER THAN THE KNIGHTS THEMSELVES.  CRIMINALLY, THE COURT COULD HEAR CASES OF TREASON AND MURDER, AND IT IS IN CASES WHERE THERE IS NO DIRECT EVIDENCE, WHERE IT IS THE WORD OF ONE AGAINST THE OTHER, THAT TRIAL BY COMBAT COULD BE USED. SUCH TRIALS WERE COMPLICATED AFFAIRS, GROWING FROM SUCH CASES TO ALSO INCLUDE DISPUTES OVER HERALDIC RIGHTS AND OVER MATTERS OF HONOR.
COURTAIN
THE SHORTER SWORD OF OGIER THE DANE, MENTIONED IN THE CHANSON DE GESTE OF THE SAME NAME. HIS OTHER WEAPON WAS SAUVAIGN.
COURTESY
NOT ONE OF THE ORIGINAL CHIVALRIC VIRTUES, THE IDEA THAT A KNIGHT SHOULD BE COURTEOUS CAME FROM THE INFLUENCE OF THE COURT, THE LADIES, AND THE ROMANCES. A KNIGHT WAS EXPECTED TO BE COURTEOUS TO MEN OF ALL STATIONS, ALTHOUGH THE CONCEPT OF WHAT WAS 'COURTEOUS' CHANGED OVER TIME. WHAT WAS CONSIDERED 'COURTEOUS' IN THE DAYS OF WILLIAM THE MARSHAL WOULD BE CONSIDERED BARBARIC TO THE DUKES OF BURGUNDY IN THE 15TH CENTURY. THE ADDITION OF COURTESY TO THE MARSHAL SUITE OF VIRTUES IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DISTINGUISHES CHIVALRY FROM OTHER WARRIOR CODES, FOR EXAMPLE FROM BUSHIDO, THE JAPANESE WARRIOR CODE.
COURTESY TITLE
THE COURTESY TITLE, ONE STEP BELOW THAT OF THE ACTUAL RANK OF AN HEIR. FOR EXAMPLE, A DUKE'S FIRST SON COULD STYLE HIMSELF 'EARL ', UNLESS THE FAMILY ACTUALLY POSSESSED OTHER TITLES, IN WHICH CASE HE WOULD 'USE' THE LESSER TITLES AS HIS OWN.
COURTLY LOVE
A TERM FIRST USED BY GASTON PARIS IN 1883 ARTICLE TO DESCRIBE THE 'CULTURE' OF LOVE AND SYSTEM OF LOVE AND ADORATION DEVELOPED IN NORTHERN FRANCE DURING THE LATE 12TH CENTURY. UNDER THIS SYSTEM, THE LOVER, WHO PURSUED HIS ILLICIT AND PASSIONATE LOVE RELENTLESSLY, WAS ENNOBLED BY THE EXPERIENCE. SOME WRITERS CLAIMED THAT THE SEARCH ITSELF WAS ENOUGH TO IMPROVE THE CHARACTER OF THE LOVER, WHILE OTHERS MAINTAINED THAT HE WOULD BE A FOOL TO PURSUE SUCH A VENTURE WITHOUT RECOMPENSE, BE IT A SMILE OR A LOOK OR PERHAPS MORE INTIMATE CONCLUSION. IN GENERAL COURTLY LOVE TOOK PLACE OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF MARRIAGE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE MEDIEVAL CHURCH TOOK SUCH STRONG OBJECTIONS TO IT.  ANDREAS CAPPALLANUS, CHRTIEN DE TROYES AND MARIE DE CHAMPAGNE ARE THREE NAMES INEXTRICABLY TWINED WITH THE MOVEMENT, BUT THE EFFECT OF THE MOVEMENT WAS TO DRAW THE ATTENTION OF THE KNIGHTS AWAY FROM THE BATTLEFIELD AND CRUSADE OR RELIGIOUS DUTIES AND ADD CONCEPTIONS OF COURTESY, GENEROSITY, DEFENSE AND RESPECT FOR WOMEN TO THE EXTANT RELIGIOUS AND MILITARY VIRTUES. IN THIS MANNER THE COURTLY LOVE MOVEMENT STRONGLY IMPACTED WITH ACCEPTED WAY THAT WOMEN WERE TREATED AND DEFENDED IN OUR OWN CULTURE EVEN TO THE PRESENT DAY.
COURTOISIE
FR. FOR COURTESY.
COURTRAI, BATTLE OF
JULY, 1302. THE FRENCH CHIVALRY UNDER THE COUNT OF FLANDERS ENGAGED A LARGE FORCE OF LOWLAND FOOTSOLDIERS ARMED WITH A KIND OF HALBERD CALLED A GODENDANG, HAVING PREPARED THEIR DEFENSIVE POSITION IN ADVANCE BY DIGGING PITS IN FRONT OF THE EXPECTED FRENCH CHARGE. THE FRENCH SENT THEIR OWN FOOTSOLDIERS AHEAD, BUT SOON GREW IMPATIENT AS THE BATTLE PROVED INDECISIVE, RIDING DOWN THEIR OWN MEN ONLY TO BE THEMSELVES CUT DOWN IN THE CONFUSION.
COUTER
THE DEFENSE FOR THE ELBOW, GENERALLY MISTAKENLY CALLED THE "ELBOW COP" IN MODERN SCA PARLANCE. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY THESE WERE GENERALLY REASONABLY SHALLOW, STARTING OFF ROUNDED IN THE EARLY PART OF THE CENTURY AND PROGRESSING TOWARDS A MORE CONICAL BUT STILL ROUNDED SHAPE AS THE CENTURY PROGRESSED. IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE CENTURY A "WING" WAS ADDED TO THE COUTER TO IMPROVE THE PROTECTION FOR THE JOINT ITSELF, FIRST AFFIXED WITH LACES, THEN WITH RIVETS, AND FINALLY, MID-CENTURY, WAS MADE INTEGRAL TO THE COUTER ITSELF. WING DECORATION THEN FLOURISHED, WITH THE SHAPES VARYING BY REGION, DATE AND FASHION DU JOUR. ABOUT THE SAME TIME THAT THE MORE CONICAL SHAPE CAME INTO POPULARITY, POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF THIS NEED, THE COUTER WAS DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE CENTURY NOW ARTICULATED USING TWO OR THREE LAMES TO ATTACH IT INTO A SINGLE JOINTED DEFENSE FROM THE WRIST (DEFENDED BY THE VAMBRACE) AND THE UPPER ARM (DEFENDED BY THE REREBRACE). SEE ARM HARNESS FOR A MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
CRAVEN
THE WORD APPLIED TO THE LOSING CHAMPION IN A TRIAL BY COMBAT OR JUDICIAL DUEL, SINCE THE LOSS OF THE DUEL PROVED HIM TO BE PERJURED. AS AN 'INFAMOUS' PERSON, HE LOST IS RIGHT TO LAW AND COULD NEVER AGAIN APPEAR AS A WITNESS. ON THE CONTINENT SOMETIMES SUCH A LOSS CARRIED WITH IT THE SEVERE PENALTY OF LOSING A HAND, SINCE THE PERJURY WAS KNOWINGLY ISSUED UNDER OATH.
CRENELLATIONS
THE EMBATTLED UPPER PORTION OF A MEDIEVAL CASTLE WALL, DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE DEFENDERS.
CRINET
THE ARMOUR FOR A HORSES NECK, NOT POPULAR UNTIL THE 15TH CENTURY. IT WAS MADE WITH OVERLAPPING PLATES FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM, HELD TOGETHER EITHER WITH LEATHER STRIPS OR BY SLIDING RIVETS (THE LATTER WAS MUCH MORE COMMON DURING THE 16TH CENTURY, WHEN SLIDING RIVETS BECAME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED). MADE OF VERY THIN STEEL, PERHAPS 22 GAGE, THE PLATES WERE OFTEN FLUTED OR FLARED FOR STRENGTH.
CROCKARD
A FORGED ENGLISH PENNY OF REDUCED WEIGHT CREATED IN THE LOW COUNTRIES IN THE VERY LAST YEARS OF THE 13TH CENTURY. THEY WERE 'MINTED' IN LARGE NUMBERS, UNDERMINING THE ENGLISH ECONOMY AND CAUSING EDWARD I TO BAN THEM IN 1299.
CROFT
PIECE OF ENCLOSED GROUND ATTACHED TO A PEASANT'S COTTAGE USED FOR TILLAGE AND PASTURAGE.
CROSSBOW
(SEE ARBALEST)
CROSSBOWMEN
WIELDERS OF A ARBALEST. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY THEY GENERALLY WORE A MAIL HAUBERK TO DEFEND THE BODY, A BASCINET TO DEFEND THE HEAD, SOMETIMES WITH A COLLARETTE OF IRON TO DEFEND THE THROAT. ALMOST ALWAYS A FOOTMAN, THE CROSSBOWMAN SOMETIMES WORE A SURCOAT BEARING THE LIVERY OF AFFILIATION. DURING THE 15TH CENTURY THE HAUBERK WAS GENERALLY REPLACED WITH A BRIGANDINE AND THE USE OF A PAVAISE, A HEAD-TO-TOW SHIELD, WAS OFTEN BROUGHT OUT AS A SEMI-PORTABLE DEFENSE THAT THE MAN COULD HIDE BEHIND AS HE RELOADED SO THAT HE WOULD NOT BE CUT DOWN BY ARROWS, OTHER CROSSBOW BOLTS, OR BY CHARGING HORSEMEN.
CROWN
THE DIADEM OR CIRCLET WORN BY THE KING OR MONARCH TO SIGNIFY THEIR STATUS, THE CROWN CAME TO BE IMBUED WITH A GREAT DEAL OF SYMBOLIC POWER, THOUGH THE OBJECT ITSELF WAS APPARENTLY WORN SELDOM, MOSTLY IN COURT OR FOR STATE OCCASIONS. VARIOUS MONARCHS DURING THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES WERE FROM TIME TO TIME FORCED TO PAWN THEIR CROWNS TO RAISE MONEY, SOME OF WHICH WERE NEVER RECOVERED. EDWARD III'S CROWN SUFFERED SUCH A FATE AS HE WAS FORCED TO BORROW EXTENSIVELY TO SUPPORT HIS CAMPAIGNS IN FRANCE.  THE TERM CAN ALSO BE USED TO REFER TO THE PERSON OF THE KING, WITH AN ALLUSION TO THEIR POWER-'THE CROWN'. WITHIN THE SCA, THE TERM 'CROWN' DOES INDEED REFER TO THE PERSON AND TO THE OFFICE OF THE KING, BOTH.
CROWN PRINCE
THEIR HEIR TO THE THRONE, RANKING IN PRECEDENCE ABOVE ALL OTHER PRINCES IN A KINGDOM. IN ENGLAND, THE PRINCE OF WALES WAS THE CROWN PRINCE FOR MOST OF THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES. THIS USAGE CONTINUES TODAY BOTH IN REFERENCE TO THE ROYAL HOUSE OF BRITAIN AND WITHIN THE SCA, WHERE IT APPLIES TO THE VICTOR OF CROWN TOURNAMENT, THE 'HEIR APPARENT', WHO WILL STEP UP AND BE CROWNED KING DURING THE 'CORONATION ' CEREMONY.
CROWN TOURNAMENT
WITHIN THE SCA, THE TOURNAMENTS HELD TWO OR THREE TIMES PER YEAR IN EACH KINGDOM TO DETERMINE WHO WILL REIGN FOR THE NEXT PERIOD. SUCH TOURNAMENTS ARE GENERALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS, DOUBLE-ELIMINATION LISTS, WHERE EACH COMBATANT MAY LOSE TWO COMBATS BEFORE BEING ELIMINATED. GENERALLY CONDUCTED WITH A GREAT DEAL OF CEREMONY, BECAUSE THERE IS A PRIZE ACCORDED TO THE VICTOR, THE RIGHT TO REIGN, THESE LISTS ARE THE GREATEST TESTS OF VIRTUE IN THE SPECTRUM OF SCA TOURNEYS, THEY ARE EITHER AFFAIRS WHERE GREAT HONOR AND RENOWN ARE WON OR LOST. THEY ARE THE PINNACLE OF PRIZE TOURNEYS IN THE SCA.
CRUSADE
THE SERIES OF HOLY WARS LAUNCHED BY THE CHRISTIAN STATES AGAINST THE SARACENS STARTING IN 1095 WHEN POPE CLAREMONT PREACHED THE FIRST CRUSADE AT THE COUNCIL OF CLAREMONT. THE OBJECT OF THE CRUSADES WAS AT FIRST TO RELEASE THE HOLY LAND, IN PARTICULAR JERUSALEM, FROM THE SARACENS, BUT IN TIME WAS EXTENDED TO SEIZING SPAIN FROM THE MOORS, THE SLAVS AND PAGANS FROM EASTERN EUROPE, AND THE ISLANDS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN. THE FIRST CRUSADE, WHICH LASTED FROM 1095-1099, ESTABLISHED THE LATIN KINGDOM OF JERUSALEM, PROVIDING MORE LANDS FOR THE CRUSADING KNIGHTS, WHO OFTEN TRAVELED ACROSS EUROPE TO TRY THEIR FORTUNES AND TO VISIT THE HOLY SEPULCHER. THE KINGDOM WAS GRADUALLY LOST UNTIL THE LAST CHRISTIAN CITY, ACRE, FELL IN 1291. THE DREAM OF RETURNING TO THE HOLY LAND NONETHELESS PROVED POPULAR; THE KINGS OF FRANCE AND ENGLAND FREQUENTLY MADE SUCH PLANS, THOUGH IN NEARLY EVERY CASE THE CRUSADES WERE REDIRECTED OR DERAILED BY REGIONAL TENSIONS.  THE CRUSADES ALSO GAVE RISE TO THE IMPORTANT KNIGHTLY ORDERS, THE TEMPLARS AND THE HOSPITALLERS, ORDERS OF RELIGIOUS KNIGHTS, WORKING FROM MONASTIC RULE TO DEFEND THE HOLY LAND AND PILGRIMS EN ROUTE TO THE SAME LANDS. FIRST CRUSADE
CRUSADER
A KNIGHT ON CRUSADE. BY GOING ON CRUSADE AND UNDERTAKING A PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LANDS, A KNIGHT COULD GAIN GREAT CREDIT TOWARDS HIS EVENTUAL REDEMPTION. KNIGHTS WHO HAD BEEN ON CRUSADE WERE ENTITLED TO BE DEPICTED IN THE FUNERARY EFFIGIES, OR GISANTS, WITH THEIR FEET CROSSED, WHILE THOSE WHO HAD NOT BEEN ON CRUSADE WERE NOT SO ENTITLED. A CRUSADER EARNED GREAT HONOR BY HIS EFFORTS; MANY GREAT KNIGHTS WENT ON CRUSADE TO EARN RENOWN, SUCH AS WILLIAM THE MARSHAL OR GODFREY DE BOUILLON.
CRCY, BATTLE OF
(26 AUGUST 1346) THE MONUMENTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE FLOWER OF FRENCH CHIVALRY BY A MUCH SMALLER ENGLISH FORCE UNDER EDWARD III AND THE BLACK PRINCE, ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES THE NEW ENGLISH TACTICS OF DEPLOYING ARCHERS IN FORCE AGAINST A TIGHTLY PACKED ENEMY WAS USED AGAINST THE FRENCH. IT HAD BEEN FIRST TRIED WITH GREAT SUCCESS NINE YEARS EARLIER AT HALIDON HILL, BUT THE LESSON WAS IGNORED BY THE FRENCH AND THEY PAID DEARLY FOR IT.
CUFF
THE PART OF THE GAUNTLET DEFENDING THE WRIST, FLARED WIDELY DURING THE 14TH CENTURY BUT BECOMING LONGER AND MORE NARROW DURING THE 15TH.
CUIRASS
THE PLATE DEFENSE FOR THE BODY. INTRODUCED DURING THE THIRD QUARTER OF THE 14TH CENTURY, IT BECAME THE "CADILLAC" DEFENSE OF THE 15TH CENTURY. CONSISTING OF A BREAST AND BACKPLATE, HOOPS OF STEEL TO DEFEND THE HIPS KNOWN AS FAULDS, AND TASSETS TO DEFEND THE HIPS. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY, THE BREASTPLATE WAS OFTEN MADE FROM A SINGLE PIECE OF STEEL AND THE BACKPLATE FROM A BRIGANDINE, BUT DURING THE 15TH THE BREASTPLATE WAS GENERALLY MADE IN TWO OR MORE PIECES (ESPECIALLY IN THE GERMAN "GOTHIC" EXAMPLES) AND THE BACK IN MANY PIECES. THE PIECING YIELDED A GOOD DEAL OF INCREASED MOBILITY AND MADE THE HARNESSES MUCH EASIER TO PRODUCE.  ITALIAN CUIRASSES WERE OFTEN MORE ROUNDED IN SHAPE, KEEPING WITH THE MILANESE SCHOOL LINES, FORMED OF LARGER PIECES OF THICKER STEEL. GERMAN MODELS WERE SHARPER, FORMED OF MORE NUMEROUS AND THINNER PLATES, OFTEN FEATURING FLUTING TO INCREASE THE STRENGTH LOST WITH THE USE OF SMALL, THIN PLATES.
CUIRBOILLE
A MATERIAL USED FOR ARMOUR TO ADD RIGIDITY. IT WAS MADE, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, BY BOILING OR PAINTING A HEAVY LEATHER WITH BEESWAX, PROBABLY ENHANCED WITH OTHER INGREDIENTS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A GOOD DEAL MORE CUIRBOILLE AROUND THAN HAS BEEN RECORDED, IN PART BECAUSE IT WOULD BE VERY CHEAP FOR A MEDIEVAL ECONOMY TO PRODUCE AND IN PART BECAUSE IT STANDS UP VERY WELL TO REPEATED BLOWS. I BELIEVE THAT IT MIGHT WELL HAVE BEEN FAR MORE COMMON FOR SQUIRES AND PRACTICING MEN-AT-ARMS OR KNIGHTS TO WEAR CUIRBOILLE WHEN PRACTICING, THEN PUT ON A METAL HARNESS  LA GUERRE FOR WAR.
CUIRBOILLE, COURBOILLE
A MATERIAL USED FOR ARMOUR TO ADD RIGIDITY. IT WAS MADE, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, BY BOILING OR PAINTING A HEAVY LEATHER WITH BEESWAX, PROBABLY ENHANCED WITH OTHER INGREDIENTS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A GOOD DEAL MORE CUIRBOILLE AROUND THAN HAS BEEN RECORDED, IN PART BECAUSE IT WOULD BE VERY CHEAP FOR A MEDIEVAL ECONOMY TO PRODUCE AND IN PART BECAUSE IT STANDS UP VERY WELL TO REPEATED BLOWS. I BELIEVE THAT IT MIGHT WELL HAVE BEEN FAR MORE COMMON FOR SQUIRES AND PRACTICING MEN-AT-ARMS OR KNIGHTS TO WEAR CUIRBOILLE WHEN PRACTICING, THEN PUT ON A METAL HARNESS  LA GUERRE FOR WAR.
CUISSES
DEFENSES FOR THE THIGHS. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY CUISSES WERE AT FIRST EITHER LEATHER, SPLINTED LEATHER, CUIRBOILLE, OR QUILTED CLOTH. THESE DEFENSES WERE OFTEN ELABORATELY CARVED AND STUDDED, AND PROBABLY PAINTED AS WELL. FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE 14TH CENTURY, THESE EXPERIMENTAL MATERIALS FOR CUISSES WERE FREQUENTLY REPLACED BY PRIMITIVE PLATE. BY THE 1380S, THE CUISSE WAS OFTEN MADE FROM ONE BROAD PIECE COVERING MOST OF THE THIGH AND ONE OR MORE SMALLER PIECES AT THE HIP. ARMING POINTS ARE PROVIDED AT THE TOP FOR THE CUISSE SO THAT THE CUISSE CAN BE LACED TO THE ARMING HOSE OR GAMBESON. THIS FORM OF CUISSE REMAINED POPULAR DURING THE WHOLE OF THE 15TH CENTURY, DIVIDED IN STYLE ACCORDING TO THE GOTHIC OR MILANESE FASHION. DURING THE 15TH CENTURY A WRAP PLATE WAS ALSO ADDED TO THE CUISSE TO DEFEND THE BACK OF THE THIGH, ESPECIALLY AS FOOT COMBAT FOR KNIGHTS BECAME MORE COMMON.  THE DEFENSE OF THE KNEE, THE POLEYN, WAS ATTACHED EITHER TO THE CUISSE DIRECTLY (USUALLY BEFORE 1350) OR ARTICULATED USING LAMES TO CREATE A MOVEABLE JOINT. THE LATTER HALF OF THE 14TH CENTURY SAW ALSO THE DEVELOPMENT OF FULL GREAVES USED TO DEFEND THE SHIN AND LOWER LEG, AND SABATONS FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE FEET. SEE ALSO LEG HARNESS FOR A MORE DETAILED AND COMPLETE DEVELOPMENT DURING THE 14TH CENTURY.
CULHWYCH & OWEN
AN IMPORTANT 11TH CENTURY WELSH TEXT PRESERVED IN THE 14TH CENTURY RED BOOK OF HERGEST (C. 1400) AND THE WHITE BOOK OF RHYDDERCH, C. 1325.
CURRENCY
{TALK ABOUT THE MONEY ECONOMY} PORTUGAL-- - PORTUGAL--  - BARBUDA--A COIN WITH THE DENOMINATION OF THREE DINHEIROS STRUCK BY FERNANDO I OF PORTUGAL BETWEEN 1367 - 1383.  - BOHEMIA--  - BEMISH--A COIN MINTED IN PRAGUE AND WORTH APPROXIMATELY & FRAC12 OF ONE ENGLISH PENNY.  - FRANCE--  - BLANC--A SMALL SILVER COIN USED DURING THE 14TH CENTURY  - CADIERE--BILLION COIN STRUCK BY CHARLES VI OF FRANCE  - FLANDERS AND BRABANT--  - BOTDRAGERS--SILVER COINS, THE NAME COMING FROM THE HELMETED LION ON ONE SIDE, ALSO CALLED THE POTCARRIER.  - BRYMAN--BILLON COINAGE EQUIVILENT TO A DOUBLE GROS.
CURTANA
ON OF THE ROYAL SWORDS OF ENGLAND, USED IN THE CORONATION CEREMONY. CORONATION CEREMONY REFERENCE (14TH - 15TH C.)
DAGGER
A SHORT POINTED KNIFE. THERE WERE MANY FORMS OF DAGGERS WORN DURING THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES; THEY ARE MORE FREQUENTLY WORN IN ILLUMINATIONS THAN ARE SWORDS, AT LEAST WHEN KNIGHTS AND SQUIRES WERE AT COURT.   
DAIS
THE RAISED PLATFORM UPON WHICH THE LORDS OF A MANOR WOULD TAKE THEIR MEAL, GENERALLY ELEVATED A FOOT OR SO ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE REST OF THE TABLES.  
DAUPHIN
THE OFFICIAL TITLE OF THE ELDEST SON OF THE KING OF FRANCE.
DEATHS IN TOURNAMENT
IN EARLY MLE -STYLE ENGAGEMENTS, WHERE THE COMBATS TOOK ON THE FORM OF REAL COMBATS, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF DEATHS, SOMETIMES OF NOTABLE PERSONS. SOMETIMES THESE EARLY TOURNEYS FELL INTO REAL FIGHTING, WHERE MANY WERE SLAIN. AMONG THE FAMOUS SLAIN IN TOURNAMENTS: - GEOFFREY, COUNT OF BRITTANY, SON ON HENRY II, KILLED NEAR PARIS,1186 - CONRAD, SON OF MARGRAVE DIETRICH VON DER LAUSITZ, 1175 - LEOPOLD, DUKE OF AUSTRIA, SLAIN BY A FALLEN HORSE IN 1194
DECLARATION
SEE TOURNAMENT DECLARATION.
DEFENSE, KNIGHT'S DUTY OF
A KNIGHT WAS TO DEFEND BOTH HIS LIEGE LORD, AND TO OTHERS WHO REQUIRE DEFENSE SUCH AS LADIES, THE INFIRM AND POOR, CHILDREN AND THE OLD. THE TWO DUTIES BEGAN AS SEPARATE CONSTRAINTS. THE FIRST ONE, DEFENSE OF THE LIEGE LORD, IS COMMON TO ALL FEUDAL CULTURES. ALL WARRIORS WERE TO DEFEND THEIR LORDS. THE ADDITION OF DUTIES EXTENDING TO LADIES, AND OTHERS IN NEED OF DEFENSE COMES BOTH FROM THE ROMANTIC LITERATURE AND FROM THE CHURCH. ROMANTIC LITERATURE ADDED REVERENCE FOR WOMEN TO A KNIGHT'S DUTIES, WHILE THE DEFENSE OF OTHERS WAS FORWARDED AS A CHRISTIAN DUTY BY THE CHURCH. BY THE LATE 14TH CENTURY, BOTH OF THESE INFLUENCES HAD SUCCESSFULLY ADDED TO THE KNIGHT'S LIST OF VIRTUES AND DUTIES.
DEGRADATION FROM KNIGHTHOOD
BECAUSE THE OFFICE OF KNIGHTHOOD WAS TREATED WITH SO MUCH REGARD, TAKING ON ASPECTS OF HOLY DEVOTION, TO BE FORSWORN AND STRIPPED OF KNIGHTHOOD WAS A PURPOSEFULLY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE. THE KING COULD MAKE THE DETERMINATION TO REMOVE KNIGHTHOOD FROM A MAN, AS COULD CERTAIN COURTS. IN NEARLY ALL INSTANCES, THE DEGRADED MAN'S SPURS WERE 'HACKED FROM HIS HEELS', HIS SWORD BROKEN (SOMETIMES OVER HIS HEAD), HIS COTE OF ARMS BURNED, AND HIS SHIELD HUNG UPSIDE DOWN IN A CHURCH OR OTHER PUBLIC PLACE. OFTEN THIS DISGRACE WAS MATCHED WITH A DEATH SENTENCE, FOR SUCH KNIGHTS WERE OFTEN CHARGED WITH AND FOUND GUILTY OF TREASON. TREASON, COWARDICE, AND BEING FORSWORN WERE REASONS OFTEN CITED FOR THE DEGRADATION, THOUGH IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN RARELY USED.
DEMENSE
THE CENTRAL PART OF A MANORIAL ESTATE SET APART FOR THE LORD'S OWN USE THAT PROVIDED FOR THE NEEDS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD. FOR EXAMPLE, SUCH A DEMENSE MIGHT CONTAIN: A MANOR HOUSE AND 'CLOSE' OF SMALL ACREAGE, A PIGEON HOUSE, A MILL, FISHERY, WOOD LOTS CONTAINING TREES FOR LOGGING, ARABLE LAND UP TO 500 ACRES OR SO, MEADOWS FOR GRAZING AND PASTURELANDS.
DESTRIER,  DEXTRARIUS
THE KNIGHT'S WARHORSE. THE DESTRIER WAS PROBABLY A VERY POWERFUL BREED OF HORSE CAPABLE OF GREAT STRENGTH AND GOOD SPEED AND MANEUVERABILITY. THE WARHORSE WAS VALUED ANYWHERE FROM POUND1 TO MORE THAN POUND100 DURING THE CENTURY, AND WAS A VALUABLE WAY THAT COMMANDERS PAID THEIR TROOPS. IN ADDITION TO THE PAY THEY RECEIVED, THE HORSES TAKEN ON A CAMPAIGN WERE DIVIDED UP AMONGST THE NOBILITY AND THE SOLDIERS, SOLD OR SHIPPED HOME FOR ADDITIONAL INCOME. THE PRICE OF SUCH A HORSE IN MODERN TERMS WAS APPROXIMATELY ANALOGOUS TO AN AUTOMOBILE. THE BEST MOUNTS WERE KNOWN AS COURSERS, AND FETCHED THE HIGHER PRICES. KNIGHTS GENERALLY RODE PALFREYS BETWEEN ENGAGEMENTS, THEN MOUNTED THEIR DESTRIER WHEN THEY WERE REQUIRED TO BE IN ARMOUR, SINCE THE PALFREY WOULD FARE POORLY UNDER SUCH GREAT WEIGHT, AND WAS A WALKER MORE THAN A HUNTER, AS THE DESTRIER SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN.
DEVICE (HERALDIC)
THE SYMBOLS DISPLAYED TO DISTINGUISH A KNIGHT ON THE BATTLE - OR TOURNAMENT FIELD. THE RULES OF HOW SUCH DEVICES COULD BE RENDERED, CALLED HERALDRY, WAS TO GROW AFTER THE 14TH CENTURY FROM AN AD HOC SET OF CUSTOMS TO A MORE RIGID SET OF RULES, PARTICULAR DURING THE EARLY 16TH CENTURY. PRIOR TO THAT TIME, HERALDS WERE OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE ARTISTIC RENDERING OF DEVICES UPON SHIELDS, CRESTS, AND IN RECORD BOOKS, BUT THERE WAS NO SYSTEM OF REGISTRATION UNTIL THE 16TH CENTURY.
DIEU ET MON DROIT
FR. "GOD AND MY RIGHT." MOTTO USED BY RICHARD I AS A PASSWORD A THE BATTLE OF GISORS. COMMEMORATING THIS VICTORY, HE MADE IT THE MOTTO OF THE ROYAL HOUSE OF ENGLAND.
DIOCESE
THE AREA OF JURISDICTION FOR AN INDIVIDUAL BISHOP. SOME REGIONS, SUCH AS LINCON, COULD DEVELOP SUBSTANTIAL INCOMES, WHILE OTHERS, SUCH AS ST. DAVIDS, WERE EXTREMELY POOR.
DIRECT REDUCTION
THIS PROCESS WAS KNOWN FROM AS EARLY AS 900 B.C. THE ORE IS HEATED IN A LOW, CYLINDRICAL SHAFT FURNACE, CONSTRUCTED OF STONE, FUELED WITH CHARCOAL, AND FANNED WITH A BELLOWS TO A TEMPERATURE FROM 1100-1220 DEGREES C AND REDUCED DIRECTLY TO A SPONGY LUMP, PRODUCING IRON ORE AND LARGE QUANTITES OF SLAG. THOUGH NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL THE 15TH CENTURY, THIS IRON COULD BE CONVERTED TO STEEL BY LEAVING IT WITHIN THE FURNACE FOR A LONGER TIME, SO THAT THE IRON SPENT MORE TIME IN CONTACT WITH CARBON MONOXIDE GAS.
DISEURS
THE FRENCH TERM FOR JUDGES, FOUND IN GEOFFREY DE CHARNAY'S DEMANDS.
DISHING
THE ARMOURING TECHNIQUE IN WHICH METAL IS WORKED OUTWARDS TO FORM A DISH OR BOWL SHAPE, KNOWN ALSO AS DOMING. THE PROCESS IS THE MOST COMMON TECHNIQUE USED BY MODERN ARMOURERS, AND YET THINS THE METAL. RAISING IS THE OPPOSITE TECHNIQUE, BY WHICH THE SAME SHAPES ARE ATTAINED NOT BY STRETCHING AND THINNING THE METAL BUT BY COMPRESSING AND THICKENING IT. DISHING WORK IS DONE FROM THE INSIDE AND RAISING FROM THE OUTSIDE.   
DISPARAGE
TO DEGRADE BY UNEQUAL MARRIAGE, AS WHEN A MAN OR WOMAN MARRIED SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT THEIR PEER --I.E. A COUNTESS MARRYING A SIMPLE KNIGHT WOULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE DISPARAGED, AND HER HONOR REDUCED ACCORDINGLY.
DISTRAINT OF KNIGHTHOOD
AS THE OFFICE OF KNIGHT BECAME A MORE COSTLY PROPOSITION TO UPHOLD, MANY GENTLEMEN DECIDED NOT TO ACCEPT THE ACCOLADE OF KNIGHTHOOD, WHICH SEEMED TO CARRY UNEVEN RESPONSIBILITIES AND FEW ADDITIONAL PRIVILEGES. BY THE EARLY 12TH CENTURY THIS PROBLEM WAS ALREADY ACUTE. HENRY III ISSUED A COMMAND CALLED THE 'DISTRAINT OF KNIGHTHOOD' IN ORDER TO REQUIRE ALL LANDHOLDERS HOLDING A KNIGHT'S FEE TO BE ACCORDED THE ACCOLADE OF KNIGHTHOOD. SUCH DISTRAINTS WERE EXTENDED BY SUBSEQUENT MONARCHS, AS IN THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLE ISSUED BY EDWARD I IN 1278:  "...TO DESTRAIN WITHOUT DELAY ALL THOSE IN YOUR BAILIWICK WHO HAVE LANDS WORTH TWENTY POUNDS PER YEAR, OR ONE WHOLE KNIGHT'S FEE WORTH TWENTY POUNDS PER YEAR, AND HOLD THIS IN CHIEF AND OUGHT TO BE KNIGHTS BUT WHO ARE NOT, TO RECEIVE FROM US BEFORE CHRISTMAS OR ON THAT FEAST THE ARMS OF A KNIGHT..."
DOLOROUS STROKE
IN MALORY, THE BLOW DEALT TO KING PELLAM BY BALIN OF THE TWO SWORDS, REDUCING THE REGION OF LOGRES TO A WASTELAND.
DOMINUS
L. TITLE USED BY THE ENGLISH MONARCH AFTER ELECTION BUT BEFORE CORONATION.
DOUBLE HARNESS
REINFORCED HARNESS FOR JOUSTING, ORIGINATING IN THE 15TH CENTURY. ALTHOUGH SPECIAL ARMOURS FOR THE JOUST BEGIN TO APPEAR DURING THE 14TH CENTURY, IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE 15TH WHEN SPECIAL HARNESSES BEGAN TO HAVE NAMES OTHER THAN 'ARMOUR FOR THE JOUST.' DURING THE 16TH CENTURY THE GARNITURE, OR SPECIAL PIECES FOR THE JOUST, CAME INTO WIDE FASHION. SOME PIECES OF FINE GARNITURES REMAIN IN THE ROYAL ARMOURIES COLLECTION AND IN SEVERAL CONTINENTAL MUSEUMS.   
DOUBLE-ELIMINATION LISTS
THE SCA VARIANT ON THE MEDIEVAL TOURNAMENT WHERE EACH COMBATANT MAY LOSE TWO FIGHTS BEFORE WITHDRAWING FROM THE EVENT. GENERALLY A SERIES OF FORMAL SINGLE COMBATS, THE FIELD IS GRADUALLY REDUCED AS 'TREES' OF COMBATANTS MEET AND ELIMINATE ONE ANOTHER UNTIL THERE ARE TWO REMAINING. THESE TWO FIGHT IN THE FINALS UNDER A GREAT DEAL OF FOCUS AND ATTENTION. A PURELY MODERN CREATION, SUCH LISTS WERE NOT USED DURING THE MIDDLE AGES, BEING MOST CLOSELY RELATED TO 'JOUSTING CHEQUES.'
DOUZEPEERS
FR. THE TWELVE PEERS OR PALADINS OF CHARLEMAGNE SAID TO BE HIS GREATEST AND BRAVEST KNIGHTS, ATTENDANT UPON THE EMPEROR'S PERSON.
DOWRY
MARRIAGE PRIZE BROUGHT BY THE BRIDE OR GROOM AS A CONDITION OF THEIR MARRIAGE, OFTEN CONSISTING OF LANDS, TITLES, OR CASH PAYMENTS.
DRAWBRIDGE
THE MOVEABLE SECTION OF A WOODEN BRIDGE OR CAUSEWAY, OFTEN OVER A MOAT, OPERATED BY COUNTERWEIGHTS TO KEEP AN ENEMY FORCE FROM THE EASY APPROACH TO THE GATEHOUSE.
DUARTE OF PORTUGAL (ON JOUSTING) THE ART OF GOOD HORSEMANSHIP
C. 1434. A DETAILED TREATISE ON WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO JOUST DURING THE 15TH CENTURY, THE BOOK IS VERY PRACTICAL, DETAILED, NOT DISSIMILAR FROM CONTEMPORARY WORKS ON FALCONRY OR HUNTING. EXCELLENT TRANSLATED PASSAGES IN BARKER & BARBER'S TOURNAMENTS,
DUBBING
THE ADOUBEMENT CEREMONY, BY WHICH SQUIRES AND YOUNG MEN IN ARMS BECAME KNIGHTS, ORIGINALLY THE COLE.
DUEL
GENERALLY FOUGHT BETWEEN COMBATANTS OF KNIGHTLY RANK BETWEEN THE APPELLANT AND THE DEFENDANT. A CHARGE OF DISHONORABLE CONDUCT UNDERLIES THE COMBAT, FOUGHT TO THE DEATH BEFORE JUDGES. NOT A TOURNAMENT, IT IS A FORM OF TRIAL BY COMBAT. MANY OF THE SURVIVING FECHTBUCHS SEEM TO DESCRIBE TECHNIQUES USED IN THE JUDICIAL DUEL THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FORBIDDEN IN THE TOURNAMENT, SUCH AS PIERCING AN OPPONENTS FOOT WITH THE BUTT-SPIKE OF A POLEAXE.
DUKE
THE HIGHEST TITLE OF NOBILITY IN ENGLAND, RANKING BELOW THE PRINCE, INTRODUCED FOR THE FIRST TIME BY EDWARD III WHEN BESTOWING VARIOUS CASTLES AND ESTATES IN CORNWALL TO HIS SON, THE BLACK PRINCE. THE TITLE, IMPORTED FROM THE CONTINENT, ORIGINALLY MEANT A MILITARY COMMANDER, AND THE ENGLISH RETAINED THIS ETYMOLOGY BY ENDOWING ENGLISH DUKES WITH SPECIAL FEES IN WAR, WHERE COMMAND EXPERTISE WAS EXPECTED. IN GERMANY, THE TITLE 'HERZOG' WAS EQUIVALENT, THOUGH THEY WERE OFTEN ELECTED AND CARRIED MORE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SOCIAL DUTIES THAN MILITARY ONES. A DUKE IS PROPERLY ADDRESSED AS 'YOUR GRACE ', EQUIVALENT TO THE RANK OF ARCHBISHOP IN THE CHURCH HIERARCHY.  WITHIN THE SCA THE TITLE IS RESERVED FOR THOSE GENTLES WHO HAVE SERVED TWICE AS KING OF AN SCA KINGDOM, WON THROUGH THE CROWN TOURNAMENT. THEY ARE KNOW BY CORONETS BEARING STRAWBERRY LEAVES IN THE FAMILIAR THREE LEAF PATTERM, RANKING JUST BELOW THE PRINCES OF THE REALM.
DURENDAL
THE MYSTICAL SWORD OF COUNT ROLAND, FAMOUS FROM THE SONG OF ROLAND (CHANSON DE ROLAND) AND FROM THE CHANSON D'ASPREMONT.
DMESUR
FR. SINFUL PRIDE, AS DISTINCT FROM ORDINARY PRIDE, WHICH RESULTS IN EXTRAORDINARY COST. ROLAND WAS LABELED WITH THIS FLAW IN THE CHANSON DE ROLAND, WHEN HE REFUSED TO WITHDRAW IN THE FACE OF OVERWHELMING ODDS BECAUSE HIS PRIDE WOULD NOT ALLOW HIM TO FLEE. AS A RESULT HE AND THE MEN WITH HIM WERE SLAIN.
EARL
DERIVED FROM THE EARLY ANGLO-SAXON, THE OFFICE OF EARL WAS TO ADMINISTER A SHIRE. OVER TIME, THE NUMBER OF THESE ADMINISTRATORS WAS REDUCED, BUT THE HOLDINGS BY EACH EARLDOM INCREASED, SUCH THAT BY THE TIME OF EDWARD I THE TITLE WAS THE HIGHEST RANKING NOBILITY IN ENGLAND NEXT TO THE PRINCES, UNTIL EDWARD III SUPPLANTED THE TITLE BY CREATING A DUCHY FOR HIS SON THE BLACK PRINCE IN CORNWALL. EQUIVALENT TO THE COUNTY ON THE CONTINENT, ENGLISH EARLS WERE OFTEN STYLED AS SUCH WHEN THEY WENT ABROAD, IN REALITY CARRYING SIMILAR DUTIES AND PRESTIGE.  WITHIN THE SCA THE TITLE IS RESERVED FOR THOSE GENTLES WHO HAVE SERVED ONCE AS KING OF AN SCA KINGDOM. SEE ALSO COUNT.
EGLINTON TOURNAMENT
[
ELBOW COP
SEE COUTER
ELL
A MEASURE OF A LENGTH OF CLOTH CONTAINING APPROXIMATELY 45" OR ONE AND A QUARTER YARDS, THE PRECISE LENGTH VARIED DEPENDING UPON THE LOCATION, RANGING FROM 37" TO 48". DURING THE 14TH CENTURY, THE TERM ULNA REFERRED BOTH TO ELLS AND YARDS.
EMBATTLED
SEE CRENELLATIONS.
EMIR
MILITARY COMMANDER OR CHIEFTAIN IN A SARACEN ARMY.
EMPEROR
TITLE OF THE SOVEREIGNS OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE, ADOPTED FROM THE OLD ROMAN IMPERATOR, MEANING THE POWER OF THE SWORD. THE TITLE WAS REINCARNATED UNDER CHARLEMAGNE FOR THE USE BY THE INHERITORS OF HIS EMPIRE. IN THE MEDIEVAL CONTEXT THE PERSON WHO WOULD ACT AS EMPEROR WOULD BE ELECTED, UNABLE TO USE THE TITLE UNTIL THEY WERE ANOINTED IN THE CORONATION CEREMONY.
EMPRISE
A CHALLENGE OF WAR. DURING THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR, KNIGHTS FROM ENGLAND AND FRANCE WOULD MEET AT A DESIGNATED PLACE TO FIGHT FOR THE HONOR OF THEIR KING AND KINGDOM. THESE STRUCTURED ENCOUNTERS WERE MUCH LIKE THE FRIENDLY PAS DARMES, SAVE THAT BLOOD WAS DRAWN AND MEN OFTEN SLAIN. ALSO DENOTING THE QUEST OF A KNIGHT ERRANT, WHERE THE YOUNG KNIGHT WOULD WEAR SOME TOKEN OF HIS QUEST SUCH AS A BRACELET, GREAVE, OR EYEPATCH UNTIL SOME FEAT OF ARMS WAS ACCOMPLISHED.
EMPRISE DE LA GUELE DE LA DRAGON
[
ENARMES
THE STRAPS ON THE BACK OF A KNIGHT'S SHIELD. SEE CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #8  
ENGINEER
[
ENGRAVING
A TECHNIQUE OF DECORATION COMMON ON SILVER AND GOLD WARE DURING THE 14TH AND 15TH CENTURY, USED ONLY RARELY ON ARMOUR DURING THESE PERIODS. IT WAS USED WITH GREAT EFFECT ALONGSIDE OF ETCHING, A FASTER BUT CRUDER TECHNIQUE, DURING THE 16TH CENTURY. THE MOST FAMOUS 14TH CENTURY EXAMPLE IS FROM ON THE BRASS TRIM ON CHURBURG #13,HELD IN THE CHURBURG CASTLE, WHERE PHRASES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT ARE ENGRAVED INTO THE BORDER PIECES. A VERY STRIKING EFFECT THAT HAS BEEN VERY POPULAR AMONGST MODERN RE-ENACTORS, ALTHOUGH GENERALLY ETCHING HAS BEEN USED FOR SPEED AND EFFICIENCY.    
EPAULE DE MOUTON
A STEEL DEFENSE FOR THE COMPLETE ARM, DEVELOPED DURING THE 15TH AND 16TH CENTURIES, USED EXCLUSIVELY IN JOUSTS. THE EPAULE CONSISTED OF A SINGLE PIECE FORMED TO COVER THE WHOLE ARM, MADE OF CUIRBOILLE OR IRON/STEEL.
EPEE
FRENCH FOR SWORD  
ERE
GER. KNIGHTLY HONOR.
EREC
THE 12TH CENTURY ROMANCE BY HARTMANN VON AUE, TELLING THE SAME STORY AS CHRTIEN DE TROYES EREC & ENIDE. THERE WAS APPARENTLY A GOOD DEAL OF COMPETITION BETWEEN THE TWO POETS, BUT TODAY THE WORKS OF CHRTIEN ARE FAR MORE FAMILIAR.
EREC & ENIDE
THE ARTHURIAN ROMANCE BY CHRTIEN DE TROYES THAT EXAMINES THE TENSION BETWEEN LOVE AND THE DUTIES OF CHIVALRY (DEFENSE OF OTHERS, MAINTENANCE OF THE KNIGHTLY REPUTATION, AND EXERCISE IN ARMS).
ERIC
SCA MISNOMER FOR THE LISTS.
ERRANT
A KNIGHT, USUALLY A BACHELIER, WHO DEPARTS TO SEEK ADVENTURE AND THUS EARN RENOWN AND POSSIBLY RICHES SO THAT HE MIGHT SETTLE, MARRY, AND EARN HIS LIVING. IN HISTORY MOST ERRANTS WOULD PURSUE WARS OR TOURNAMENTS AS THE CHIEF METHODS BY WHICH THEY MIGHT EARN RENOWN; IN THE ROMANCES SUCH KNIGHTS WOULD BATTLE INCREDIBLE BEASTS, RESCUE LADIES, AND DEFEND PRINCES AND KINGS, WHO WOULD OFTEN RETURN THEIR SERVICE WITH LARGESSE, BESTOWING UPON THEM LANDS AND TITLES. THE MOST CELEBRATED HISTORICAL ERRANT WOULD HAVE TO BE WILLIAM MARSHAL, WHO WENT FROM BEING A MINOR SON WITH LITTLE INHERITANCE TO EARL OF PEMBROKE. IN LEGEND THERE WERE MANY FAMOUS ERRANTS, INCLUDING TRISTAN, YVAIN, LANCELOT; MOST OF THE FAMOUS ARTHURIAN KNIGHTS SOUGHT FAME THROUGH ERRANCY AT ONE POINT OR OTHER.  WITHIN THE COMPANY OF SAINT GEORGE, THE ERRANT IS AN APPLICANT TO THE COMPANY WHO IS CHARGED BY THE COMPANY TO BRING RENOWN TO THEMSELVES, THE COMPANY, THEIR CONSORTS AND THEIR KINGDOM BY GREAT ACTS OF CHIVALRY.
ESCHEAT
THE RESULT OF AN INCIDENT THAT CAUSES A FIEF TO REVERT BECAUSE A LORD OR TENANT DIES WITHOUT AN APPROPRIATE HEIR WHOSE QUALIFICATIONS ARE GENERALLY NOTED IN THE ORIGINAL GRANT.
ESCHEATOR
THE SHIRE OFFICER, IN ENGLAND, WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF LAND GRANTS AND FEUDAL RIGHTS RELATING TO LAND AND FIEFDOM.
ESCUTCHEON
THE SHIELD UPON WHICH A DEVICE IS COMMONLY DISPLAYED, THE COMMON HEATER  SHAPE.
ESQUIRE, ESCUYER
FRENCH FOR SQUIRE. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #8.
ESSOIN
A LEGAL EXCUSE FOR NOT BEING IN COURT, SUCH AS BEING ON PILGRIMAGE, ILLNESS, KINGS SERVICE, ETC.
ESTOC
A THRUST, DELIVERED WITH DAGGER OR SWORD, FORBIDDEN IN MOST TOURNAMENTS FROM THE 12TH CENTURY ONWARD.
ETCHING
THE TECHNIQUE BY WHICH A FORM OF WAX OR RESIST IS PLACED ONTO THE METAL SURFACED AND SCRAPED OFF IN PREPARATION FOR AN ACID BATH (GENERALLY NITRIC ACID OR A MIX OF NITRIC, SULFURIC ACIDS AND WATER). THE RESULTING EFFECT IS TO QUICKLY REMOVE METAL AND PRODUCE A STRIKING VISUAL EFFECT. USED MOST OFTEN DURING THE 16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES, THERE ARE ONLY SCATTERED REFERENCES FROM THE 14TH AND 15TH CENTURIES, ALTHOUGH THE TECHNIQUE APPEARS IN COMMON USE IN JEWELRY AND ART METAL. MOST DECORATION DURING THESE PERIODS WAS RESTRICTED TO ENGRAVING, PAINTING,OR STUDDING. 
EXCALIBUR
KING ARTHURS SWORD, ALSO KNOWN IN GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH AS CALIBURN. THERE IS NO HISTORICAL EVIDENCE FOR OR AGAINST SUCH A SWORD, AND THE ROLE OF THE BLADE VARIES WILDLY IN THE ROMANCES. IN THE MOST COMMON APPEARANCES, THE LADY OF THE LAKE GIVES THE SWORD TO ARTHUR, THOUGH IN MODERN RENDITIONS THE SWORD IS OFTEN TAKEN FROM THE STONE, A TWIST ON THE BLADE OF BALIN OF THE TWO SWORDS, WHICH MERLIN PLACED INTO THE STONE, EVENTUALLY DRAWN BY GALAHAD (MALORY). BEFORE DYING, ARTHUR INSTRUCTED BEDEVERE TO THROW THE BLADE BACK INTO THE LAKE, WHEN A HAND CAUGHT IT AND TOOK IT BENEATH THE WAVES. IN THE VULGATE CYCLE, ARTHUR REQUIRES THIS SERVICE OF GIRFLET, WHO TWICE TRIES TO FOOL ARTHUR INTO BELIEVING THAT HE HAS SO DISPENSED THE BLADE, BUT IS CAUGHT BOTH TIMES, EVENTUALLY FOLLOWING THE COMMAND AND THROWING IT AS INSTRUCTED. THE SWORD WAS GIVEN TO HAVE VARIOUS MAGICAL POWERS: HEALING, ETC., AS WAS THE SCABBARD, WHICH WAS TO MAKE ARTHUR IMPERVIOUS TO MORTAL BLOWS SO LONG AS HE RETAINED IT IN HIS POSSESSION.
EXCELLENCY, YOUR
HONORARY ADDRESS FOR A COUNT, EARL, GRAF, BARON, VISCOUNT, OR BISHOP.
EYE SLOT
SEE OCCULARIA
EYES, DEFENDING
PRIOR TO THE 13TH CENTURY, LITTLE WAS DONE TO DEFEND THE EYES. THE SKULL, CHEEKS AND BACK OF THE HEAD WAS DEFENDED EARLY ON BY MAIL AND CASQUE DEFENSES, BUT IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HEAULM THAT THE FACE WAS ENCLOSED. AFTER THAT, A NARROW SLIT WAS GENERALLY PROVIDED TO ALLOW VISION BUT TO RESTRICT WEAPONS. ON BASCINET VISORS,THE AREA AROUND THE EYES WAS RAISED OUTWARD TO MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR A WEAPON, OR MORE IMPORTANTLY, AN ARROW TO FIND PURCHASE ON THE IRON AND PENETRATE.   
FABRIC, COMMON TYPES IN ARMING APPLICATIONS
LINEN WAS THE MOST COMMON MATERIAL FOR AKETONS, GAMBESONS, AND ARMING CLOTHES. SILK WAS ALSO USED, AND THERE IS A TALE THAT SAYS THAT THIS IS BECAUSE SILK AGAINST THE SKIN HAS A TENDENCY TO RESTRICT THE DAMAGE OF A WOUND. WOOL ALSO APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN COMMON FOR COTES AND OVERCLOTHES, THOUGH FEW EXAMPLES OF ARMING CLOTHES REMAIN SAVE FOR THE COTE OF THE BLACK PRINCE, IN CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL; THE JUPON OF CHARLES THE BOLD; AND A POURPOINT FROM THE 15TH CENTURY HELD IN THE KIENBUSCH COLLECTION, PHILADELPHIA.
FAIR
IMPORTANT MARKETS FOR THE SALE OF GOODS, GENERALLY TEMPORARY GATHERINGS OF MERCHANTS, FARMERS AND ARTIFICERS, THE MOST POWERFUL OF WHICH WERE HELD IN THE BOROUGHS.  
FAITH
FOR ANYONE IN THE MIDDLE AGES, FAITH WAS A CORNERSTONE ELEMENT OF THEIR LIVES, WITHOUT WHICH THE STRUGGLE AND PRIVATIONS. FOR A MEDIEVAL PERSON, LIFE ON EARTH WAS BUT A BRIEF TRANSITION TO THE AFTERLIFE IN HEAVEN, HELL OR PURGATORY. A KNIGHT WAS EXPECTED TO HAVE FAITH IN HIS GOD, IN HIS ABILITY, HIS PROWESS AND IN HIS RENOWN. FOR RE-ENACTORS, FAITH MUST BE HELD NOT SO MUCH IN RELIGIOUS CONVICTION, THOUGH THAT IS CERTAINLY HELPFUL, BUT IN THE ORDER OF CHIVALRY AS A WHILE, IN THE VALUE OF KNIGHTHOOD TO STRIVING TOWARDS BEING A BETTER HUMAN BEING. LASTLY, FAITH IN THE OTHER COMBATANTS, IN THEIR CHIVALRY, IN THEIR SINCERITY.
FALCHION
A SHORT, HEAVY, BROAD-BLADED SWORD WITH A SINGLE EDGE, BEARING A SIMILARITY TO A HEAVY SCIMITAR.
FALCONER
OFFICER WHO CARED FOR THE HAWKS USED IN FALCONRY. THE FRENCH GREAT FALCONER WAS AN OFFICER OF HIGH ESTATE WITH AN ANNUAL SALARY OF 4,000 FLORINS, KEEPING 300 HAWKS FOR HIS OWN USE. EDWARD III HAD 30 FALCONERS WITH HIM UPON HIS INVASION OF FRANCE.
FALCONRY
THE ART OF HUNTING WITH BIRDS OF PREY, HAWKS, FALCONS AND SOMETIMES EAGLES. IT WAS CONSIDERED A NOBLE PURSUIT, A SPORT, DURING THE MIDDLE AGES, THE PERQUISITE OF THE NOBLE CLASSES. THERE WERE SUMPTUARY LAWS DICTATING WHICH BIRDS COULD BE CARRIED BY NOBLES AT VARIOUS RANKS; IT WAS A MATTER OF GREAT PRESTIGE AND EXPENSE.
FALKIRK, BATTLE OF
22 JULY 1298. FOUGHT BETWEEN EDWARD I AND WILLIAM WALLACE, WHO ARRANGED HIS DENSE FORMATIONS OF SPEARMEN INTO GROUPS OF THREE RANKS FACING THE ENGLISH WITH A SOLID WALL OF PIKES. AFTER NEARLY AN HOUR OF ATTEMPTS TO BREAK THESE SHILTRON FORMATIONS, THE ENGLISH FINALLY BROUGHT UP ARCHERS THAT BROKE UP THE DENSE FORMATIONS AND ALLOWED THE ENGLISH TO CLAIM THE FIELD.
FAULDS
HOOPS OF STEEL USED TO DEFEND THE HIPS, ABDOMEN AND LOWER BACK; ATTACHED TO A A BREASTPLATE. TASSETS EXTENDED DOWNWARDS TO PROTECT THE LOWER HIPS. TAKEN TOGETHER WITH THE BREAST AND BACKPLATES, THEY FORMED THE CUIRASS OR BODY DEFENSE OF THE 14TH AND 15TH CENTURY. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY FAULDS WERE SOMETIMES COVERED IN CLOTH USING MANY RIVETS, OR SOMETIMES TO LEATHER. THE PRACTICE WAS CONTINUED INTO THE 15TH CENTURY WITH INCREASING RARITY.   
FAVOR (LADIES)
AT A TOURNAMENT, PAS DARMES, ROUND TABLE, OR IN ROMANTIC TALES, LADIES WOULD BESTOW SOME TOKEN OF THEIR PATRONAGE UPON A KNIGHT TO CARRY INTO BATTLE. ACCORDING TO THE TENETS OF COURTLY LOVE, A MAJOR INFLUENCE ON THE EMERGING CONCEPT OF CHIVALRY. THESE SEEM TO HAVE TAKEN THE FORM OF STRIPS OF CLOTH WORN AROUND THE ARM, EMBROIDERED SLEEVES, OR SOME OTHER TOKEN. SEE CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #7.
FEALTY
OBLIGATION OF FIDELITY IN A MILITARY, POLITICAL AND SOCIAL SENSE ON THE PART OF A FEUDAL TENANT OR VASSAL TO HIS LORD. THE CONTRACT IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH HOMAGE, THOUGH BOTH CEREMONIES WERE CONDUCTED AT THE SAME TIME. IN THE FIRST PART OF THE CEREMONY, WHERE THE LIEGEMAN SWORE PERSONAL HOMAGE TO THE LORD, THEY SWORE TO BECOME HIS MAN. THE LORD SWORE AN OATH OF HIS OWN WHERE HE PLEDGED PROTECTION AND DEFENSE FOR THE TENANT. DURING THE SECOND PART OF THE CEREMONY, ONLY THE LIEGEMAN SWORE THE OATH, SWEARING TO PERFORM FAITHFUL SERVICE FOR THE LAND SO TENDERED. CALLED FOI IN FRENCH, TREUE OR TRIUWE IN GERMAN.
FEAST OF THE PEACOCK
[
FEAST OF THE SWAN
22 MAY 1306. EVENT AT WHICH EDWARD I, KING OF ENGLAND, KNIGHTED HIS SON EDWARD II AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY. THE PRINCE SERVED HIS VIGIL, WAS KNIGHTED IN PRIVATE BY THE KING, AND THEN HIMSELF KNIGHTED THE OTHER 260 MEN WHO WERE ACCORDED THE ACCOLADE AT THE SAME TIME. AT THE FEAST FOLLOWING, THE KING HAD TWO SWANS BROUGHT IN, SWEARING BEFORE GOD AND THE SWANS TO AVENGE THE DEATH JOHN COMYN OF BADENOCK AND TO FIGHT THE INFIDELS IN THE HOLY LAND. JOHN WAS SLAIN BY ROBERT BRUCE EARLIER IN THE YEAR. THE EVENT INSPIRED THE VOW OF THE HERON, AT WHICH ROBERT DARTOIS AND EDWARD III MAKE THEIR VOWS CONCERNING THE UPCOMING WAR WITH FRANCE. SUCH VOWS WERE COMMON ELEMENTS OF CHIVALRIC CUSTOM, A BINDING AGENT GIVEN A FOCAL POINT FOR CHIVALRIC FEATS OF ARMS.
FEAT OF ARMS
A DISPLAY OF PROWESS, USUALLY WITH A VARIETY OF ARMS, OFTEN INVOLVING BOTH COMBATS ON HORSEBACK AND ON FOOT. SOMETIMES HELD AS A PAS DARMES OR AS AN EMPRISE.
FECHTBUCH
[
FENCING
[
FEOFFMENT
A FORM GRANTING CONVEYING A FEE. GENERALLY THE RECIPIENT OF THE FEE RECEIVED A BRANCH OR CLOD OF DIRT AS A SYMBOLIC GESTURE.
FERRANT
STEEL GRAY COLOR FOR A HORSE, FREQUENTLY REFERRING TO A WARHORSE OR A COURSER.
FERRITE
A NON-METALLIC, CERAMIC-LIKE COMPOUND OF FERRIC OXIDE FOUND IN IRON 
FERROUS
METAL DERIVED FROM IRON ORE--PIG-IRON, CAST-IRON, STEEL  
FEUDAL LEVY
THE ARMY AVAILABLE TO A LORD RESULTING FROM THE OBLIGATIONS TO FIELD A NUMBER OF KNIGHTS AND MEN-AT-ARMS IN EXCHANGE FOR THE LAND AND ITS INCOME. THIS MILITARY SERVICE WAS THE MAINSTAY OF MEDIEVAL FORCES UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THE 14TH CENTURY, CONSISTING GENERALLY OF 40 DAYS MILITARY SERVICE IN THE FIELD OR AS A CASTLE GUARD. THE LIEGEMAN WOULD USUALLY APPEAR AS REQUIRED, WITH THE TYPE OF WARHORSE, ARMAMENT AND ATTENDANTS SPECIFIED IN THE CONTRACT, OR HE COULD PAY SCUTAGE TO AVOID THE SERVICE.  BY THE MIDDLE OF THE 14TH CENTURY, FEWER AND FEWER KNIGHTS WERE APPEARING FOR THEIR SERVICE, PREFERRING TO PAY SCUTAGE INSTEAD, WITH WHICH THE LORD COULD HIRE MERCENARY KNIGHTS TO SERVE. WITH THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR, THE MONARCHS REQUIRED LONGER CAMPAIGNS, SO THEY BEGAN TO PAY THEIR TROOPS WITH BOOTY AND WITH PAID SERVICE. MANY UNATTACHED KNIGHTS, WHO DONT OWN THEIR OWN MANOR, WOULD HIRE ON IN FOR A CAMPAIGN IN THE HOPES OF RECEIVING VALUABLE HORSES, RICHES, RANSOMS AND OTHER BOOTY IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR SERVICE. GRADUALLY THE FEUDAL OBLIGATION FELL ON AND PROFESSIONAL ARMIES WERE INCREASED.
FEUDAL SYSTEM
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FEUDALISM
[
FIEF
A UNIT OF LAND HELD BY A VASSAL FROM A LORD IN RETURN FOR MILITARY SERVICE. FIEFS WERE CONFERRED IN AN ORIGINAL GRANT, A GRANT WHICH STIPULATED THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH IT COULD BE TRANSFERRED BY MARRIAGE, INHERITANCE, OR UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS IT WOULD FALL INTO DEFAULT.
FIEF-RENT
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, ANNUAL TAXES, DUE FOR A FIEF TO THE LIEGE LORD, GENERALLY EITHER A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL PRODUCTION OR A FLAT AMOUNT.
FIELD
THE SURFACE ON A HERALDIC SHIELD, THE BASE COLOR OR METAL UPON WHICH THE PRIMARY CHIEF OR DIVISION IS PLACED UPON.
FIELD OF THE CLOTH OF GOLD
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FIN AMOURS
A PARTICULAR TERM FOR THE CONCEPTION OF LOVE HELD BY THE PROVENAL TROUBADORS, OFTEN USED INTERCHANGEABLY WITH COURTLY LOVE.
FINE
SEE SCUTAGE.
FIRE-BOTE
THE RIGHTS OF TENANTS TO TAKE FIREWOOD FROM A LORDS DEMENSE, OFTEN GRANTED IF THE TENANTS LAND HELD NO FOREST.
FISHER KING
THE KEEPER OF THE GRAIL, THE WOUNDED KING WHO MUST BE ASKED THE CRITICAL QUESTION, WHAT AILS THEE, SIRE?. WHEN PERCIVAL FAILS TO ASK THIS QUESTION, THE GRAIL IS INITIALLY DENIED TO HIM AND THE QUEST FOR THE GRAIL MUST BE UNDERTAKEN.
FLANK
THE END OF A MILITARY LINE, A WEAK POINT ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. TRADITIONALLY, THE ATTACKERS RIGHT FLANK IS WEAKER THAN THE LEFT, BECAUSE THE SHIELD IS GENERALLY WIELDED IN THE LEFT HAND. TO GAIN AN ENEMYS FLANK IS A COMMON TACTICAL OBJECTIVE, BECAUSE THE UNIT SO ENGAGED IS THEN PRESSED ON MORE THAN ONE FRONT, AND THE RESULTING CONFUSION CAN OFTEN DESTROY A UNIT OR ARMYS COHESION.
FLARING
THE PRESSING OF METAL SO THAT A LIP OR TAIL IS FORMED INTO A COMPOUND CURVE WITH A CONCAVE SHAPE, SIMILAR TO THE MOUTH OF A VASE. THIS TECHNIQUE IS ESSENTIAL TO MAKING FINE QUALITY PIECES THAT ARE FREE FROM THE MODERN DANGER OF BEING TO FLAT. BARBUTES, GREAVES, CRINETS, GAUNTLET CUFFS, AND VAMBRACES ALL FEATURE A GOOD DEAL OF FLARING, MAKING THEM DIFFICULT TO EXECUTE. WITHOUT DOUBT FLARING IS ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT THINGS FOR AN ARMOURER TO LEARN, BUT IT IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF THE RESULTING PIECES BY MANY TIMES.   
FLORENTINE
IN TERMS OF SCA COMBAT, FIGHTING DONE WITH TWO BROADSWORDS RATHER THAN A SWORD AND SHIELD. ALSO KNOWN AS TWO SWORD, THE COMBATANT FIGHTS WITH A BROADSWORD, GENERALLY MATCHED, IN EACH HAND. THERE IS DEBATE IN SCA CIRCLES CONCERNING WHETHER OR NOT THIS STYLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED IN TOURNAMENTS, BASED ON THE VERY LIMITED DOCUMENTATION AS TO ITS ACTUAL USE. NO KNOWN INSTANCES OF SUCH A STYLE USED IN TOURNAMENTS HAVE YET BEEN FOUND, THOUGH THERE ARE SCATTERED ICELANDIC AND ROMANTIC REFERENCES TO THE USE OF TWO SWORDS. THE MOST FAMOUS EXAMPLE IS NOT EUROPEAN; MIAMOTO MUSASHI, THE FAMOUS ORIENTAL AUTHOR OF THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS, WAS KNOWN TO FIGHT WITH TWO WOODEN SWORDS.  IN TERMS OF FIGHTING TECHNIQUE, FLOURENTINE CAN EITHER BE VERY ELEGANT OR VERY CHOPPY, DEPENDING UPON THE FIGHTING STYLE OF THE COMBATANT. BY GIVING UP THE SHIELD AND USING THE SWORDS TO BLOCK, A COMBATANT WIELDING TWO SWORDS GIVES UP DEFENSIVE CAPABILITY IN EXCHANGE FOR OFFENSIVE POWER. THOUGH IMPORTANT FOR ANY COMBATANT, KEEPING THE INITIATIVE IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT FOR A TWO-SWORDSMAN. BECAUSE HE DOES NOT HAVE THE DEFENSIVE LEISURE OR MARGIN OF ERROR AVAILABLE TO A SWORD AND SHIELDMAN, HE MUST SEIZE THE INITIATIVE AND MAKE THE FIGHT HIS OWN IF HE EXPECTS TO SUCCEED.  ORIGINALLY, THE WORD FLOURENTINE MEANT ONE WHO CAME FROM THE ITALIAN CITY FLORENCE. DURING THE 16TH CENTURY THE WORD CAME TO BE APPLIED TO A RAPIER AND MAIN GAUCHE STYLE OF COMBAT POPULAR IN THE CITY, HENCE THE SCA REFERENCE. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE, THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #15 AND THE ESSAY TWO-SWORD IN SCA COMBAT.
FLUTING
RIBBING WHICH IS HAMMERED INTO ARMOURED PLATES FOR STRENGTH. POPULAR IN GOTHIC ARMOUR GOTHIC ARMOUR DURING THE 15TH CENTURY, IT WAS OCCASIONALLY USED IN ARMOUR FROM OTHER REGIONS CHIEFLY ON TASSETS AND TO REINFORCE HTE WINGS OF POLEYNS.  
FROISSART, CHRONICLES DE
SEE CHRONICLES OF FROISSART
FULLER
THE GROOVE FORGED AND GROUND INTO THE CENTER OF A SWORD BLADE IN ORDER TO LIGHTEN IT. THIS WAS NOT USED, AS IN COMMON FOLKLORE, AS A "BLOOD CHANNEL" SO THAT BLOOD CAN FLOW OFF OF THE BLADE.   
FUNERARY BRASS
SEE BRASS, FUNERARY
GALLERY
THE AUDIENCE WATCHING A TOURNAMENT, OR THE STRUCTURE FROM WHICH THE AUDIENCE WATCHED A TOURNEY. FROM THE 12TH TO THE 14TH CENTURY, THESE WERE GENERALLY INFORMAL PLACES SUCH AS A HILLSIDE OR A PAVILION WHERE LADIES, COURTIERS AND HERALDS COULD WATCH THE ENGAGEMENT, BUT DURING THE 15TH CENTURY AS THE SPLENDOR OF THE TOURNAMENT CREATED A MORE ELABORATE PAGEANT, WOODEN STRUCTURES SIMILAR TO "BOX SEATS" WERE BUILT AND DECORATED WITH FABRIC. SUCH GALLERIES ARE COMMON IN THE ILLUSTRATIONS OF KING REN DANJOUS LIVRE DE TOURNOI FROM THE MIDDLE 15TH CENTURY. SEE CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #10.
GALLEY
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GAMBESON
A KIND OF ARMING COAT WORN DURING THE 13TH - 15TH CENTURY BOTH AS A COMPLETE ARMOUR UNTO ITSELF AND AS PADDING FOR ADDITIONAL ARMOUR WORN OVER THE TOP. THEY WERE GENERALLY QUILTED, EITHER SEWN OR STUFFED WITH LINEN, TOW OR EVEN GRASS. MOST OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE 14TH CENTURY SHOW MANY BUTTONS OR LACES UP THE FRONT, AND THERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES THAT FEATURE A HIGH COLLAR TO ASSIST IN THE DEFENSE OF THE NECK. 14TH CENTURY AKETONS WERE GENERALLY CUT WIDE AROUND THE ARM HOLES IN A MANNER THAT FOLLOWED THE LINE OF THE BREASTPLATE OR CUIRASS. THESE EXTRA-LARGE ARM-HOLES SERVED TO GRANT COMPLETE MOBILITY FOR A FULL RANGE OF ARM MOTION WHILE PROVIDING A LAST-DITCH DEFENSE OF THE AREA UNDER THE ARM. I CAN FIND NO EVIDENCE OF AKETONS EVER BEING OPEN UNDER THE ARM, THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON SCA STYLE. SEE ALSO THE POURPOINT, A GARMENT WORN UNDER THE ARMING COAT USEFUL FOR ATTACHING THE LACES FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF A LEG HARNESS. A WORKABLE PATTERN FOR A 14TH CENTURY MODEL CAN BE FOUND IN CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #2.  MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE 14TH CENTURY - 1300-1350 KNIGHTS WORE THE HAUBERGEON OVER THEIR AKETON - 1350-1400 AKETON SHORTENED AND BEGINS TO BE WORN UNDER THE JUPON, SOMETIMES THE ONLY BODY DEFENSE. STRONGLY WASP-WAISTED FORM COMMON TO THE PERIOD. - 1350-1400 SLEEVES WERE SOMETIMES "BANANA SLEEVED" OR BALLOONING OUT OR WERE NARROW SO AS TO FIT UNDER THE ARM HARNESS. BOTH SEEM POPULAR FOR THE ENTIRE PERIOD.
GAMBOISED
A PADDED DEFENSE MADE OF LINEN,FLAX OR OTHER FABRIC, SOMETIMES REINFORCED AND STUDDED. GAMBOISED CUISSES WERE OFTEN WORN AS AN EARLY ADDITION TO MAIL CHAUSSES DURING THE LATE 13TH AND EARLY 14TH CENTURIES.
GARDEROBE
PRIVY OR LATRINE IN ENGLISH CASTLES.
GARNITURE
DURING THE 16TH CENTURY A CONCEPT WAS INTRODUCED BY WHICH A FIELD HARNESS WAS FITTED WITH AN ADDITIONAL 20 - 40 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT SO THAT THE SAME ARMOUR COULD BE USED FOR WAR, SPECIALIZED TOURNAMENTS, AND THE JOUST. SPECIALIZED ARMOUR FOR THE TOURNEY BECAME INCREASINGLY EXPENSIVE DURING THE 15TH AND 16TH CENTURY, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE RECORDS OF SPECIALIZED ARMOUR PIECES IN WARDROBE ACCOUNTS OF THE 14TH CENTURY.
GARTER, ORDER OF THE
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GATEHOUSE
A BUILDING FORMING THE GATE OF A CASTLE, GENERALLY ENCOMPASSING A NARROW PASSAGEWAY WITH SEVERAL GATES. OFTEN THE GATEHOUSES WERE FITTED WITH ARROW-SLITS, MURDER-HOLES, OR OTHER INGENIOUS DEFENSIVE DEVICES DESIGNED TO WRECK HAVOC UPON THE BESIEGERS AS THEY ATTEMPTED TO STORM THE GATES. SOME GATEHOUSES HELD LODGINGS FOR GUARDS WITH ROOMS FOR OFFICERS ABOVE AND PRISONERS BELOW.
GATLINGS
THE SMALL JOINT DEFENSE ON A FINGER GAUNTLET, USUALLY ATTACHED TO A LEATHER OR CANVAS BASE BY SEWING OR BY RIVETS. THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN OF IRON OR LATTEN; THERE IS EVIDENCE FOR BOTH. SOME OF THESE GATLINGS MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAST INTO CREATURE HEADS OR OTHER FORMS, SUCH AS THE ACORN, WHICH WAS A VERY POPULAR MOTIF. SEE THE GAUNTLETS IN THE BARGELLO COLLECTION AND NUMEROUS BRASSES FOR MORE DETAIL.
GAUNTLET
THE ARMOUR TO DEFEND THE HAND. PRIOR TO THE 14TH CENTURY, THE HAND WAS DEFENDED WITH A MAIL MITTEN. DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE 14TH CENTURY, GAUNTLETS WERE INTRODUCED FORMED OF SMALL PLATES RIVETED TO LEATHER OR CLOTH, WHAT WE CALL A BRIGANDINE GAUNTLET. ONLY A FEW EXAMPLES SURVIVE, ALL FROM THE BATTLE OF WISBY FIND DATING FROM 1361. BY THE MIDDLE OF THE 14TH CENTURY, THE "HOURGLASS" GAUNTLET HAD BEEN DEVELOPED, WHERE THE CUFF FLARED TO ALLOW SOME WRIST MOVEMENT. OFTEN THE METACARPAL (BACK OF THE HAND) AND THE CUFF WERE DECORATED WITH ADDITIONAL PIECES IN BRASS OR BRONZE, AND ALSO BY ENGRAVING. THE FINGERS WERE DEFENDED EITHER BY SCALED DEFENSES AND SOMETIMES BY GATLINGS, WHICH WERE LIKE POLEYNS FOR THE FINGER KNUCKLES.  THERE ARE SOME REFERENCES, MOST NOTABLY THE BATTLE OF SAN ROMANO, WHICH INDICATE THAT THIS STYLE OF GAUNTLET MIGHT HAVE BEEN USED, AT LEAST IN ITALY, INTO THE SECOND OR EVEN THE THIRD QUARTER OF THE 15TH CENTURY. DURING THE 15TH CENTURY, THIS "FINGER GAUNTLET" STYLE WAS REPLACED IN THE MILANESE STYLE WITH A THREE-PIECE "MITTEN" GAUNTLET THAT REPLACED THE FINGER SCALES WITH TWO ARTICULATING LAMES THAT PROVIDED MORE PROTECTION BUT LESS MOBILITY. THE CUFF WAS EXTENDED AND STRAIGHTENED, LOSING THE FLARE OF THE HOURGLASS GAUNTLET. IN THE GERMAN STYLE, THE CUFF WAS ALSO EXTENDED, BUT THE PLATES WERE ORNATELY FLUTED AND DECORATED WITH PIERCEWORK. THE GOTHIC GAUNTLET IS MADE FROM MANY SMALL PLATES INTRICATELY ARTICULATED TOGETHER WITH A MIXTURE OF SLIDING AND PIVOTING RIVETS. THE FINGERS WERE STILL ARTICULATED USING GATLINGS AND SCALES.  DURING THE 16TH CENTURY, THIS STYLE WAS GENERALIZED INTO A MORE INTERNATIONAL STYLE WHERE THE GOTHIC CUFF WAS SHORTENED, THE METACARPAL CREATED FROM AS MANY AS FIFTEEN PLATES, AND THE FINGERS DONE IN SCALE. A MINOR VARIANT, THE "LOCKING" MITTEN, WAS DESIGNED FOR TOURNAMENT USE DURING THE 16TH CENTURY. NO EARLIER EXAMPLES SURVIVE, THOUGH THERE ARE REFERENCES IN MANUSCRIPTS FROM THE MIDDLE 14TH CENTURY THAT MENTION SUCH LOCKING GAUNTLETS.
GAVELSEED
GRAIN OR CORN PAID BY PEASANTS TO THEIR LORD AS RENT FOR LAND.
GENEROSITY
SEE LARGESSE.
GENTLEMAN
A MAN WHO BORE ARMS THROUGH GRANT OR INHERITANCE. THE WORD DERIVED FROM THE GENTLE QUALITIES THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BELONG TO THE UPPER CLASS, THE REFINED SENSE OF NOBILITY GROWN FROM BOTH NOBLE DESCENT AND EDUCATION. TO BE GENTLE IN THE MEDIEVAL SENSE MEANT THAT A MAN MUST BE BORN TO THE CLASS, HE COULD NOT BECOME GENTLE BY DEED.
GESTECH
GER. JOUSTS  PLAISANCE, OF PEACE. A FORM OF THE JOUST PRACTICED IN GERMANY WITH LANCES & LT HTTP://WWW.CHRONIQUE.COM/LIBRARY/GLOSSARIES/GLOSSARY-AA/ARMS_L.HTM & GT FITTED WITH CORONELS, AIMED AT HIS OPPONENTS STECHTARSCHE & LT HTTP://WWW.CHRONIQUE.COM/LIBRARY/GLOSSARIES/GLOSSARY-AA/ARMS_S.HTM & GT, A SMALL SHIELD & LT HTTP://WWW.CHRONIQUE.COM/LIBRARY/GLOSSARIES/GLOSSARY-AA/ARMS_S.HTM & GT LACED TO THE LEFT ARM.  
GISANT
(SEE BRASS, FUNERARY BRASS)
GLADIUS
THE SHORT THRUSTING SWORD OF THE ROMANS, DEVELOPED ORIGINALLY IN BRONZE BUT MORE EFFECTIVE IN THE LATER IRON EXAMPLES. THESE BLADES WERE SHORT YET A LITTLE HEAVY, DESIGNED BOTH FOR THRUSTING AND FOR CUTTING IN CLOSE-IN COMBAT. THE GLADIUS WAS MODIFIED FOR HORSEBACK INTO ANOTHER, LONGER SWORD, THE SPATHA, TO WHICH MEDIEVAL SWORDS OWE MOST OF THEIR DESIGN QUALITIES.
GLASTONBURY
AN ABBEY IN SOMERSETSHIRE THAT CLAIMED THE REMAINS OF BOTH JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA AND KING ARTHUR.
GLORIEUSE
THE SWORD OF OLIVER, FROM THE SONG OF ROLAND, MADE OF A MAGICAL STEEL THAT HACKED APART THE BLADES OF THE SARACEN ATTACKERS DURING THE BATTLE OF RONEVALLES.
GLORY
THE QUALITY OF FAME WON BY DEEDS, NOT QUITE THE SAME AS RENOWN. GLORY IS THE QUALITY OF THE RUSH WON FROM VICTORY, AND AS SUCH WAS HIGHLY VALUED AS A MOTIVATOR BY WARRIORS AND EQUALLY SCORNED BY THE CHURCH. WARRIORS AND KNIGHTS CONSIDERED GLORY A GOOD THING, ONE THAT DROVE MEN TO GREATNESS, A REWARD FOR EXCELLENCE THAT WAS THE RIGHT OF THE SUCCESSFUL WARRIOR. THE CHURCH VIEWED GLORY AS A FORCE THAT DROVE MEN TO RECKLESSNESS, TO VAINGLORY, TO EXCESS.
GOLDEN FLEECE, ORDER OF THE
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GORGE,  GORGET,  COLLAR
THE DEFENSE FOR THE NECK, A PLATE DEFENSE USUALLY HINGED ON THE LEFT SIDE AND AFFIXED ON THE RIGHT SIDE WITH SOME KIND OF LATCH MECHANISM. THESE ELEMENTS WERE UNPOPULAR UNTIL THE LATE 15TH CENTURY; 16TH CENTURY EXAMPLES WERE OFTEN FITTED WITH A PIN BY WHICH THE PAULDRONS WERE ATTACHED. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY, THE AVENTAIL DEFENDED THE NECK. DURING THE 15TH CENTURY, BEVORS WERE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH SALLET HELMETS AND THE FACE PIECE ON THE ARMET WAS FITTED WITH A VERY SHORT VENTAIL
GOTHIC ARMOUR
THE VICTORIAN TERM FOR GERMAN ARMOUR FROM THE 15TH CENTURY, CHARACTERIZED BY FLUTED SURFACES IN FAN-SHAPED PATTERNS, CONSTRUCTION FROM SMALL THIN PLATES, WITH A LINEAR DESIGN TO THE PIECES. GOTHIC ARMOUR WAS GENERALLY CAP  PIED ARMOUR, VERY LIGHT FOR FULL HARNESS, FEATURING A SALLET AND BEVOR FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE HEAD. CONTRAST THIS WITH THE MORE CURVED AND SOFTER MILANESE ARMOUR PRODUCED ON THE ITALIAN PENINSULA.
GRACE
AN ESSENTIAL VIRTUE NOT NECESSARILY OF KNIGHTHOOD, BUT OF NOBILITY. REMEMBER THAT IN THE MIDDLE AGES THE QUESTION OF NOBILITY WAS TWO-FOLD; ON ONE HAND A MAN HAD TO BE BORN INTO NOBILITY, BECAUSE PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG HEREDITY COMPONENT TO HUMAN BEHAVIOR. CERTAIN VIRTUES WERE EXPECTED OF MEMBERS OF THE NOBILITY OR THE ARISTOCRACY BECAUSE THEY WERE DIFFERENT FROM THE LESSER FOLK. ON OF THE VIRTUES EXPECTED WAS GRACE, THE QUALITY THAT COMBINED TACT, COURTESY, GOOD JUDGMENT,AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS INTO A SINGLE GRACEFUL NATURE THAT WAS ONLY POSSIBLE WITH A MATURE, VIRTUOUS SOUL.
GRACE, YOUR
FORMAL TITLE OF ADDRESS FOR ARCHBISHOPS, DUKES, PRINCES OR EVEN KINGS, USED SUCH AS YOUR GRACE.
GRAF
GERMAN TITLE EQUIVALENT OF COUNT.
GRAIL, GRAAL
THE CUP OF THE LAST SUPPER IN WHICH JOSEPH OF ARIMITHEA CAUGHT THE BLOOD OF CRUCIFIED CHRIST. IT WAS, BY LEGEND, CARRIED TO BRITAIN WHERE IT WAS HIDDEN, ENTRUSTED TO JOSEPHS DESCENDANTS, ENDING WITH GALAHAD. THE SEARCH FOR THE GRAIL QUEST HAS BECOME A METAPHOR FOR MANS SEARCH FOR PURITY AND GRACE; THE SEARCH FOR THE GRAIL FORMS THE CENTER OF MANY ARTHURIAN ROMANCES AS THE KNIGHTS STRIVE TO OVERCOME FLAWS IN THEIR OWN CHARACTER TO ACHIEVE GRACE. THIS QUEST, LAID OUT BEST IN WOLFRAM VON ESHENBACHS PARSIFAL AND THE VULGATE CYCLE, HAS BEEN ECHOED MANY TIMES.  HOWEVER, THERE ARE CONTENTIONS THAT THE GRAIL IS NOT A CUP AT ALL; INDEED THAT THERE IS SOME DISPUTE CONCERNING WHETHER MEDIEVAL AUTHORS HAD ANY CONSENSUS TO CLAIM THAT IT WAS A CUP. SEE WHAT IS THE GRAIL? ANALYSIS FROM DR.LINDA A. MALCOR THE CHALICE AT THE CROSS.
GRAND COMPANY OF THE PEACOCKS
THE SCA TOURNAMENT TEAM BASED IN THE MIDDLE KINGDOM, A LATE 14TH CENTURY GROUP WHOSE COLORS ARE AZURE AND VERT, THE COLORS OF THE PEACOCK. THEY WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING ABOUT INTEREST IN THE MIDDLE KINGDOM TO THE HISTORICAL TOURNAMENT CONCEPT, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE TENANS OF NOBLE FOLLY TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE KING REN TOURNAMENT FORMAT IN THE SCA CONTEXT. THE GROUP BOASTS A WIDE BASE OF ARTISTIC TALENT, WHICH IS EVIDENCED BY THEIR FINE EQUIPMENT AND HARNESS. SEE ESPECIALLY CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #10.
GRAPERS
LANCE AGAINST THE BODY AT THE MOMENT OF IMPACT, OFTEN CITED IN INVENTORIES BUT WHICH ARE RARELY SEEN. THESE ARE SEEN IN AN ILLUMINATION ELSEWHERE ON THIS SITE DATING FROM THE 15TH CENTURY. 
GRATZ ARMOURY
THE ARMOUR COLLECTION AT GRATZ, AUSTRIA, FEATURING ONE OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE COLLECTIONS OF 16TH AND 17TH CENTURY ARMOURS IN EXISTENCE. THE ARMOURY REPRESENTS A NEARLY INTACT MUNICIPAL ARMOURY, THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND. ONLY THE TOWER OF LONDON HAS MAINTAINED A SIMILAR ARSENAL.
GREAT BASCINET
A LATE 14TH EARLY 15TH CENTURY VERSION OF THE BASCINET WHERE THE MAIL AVENTAIL WAS REPLACED WITH TWO STEEL PLATES, ONE IN THE FRONT AND ONE IN BACK. DURING THE MIDDLE 15TH CENTURY THESE HELMETS WERE STILL IN TOURNAMENT USE, FITTED WITH GRILLES, ADORNED WITH BRILLIANT TORSES, MANTLES AND CRESTS FOR THE PAGEANTS SPONSORED BY RICH NOBLEMEN SUCH AS KING REN D'ANJOU. SEE CHRONIQUE, THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #10
GREAT COMPANY
A HUGE MERCENARY ARMY THAT FORMED IN 1361, LARGELY FORMED OF ENGLISH SOLDIERS DISPLACED BY THE LULL IN FIGHTING DURING THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR. THE INTERNATIONAL CONTINGENT MOVED THROUGH FRANCE, PILLAGING AND CAPTURING FORTRESS AFTER FORTRESS UNTIL CHARLES V APPEALED TO EDWARD III FOR ASSISTANCE. CHARLES SENT BERTRAND DE GUESCLIN, THE ARMY MOVED TO CASTILE, WHERE THEY DEPOSED THE KING DESPITE THE EFFORTS OF THE BLACK PRINCE.
GREATSWORD
(SEE CLAYMORE)
GREAVES,  SHYNBALDS
PLATE DEFENSES FOR THE LOWER LEG ALSO CALLED. THEY FIRST APPEAR ON BRASSES DURING THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE 14TH CENTURY, AND REMAIN A STANDARD DEFENSE FOR THE LOWER LEG FOR MORE THAN TWO CENTURIES. THE GREAVES WERE SHAPED, FLARED AND DISHED TO MATCH THE SHAPE OF THE CALF AND ANKLE. ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT PIECES OF ARMOUR TO CREATE, THE GREAVE ADDS A VERY ELEGANT LOOK TO ANY REPRODUCTION HARNESS
GREEN KNIGHT
THE GIANT WHO CHALLENGES GAWAIN TO AN EXCHANGE OF SINGLE BLOWS, TESTING HIS VIRTUE AND HIS PROWESS.
GREYHOUND
GENERIC TERM FOR ANY MEDIEVAL HUNTING-DOG.
GRILLE
A RARE FORM OF VISOR, A DEFENSE FOR THE FACE, MOST COMMONLY USED ON TOURNAMENT HELMETS OF THE 15TH CENTURY. THE ONLY SURVIVING GRILLES ARE FITTED ONTO GREAT BASCINETS; SUCH ARE AMPLY DESCRIBED IN KING RENE D'ANJOU'S BOOK ON THE TOURNAMENT. THERE IS A SINGLE EXAMPLE OF A CENTER MOUNT BASCINET FROM THE MIDDLE 14TH CENTURY ON A BOHEMIAN ALTARPIECE, C. 1360, THE BEARS A GRILLE AS DEFENSE. THE GRILLE HAS BECOME A STANDARD DEFENSE IN THE SCA, WHERE MODERN RE-ENACTORS PREFER THE VISION AND BREATHING CAPABILITY, NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT SHEARED LANCES OR THE POINTS OF SWORDS
GUIDON
ANOTHER WORD FOR THE PENNANT OF A BACHELOR-KNIGHT.
GUIGE
THE STRAP AFFIXED TO THE BACK OF THE SHIELD BY WHICH A SHIELD COULD BE CARRIED OVER THE SHOULDER. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #8.
GUILD
PROFESSIONAL, MERCANTILE OR CRAFT ASSOCIATION FORMED TO MAINTAIN STANDARDS AND SUPPORT ITS MEMBERS. GUILDS FORMED THE CENTER OF TOWN LIFE; THE GUILDS GREW IN POWER AND PRESTIGE, FREQUENTLY FORMING MONOPOLIES IN THEIR AREA OF EXPERTISE.
GUILDMASTER
THE HEAD OF A MEDIEVAL GUILD.
GULES
HERALDIC COLOR FOR RED.
HACKETON
A KIND OF ARMING COAT WORN DURING THE 13TH - 15TH CENTURY BOTH AS A COMPLETE ARMOUR UNTO ITSELF AND AS PADDING FOR ADDITIONAL ARMOUR WORN OVER THE TOP. THEY WERE GENERALLY QUILTED, EITHER SEWN OR STUFFED WITH LINEN, TOW OR EVEN GRASS. MOST OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE 14TH CENTURY SHOW MANY BUTTONS OR LACES UP THE FRONT, AND THERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES THAT FEATURE A HIGH COLLAR TO ASSIST IN THE DEFENSE OF THE NECK. 14TH CENTURY AKETONS WERE GENERALLY CUT WIDE AROUND THE ARM HOLES IN A MANNER THAT FOLLOWED THE LINE OF THE BREASTPLATE OR CUIRASS. THESE EXTRA-LARGE ARM-HOLES SERVED TO GRANT COMPLETE MOBILITY FOR A FULL RANGE OF ARM MOTION WHILE PROVIDING A LAST-DITCH DEFENSE OF THE AREA UNDER THE ARM. I CAN FIND NO EVIDENCE OF AKETONS EVER BEING OPEN UNDER THE ARM, THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON SCA STYLE. SEE ALSO THE POURPOINT, A GARMENT WORN UNDER THE ARMING COAT USEFUL FOR ATTACHING THE LACES FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF A LEG HARNESS. A WORKABLE PATTERN FOR A 14TH CENTURY MODEL CAN BE FOUND IN CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #2.  MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE 14TH CENTURY - 1300-1350 KNIGHTS WORE THE HAUBERGEON OVER THEIR AKETON - 1350-1400 AKETON SHORTENED AND BEGINS TO BE WORN UNDER THE JUPON, SOMETIMES THE ONLY BODY DEFENSE. STRONGLY WASP-WAISTED FORM COMMON TO THE PERIOD. - 1350-1400 SLEEVES WERE SOMETIMES "BANANA SLEEVED" OR BALLOONING OUT OR WERE NARROW SO AS TO FIT UNDER THE ARM HARNESS. BOTH SEEM POPULAR FOR THE ENTIRE PERIOD.
HALIDON HILL, BATTLE OF
1333. EDWARD IIIS BATTLE AGAINST DAVID BRUCE, WHERE HIS FORCES, OUTNUMBERED, DISMOUNTED AND HELD THE TOP OF THE HILL, FLANKED BY ARCHERS HIDDEN IN BRAMBLE AND MARSH. AS THE SCOTS, FOLLOWING THEIR FRENCH ADVISORS AND EXPERIENCE, CHARGED UP THE HILL, THEY WERE DESTROYED BOTH BY THE ARCHERS AND THE DISMOUNTED ENGLISH INFANTRY. IN THIS SINGLE BATTLE, EDWARD WAS ABLE TO DESTROY THE BULK OF THE SCOTS ARMY AND SECURE FOR HIMSELF BOTH HIS NORTHERN BORDER AN THE TITLE KING OF SCOTLAND, WHICH ENABLED HIM TO TURN HIS ATTENTION TO FRANCE. IT IS OFTEN CALLED THE FIRST BATTLE IN THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR. THE TACTICS HE TRIED AND USED WITH GREAT SUCCESS AT HALIDON HILL HE AND HIS SON THE BLACK PRINCE USED AGAIN AND AGAIN WITH SUCCESS AT CRCY AND POITIERS; HENRY V USED THEM YET AGAIN AT AGINCOURT.
HAMMER (ARMOURER'S TOOL)
THE PREDOMINANT TOOL OF THE ARMOURER. SIMILAR IN SHAPE TO THE SILVERSMITHING HAMMERS, ARMOURER'S HAMMERS ARE NORMALLY 2-3 TIMES HEAVIER THAN A SIMILAR TOOL USED TO WORK SILVER. AN EVEN AND ACCURATE HAMMER STROKE IS NECESSARY TO THE PRODUCTION OF CRISP INTERPRETATIONS. MODERN ARMOURERS CAN ACQUIRE SUCH TOOLS THROUGH SOME BLACKSMITHING SUPPLY HOUSES OR FROM EUROPEAN TOOLMAKERS SUCH AS PEDDINGHOUSE. SOMETIMES OLD HAMMERS CAN BE ACQUIRED, AND MODIFIED IF NECESSARY TO DO THE REQUIRED TASK. A MODERN ARMOURER WILL HAVE FROM BETWEEN 20 AND 100 HAMMERS THAT THEY USE REGULARLY, WITH MOST PREFERRING 2 TO 5 FOR MOST OF THE WORK AND THE REST SERVING SPECIALIZED PURPOSES. THESE ARE OFTEN BOUGHT FROM TOOL COLLECTORS OR MODIFIES TO SOLVE A PARTICULAR PROBLEM. SEE CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #6.
HAMMER (WARHAMMER),  MARTEL, HORSEMAN'S PICK
A WEAPON CONSISTING OF A HAMMER HEAD ON ONE SIDE AND A SPIKE ON THE OTHER, SOMETIMES MOUNTED ON A SHORT HANDLE FOR USE IN ONE HAND AND OTHER TIMES MOUNTED ON A SHORT SHAFT FOR USE IN FOOT COMBATS. WARHAMMERS AND POLEAXES WERE POPULARLY USED IN JUDICIAL DUELS OR IN COMBATS ASSOCIATED WITH POINTS OF HONOR.
HAND-AND-A-HALF SWORD
(SEE BASTARDSWORD)
HANDS, DEFENSE OF
(SEE GAUNTLETS)
HARDNESS
THE QUALITY OF METAL THAT DESCRIBES RESISTANCE TO DENTING, SCRATCHING, OR BENDING.
HARNESS
THE GENERIC DESCRIPTION FOR A MAN-AT-ARMS DEFENSIVE GEAR, INCLUDING UNDERGARMENTS, ARMOURED ELEMENTS, AND INTEGRAL EQUIPMENT SUCH AS SPURS, SWORD, ETC.. FIELD HARNESSES WERE ARMOURS OF WAR, DESIGNED FOR USE IN THE FIELD. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY SOME SPECIALIZATION IN ARMOUR WAS BEGUN, WHERE TOURNAMENT GEAR FIRST BEGINS TO BE SEPARATED FROM FIELD HARNESS IN INVENTORY RECORDS. THERE MAY WELL HAVE BEEN LEATHER GEAR ALSO, USED FOR PRACTICE, BUT THIS MIGHT NOT HAVE PROVED VALUABLE ENOUGH TO RECORD, THOUGH DECORATED TOURNAMENT GEAR OF LEATHER WAS OFTEN RECORDED.
HASTILUDE
LITERALLY A SPEAR GAME. OFTEN USED AS A GENERIC FORM FOR TOURNAMENTS, OR A "MLE" FORM WHERE KNIGHTS FOUGHT AS INTEGRATED GROUPS CALLED CONROI TO PRACTICE THEIR UNIT SKILLS AND TO CAPTURE THEIR OPPONENTS AND THUS CAPTURE THEIR HORSES AND EQUIPMENT. SIR WILLIAM MARSHAL WAS PERHAPS THE PRE-EMINENT TOURNEYER IN THE DAY OF THE HASTILUDE, BUT AFTER HIS DEATH IN THE EARLY 13TH CENTURY THE TOURNAMENT BECAME MORE AND MORE REGULATED, BECOMING A VERY STRUCTURED PAGEANT BY THE 16TH CENTURY WHEN HENRY VIII AND FRANIS I OF FRANCE HELD THE FIELD OF THE CLOTH OF GOLD, C. 1515.
HASTINGS, BATTLE OF
OCTOBER 14, 1066. DECISIVE BATTLE BETWEEN THE ENGLISH FORCES OF HAROLD GODWINESON, KING OF ENGLAND, AND WILLIAM I, DUKE OF NORMANDY. HAROLDS FORCES WERE EXHAUSTED, ON FOOT, HAVING MARCHED FROM A VICTORIOUS BATTLE AGAINST CAVALRY IN SEPTEMBER 26. DRAWING THE SHIELD MEN INTO A LINE ACROSS THE TOP OF THE HILL, WILLIAMS CAVALRY THREW THEMSELVES AGAINST THE WALL TO NO AVAIL. FINALLY, THE CAVALRY RETREATED IN APPARENT DISORDER, THROUGH A RUSE, AND FELL UPON HAROLDS NOW DISOGRANIZED FOOT AS THEY PURSUED IN SEARCH OF BOOTY. HAROLD HIMSELF TOOK AN ARROW TO THE EYE, AND WILLIAM WAS ABLE TO MARCH INTO ENGLAND, ESTABLISHING A NORMAN CONQUEST LEAVING AN INDELIBLE MARK ON ENGLISH CULTURE. THE BATTLE ALSO REINFORCED THE MEDIEVAL BELIEF IN THE SUPERIORITY OF MOUNTED CAVALRY AGAINST FOOT, DELAYING THE EXPERIMENTATION OF MEDIEVAL ARMIES WITH MIXED FORCES UNTIL THE LATE 14TH CENTURY.
HAUBERGEN
A SHORTER VERSION OF THE HAUBERK, A SHIRT MADE OF MAIL, USUALLY LACED DOWN THE SIDES OFTER 1300.
HAUBERK
A MAIL SHIRT, GENERALLY EXTENDING DOWN TO DEFEND THE LEGS. THE HAUBERK WAS THE MAIN DEFENSE FOR BOTH BODY AND LEGS UNTIL THE LATE 13TH CENTURY, WHEN ARMOURERS BEGAN TO EXPERIMENT WITH REINFORCING USING PADDED, COURBOILLE, AND EVEN RUDIMENTARY PLATE AUGMENTATIONS.
HEAD, DEFENSE OF
GENERALLY A HELMET WAS USED TO DEFEND THE HEAD; A CAMAIL AND CASQUE OR HEAULM PRIOR TO THE 14TH CENTURY; A BASCINET, CERVLLAIRE, SUGARLOAF, HEAULM OR CHAPEL DE FER DURING THE 14TH CENTURY; A BARBUTE, SALLET, ARMET OR GREAT BASCINET DURING THE 15TH CENTURY; AN ARMET OR CLOSE HELMET DURING THE 16TH CENTURY. SEE ALSO PADDING, HELMET.
HEAT TREATING
THE PROCESSES THROUGH WHICH ARMOUR IS HARDENED THROUGH HEATING. IN GENERAL, MOST IRON OR FERROUS ARMOUR IS HARDENED EITHER THROUGH WORK HARDENING (DONE BY HAMMERING) OR BY HEATING IT TO ITS CRITICAL TEMPERATURE (DEPENDENT UPON THE TECHNIQUE USED) AND THEN QUENCHED IN WATER, URINE, OIL OR OTHER MORE SECRET SUBSTANCES. PRIOR TO THE 14TH CENTURY, MOST HARDENED PIECES WERE WORKED, PLANISHED, FROM THE HAMMER RATHER THAN HEAT TREATED. DURING THE 15TH CENTURY, THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE THAT THE GERMAN ARMOURERS, PARTICULARLY IN AUGSBURG, BEGAN TO USE A SOPHISTICATED TWO STEP METHOD THAT ACHIEVED A SUPERIOR HARDNESS AND A RESILIANCE TO BRITTLENESS. SEE ESPECIALLY THEODORE MONNICH'S ARTICLE IN CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #13.
HEATER (SHIELD)
THE COMMON FORM OF KNIGHTLY SHIELD INTRODUCED FROM THE LATE 13TH CENTURY AND USED COMMONLY ALL DURING THE 14TH CENTURY. DURING THE SECOND AND THIRD QUARTER OF THE CENTURY IT SEEMS FASHIONABLE FOR KNIGHTS TO CARRY VERY SMALL SHIELDS, AS THE EXAMPLES FROM EXISTING BRASSESCHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #8
HEAULM, HELM, GREAT HELM
A FULLY ENCLOSED DEFENSE FOR THE HEAD DEVELOPED DURING THE 12TH CENTURY. KNOWN ALSO AS THE "BARREL" OR "POT" HELMET (MODERN TERMS), THE HEAULM WAS GENERALLY MADE FROM SEVERAL SMALLER SHEETS OF STEEL, COMPLETELY COVERING THE FACE. FROM MANUSCRIPT ACCOUNTS IT APPEARS THAT THEY WERE OFTEN PAINTED IN THE COLORS OF THE KNIGHT, AND MIGHT ALSO HAVE BEEN WASHED IN GOLD OR ADORNED WITH BRASS, BRONZE OR LATTEN DECOR, GENERALLY IN THE FORM OF A CROSS UNDER THE OCCULARIA AND DOWN THE FRONT OF THE FACE.
HEILBRONN ORDINANCES, 1485
WRITTEN BY FOUR GERMAN TOURNAMENT SOCIETIES, THE ORDINANCES SET OUR MORAL GUIDELINES FOR TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANTS, THEY DICTATE THAT MEMBERS WHO FAIL TO KEEP THE ORDINANCES BE PENALIZED BY BEING PUT ON THE BARRIER; BEATEN, UNHORSED, HIS SADDLE PUT ASTRIDE THE BARRIER, WHERE HE WAS FORCED TO SIT.
HELMET
THE BASIC DEFENSE FOR THE HEAD. SEE THE FOLLOWING: SPANGEN ----------------8TH - 10TH CENTURIES  CASQUE ------------------9TH - 12TH CENTURIES  CHAPEL DE FER ----------12TH CENTURY BARREL / GREAT HELM ---12TH - 13TH CENTURIES  SUGARLOAF ---------------13TH - 14TH CENTURIES BASCINET -----------------14TH - 15TH CENTURIES  GREAT BASCINET ----------14TH - 15TH CENTURIES BARBUTE -----------------15TH CENTURY SALLET --------------------15TH CENTURY ARMET -------------------15TH - 16TH CENTURY CLOSE HELMET -----------16TH - 17TH CENTURIES
HERALDRY AND HERALDS
THE RULES BY WHICH A KNIGHTS SYMBOLS WERE ORGANIZED FOR CLARITY AND INDIVIDUALITY. HERALDS, AS OFFICERS OF THE COURT, WERE ORIGINALLY FOLLOWERS OF THE TOURNAMENT, MOVING WITH THE TOURNAMENT CIRCUIT FORM PLACE TO PLACE AND ORIGINALLY PAID ALONG WITH JONGLEURS AND MINSTRELS. THEY WERE THUS ENTERTAINERS FIRST, BUT DURING THE 15TH AND 16TH CENTURY THEY GRADUALLY ABSORBED THE DUTIES OF COURT OFFICERS, CARRYING MESSAGES, AND EVEN NEGOTIATING BETWEEN WARRING PARTIES. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #10.
HERESY
AN OPINION HELD IN OPPOSITION TO THE ORTHODOX DOCTRINE IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, A CRIME BY MEDIEVAL LAW PUNISHABLE BY DEATH. HERETICAL OPINIONS WERE EXAMINED BY CHURCH COURTS, WHICH COULD PASS SENTENCE AND CARRY OUT THE RESULTING JUSTICE. NOTABLE EXAMPLES OF MEDIEVAL HERESIES WERE THE TEACHINGS OF JOHN WYCLIFFE, THE TEACHINGS OF THE LOLLARDS. THE INQUISITION WAS INSTITUTED IN 13TH CENTURY FRANCE, A TOOL USED DURING THE 14TH CENTURY TO PURGE THE TEMPLARS FROM THEIR EXTENSIVE HOLDINGS IN FRANCE AND IN MOST OF EUROPE, MOST OF THEIR MEMBERS BEING BURNED.
HERTZOG
SEE DUKE.
HIGGENS ARMOURY, WORCHESTER, MA
AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THEY HAVE ONE OF THE LARGER COLLECTIONS OF 16TH CENTURY MAXIMILLIAN ARMOUR IN THE WORLD, BUT FEW PRE-16TH CENTURY PIECES.
HIPS, DEFENSE OF
THE HIPS WERE DEFENDED BOTH BY THE AKETON, THE HAUBERK, AND AFTER THE MIDDLE OF THE 14TH CENTURY BY FAULDS. DURING THE 15TH CENTURY TASSETS WERE ADDED TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE HIP AND THE THIGH. SEE ALSO CUIRASS AND BODY, DEFENSE OF.
HOBELARS
LIGHT CAVALRY WHO WORE A LIGHT STEEL CAP, A SHORT COAT OF MAIL, USING EITHER A SHORT SWORD, LIGHT LANCE, OR BOW. SUCH TROOPS WERE IN COMMON USE IN SCOTLAND, BUT ADDITIONALLY EDWARD III USED THEM WITH GREAT EFFECT DURING THE BATTLE FOR CALAIS IN 1347.
HOHENZEUGGESTECH
A FORM OF JOUST POPULAR IN GERMANY DURING THE LATE 14TH CENTURY. USING A SPECIAL SADDLE THAT RAISED THE KNIGHT TEN INCHES OR MORE ABOVE THE HORSES BACK, THE IDEA WAS TO SPLINTER LANCES. THE SPORT PROVED DANGEROUS, WITH MANY BROKEN THIGHS AND BACKS A RESULT.
HOLY GRAIL
SEE GRAIL.
HOLY LANDS
WESTERN PALESTINE, ESPECIALLY JUDEA, THE HISTORICAL LANDS OF THE BIBLE. THE RECOVERY OF THE HOLY LANDS FROM THE GOVERNANCE OF THE MUSLIMS WAS THE GOAL OF THE FIRST, THIRD AND CHILDRENS CRUSADES. THE SUCCESS OF THE FIRST CRUSADE DROVE THE SARACENS FROM THE HOLY LANDS AND ALLOWED THE CHRISTIAN FORCES TO ESTABLISH THE KINGDOM OF JERUSALEM, NEW LAND THAT HAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG KNIGHTS AND PROVIDED A NEW PILGRIMAGE DESTINATION CONSIDERED AN EXTREMELY HOLY DESTINATION.
HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
A NEW INSTANCE OF THE OLD ROMAN EMPIRE IN THE WEST, THE EMPIRE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 962 UNDER OTTO I, A REINCARNATION OF CHARLEMAGNES OLD EMPIRE ESTABLISHED IN 800. THE EMPIRE WAS WHAT WE TODAY CONSIDER MODERN DAY GERMANY, THE EMPEROR BEING ELECTED BY THE GERMAN PRINCES, HOLDING LAND IN BOTH GERMANY AND ITALY.
HOMAGE
THE PUBLIC PRONOUNCEMENT OF A VASSAL TO HIS LORD WHERE HE SWORE TO BECOME HIS MAN, AN OATH THAT CARRIED A PROMISE OF LOYALTY. THE HOMAGE CEREMONY, ACCOMPLISHED BY PLACING THE VASSALS HANDS INTO THAT OF THE LORD. IN EXCHANGE, THE LORD PLEDGED TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THE VASSAL. THE CEREMONY WAS DISTINCT FROM, BUT OFTEN A PART OF, A FEALTY OATH, WHEREIN THE VASSAL PLEDGED TO DO A SPECIFIED SERVICE IN EXCHANGE FOR THE LAND OF FIEF. BOTH WERE HIGHLY PERSONAL AND POWERFUL OATHS, WHICH WERE MEANT TO BIND LORD AND VASSAL TOGETHER. - 15TH CENTURY ROYAL OATH OF HOMAGE (1365-1480)
HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE
SHAME TO HE WHO THINKS BAD OF IT. THE MOTTO OF THE ORDER OF THE GARTER, WHICH HAS COME, IN POPULAR LEGEND, TO REFER TO AN ILLICIT AFFAIR BY THE FOUNDER OF THE ORDER, EDWARD III, WITH THE COUNTESS OF SALISBURY. WHILE IT IS REASONABLY CERTAIN THAT EDWARD DID INDEED CONDUCT AFFAIRS, THERE IS NO HARD EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE USE OF THE GARTER AS A TOKEN OF HIS AFFECTION FOR HER.
HONOR
HONOR IS NOT A VIRTUE. IT IS THE ESSENTIAL QUALITY THAT ACCRUES TO A MAN WHEN OTHER PEOPLE VIEW THEM AS BEING VIRTUOUS--I.E. THEY HONOR THEM. THE DRIVE FOR HONOR EARNS A KNIGHT OR MAN-AT-ARMS RENOWN, HIS FAME, HIS GOOD NAME. IT IS ALWAYS A VERY STRONG MOTIVATOR FOR SOME SOLDIERS. HONOR IN A PERSONAL SENSE IS OFTEN CONFUSED WITH SUCH PUBLIC HONOR, BUT I SAY RATHER THAT THIS IS NOT HONOR BUT INTEGRITY.
HORS DE COMBAT
FR. OUT OF THE FIGHTING; UNABLE TO CONTINUE.
HORSE, DEFENSE OF
PRIOR TO THE 14TH CENTURY, HORSES WERE GENERALLY DEFENDED ONLY BY MAIL. DURING THE LATE 14TH CENTURY, THERE ARE RECORDS OF HORSE ARMOUR BUT THERE ARE NO SURVIVING EXAMPLES. FULL PLATE DEFENSES WERE OCCASIONALLY USED DURING THE 15TH AND 16TH CENTURIES, ALTHOUGH USUALLY ONLY A CRINET AND CHAMFRON WERE USED.
HORSE, USE OF
FOR MOST OF THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD, THE KNIGHT AND HORSE COMBINATION FORMED THE MOST AWESOME FORCE THE BATTLEFIELD HAD EVER SEEN. USING THE STIRRUP AND SADDLE, THE KNIGHT AND HIS FIFTY POUNDS OF ARMOUR WOULD BEAR DOWN ON THE OPPONENTS WITH A HEAVY LANCE.THE KEY TO THIS ATTACK WAS FOR A GROUP OF KNIGHTS TO CHARGE CLOSELY TOGETHER, THE EFFECT OF WHICH WOULD COMPLETELY UNNERVE THE DEFENDERS AND BREAK UP ANY WHO REMAINED. BECAUSE THIS TECHNIQUE REQUIRED SUCH CAREFUL COORDINATION, TOURNAMENTS WERE BEGUN DURING THE 12TH CENTURY.   
HOSPICE
[
HOSPITALLERS
THE KNIGHTS OF THE ORDER OF THE HOSPITAL OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM, AN ORDER OF KNIGHTS FORMED AFTER THE CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM IN 1099 RECOGNIZED BY THE POPE IN 1113. THE ORDER PROVIDED HOSPITALS AND SHELTER FOR PILGRIMS ON THEIR WAY TO THE HOLY LANDS, BUT THEY ALSO FIELDED POWERFUL MILITARY UNITS OF KNIGHTS WHO FOUGHT IN MOST EVERY BATTLE OF THE CRUSADES. WHEN THE CHRISTIANS WERE DRIVEN FROM JERUSALEM BY SALADIN, THEY REESTABLISHED THEIR HEADQUARTERS IN ACRE UNTIL THAT WAS LOST IN 1291. CONSEQUENTLY THEY BUILT UP A NAVAL FORCE AND SEIZED THE ISLAND OF RHODES, WHICH THEY TOOK FROM THE SARACENS IN 1310. THEY FORMED AN INDEPENDENT STATE ON THE SITE, BUILDING GREAT WEALTH INCREASED WHEN PHILIP IV CONFISCATED THE ESTATES OF THE TEMPLARS AND TURNED MANY OF THEM OVER TO THE ORDERS OFFICERS.
HOUPELANDE
A GARMENT COMMON TO THE NOBILITY DURING THE VERY END OF THE 14TH CENTURY AND EXTENDING IN VARIOUS FORMS INTO THE MID AND LATE 15TH CENTURY. IT WAS CHARACTERIZED BY LONG FLOWING SLEEVES, SOMETIMES DAGGED IN MANY INTERESTING PATTERNS. THEY WERE GENERALLY WORN AS COURT ATTIRE BUT A VARIETY SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN ADOPTED IN PLACE OF THE SURCOAT, PARTICULARLY IN GERMANY DURING THE LATE 14TH CENTURY.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
[
HOUSE OF LORDS
THE TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL LORDS. EACH LORD WAS A PEER OF THE REALM WHO HELD THEIR SEATS BY HEREDITARY RIGHT. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY THE ELEMENT OF THE MAGNA CARTA THAT GRANTED THE ACCUSED THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY PEERS WAS INTERPRETED TO BE ONLY OTHER PEERS WITHIN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
HOUSEHOLD KNIGHTS
THE KNIGHTS FORMING THE ENTOURAGE OF A FEUDAL LORD, ACCOMPANYING HIM TO TOURNAMENT AND TO WAR, PAID FIRST IN FOOD AND HOUSING, THOUGH LATER THIS WAS AUGMENTED WITH CASH PAYMENTS. BY THE LATE 14TH CENTURY, THE POSITION WAS LESS ONE OF A HOUSEHOLD KNIGHT AND MORE ONE OF STAFF OFFICER, A MILITARY EXPERT IN THE EMPLOY OF A LORD TO ASSIST HIM IN THE CONDUCT OF MILITARY AND SOMETIMES POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
HUMILITY
[
HUNDRED
SUBDIVISION OF AN ENGLISH SHIRE OR A FRENCH COUNTY, EACH HUNDRED HAD THEIR OWN COURT.
HUNDRED YEARS WAR
THE PROTRACTED CONFLICT BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE FROM 1337 TO 1453. EDWARD III BEGAN THE WAR IN EARNEST WHEN HE ASSUMED THE TITLE KING OF FRANCE IN 1337. THE WAR WAS FOUGHT IN STOPS AND STARTS, WITH NUMEROUS TRUCES AND FALSE INSTANCES OF PEACE, DURING WHICH THERE WERE MANY BATTLES FOUGHT. THE TACTICS OF CHEVAUCHE AND SIEGE WARFARE WERE USED WITH GREAT EFFECT. EARLY ENGLISH VICTORIES AT CRCY, POITIERS AND AGINCOURT WERE GRADUALLY REVERSED UNTIL THE LAST ENGLISH HOLDING ON THE CONTINENT, (EXCEPT FOR CALAIS), FELL IN 1453.
HUNDSKUL
SEE KLAPPVISIER. THE POINTED VISOR FITTED TO A BASCINET.
INDENTURE
A FORMAL CONTRACT BY WHICH A HIGH-RANKING FEUDAL LORD, A PRINCE OR KING, DEFINED AND RETAINED THE TERMS UNDER WHICH HIS LIEGEMEN WOULD SERVE IN A GIVEN CAMPAIGN. PRIOR TO THE 14TH CENTURY THESE AGREEMENTS WERE BASICALLY VERBAL, BUT BY THE TIME OF EDWARD III THE CONTRACTS WERE OFTEN VERY SPECIFIC. CONTRAST THESE DOCUMENTS WITH COMMISSIONS OF ARRAY, WHERE THE CROWN LEVIED A DEMAND FOR TROOPS ON SHIRES AND BOROUGHS.
INDIRECT REDUCTION
A PROCESS THROUGH WHICH STEEL IS OBTAINED FROM IRON ORE, USED IN NORTHERN FRANCE AT LEAST AS EARLY AS 1451. THE HOTTER FIRE OF A STUCKHOFEN WOULD REDUCE THE IRON TO A LIQUID, WHICH COULD BE COLLECTED ON A BED OF CHARCOAL WHERE A PORTION OF THE CARBON WOULD BE OXIDIZED AND RUN OFF; THE RESULTING MATERIAL IS STEEL. ALSO KNOWN AS THE WALLOON METHOD. SEE CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #13.
INDULGENCE
GRANTING FORGIVENESS FROM SINS, A PROFITABLE CHURCH SERVICE.
INFANTRY
A DISMOUNTED FIGHTING MAN. DURING THE BULK OF THE MIDDLE AGES, THE ROLE OF INFANTRY WAS CONSIDERED TO BE THE ROLE OF THE COMMON MAN, A DISTINCTION IS RETAINS TO A DEGREE EVEN IN MODERN WARFARE. GENERALLY, MEDIEVAL INFANTRY WAS MORE LIGHTLY ARMOURED THAN THE HEAVY CAVALRY THAT FORMED THE HEART OF A MEDIEVAL ARMY. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY, THE ENGLISH EXPERIMENTED WITH THE USE OF INFANTRY AND ARTILLERY TO GREAT EFFECT, DEFEATING THE CAVALRY-HEAVY ARMIES OF FRANCE AND SPAIN AND THE MASSED SPEARMEN OF THE SCOTS. GRADUALLY, KNIGHTS BEGAN TO FIGHT ON FOOT AS OFTEN AS THEY FOUGHT MOUNTED, BUT BY THIS TIME THE USE OF GUNPOWDER CHANGED THE ROLE OF THE KNIGHT AND GAVE HIM THE TACTICAL ROLE OF OFFICER RATHER THAN CAVALRYMAN.
INNS OF COURT
FOUR LEGAL SOCIETIES IN LONDON THAT CONTROL ADMISSION TO THE ENGLISH BAR. THE INNS DERIVED THEIR NAME FROM THEIR 13TH CENTURY FOUNDING, WHERE THE VARIOUS MASTERS OF THE LAW WOULD GATHER AND TEACH THEIR APPRENTICE LAWYERS, OPERATING AS A GUILD.
INQUISITION
INTERDICT: RELIGIOUS CENSURE, OFTEN USED IN THE MIDDLE AGES AS A TOOL BY THE SENIOR CLERGY TO FORCE A SECULAR LORDS HAND. UNDER THE INTERDICT, NO RELIGIOUS SERVICES CAN BE CONDUCTED, SO NO MARRIAGES, BURIALS, OR BAPTISMS COULD BE PERFORMED. GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF RELIGION TO THE PEOPLE OF THE MIDDLE AGES, THE INTERDICT WAS A POWERFUL WEAPON, TO A DEGREE BALANCING THE PHYSICAL FORCE AVAILABLE TO THE SECULAR LORDS.
INSURANCE
SEE ARMOUR, AS INSURANCE
INTERDICT
RELIGIOUS CENSURE, OFTEN USED IN THE MIDDLE AGES AS A TOOL BY THE SENIOR CLERGY TO FORCE A SECULAR LORDS HAND. UNDER THE INTERDICT, NO RELIGIOUS SERVICES CAN BE CONDUCTED, SO NO MARRIAGES, BURIALS, OR BAPTISMS COULD BE PERFORMED. GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF RELIGION TO THE PEOPLE OF THE MIDDLE AGES, THE INTERDICT WAS A POWERFUL WEAPON, TO A DEGREE BALANCING THE PHYSICAL FORCE AVAILABLE TO THE SECULAR LORDS.
INVOCATION
THE CEREMONY USED TO START A TOURNAMENT OR PAS DARMES. THERE IS LITTLE EVIDENCE FOR THIS BEING DONE IN THE MIDDLE AGES, YET THERE IS LITTLE EVIDENCE OF ANY SORT FOR WHAT WENT ON AT THESE TOURNEYS AND FESTIVALS WITH REGARD TO CEREMONY. THE MOST ACCURATE SOURCE WE HAVE IS ONE THAT DESCRIBES AN IDEAL TOURNAMENT OF THE 15TH CENTURY BY KING REN DANJOU, THE BOOK ON THE FORM AND THE DEVISING OF A TOURNAMENT; AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SAY THAT THIS IS HOW TOURNAMENTS WERE DONE--REN HIMSELF SAYS THAT THIS IS AN IDEAL RATHER THAN THE REALITY. THE SOLE REFERENCES SEEM TO BE BURIED IN GEOFFREY DE CHARNAYS DEMANDS; SEE BARBER AND BARKER FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION. IT IS CLEAR THAT KNIGHTS OFTEN SWORE AN OATH AT THE START OF A TOURNAMENT. CHARNAY ASKS, IF A KNIGHT FAILS TO SWEAR SUCH AN OATH, SHOULD HE BE EXCLUDED?  MODERN TOURNAMENT COMPANIES HAVE TAKEN THIS TRADITION FROM THE SCA AS A MECHANISM TO SET THE TONE AND EXPECTATION FOR A DAYS FIGHTING, GENERALLY IMPLORING THE COMBATANTS TO OBSERVE THE RULES, TO VALUE THE STRIVING MORE THAN HOLLOW VICTORY, AND TO SET OUT WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THE COMBATANT AND GALLERY DURING THE DAYS FIGHTING.
IRON, AS A MATERIAL FOR ARMOUR
SURVIVING IN A LIMITED FORM AFTER THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, UNTIL THE 12TH CENTURY THE USE OF IRON WAS RESTRICTED TO WEAPONS, MAIL HAUBERKS, AND CASQUES OR SPANGEN HELMETS. DURING THE 13TH CENTURY SOURCES FOR IRON BECAME MORE PLENTIFUL, AND DURING THE 14TH CENTURY IT BECAME COMMONLY AVAILABLE FOR USE BY ARMOURERS.   RECENT TESTS BY THE SWISS INSTITUTE FOR ARMS AND ARMOUR HAVE SHOWN THAT DURING THE 15TH CENTURY THE USE OF STEEL, IRON STRENGTHENED BY THE ADDITION OF CARBON, WAS MASTERED BY BOTH ITALIAN AND GERMAN CRAFTSMEN. AFTER THE MIDDLE OF THE CENTURY MOST ARMOUR WAS MADE FROM STEEL RATHER THAN IRON, MAKING IT MORE DURABLE, RESISTANT TO RUST, AND MORE EASILY HEAT-TREATABLE.
ITEM
THE TERM USUALLY USED TO SPECIFY A PARTICULAR LEGAL CLAUSE, COMMONLY EMPLOYED IN TOURNAMENT RULES AND DECLARATIONS. SEE ALSO VARIOUS EXAMPLES OF PAS DARMES CHALLENGES TO SEE HOW IT IS USED, SUCH AS THE 15TH CENTURY PAS DARMES IN CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #16.
JAMBES
THE PART OF A MEDIEVAL SADDLE THE WAS EXTENDED DOWNWARDS TO DEFEND THE LEGS. USING SUCH DEFENSES ALLOWED JOUSTERS TO AVOID AN ADDITIONAL LEG HARNESS. THEY CAME INTO USE DURING THE 15TH CENTURY AND REMAINED IN USE ON JOUSTING SADDLES THROUGHOUT THE 16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES.
JARL
WELSH EQUIVALENT FOR EARL OR COUNT.
JEU DE LA HACHE
A 15TH CENTURY TREATISE ON AXE-FIGHTING, PERHAPS THE MOST EXTENSIVE FECHTBUCH KNOWN. IT DETAILS THE USE OF THE HALBERD OR POLEAXE WITH GREAT PRECISION, INCLUDING TACTICS USEFUL IN WAR, TOURNAMENT, OR EVEN IN JUDICIAL DUELS. THE JEU WAS TRANSLATED RECENTLY BY DR. SYDNEY ANGLO AND PRINTED IN THE JOURNAL ARCHEOLOGIA.
JONGLEUR
SEE MINSTREL.
JOURNEYMAN
[
JOUST
THE CHARGE OF TWO KNIGHTS BEARING SHIELD AND LANCE. SEE ALSO THE JOUST OF PEACE AND JOUST OF WAR.
JOUST OF PEACE
AN  PLAISANCE JOUST BETWEEN TWO KNIGHTS, USUALLY DONE AT TOURNAMENT OR BETWEEN KNIGHTS WHO WANT TO TEST THEIR PROWESS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. JOUSTS, WHERE INDIVIDUAL KNIGHTS DEMONSTRATED THEIR PROWESS, GREW IN POPULARITY FROM THE 13TH CENTURY ONWARD; PRIOR TO THAT KNIGHTS FOUGHT IN TOURNAMENTS PRIMARILY IN GROUPS. FREQUENTLY GALLERIES OF LADIES WERE PRESENT TO WATCH JOUSTS OF PEACE, SOMETIMES OFFERING ELABORATE FAVORS TO THE KNIGHTS WHO CHAMPIONED THEIR HONOR. DURING THE LATE 15TH AND 16TH CENTURIES, SPECIALIZED ARMOUR THAT BECAME VERY HEAVY WAS FASHIONABLE TO USE IN THE JOUST, GREAT HULKING PIECES FEATURING MANY REINFORCING PLATES AND BOLTS, GIVING THE HARNESSES A VERY ALIEN APPEARANCE.
JOUST OF WAR
VERY COMMON DURING THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR OR AT AN EMPRISE, THIS WAS THE SAME AS A JOUST OF PEACE EXCEPT THAT THE TIPS OF THE LANCES WERE SHARPENED RATHER THAN PURPOSEFULLY BLUNT. KNIGHTS WERE FREQUENTLY KILLED OR WOUNDED IN THESE ENGAGEMENTS, AND SPECTATORS OTHER THAN OTHER KNIGHTS WOULD HAVE BEEN UNCOMMON.
JOUTE PLNIRES
14TH CENTURY FRENCH TOURNAMENTS OPEN TO ALL COMERS.
JOUTE,  LE
FR. FOR JOUST.
JOYEUSE
THE FAMOUS SWORD OF CHARLEMAGNE.
JOYEUSE GUARDE
THE CASTLE OF LANCELOT, HELD BY POPULAR LEGEND TO BE ALNWICK OR BAMBURG CASTLES. PRIOR TO THE TIME WHEN LANCELOT CAME UPON IT, IT WAS A CURSED CASTLE KNOWN AS DOLOROUS CASTLE, BUT LANCELOT WAS ABLE TO BREAK THE SPELL AND TAKE UP RESIDENCE WITHIN. WHEN ARTHUR AND GUENEVERE VISITED, THE CASTLE WAS RENAMED JOYEUSE GUARD, BUT AFTER LANCELOTS ADULTERY WITH GUENEVERE WAS DISCOVERED, THE NAME REVERTED. IT WAS TO DOLOROUS GUARD THAT THEY RETURNED.
JUDGES
OFFICIALS IN A TOURNAMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR UPHOLDING THE SPIRIT AND THE RULES DETERMINED BY THE SPONSOR. CHARNAY AND KING REN BOTH REFER TO THE JUDGES AS DISEURS.
JUDICIAL DUEL
GENERALLY FOUGHT BETWEEN COMBATANTS OF KNIGHTLY RANK BETWEEN THE APPELLANT AND THE DEFENDANT. A CHARGE OF DISHONORABLE CONDUCT UNDERLIES THE COMBAT, FOUGHT TO THE DEATH BEFORE JUDGES. NOT A TOURNAMENT, IT IS A FORM OF TRIAL BY COMBAT. MANY OF THE SURVIVING FECHTBUCHS SEEM TO DESCRIBE TECHNIQUES USED IN THE JUDICIAL DUEL THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FORBIDDEN IN THE TOURNAMENT, SUCH AS PIERCING AN OPPONENTS FOOT WITH THE BUTT-SPIKE OF A POLEAXE.
JUPON
SEE COTE ARMOUR
KEEP
THE INNERMOST PART OF A CASTLE. IT WAS, IN THE EARLY NORMAN ITERATIONS OF A CASTLE, THE KEEP WAS A SQUARE TOWER, THE MAIN STRUCTURE WITH THE JAIL IN THE BASEMENT, THE GUARDROOM ON THE FIRST FLOOR, AND OTHER ROOMS HIGHER UP.
KETTLE-HAT
SEE CHAPEL DE FER
KIENBUSCH COLLECTION (PHILADELPHIA)
ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE COLLECTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, FEATURING MANY FINE, UNIQUE PIECES. HOUSED IN THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART. 26TH STREET AND THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PARKWAY, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19130, MAIN MUSEUM NUMBER, 215.763.8100. WEBSITE. 
KING
CROWNED RULER OF A TERRITORY OR COUNTRY CALLED A KINGDOM. DERIVED FROM THE GERMAN WORD KONNEN, TO BE ABLE.  WITHIN THE SCA, THE KING IS CHOSEN IN A CROWN TOURNAMENT, GENERALLY A DOUBLE-ELIMINATION LIST. THEY ACCEPT THE CROWN FROM THEIR PREDECESSOR AT THE CORONATION CEREMONY, RULING OVER ONE OF THE MORE THAN THIRTEEN SCA REGIONS AS ADMINISTRATIVE AND EXECUTIVE HEAD FOR SIX MONTHS. EACH KINGDOM HAS FROM 1,000 - 3,000 PEOPLE, SO THE JOB IS A FULL-TIME ONE. AT THE END OF THE REIGN , THE NOBLE IS ACCORDED THE RANK OF COUNT (1 REIGN) OR DUKE (2+ REIGNS).
KING OF ARMS
THE HERALD GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO BE IN CHARGE OF CEREMONY IN BOTH COURT AND IN WAR. HERALDS FIRST AROSE AS FOLLOWERS OF THE TOURNAMENT, SO IT WAS A NATURAL DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY GROW INTO THE ROLE OF STAGE MANAGER FOR THE ELABORATE FESTIVALS AND PAS DARMES THAT GREW DURING THE 15TH AND 16TH CENTURIES.
KINGDOM OF JERUSALEM
[
KINGDOM,  SCA
WITHIN THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM, THE ADMINISTRATION AND LEADERSHIP OF THE TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS ARE REFERRED TO AS KINGDOMS, ALTHOUGH SCA LAW STATES CLEARLY THAT THESE DIVISIONS HAVE NO BEARING ON ANY MUNDANE RULE, LAW OR AUTHORITY. EACH KINGDOM, GEOGRAPHICALLY BOUND, HAS DEVELOPED SPECIFIC CULTURAL PRACTICES THAT GIVE EACH A UNIQUE IDENTITY. EACH KINGDOM, RULED BY A KING AND THE GREATER OFFICERS OF THE KINGDOM (SENESCHAL, MARSHAL, EXCHEQUER, CHRONICLER) AND THEIR DEPUTIES, IS BROKEN DOWN INTO FURTHER DIVISIONS--PRINCIPALITIES, BARONYS, SHIRES, COLLEGES AND MARCHES. EACH OF THE SCA KINGDOMS IS GIVEN BELOW IN THE ORDER OF PRECEDENCE: - WEST KINGDOM: THE OLDEST SCA KINGDOM, FOUNDED IN 1968, NOW COMPRISING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, PART OF NEVADA, - ALASKA, JAPAN, AND AUSTRALIA.  - EAST KINGDOM: THE NORTHERN PART OF THE EASTERN SEABOARD OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, CONNECTICUT, MASSACHUSETTS, VERMONT, MAINE.  - MIDDLE KINGDOM: THE NORTH-CENTRAL PART OF THE UNITED STATES, WISCONSIN, ILLINOIS, MICHIGAN, OHIO, INDIANA, MINNESOTA AND PART OF CANADA.  - ATENVELDT: THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF THE US, EAST OF THE SIERRA MOUNTAINS. NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA, UTAH, PRIMARILY, BUT ALSO EXTENDING INTO MEXICO.  - CAID: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, LAS VEGAS, HAWAII AND NEW ZEALAND.  - AN-TIR: WASHINGTON, OREGON AND PART OF CANADA.  - CALONTIR: THE CENTRAL PART OF THE US: MISSOURI, IOWA, IDAHO, MONTANA, NEBRASKA.  - TRIMARIS: FLORIDA  - ATLANTIA  - MERIDIES  - OUTLANDS: COLORADO, PART OF UTAH.  - DRACENVALD: EUROPE.
KINGMAKER
THE TITLE OF RICHARD NEVILLE, A POWERFUL ENGLISH NOBLEMAN SLAIN AT THE BATTLE OF BARNET, 14 APRIL 1471. ALSO A GAME BY AVALON HILL, POPULAR WITH RE-ENACTORS, DEALING WITH THE WARS OF THE ROSES.
KLAPPVISIER
THE FIRST VISORED DEFENSE FOR THE BASCINET, ORIGINATED IN THE GERMAN STATES. THE KLAPPVISIER FEATURED A POINTED (PIGNOSE) OR ROUNDED (ROUNDNOSE) SNOUT TO DEFLECT ARROWS AND BOLTS AND A RAISED AREA AROUND THE EYES. IT FIRST DEFENDED THE AREA OF THE FACE NOT ALREADY DEFENDED BY THE AVENTAIL. AS VISOR DESIGN DEVELOPED, THE CENTRAL-MOUNT SYSTEM GRADUALLY GAVE WAY TO THE SIDE-MOUNTED SYSTEM THAT WAS TO DOMINATE FOR THE NEXT TWO CENTURIES ON BASCINETS, GREAT BASCINETS, ARMETS, AND FINALLY, CLOSE HELMETS.
KNEE COPS
SEE POLEYNS
KNEES, DEFENSE OF
DEFENDED BY LEG HARNESSES AND POLEYNS.
KNIGHT
THE FORMAL TITLE OF KNIGHT, THE WORD DERIVING FROM THE ANGLO-SAXON CNIHT, THAT DESCRIBED THE OFFICE ARISING OUT OF THE WARRIOR OF THE 11TH CENTURY INTO A CLASS OF THE LOWER NOBILITY CHARGED WITH FIGHTING FOR THE LIEGE LORD AND MAINTAINING LORDSHIP OVER THE DEMENSE, MANAGING IT AND DEFENDING THE PEOPLE IN EXCHANGE FOR SCUTAGE FROM THE PROPERTY THAT SUPPORTED HIM. ORIGINALLY A PURELY MARTIAL DESCRIPTION FROM THE LATIN MILES, THE DEFINITION OF WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A KNIGHT CHANGED AS THE INFLUENCES OF AN INCREASINGLY FORMAL COURT AND ACTIVIST CHURCH ADDED EXPECTATIONS TO THE BEHAVIOR OF REAL KNIGHTS. THROUGHOUT THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD, THE ROLE OF THE KNIGHT WAS CHANGING, STRETCHED BETWEEN THE CONFLICTING DEMANDS OF LADY, COURT, CHURCH AND BATTLEFIELD. BUT THE IDEAL OF CHIVALRY, THE VIRTUES TO WHICH A KNIGHT WAS TO ASPIRE, REMAIN A POWERFUL EVOCATION OF THE BEST OF WESTERN CULTURE, AND THIS POWER REMAINS TODAY, GIVING STRENGTH TO THE MODERN TOURNAMENT SOCIETIES AND THE KNIGHTS WHO TODAY STRIVE TO HONE THEIR MARTIAL SKILLS AND PRACTICE ETHICAL CONDUCT. SEE ALSO THE BOOK OF THE TOURNAMENT OR CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OFCHIVALRY #5.
KNIGHT ERRANT
A KNIGHT WHO HAS GONE TO EARN RENOWN IN WARS, TOURNAMENTS, JOUSTS, OR THROUGH ADVENTURES ENCOUNTERED IN WANDERING TRAVELS. THE KNIGHT ERRANT WAS LARGELY A FIGURE OF ROMANCE, BUT YOUNG KNIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE AGES DID HAVE A GREAT NEED FOR SUCH TRAVELS, SINCE THEY STOOD TO INHERIT NOTHING IF THEY WERE A YOUNGER SON. THESE KNIGHTS FORMED THEMSELVES INTO SMALL COMPANIES OF KNIGHTS WHO HIRED THEMSELVES OUT IN WARS OR COMPETED IN TOURNAMENTS TO EARN THE RANSOMS AVAILABLE FOR CAPTURED KNIGHTS. USING THEIR WINNINGS AND THEIR REPUTATIONS, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF A LADY OR OF A NOBLE LORD AND THUS SECURE THEIR FUTURE.
KNIGHT, SCA
THE RANK IN THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM WHERE THOSE RECOGNIZED ARE TO HAVE DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES IN MARTIAL COMBAT AND POSSESS THE QUALITIES EXPECTED OF A NOBLEMAN. WITHOUT DOUBT THE RANK OF KNIGHTHOOD IS AN HONOR OF THE HIGHEST LEVEL FOR THOSE WHO ATTAIN IT, USUALLY WON AFTER AN AVERAGE OF THREE TO TEN YEARS OF MARTIAL EXPERIENCE AND MUCH GROWTH IN THE CHARACTER OF THE INDIVIDUAL. IT IS OFTEN RECOGNIZED NOT AS AN ENDING, BUT AS THE START OF A LIFELONG JOURNEY FOR EXCELLENCE, THE RECOGNITION BY THE OTHER KNIGHTS IN A KINGDOM THAT THE INDIVIDUAL HAS A GOOD BASE FROM WHICH TO LEARN, GROW, AND TEACH. IN MOST KINGDOMS, THE KNIGHTS MEET AND RECOMMEND CANDIDATES TO THE KING, WHO LISTENS TO THEIR COUNSEL AND MAKES THE FINAL DECISION AS TO WHO HAS ATTAINED THE NECESSARY SUPPORT AND RENOWN TO BE ACCORDED THE ACCOLADE. IT IS THEN THE KING WHO PERFORMS THE KNIGHTING, WITH GREAT CEREMONY, EITHER AT AN SCA COURT OR UPON THE BATTLEFIELD. IT RANKS EQUALLY WITH THE ORDER OF THE LAUREL AND THE ORDER OF THE PELICAN, BUT BELOW A BARON, VISCOUNT, OR OTHER HIGHER NOBILITY.
KNIGHTHOOD
BEING A KNIGHT. KNIGHTHOOD WAS CONFERRED IN THE ADOUBEMENT CEREMONY, OR THE ACCOLADE, AT WHICH TIME A YOUNG MAN OR SQUIRE WAS FORMALLY ADOPTED INTO THE BROTHERHOOD OF KNIGHTS. EVEN THOUGH KNIGHTS DIFFERED IN THEIR ALLEGIANCE TO KING AND KINGDOM, THEY OFTEN TREATED ONE ANOTHER WITH A DEGREE OF RESPECT UNCOMMON IN OUR AGE, WHEN SOLDIERS FROM OPPOSING SIDES GET LITTLE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE NOSE TO NOSE CONTACT WITH THEIR OPPONENTS. KNIGHTHOOD WAS A SOLEMN OFFICE, BUT ALSO AN ECONOMIC ONE, A DEFINED SOCIAL STATION THAT DECLINED OVER TIME IN FAVOR OF THE ECONOMIC MIGHT OF THE MIDDLE CLASSES. THE MILITARY ROLE OF KNIGHTS METAMORPHASIZED INTO THE OFFICER, THE VALUES OF VIRTUES OF KNIGHTHOOD BECOMING THE DESCRIPTION OF A GENTLEMAN.
KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM
SEE HOSPITALLERS.
KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE
THE INFORMAL TITLE FOR THE KNIGHTS WHO ACCOMPANIED KING ARTHUR ON HIS ADVENTURES AND WHO SERVED HIM AT CAMELOT. IN JANUARY 1, 1344, EDWARD III FOUNDED A NEW COMPANY BY THIS NAME, COMMISSIONING A 200 DIAMETER ROUND TABLE. THIS ORDER FOUNDERED AND WAS RECONSTITUTED IN 1348 AS THE ORDER OF THE GARTER IN COMMEMORATION OF THE SUCCESSFUL FRENCH CAMPAIGN.
KNIGHTS OF THE TEMPLE
SEE TEMPLARS.
KNIGHTS FEE
[
KNIGHTS TENURE OF SERVICE
[
KSCA
ABBREVIATION OF FOR KNIGHTS OF THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM.
LADY IN WAITING
LADIES ATTENDENT UPON A WOMAN OF NOBILITY. NOT QUITE SERVANTS, THEY WERE CONSIDERED 'NOBLE COMPANIONS' WHO BY THEIR STATUS AND NOBILITY COULD BETTER ADVISE A WOMAN OF HIGH STATION. - 15TH REFERENCE FOR A LADY'S DUTIES AT CORONATION (1365-1480)
LADY OF THE LAKE (DAME DE LAC, VIVIANE, NIVIENE, NIMU)
THE LADY WHO, IN NUMEROUS ARTHURIAN ROMANCES, IS OFTEN ATTACHED TO MERLIN IN VARIOUS WAYS, AND WHO IN GIVES EXCALIBUR TO KING ARTHUR, AND IN SOME STORIES, RECEIVES IT BACK FROM HIM BEFORE HIS DEATH.
LAKING, SIR GUY
AN EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY SCHOLAR OF ARMS AND ARMOUR, WHOSE BOOK THE ARMS AND ARMOUR IN EUROPE THROUGH SEVEN CENTURIES REMAINS A CORNERSTONE WORK IN THE FIELD.  
LAMES
THE TERM COMMONLY APPLIED TO THE PLATES ADDED BETWEEN MAJOR COMPONENTS TO FACILITATE ARTICULATION. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY, THIS WAS GENERALLY ACCOMPLISHED WITH A MAXIMUM OF THREE PLATES IN THE ARM (TWO IS BETTER), AND THREE IN THE LEG. THE VAST MAJORITY OF 14TH CENTURY ARTICULATED HARNESSES USE ONLY TWO PLATES, AND THE AUTHOR'S HANDLING OF TWO EXAMPLES INDICATES THAT MOST HARNESSES PROBABLY DID NOT ALLOW FOR A FULL RANGE OF MOTION. IN ALL PROBABILITY, THE MOTIONS ALLOWED WERE WHAT WAS REQUIRED FOR THE PREVAILING COMBAT FORMS OF THE DAY, AND THE STYLES WERE IN TURN PROBABLY INFLUENCED BY THE ARMOUR TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE. MOST LAMES WERE FORMED FROM VERY THIN IRON PLATE, GENERALLY 18 OR 20 OR EVEN 22 GAGE STEEL. SCA LAMES ARE FORMED FROM 18 OR 16 OR EVEN 14 GAGE STEEL, DEPENDING ON THE STYLE OF THE ARMOURER AND THE LOCATION TO BE DEFENDED. IN MY EXPERIENCE, HAMMER -HARDENING LAMES HELPS TO REDUCE THE STRESS ON THE PLATE AND GIVES IT A RESISTANCE TO TEARING THAT HELPS A PIECE TO ENDURE. ADDITIONALLY, MOST LAMES ON THE ARMS AND THE LEGS ARE RARELY FLAT, AS THEY ARE USUALLY MADE IN THE SCA, BUT ARE RATHER SLIGHTLY DISHED OR FLARED. SEE ALSO ARTICULATION, ARM HARNESS, AND LEG HARNESS FOR MORE DETAILS.
LANCE (UNIT ORGANIZATION)
THE SMALL UNIT THAT SURROUNDED A KNIGHT WHEN WE WENT INTO BATTLE DURING THE 14TH AND 15TH CENTURIES. A LANCE MIGHT HAVE CONSISTED OF ONE OR TWO SQUIRES, THE KNIGHT HIMSELF, ONE TO THREE MEN-AT-ARMS, AND POSSIBLY AN ARCHER. LANCES WERE OFTEN COMBINED UNDER THE BANNER OF A HIGHER RANKING NOBLEMAN TO FORM COMPANIES OF KNIGHTS THAT WOULD ACT AS AN AD-HOC UNIT.
LANCE (WEAPON USED IN THE JOUST)
THE LONG SHAFT OF ASH TIPPED WITH A SHARP IRON OR STEEL TIP, VARYING IN LENGTH FROM 9 TO 14 FEET IN LENGTH. A VAMPLATE WAS DEVELOPED NEAR THE END OF THE 15TH CENTURY TO PROTECT THE HAND AND ARM, AND LANCE RESTS WERE BUILT INTO BREASTPLATES FROM THE LATE 14TH CENTURY ONWARDS TO HELP STEADY THE LANCE AS THE HORSE GALLOPED TOWARDS THE TARGET.
LARGESSE
AN ESSENTIAL VIRTUE OF BOTH KNIGHTS AND NOBLES, BEST EXPRESSED BY CHRTIEN DE TROYES IN HIS 12TH CENTURY ROMANCE CLIGS: "'DEAR SON,' HE SAID, 'BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU THAT LARGESSE IS THE QUEEN AND LADY WHO BRIGHTENS ALL VIRTUES, AND THIS IS NOT DIFFICULT TO PROVE. WHERE COULD ONE FIND A MAN WHO, NO MATTER HOW POWERFUL OR RICH, WOULD NOT BE REPROACHED IF HE WERE MISERLY? WHAT MAN HAS SO MANY OTHER GOOD QUALITIES--EXCEPTING ONLY GOD'S GRACE--THAT LARGESSE WOULD NOT INCREASE HIS FAME? LARGESSE ALONE MAKES ONE A WORTHY MAN, NOT HIGH BIRTH, COURTESY, WISDOM, GENTILITY, RICHES, STRENGTH, CHIVALRY, BOLDNESS, POWER, BEAUTY, OR ANY OTHER GIFT. BUT JUST AS THE ROSE, WHEN IT BUDS FRESH AND NEW, IS MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN ANY OTHER FLOWER, SO LARGESSE, WHENEVER IT APPEARS, SURPASSES ALL OTHER VIRTUES AND CAUSES THE GOOD QUALITIES IT FINDS IN A WORTHY MAN WHO COMPORTS HIMSELF WELL TO BE INCREASED FIVE-HUNDRED FOLD. THERE IS SO MUCH TO BE SAID OF LARGESSE THAT I COULD NOT TELL YOU THE HALF."
LATTEN
BRASS, BRONZE OR A MIXTURE OF THE TWO. GENERALLY A COPPER BASE METAL WITH ELEMENTS OF TIN OR ZINC PLUS OTHER TRACE ELEMENTS. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY LATTEN MIGHT WELL HAVE BEEN USED FOR SELECT ARMOUR BITS, SUCH AS KNUCKLE GATLINGS, COUTERS, POLEYNS, AND FOR TRIM ON ARMOUR DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE CENTURY. THIS TRIM MIGHT BE FURTHER ENHANCED BY ENGRAVING (ESPECIALLY LATIN PHRASES FROM THE BIBLE OR LOCAL MOTTOES) OR BY PUNCHWORK DESIGNED TO EMULATE RIVET HEADS.
LAUREL, ORDER OF THE
THE SCA PEERAGE, EQUIVALENT TO KNIGHTHOOD, THAT CARRIES RECOGNITION IN ACHIEVEMENT AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCA IN ARTS OF CRAFT EXPERTISE, RANKING BESIDE THE KNIGHT AND THE PELICAN.
LAW OF ARMS
UNOFFICIAL, TRADITIONAL RULES OF WAR ARRIVED UPON BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT. NEVER WRITTEN DOWN, THE RULES WERE THE SUBJECT OF MUCH DEBATE DURING THE WHOLE OF THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD, GOVERNING THE SPOILS OF WAR IN TOURNEY AND IN WAR, RANSOMS, SAFE-CONDUCTS, THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS, AND THE NATURE OF JUST WAR. EDWARD III GAVE HIS COURTS OF CHIVALRY EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO RULE OVER QUESTIONS OF SUCH LAW, AN INTERESTING FEAT SINCE THE LAW WAS A MATTER OF TRADITION RATHER THAN PRECEDENCE AS IN COMMON LAW. HONORET BONET, IN HIS 14TH CENTURY TREATISE THE TREE OF BATTLES, WAS PERHAPS THE FIRST GENTLE TO ATTEMPT TO RECORD THESE LAWS OF WAR, OR RATHER TO CLARIFY POINTS OF DISPUTE THAT HAD RISEN UP TO THAT POINT. THESE LAWS WERE THE BASIS FOR MOST WESTERN RULES OF WARFARE AND EVEN OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.
LE LIBRE DEL ORDE DE CAUALYERIA
SEE THE BOOK OF THE ORDER OF CHIVALRY BY RAMON LULL.
LEATHER, AS A MATERIAL DURING THE 14TH CENTURY
BEFORE 1350, LEATHER WAS A COMMON MATERIAL USED TO AUGMENT MAIL DEFENSES. THE VAMBRACES, CUISSES, AND GREAVES WERE REINFORCED WITH LEATHER THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING LIKE MODERN SOLE LEATHER, SOMETIMES BOILED OR PAINTED WITH BEESWAX (CUIRBOILLE) OR SOMETIMES SIMPLY SHAPED, AND FINISHED WITH SOMETHING LIKE LACQUER. THE CHIEF PIECE OF EVIDENCE ARE THE FUNERARY BRASSES OF KNIGHTS FROM THE PERIOD, BUT THESE BRASSES DO NOT HELP US TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE DEFENSES WERE GAMBOISED (QUILTED), LEATHER, OR SOMETHING ELSE.
LEG HARNESS
REFERRING TO ALL OF THE ARMOUR PIECES DEFENDING THE KNIGHT'S LEG, INCLUDING THE CUISSE (THIGH), POLEYN (KNEE), LAMES (CONNECTING PLATES), AND GREAVE OR SHYNBALD. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY THE TRANSITION WAS MADE FROM THE MAIL DEFENSES CALLED CHAUSSES TO THE FULLY ARTICULATED LEG HARNESS, ALTHOUGH THE DEVELOPMENT WAS NOT EVEN FROM PLACE TO PLACE. BY 1400 THE FULLY LEG HARNESS HAD DEVELOPED IN THE FORM THAT WOULD SURVIVE UNTIL THE 16TH CENTURY.   MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE 14TH CENTURY: - 1300-1350 CHAUSSES STILL USED TO DEFEND THE LEG, WITH THE ADDITION OF PLATE OR LEATHER SHYNBALDS TO PROTECT THE CALF.  - 1320-1360 POLEYNS ARE LACED DIRECTLY TO THE CHAUSSE, DEFENDING THE KNEE. THESE POLEYNS APPEAR TO HAVE EXTENDED AROUND THE KNEE AND TO HAVE PROVIDED A FLARED LOWER EDGE TO EASE THE TRANSITION TO THE SHYNBALD OR CHAUSSES FOR THE CALF.  - 1320-1340 POLEYNS ARE OCCASIONALLY REINFORCED WITH THE ADDITION OF A SMALL RONDEL TO THE SIDE, ADDITIONAL PROTECTION FOR THE BACK OF THE KNEE.  - 1330-1375 THE CHAUSSE IS ELIMINATED IN SOME HARNESSES IN PLACE OF A PLATE CUISSE THAT DEFENDS THE THIGH. BY 1375 THIS PLATE WAS MADE IN A SINGLE PIECE AND ARTICULATED WITH THE POLEYN THROUGH THE USE OF TWO OR THREE LAMES (ONLY ONE LAME IS USED TO ARTICULATE THE CUISSE TO THE POLEYN; TWO LAMES ARE SOMETIMES USED FOR THE DEMI-GREAVE ATTACHMENT).  - 1340-1400 INSTEAD OF A RONDEL ATTACHED BY A CENTRAL RIVET, THE POLEYN ITSELF IS EXTENDED TO FORM A "WING" ON THE SIDE OF THE KNEE COP, USUALLY SOME VARIANT ON THE HEART SHAPE. AS THE CENTURY PROGRESSES THE POLEYN IS REDUCED IN SIZE AND THE WING FLARED IN THE BEGINNINGS OF THE VERY BROAD FLAIR SEEN ON 15TH CENTURY LEG HARNESSES.  - 1340-1400 PLATE GREAVES BECOME INCREASINGLY POPULAR, BEING MADE IN TWO PIECES FRONT AND BACK, HINGED ON THE OUTER EDGE AND LATCHING BY SNAPS OR BUCKLES ON THE INSIDE.  - 1375-1400 THE FULL LEG HARNESSES IS COMPLETE AND BECOMES FULLY ADOPTED THROUGHOUT EUROPE.
LEGS, DEFENSE OF
SEE LEG HARNESS
LETTERS PATENT
DOCUMENT ANNOUNCING AN HONOR OR POWER FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, GRANTED BY AN OFFICIAL OR NOBLEMAN. FOR EXAMPLE, ARMS MIGHT BE GRANTED BY LETTERS PATENT, OR THEY MIGHT BE GRANTED LORDSHIP OVER A FEUDAL ESTATE.
LIEGE
A FEUDAL LORD, SUPERIOR TO THE VASSAL AND OWNER OF THE FIEF OR KNIGHTS FEE.
LIEGEMAN
A SWORN VASSAL WHO HAS COMMITED HIMSELF TO THE HOMAGE OF HIS LIEGE LORD, GENERALLY A MILITARY AND POLITICAL ALLIANCE.
LIST
THE PLACE WHERE A TOURNAMENT WAS TO BE HELD. "TO BE IN THE LISTS" MEANT TO BE COMPETING IN THE TOURNAMENT, AS WELL AS REFERRING TO THE PHYSICAL PLACE WHERE THE COMBATS WERE HELD. ORIGINALLY THE LISTS WERE SIMPLY DESIGNATED AS PARTICIPATION, BUT BY THE 14TH CENTURY, WHEN MORE ENCLOSED FIELDS BEGAN TO BE USED, THE TERM MEANT THE FIELD. DURING THE 15TH CENTURY REN DANJOU DESCRIBED THE LISTS IN GREAT DETAIL, INCLUDING THE PROPER DIMENSIONS FOR THE FIELD.  IN MODERN USAGE THE WORD HAS BEEN TWISTED SOMEWHAT TO MEAN THE LIST OF COMBATANTS WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN A TOURNAMENT. IN THE COMPANY OF SAINT GEORGE WE HAVE USED THE TERM "LIST ENCLOSURE" TO REFER TO OUR FENCING THAT SURROUNDS A LIST FIELD, "VENANS" TO REFER TO THE CHALLENGERS AND "TENANS" TO REFER TO THE DEFENDERS, SOMETIMES THE SPONSORS OF A PAS DARMES.
LITTLE BATTLE OF CHLONS
[
LONGBOW
THE WEAPON OF THE ARCHER, USED FOR LAUNCHING ARROWS, DEVELOPED IN EUROPE. COMPARE IT WITH THE SHORTER COMPOSITE BOW OF THE SARACEN, WHICH HAD A SHORTER DRAW BUT WAS EASIER TO USE FROM HORSEBACK. LONGBOWS WERE THE PREFERRED WEAPON OF THE ENGLISH AFTER THE MIDDLE 14TH CENTURY, EDWARD III RECOGNIZING THE POWER OF MASSED ARTILLERY (ARCHERS) USED IN COMBINATION WITH DISMOUNTED CAVALRY AND INFANTRY. THE LONGBOW, WITH A DRAW FROM 30 - 36", COULD LAUNCH AN ARROW MORE THAN 300 YARDS, DEADLY AGAINST OPPONENTS NOT DEFENDED BY PLATE ARMOUR.
LORD
[
LUNGE
[
MABINOGI (MABANOGION)
[
MACE
A SHORT MASS WEAPON NOT UNLIKE A HEAVY CLUB. AFTER THE THIRD QUARTER OF THE 14TH CENTURY THE CLUB END WAS OFTEN MADE OF METAL AND ENHANCED WITH METAL FLANGES OR SPIKES.
MAGNA CARTA
THE AGREEMENT FORCED UPON KING JOHN BY THE ENGLISH BARONS ON JUNE 15, 1215, AT RUNNYMEDE, ENGLAND, THAT STRIPPED MANY POWERS FROM THE KING IN FAVOR OF THE BARONS. THE BARONS CREATED A GROUP OF 25 OF THEIR NUMBER, THE FORERUNNER OF THE FIRST ENGLISH PARLIAMENT FOUNDED FIFTY YEARS LATER. THE INNOVATION IN THE CHARTER WAS THAT ONE OF THE BARONS NUMBER COULD MAKE A COMPLAINT TO AT LEAST FOUR OF THE TWENTY FIVE, WHO WOULD THEN DETERMINE OF THEIR COMPLAINT AGAINST THE KING WAS VALID. IF IT WAS FOUND TO BE SO, THEN THE KING HAD FORTY DAYS TO CORRECT THE INJUSTICE, AFTER WHICH THE BARONS WOULD SEIZE SUCH PROPERTY OF HIS MAJESTY AND THE ROYAL FAMILY AS DEEMED NECESSARY FOR REDRESS. THE CHARTER LAYED THE FOUNDATION FOR THE FIRST CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY WHEREIN THE KINGS HERETOFORE LEGALLY LIMITLESS POWERS WERE FORMALLY CHECKED BY ANOTHER POLITICAL BODY. IN ORDINARY FEUDAL SYSTEMS, THE POWER OF THE KING WAS CHECKED NOT BY A FORMAL POLITICAL MECHANISM BUT BY THE POWER OF THE GREAT ROYAL PEERS, WHOSE SUPPORT IN POLITICAL AND MILITARY AFFAIRS HE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN AUTHORITY AND LEGITIMACY. - COMPLETE TEXT
MAGNATE
SEE PEER.
MAIL
INTERWOVEN LINKS OF IRON WIRE RIVETED TOGETHER TO FORM A KIND OF DEFENSIVE METAL CLOTH, HIGHLY RESISTANT TO SLASHING BUT LESS EFFECTIVE AGAINST PIERCING OR CRUSHING WOUNDS. DURING THE LATTER 14TH AND 15TH CENTURIES SOMETIMES THE RIVETED LINKS WERE INTERPOSED WITH SOLID LINKS THAT HAD BEEN STAMPED TO HALVE THE PRODUCTION TIME. MAIL WAS MADE BY SPECIALIZED ARMOURERS, AND BECAUSE IT WAS EASY TO MAKE, SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED ALL OVER EUROPE, FIRST INTRODUCED BY THE ROMANS DURING THE LATTER DAYS OF THEIR EMPIRE. SEE ALSO AVENTAIL, VENTAIL, COIF, HAUBERK, HAUBERGEON.
MALLEABLE
FROM THE LATIN 'MALLEARE', TO HAMMER, THE QUALITY OF METAL THAT ALLOWS IT TO BE EASILY SHAPED OR FORMED, BY HAMMERING OR THROUGH PRESSURE.
MAN-AT-ARMS
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MANOR
THE GRANTING OF LAND WITH A DEMENSE, PEASANTS AND LANDS CONSIDERED REQUISITE TO SUSTAIN A MINOR NOBLE. THE DEMENSE WAS THE LORDS PERSONAL LAND, PROVIDING FOR THEIR NEEDS, WHILE THE LAND WORKED BY THE PEASANTS PROVIDED ADDITIONAL INCOME OR FOOD CONSUMED BY THE LORD OR HIS RETAINERS.
MANTLING
THE CLOTH DECOR SUSPENDED FROM A HELMET, COMMONLY ILLUSTRATED IN ARMORIAL ARTWORK. THE MOST SPLENDID REFERENCES TO MANTLING ARE TO BE FOUND IN KING REN'S LIVRE TOURNOI, WHERE THEY ARE SHOWN MATCHING OR ENHANCING THE HERALDIC COLORS WORN BY TOURNAMENT COMBATANTS. SEE CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #10.
MARSHAL
OFFICER OF THE KINGS HOUSEHOLD, THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF HORSES AND OTHER ANIMALS FOR SPORT--THE MEWS, HOUNDS, AND FREQUENTLY THE GUARDS OR ARCHERS. IN TIMES OF WAR THERE WERE OTHER MILITARY DUTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE OFFICE, THE OFFICE WAS ORIGINALLY THE KEEPER OF THE ROYAL STABLES BUT GRADUALLY EVOLVED INTO A HIGH MILITARY OFFICE. THE HIGHEST MARSHAL IN ENGLAND, ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS THE GREAT MARSHAL OF ENGLAND, WAS CUSTOMARILY KNOWN AS THE EARL MARSHAL, NOT BECAUSE THAT WAS THE TITLE OF THE OFFICE, BUT BECAUSE THE HOLDER WAS GENERALLY AN EARL. THE MARSHAL, RANKING JUST UNDER THE CONSTABLE, SERVED WITH HIM IN ENGLISH COURTS OF CHIVALRY, AFTER EDWARD III ESTABLISHED THE COURT AS A FORMAL BODY.  WITHIN THE SCA, THE MARSHALS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE LISTS. THEY ARE THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE KING, SERVING IN HIS STEAD AS HIS REPRESENTATIVE ON THE FIELD OF HONOR. ADDITIONALLY, THEY ADMINISTRATE TO THE COMBATANTS BY RECORDING AUTHORIZATIONS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY LEGAL CONSTRAINTS.
MARTENSITE
A COMPONENT OF IRON USEFUL FOR DETERMINING HEAT TREATING TECHNIQUES USED, IT IS A SOLUTION OF IRON AND UP TO 1% CARBON.
MASSE
THE WORD USED IN KING REN'S LIVRE TOURNOI TO DESCRIBE THE CLUBS USED IN TOURNAMENT. I SUSPECT THAT BTON IS A BETTER TRANSLATION, LOOKING AT WHAT THE WEAPON ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE. SEE CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #10.
MASTER
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MAXIMILLIAN
ARMOUR CREATED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 16TH CENTURY FOR THE EMPEROR MAXIMILLIAN, CHARACTERIZED BY ARMETS AND CLOSE HELMETS WITH BELLOWS VISORS; SMALL FAN-SHAPED FLUTING OFTEN COVERING MOST OF THE HARNESS (BUT NEVER THE GREAVES); ETCHING, WORK TAKEN FROM WOODCUTS; SHARPLY WAISTED CUIRASSES AND SQUARED SABATONS.
MAZZACUDO
AN INTERESTING FORM OF ITALIAN FOOT TOURNAMENT FROM THE 14TH CENTURY WHERE THE PARTICIPANTS USED A CLUB AND SHIELD. THE ACCOUNTS FROM PISA TELL OF A SQUARE IN THE CITY WHERE MEN COULD GO AT ANY TIME BETWEEN CHRISTMAS TO SHROVE TUESDAY AND CHALLENGE WHOMEVER THEY LIKED. THE WHOLE AFFAIR, CONDUCTED IN THE WINTERTIME, CLIMAXED IN THE HOLIDAYS, WHEN A LARGE CROWD GATHERED TO WATCH THE PROCEEDINGS. INDIVIDUALS WOULD PAINT IMAGES THEIR LOVERS ON THEIR SHIELDS, FIGHTING IN THEIR HONOR. TRUMPETS SOUNDED THE START OF THE GENERAL MLE. AS THE 14TH CENTURY PROGRESSED, THE COMBATANTS WORE FOOTSOLDIERS ARMOUR AND EXTRA PADDING.
MEDIADOR
THE SINGLE SURVIVING ROMANCE OF JEAN FROISSART.
MESNIE
LOOSELY DEFINED AS A MEDIEVAL HOUSEHOLD WITH A FEUDAL LORD. MORE NARROWLY, A GROUP OF KNIGHTS (TYPICALLY ERRANTS) WHO TRAVEL CLOSELY AND FIGHT IN TOURNEY AND WAR WITH A FEUDAL LORD, WHO IS USUALLY OF HIGH NOBLE BEARING. FEALTY DOES NOT SEEM TO BE THE ONLY ROOT OF THESE GROUPS, ALTHOUGH IT WOULD BE HARD TO IMAGINE THE MESNIE WITHOUT THOSE BONDS GIVEN THE TIME PERIOD AND THE SOCIETY THEY LIVED IN. MESNIE SEEM TO HAVE BEEN BORNE FROM A SENSE OF CAMARADERIE AND SINGULAR PURPOSE IN ADDITION TO A PURELY FEUDAL RELATIONSHIP.  CONTRIBUTED BY: GREG OLSEN, AKA SCA SIR GREGORY OF BEC, KINGDOM OF ARTEMESIA  SEE ESPECIALLY KEEN, MAURICE. WILLIAM MARSHAL: THE FLOWER OF CHIVALRY.
METACARPAL
THE DEFENSE FOR THE BACK OF THE HAND, USUALLY A PART OF A GAUNTLET.
METAL
COLORS IN HERALDRY INDICATING TINCTURE, GOLD AND SILVER. (OR AND ARGENT, RESPECTIVELY).
METALLOGRAPHY
MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF A METAL'S CRYSTALLINE STRUCTURE, USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH SPECTROSCOPY TO DETERMINE THE COMPOSITION OF A SPECIMEN'S IRON COMPONENT AND THE METHODS BY WHICH IT WAS REFINED (SMELTED) INTO A WORKABLE METAL. THE METAL'S CRYSTALLINE STRUCTURE ARE EXAMINED, USING THE FERRITE, PEARLITE, AND MARTENSITE CRYSTAL STRUCTURES AND SLAG CONTENT. IT CAN ALSO DETERMINE THE ARMOUNT OF CARBON PRESENT IN THE METAL AND THE METHOD USED TO ACHIEVE HEAT TREATING.
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART,  NEW YORK
EASILY THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF ARMS AND ARMOUR IN THE UNITED STATES, THE MUSEUM HAS A SUBSTANTIAL COLLECTION, OF WHICH ONLY A SMALL PART IS AVAILABLE IN THE NEW ARMOUR GALLERY THAT OPENED IN 1995. 1000 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10028 WEBSITE.
MILANESE
THE DESCRIPTIVE TERM FOR ITALIAN ARMOUR OF THE 15TH CENTURY CHARACTERIZED BY AN ORGANIC, ROUNDED LINE. MILANESE ARMOURS ARE GENERALLY MADE FROM LARGER PLATES THAN THEIR GERMAN GOTHIC COUNTERPARTS, HAVE LITTLE FLUTING, AND ARE MORE CURVACEOUS. MILAN AND VENICE WERE THE MAJOR ARMOUR PRODUCTION CENTERS IN ITALY, HOME TO THE FAMOUS MISSIGLIAN FAMILY. THE BARBUTE AND ARMET WERE TWO INNOVATIONS OF THIS STYLE; THE BARBUTE DIED OUT BUT THE ARMET EVOLVED INTO THE CLOSE HELMET DURING THE EARLY YEARS OF THE 16TH CENTURY.
MILITARY BELT
REFERENCES TO THE MILITARY BELT GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE GERMANIC TRIBES DESCRIBED BY TACITUS IN THE 5TH CENTURY. THE MILITARY BEST SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN THE PREDOMINANT SYMBOL OF THE MILITARY MAN FOR THE WHOLE MEDIEVAL PERIOD. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY IT TOOK THE FORM OF A METAL BELT, SOMETIMES WHITE, WITH METAL PLATES OR PLAQUES. THE BELT WAS GIVEN TO A KNIGHT AT THE ADOUBEMENT CEREMONY, USUALLY BY A RESPECTED KNIGHT OR ONE WHO HAS CLOSE TIES TO THE CANDIDATE, OR OCCASIONALLY, ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE OF MASS BATTLEFIELD KNIGHTINGS, BY A KING OR PRINCE.
MILITES
(SINGULAR MILES) THE LATIN TERM FOR "MEN AT ARMS," OR "SOLDIER" USED TO COVER WHAT LATER BECAME KNOWN AS "KNIGHTS" IN ENGLISH, "CHEVALIERS" IN FRENCH, "CABALLERO" IN SPANISH, AND "RITTER" IN GERMAN. IT SEEMS TO HAVE COME INTO USE DURING THE 10TH CENTURY, BEFORE THERE WAS ANY ATTACHMENT OF THE "KNIGHTLY VIRTUES" OR THE TERM "CHIVALRY," WHICH CAME INTO USE IN FRANCE DURING THE 12TH CENTURY. BY THE END OF THE 12TH CENTURY THESE WARRIORS HAD EVOLVED INTO THEIR OWN SOCIAL CLASS, A CASTE IN SOCIETY, GRADUALLY BECOMING ATTACHED TO THE LOWER NOBILITY.
MINSTREL
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MISSIGLIA,  ARMOURER FAMILY
ACTIVE IN MILAN FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE 14TH CENTURY UNTIL THE END OF THE 16TH, THE MISSIGLIAN FAMILY MARK WAS KNOWN FOR QUALITY AND EXPENSE. THE FAMILY CHANGED THEIR NAME DURING THE 16TH CENTURY AND BECAME THE NEGROLI, BUT I AM NOT SURE HOW OR WHY THIS CAME ABOUT.
MITTEN GAUNTLET
A DEFENSE FOR THE HAND THAT SEEMS TO HAVE ORIGINATED IN ITALY DURING THE EARLY 15TH CENTURY. EARLY MITTENS WERE FORMED FROM THREE MAIN PLATES, ONE FORMING THE METACARPAL AND THE CUFF (THIS WAS SOMETIMES SPLIT INTO TWO PLATES JOINED AT THE WRIST), AND TWO PLATES ARTICULATED CAREFULLY TOGETHER TO PROVIDE A DEFENSE FOR THE FINGERS. SCALE PIECES WERE ADDED TO THE THUMB AS WELL. DURING THE 16TH CENTURY THE MITTEN IDEA WAS USED ALONGSIDE OF FINGER GAUNTLETS IN A MORE INTERNATIONAL STYLE SPUN FROM A MIXTURE OF MILANESE AND GOTHIC ELEMENTS.
MOAT, MOTE
THE DITCH SURROUNDING A CASTLE OR FORTIFICATION, GENERALLY FILLED WITH WATER, TO DETER BESIEGING FORCES FROM ACCESS TO THE WALLS.
MONEY
{TALK ABOUT THE MONEY ECONOMY} PORTUGAL-- - PORTUGAL--  - BARBUDA--A COIN WITH THE DENOMINATION OF THREE DINHEIROS STRUCK BY FERNANDO I OF PORTUGAL BETWEEN 1367 - 1383.  - BOHEMIA--  - BEMISH--A COIN MINTED IN PRAGUE AND WORTH APPROXIMATELY & FRAC12 OF ONE ENGLISH PENNY.  - FRANCE--  - BLANC--A SMALL SILVER COIN USED DURING THE 14TH CENTURY  - CADIERE--BILLION COIN STRUCK BY CHARLES VI OF FRANCE  - FLANDERS AND BRABANT--  - BOTDRAGERS--SILVER COINS, THE NAME COMING FROM THE HELMETED LION ON ONE SIDE, ALSO CALLED THE POTCARRIER.  - BRYMAN--BILLON COINAGE EQUIVILENT TO A DOUBLE GROS.
MORTE DARTHUR
THE MISNAMED PRINTED VERSION OF SIR THOMAS MALORYS THE WHOLE BOOK OF KING ARTHUR AND OF HIS NOBLE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE, COMPLETED BETWEEN 1469-70. CAXTON ISSUED HIS PRINTED VERSION IN 1485, PART OF HIS EFFORT TO RE-ESTABLISH ROMANTIC LITERATURE AS A METHOD TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE KNIGHTS IN ENGLAND, WHO HE DISPAIRED HAD BECOME DEGENERATE AND ILL-EQUIPPED FOR WAR. THE MORTE DARTHUR IS A MASSIVE WORK, ORIGINALLY DIVIDED INTO 21 BOOKS OF 507 CHAPTERS, IT COVERS THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF ARTHUR AND EACH OF HIS KNIGHTS, STORIES COMPILED FROM THE RICH CORPUS OF ARTHURIAN LITERATURE IN FRENCH AND ENGLISH.
MOSLEM,  MUSLIM
THE PROPER NAME FOR A FOLLOWER OF THE ISLAMIC FAITH (FOUNDED C. 600 A.D.), KNOWN TO MOST MEDIEVAL PEOPLE AS SARACENS.
MOTTO
THE WAR-CRY OF THE ANCIENT BARBARIANS THAT EVOLVED INTO THE INSPIRATIONAL SAYINGS OFTEN INSCRIBED AROUND THE DEVICE, ONTO BANNERS, OR INTO FAMILY CRESTS. MOTTOES WERE ADOPTED PURELY AT THE PLEASURE OF THE INDIVIDUAL, THERE WAS NO PREREQUISITE AND NO REGISTERING AUTHORITY. MOTTOES WERE TRADITIONALLY NOT HEREDITARY; EACH INDIVIDUAL CRAFTED THEIR OWN.
MUNITIONS ARMOUR
ARMOUR MASS-PRODUCED FOR THE COMMON FOOT-SOLDIER, INCREASINGLY AVAILABLE DURING THE 15TH, 16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES. FREQUENTLY THIS ARMOUR WAS SOLD 'ROUGH FROM THE HAMMER' WITHOUT POLISHING, STILL FEATURING THE HAMMERMARKS OF THE FINAL PLANISHING, ACCOMPLISHED TO SMOOTH OUT THE SURFACE OF THE METAL AND TO PROVIDE FOR HAMMER -HARDENING.
MURDER-HOLE
A HOLE CUT IN THE ROOF OF PASSAGES NEEDING DEFENSE, SUCH AS IN GATEHOUSES OR ALONG THE TOP OF CURTAIN WALLS. THROUGH MURDER HOLES COULD BE POURED HOT WATER, OIL, STONES OR ARCHERS COULD FIRE THROUGH THEM WRECKING HAVOC ON THE ASSAULTING TROOPS.
MUSE DE L'ARM, PARIS
THE NATIONAL ARMOUR COLLECTION OF FRANCE, THE MUSEUM IS ESPECIALLY STRONG IN 16TH CENTURY PIECES, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE A FEW VERY FINE INDIVIDUAL PIECES FROM THE 14TH CENTURY, SUCH AS A GUILT KETTLE-HAT MEANT FOR ROYAL USE; A FULL LEG HARNESS FOR A BOY, AND A VERY FINE FRAGMENT OF A SABATON. MUSE DE L'ARME, HTEL NATIONAL DES INVALIDES, 51, BD. LA TOUR MAUBOURG, 75007 PARIS, TEL: 44 42 37 67.
MLE
A GROUP COMBAT OR FREE FOR ALL WHERE TEAMS OR GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS MET IN THE FIELD. ANY GROUP COMBAT. WHEN APPLIED TO TOURNAMENTS, IT TAKES ON THE CONNOTATION OF A GROUP ENCOUNTER WHERE GENERALLY TWO GROUPS COMPETED AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.
NAIL MONEY
MONEY PAID TO A HERALD FOR SERVICES AT THE TOURNAMENT, DERIVED FROM THE HERALDIC DUTY OF NAILING THE KNIGHTS SHIELD TO THE TREE OF CHALLENGES.
NECK, DEFENSE OF
DURING THE 13TH CENTURY, THE NECK WAS DEFENDED BY A COIF WORN UNDER THE HELMET. WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BASCINET DURING THE 14TH CENTURY, MOST KNIGHTS WORE AVENTAILS SUSPENDED FROM THE HELMET. GREAT BASCINETS REPLACED THIS AVENTAIL WITH A PLATE COLLAR, ALSO ATTACHED TO THE BASCINET ITSELF, THEN FASTENED TO THE CUIRASS. 15TH CENTURY HELMETS USED BOTH AVENTAILS (ON ARMETS) AND BEVORS TO DEFEND THE THROAT. 16TH CENTURY HELMETS USUALLY USED A COMBINATION OF CHIN DEFENSES AND A GORGET THAT DEFENDED THE LOWER PORTION OF THE THROAT.  
NINE WORTHIES
THE NINE FIGURES OF HISTORY, KNOWN FOR THEIR PARTICULAR QUALITIES OF PROWESS AND CHIVALRY. THE FIRST ITERATION OF THE WORTHIES OCCURS IN THE 14TH CENTURY, WHEN THE LIST COMPRISED THE FOLLOWING:   HECTOR, CEASAR, ALEXANDER  ARTHUR, CHARLEMAGNE, GODFREY DE BOUILLON  JOSHUA, DAVID, JUDAS MACCABEUS   LATER, FRENCH AUTHORS ADDED A 10TH WORTHY, BERTRAND DU GUESCLIN, BUT THIS ADDITION DID NOT TAKE HOLD OUTSIDE OF FRANCE. THE WORTHIES WERE A VERY POPULAR SHORTHAND FOR A SORT OF CHIVALRIC HALL OF FAME, AN INSPIRATION FOR POETRY, ROMANCE, STAINED GLASS WINDOWS, SCULPTURE, TAPESTRIES AND WOODCUTS.
NOBILITY
THIS MEANT LITERALLY DESCENT FROM A NOBLE OR ARISTOCRATIC FAMILY. DESPITE THIS, THERE WAS AN ONGOING DEBATE DURING THE MIDDLE AGES ON WHETHER MAN WAS ENNOBLED BY HIS ACTIONS OR BY HIS HERITAGE, SOMETHING SIMILAR TO OUR OWN NATURE VS NURTURE DEBATE. SEE ALSO OF FOUR QUARTERINGS.
NOBILITY (IDEAL)
{PHILOSOPHICAL PROBLEM OF}
NOBLE HOUSE (MAISON NOBLE)
SEE ORDER OF THE STAR.
NONES
THE NINTH HOUR OF THE DAY, USUALLY 3 PM. SEE ALSO CANONICAL HOURS.
NORMAN CONQUEST
{1066}
OATH
INVOCATION OF A SUPERNATURAL OR HOLY BEING CALLED TO VERIFY THE VERACITY OF A STATEMENT. SOMETIMES, OATHS WERE GIVEN OVER A RELIC OR A CHURCH ALTAR. AN OATH WAS A SPECIAL APPEAL, AN EXPRESSION OF SINCERITY BACKED UP BY THE THREAT OF DIVINE RETRIBUTION SHOULD THE UTTERING PROVE FALSE--HENCE THE TERM OATH-BREAKER. AN OATHBREAKER WAS ASSUMED TO HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME AGAINST GOD OR OF SOME DIVINE ENTITY, WHICH WOULD LEAD TO DAMNATION OR ANOTHER FORM OF SEVERE PENALTY. SUCH OATHS MIGHT TAKE THE FORM OF I SWEAR UPON THE ALL THAT IS RIGHT AND HOLY THAT... OR, PLACING ONES HAND UPON A HOLY RELIC, I, REGINALD, DO SWEAR BEFORE THESE GATHERED WITNESSES THAT I DID SEE...
OATH OF FEALTY
THE SPECIFIC OATH GIVEN TO A LIEGE LORD, SWEARING TO EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE FEUDAL CONTRACT BETWEEN THE LORD AND HIS VASSAL.
OCCULARIA
THE EYE SLOT OF A HELMET, AFTER THE LATIN.  
OF FOUR QUARTERINGS
NOBLE HERITAGE FROM ALL FOUR GRANDPARENTS. THE CONCEPT OF NOBILITY CAME IN MOST MEDIEVAL SENSES NOT FROM A NOBILITY OF CHARACTER, THOUGH THAT WAS CERTAINLY SOUGHT, BUT FROM A NOBILITY IN THE BLOOD. IT WAS STRONGLY BELIEVED THAT MUCH OF A PERSONS CHARACTER DERIVED FROM THEIR BLOOD, THEIR HERITAGE. DURING THE 13TH CENTURY, TOURNAMENTS BEGAN TO REQUIRE THAT KNIGHTS PROVE NOBLE DESCENT FROM ALL FOUR LINES TO BE CONSIDERED NOBLE ENOUGH TO PARTICIPATE.
OLIPHANT
ROLANDS IVORY HORN, WHICH HE BLEW AT THE BATTLE OF RONCESVALLES, 778, TO ANNOUNCE HIS BETRAYAL TO CHARLEMANGE, WHOSE REAR COLUMN HE COMMANDED AT THE TIME OF THE BATTLE.
OR
THE HERALDIC METAL COLOR FOR GOLD OR YELLOW.
ORDENE DE CHEVALRIE
THE ANONYMOUS 12TH CENTURY WORK IN WHICH A KNIGHT, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN HIS RANSOM, KNIGHTS SALADIN, IN THE PROCESS EXPLAINING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EACH ELEMENT OF THE KNIGHTING CEREMONY. AN IMPORTANT POEM TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY WILLIAM MORRIS. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #5.
ORDER OF THE BANDA
SEE BANDA, ORDER OF THE.
ORDER OF THE GARTER
SEE GARTER, ORDER OF THE.
ORDER OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE
SEE GOLDEN FLEECE, ORDER OF THE.
ORDER OF THE LAUREL
AN SCA PEERAGE--SEE LAUREL, ORDER OF THE.
ORDER OF THE PELICAN
AN SCA PEERAGE-- SEE PELICAN, ORDER OF THE.
ORDER OF THE STAR
SEE STAR, ORDER OF THE.
ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD
MILITARY ORDERS OF KNIGHTS BASED ON THE MONASTIC MODEL, CONTRASTED WITH THE SECULAR GROUPS OF KNIGHTS WHOSE MEMBERSHIP STEMMED EITHER FROM A MONARCH OR FROM A COMPANY OF KNIGHTS BANDING TOGETHER FOR COMMON PURPOSE. - KNIGHTS TEMPLAR  - KNIGHTS OF THE ORDER OF SAINT JOHN THE HOSPITALLER. - TEUTONIC KNIGHTS
ORDINARY
BASIC HERALDIC CHARGES USED IN SIMPLE HERALDRY --THE BEND, CHEVRON, CHIEF, FESS, PALE, PILE AND SALTIRE.
ORIFLAMME
THE ROYAL MILITARY BANNER OF FRANCE, DERIVED FROM THE BANNER OF SAINT DENIS NEAR PARIS. THE BANNER WAS MADE OF CRIMSON SILK WITH A SALTIRE WAVY, THE BANNER WAS KEPT ABOVE THE ALTAR AT SAINT DENIS UNTIL THE KING CALLED IT FORWARD. CARRYING THE ORIFLAMME WAS A HIGH HONOR; THE BANNER WAS CARRIED AT THE BATTLE OF CRCY AND AGAIN AT POITIERS, WHERE IT WAS CARRIED BY GEOFFREY DE CHARNAY, THE PREDOMME FRENCH KNIGHT WHO WAS SLAIN DEFENDING IT DURING THAT BATTLE IN 1356. THE BANNER WAS TO REMAIN FURLED UNTIL DIRE CIRCUMSTANCE REQUIRED THE ARMY TO RETREAT AND REGROUP--CHARNAY DIED WITH THE BANNER UNFURLED AS THE ENGLISH CRUSHED THE ARMY.
ORISON
FROM THE MIDDLE ENGLISH--A PRAYER.
ORLANDO FURIOSO
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PADDING,  HELMET
PRIOR TO THE 14TH CENTURY AN ARMING CAP SEEMS TO HAVE PROVIDED THE PADDING NEEDED TO LINE A HELMET SHELL, BUT AFTER THIS THE PADDING SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE HELMET ITSELF. THE BASCINET ON THE CHURBURG #13 HARNESS SHOWS A RARE EXAMPLE OF AN INTACT HELMET LINING-THE PIECES ARE SEWN IN LINEN AND STUFFED WITH THE SAME, DRAWN TOGETHER AT THE TOP OF THE HELMET AND THE WHILE SAC AFFIXED TO THE INSIDE OF THE HELMET, PERHAPS WITH SOME KIND OF GLUE OR INTERIOR LACES. IN ADDITION TO LINEN, TOW, GRASS OR EVEN SEA SPONGE MIGHT HAVE BEEN USED.  MODERN HELMETS ARE OFTEN PADDED IN THE SAME MANNER, EXCEPT THAT INSTEAD OF LINEN OR TOW, CLOSED-CELL FOAM IS USED, SOMETIMES ALONE (ACK!) AND SOMETIMES SEWN INTO A LINING (MUCH BETTER).
PAGE
THE YOUNGEST TERM OF A KNIGHTS TRAINING, USUALLY HELD BY BOYS FROM EIGHT TO THIRTEEN. DURING THIS TIME THEY SERVED THE HOUSEHOLD NEEDS OF THEIR LORD, SERVING THE TABLE, HELPING IN THE KITCHEN, POSSIBLY LEARNING TO READ, HELPING THEIR LORD TO DRESS, AND OTHER DUTIES THAT TAUGHT THEM THE VALUE OF FOLLOWING THAT IS EXPECTED OF A LEADER. SEE CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #8.
PAGEANT
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PAINTING (ARMOUR)
FROM THE 13TH CENTURY ONWARD, PAINTING SEEMS TO BE A COMMON METHOD OF PROTECTING ARMOUR FROM THE ELEMENTS. VERY COMMON DURING THE 13TH, 14TH AND 15TH CENTURIES, LESS SO AFTER THAT, ALTHOUGH THE BLACK-AND-SILVER ARMOUR STYLE OF THE 16TH CENTURY USED PAINTED BLACK SURFACES CONTRASTED WITH POLISHED METAL SURFACES TO ACHIEVE STRIKING EFFECTS.
PAINTING (SHIELDS)
SHIELDS WERE ALMOST ALWAYS PAINTED TO BEAR THE DEVICE OR A SYMBOL FOR THE COMBATANT. USUALLY A HERALDIC CHARGE, DURING PAS D'ARMES AND ROUND TABLES IN PARTICULAR SHIELDS WERE SOMETIMES PAINTED WITH A THEME APPROPRIATE FOR THE OCCASION, SUCH AS AN ANGEL OR A SAINT. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #8.
PAIR OF PLATES
(SEE COTE OF PLATES)
PALADIN
ONE OF CHARLEMAGNES TWELVE PEERS, AND BY A SIMILAR DESCRIPTION KING ARTHURS KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE. THE WORD HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO BE APPLIED TO ANY MEDIEVAL CHAMPION OR KNIGHT OF DISTINCTIVE VIRTUE.
PALFREY
A RIDING HORSE, AS OPPOSED TO A WARHORSE. SEE ALSO DESTRIER AND COURSER.
PALISADE
A TIMBER FENCE OR WALL SURROUNDING A BAILEY OF A KEEP.
PANNAGE
PAYMENT TO A LORD FOR THE GRAZING RIGHTS ON THE LORDS MEADOW OR IN HIS WOODS.
PARAPET
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PARLIAMENT (ENGLISH)
REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY FIRST DEFINED IN THE MAGNA CARTA IN THE 13TH CENTURY. FIRST COMPRISED OF THE KINGS OFFICERS AND THE PEERS OF THE REALM, THE ASSEMBLY GRADUALLY GREW BEYOND THE BARONS TO INCLUDE KNIGHTS OF SHIRES WHO WERE SUMMONED BY THE SHERIFF. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY THE ENGLISH PARLIAMENT SPLIT INTO TWO HOUSES, THE HOUSE OF LORDS, COMPRISED OF THE BARONS AND PREATES, OVERSEEN BY THE KING, AND THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, MADE UP OF THE KNIGHTS FROM THE BOROUGHS AND SHIRES THAT ELECTED THEIR OWN SPEAKER TO TAKE THEIR POINT OF VIEW BEFORE THE KING.
PARSIFAL
{WOLFRAM VON ESHENBACH}
PAS DARMES
A FORM OF TOURNAMENT  PLAISANCE WHERE COMBATANTS MET TO EXCHANGE PLEASANTRIES AND TEST THEIR PROWESS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. ESSENTIALLY A GROUP OF CHALLENGES, THE PAS GENERALLY PRODUCED NO SINGLE WINNER, BUT THE DEFENDERS OFTEN DISTRIBUTED PRIZES TO THE CHALLENGERS. CONTRAST THIS WITH AN EMPRISE WHERE THE INTENT WAS TO CAUSE HARM AND EMPHASIZE PROWESS ALONE. SEE ALSO THE BOOK OF THE TOURNAMENT OR CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #4, #16, AND THE ESSAY WHAT IS THE PAS D'ARMES.
PAS NOIRE
A MODERN SCA TOURNAMENT FORMAT, WHERE COMBATANTS FIGHT AT NIGHT, SURROUNDED BY A FIELD LIT ONLY BY TORCHES. GENERALLY THE GALLERY FOR THESE EVENTS IS ACTIVE AND BOISTEROUS; DRUMMING GENERALLY ACCOMPANIES THE RAUCOUS FIGHTING. THE PAS NOIRE, MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS A TORCHLIGHT TOURNEY, SHARES COME COMMON ELEMENTS WITH THE PAS DARMES, BUT HAS A DECIDEDLY DARKER TONE.
PASTON LETTERS
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PAULDRON
THE LARGER DEFENSE OF THE SHOULDER WHERE ONE OR MORE LARGE PLATES EXTENDED THE DEFENSE OF THE SHOULDER TO INCLUDE THE UNDERARM AND PART OF THE CHEST AND BACK. FIRST USED IN AN INVENTORY C. 1397, THERE ARE NO OTHER REFERENCES PRIOR TO 1450, THOUGH MODERN STUDENTS APPLY THE TERM TO ANY SHOULDER DEFENSE WHERE THE COVERAGE EXTENDS BEYOND THE ARM-HOLE OF THE CUIRASS. ALMOST ALWAYS MADE IN IRON, AND VERY RARELY ADORNED EXCEPT FOR THE FLUTING IN SOME LATER GERMAN EXAMPLES. DEVELOPED AT THE VERY END OF THE 14TH CENTURY, THE STYLE BECAME FULLY "INTERNATIONAL" DURING THE 15TH CENTURY, FOLLOWING ITALIAN OR MILANESE AND GOTHIC STYLES AND METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION. DURING THE PERIOD, IT SEEMS THAT SPAULDER, PAULDRON AND REREBRACE
PAVAISE
A LARGE RECTANGULAR OR OVAL SHIELD, USUALLY AS TALL AS A MAN, CARRIED BY INFANTRY AND ARCHERS TO DEFEND THEMSELVES FROM OPPOSING MISSILE WEAPONS. FREQUENTLY USED IN SIEGES. THE LARGEST PAVAISES HAD PROPS IN THE BACK TO KEEP THEM UPRIGHT. THE FINEST EXAMPLES I HAVE SEEN ARE IN THE TOWER OF LONDON. USED MAINLY IN THE 15TH CENTURY.
PAVILION
A MEDIEVAL TENT, USUALLY ROUND, CHARACTERIZED BY NUMEROUS SUPPORTING ROPES AND OFTEN BRIGHT DECORATION FORMED FROM ALTERNATING COLORS OR BY PAINTED DECOR.
PAX
LATIN FOR PEACE.
PAX DEI
LATIN FOR THE PEACE OF GOD.
PAYNIM
PAGAN; SEE SARACEN.
PEACE OF GOD
ONE MAJOR SET OF ATTEMPTS BY THE CHURCH TO ENFORCE PEACE. INITIALLY DECLARED TO PROTECT CHURCH PROPERTY, IT WAS EXTENDED TO NON-COMBATANTS AND WAS A MAJOR PART OF THE CHURCHS EARLY EFFORTS TO REIGN IN THE BOISTEROUS GAMES OF THE KNIGHTS, THE EARLY TOURNAMENTS.
PEACOCK, FEAST OF THE
SEE FEAST OF THE PEACOCK.
PEACOCK, GRAND COMPANY OF THE
SEE GRAND COMPANY OF THE PEACOCKS.
PEARLITE
A MIXTURE OF FERRITE AND CEMENTITE FORMING DISTINCT LAYERS OR BANDS IN SLOWLY COOLED CARBON STEELS.
PEER
GENERALLY A CLASS-DESCRIPTIVE TERM APPLIED TO THOSE OF BARONIAL HOUSE OF LORDS. OVER TIME, THE WORD HAS COME TO DESCRIBE THE MEMBERS OF THE GREATER NOBILITY  WHO RULED OVER THE GENERAL KNIGHTLY CLASSES.
PEERAGE
THE GROUP OF NOBLES, BARONS AND ABOVE, CONSIDERED TO BE PEERS. IN AN SCA CONTEXT, THE PEERS ARE COMPRISED OF THE THREE EQUAL BRANCHES, THE LAUREL, PELICAN AND KNIGHT. THE THREE ORDERS ARE IN TAKEN TO BE EQUAL, THOUGH NOT THE SAME--COMPANIONS OF THE ORDER OF THE LAUREL ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS, THE PELICAN FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THE KINGDOM, AND THE KNIGHTS FOR THEIR PROWESS ON THE FIELD. ALL SCA PEERS ARE EXPECTED TO POSSESS THE QUALITIES THAT THE PEERS SHARE; ESPECIALLY COURTESY AND THE WILLINGNESS TO TEACH WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED TO OTHERS.
PELICAN, ORDER OF THE
THE SCA PEERAGE, RANKING BESIDE THE ORDER OF THE LAUREL AND THE KNIGHTS, OFFERED BY THE CROWN FOR RECOGNITION OF GRACIOUS AND EXTENSIVE SERVICE TO THE SCA.
PELL
A POST USED FOR PRACTISING SWORDWORK. A POEM FROM THE 15TH CENTURY PROVES USE AT LEAST FROM THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES; TARGETS MAY WELL HAVE BEEN PAINTED OR AFFIXED TO THE PELL TO IMPROVE TIMING AND ACCURACY. SEE CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #6.
PENNANT
THE KNIGHTS SMALL TRIANGULAR BANNER, USUALLY ATTACHED TO THE END OF HIS LANCE, GENERALLY BEARING HIS HERALDIC DEVICE. CONTRAST THIS WITH THE BANNER OF A KNIGHT BANNERETTE RESPONSIBLE FOR LEADING MORE THAN HIS HOUSEHOLD OR CONROI INTO BATTLE. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #11.
PENNY
SILVER COIN FIRST INTRODUCED INTO ENGLAND DURING THE 8TH CENTURY, GRADUALLY REDUCED IN SIZE AS LARGER COINS WERE REQUIRED.
PERCEVAL
{CHRTIEN DE TROYES}
PIEN
TO SECURE A RIVET INTO PLACE BY HAMMERING. A MUSHROOM OF THE RIVET MATERIAL IS FORMED AND THE MATERIALS TO BE JOINED TRAPPED IN BETWEEN THE RIVET HEAD AND THE MUSHROOM. A ROUND FACE IS USED TO MAKE THE SHAPE, AND SOMETIMES IF A SOFT MATERIAL IS TO BE SECURED TO A HARD ONE (SUCH AS A LEATHER STRAP TO A PIECE OF ARMOUR) THEN A ROUGH WASHER MIGHT BE CUT AND PLACED UNDER THE MUSHROOM SIDE OF THE RIVET.
PIETY
JUST AS FAITH WAS AN IMPORTANT MEDIEVAL VIRTUE OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE TO KNIGHTS, PIETY KEPT THAT FAITH STRONGLY HELD.
PIGNOSE
THE MODERN NAME TO DESCRIBE A POINTED BASCINET VISOR, POPULAR DURING THE SECOND AND THIRD QUARTER OF THE 14TH CENTURY. THE PROPER NAME IS THE HUNSKULL.
PIKE
THE LONG SPEAR, WITH A SMALL STEEL HEAD. UP TO 20 FEET IN LENGTH, THEY WERE POPULAR WITH THE SCOTS, SWISS AND FLEMINGS DURING THE 14TH, 15TH, AND 16TH CENTURIES. THE USE OF COMPACTED PIKEMEN WAS A POWERFUL COUNTER TO CAVALRY, BUT WAS USUALLY CHECKED WITH ARROWS OR MISSILE FIRE.
PIKEMEN
SEE SPEARMEN.
PLANISHING
THE FINAL HAMMER WORK DONE ON A PIECE. ANYWHERE FROM 1000-10000 HAMMER STROKES ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A SMOOTH, EVEN LAYER OF FACETED HAMMER MARKS READY FOR SANDING AND POLISHING. ADDITIONALLY, IF THE PIECE IS NOT TO BE HEAT-TREATED, THEN A COMPLETE PLANISHING LENDS A GOOD HAMMER-HARDENING TO THE PIECE, HELPING IT TO RESIST DEFORMING UNDER THE STRESS OF COMBAT. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #6.
PLAQUE BELT
A MILITARY BELT FORMED FROM INTERLOCKING METAL PLATES OR FEATURING METAL PLATES RIVETED TO A LEATHER BASE. COMMON IN THE FUNERARY BRASSES, VERY FEW REAL EXAMPLES REMAIN. THEY WERE GENERALLY FORMED FROM CAST BRONZE, BRASS OR LATTEN, USUALLY THICK ENOUGH TO GIVE SOME VALUE TO THE CASTING. MODERN ARMOURERS HAVE BEGUN TO MAKE PLAQUE BELTS FOR CONSUMPTION BY THE TOURNAMENT SOCIETIES.
PLATE
A GENERAL TERM FOR IRON DEFENSES FASHIONED FROM SHEET IRON OR STEEL. "PLATE" DEFENSES WERE DURING THE MIDDLE AGES FIRST INTRODUCED DURING THE LATE 13TH CENTURY, FIRST AS REINFORCING FOR MAIL DEFENSES AND LATER AS DEFENSES ON THEIR OWN. DURING THE 15TH CENTURY FULL 'PLATE' ARMOUR HAD EVOLVED FROM 'CAP A PIED', FROM HEAD TO TOE, WEIGHING APPROXIMATELY 50 LBS--ENOUGH TO PROTECT THE KNIGHT BUT LIGHT ENOUGH TO ALLOW QUICK MOVEMENT ON THE BATTLEFIELD. NOTE THAT THE PACK CARRIED BY A MODERN INFANTRYMAN WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AS A SUIT OF MEDIEVAL ARMOUR.
POITIERS, BATTLE OF
THE LANDMARK BATTLE OF THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR BETWEEN JOHN II, KING OF FRANCE, AND EDWARD THE BLACK PRINCE, IN 1356, DURING WHICH THE FRENCH TRIED TO SMASH THE ENGLISH LINES WITH A CAVALRY CHARGE, BUT WERE REPELLED BY A MASSIVE MISSILE ATTACK THAT DESTROYED THE CAVALRY. SUCCESSIVE FRENCH UNITS TRAMPLED THOSE IN FRONT, THOSE IN THE BACK PRESSING FORWARD AT THE SOUND OF THE ENGAGEMENT. THE FRENCH WERE UNABLE TO RALLY, FRAGMENTING TO THE POINT WHERE THE ORIFLAMME, CARRIED BY GEOFFREY DE CHARNAY, WAS UNFURLED. THE SIEUR DE CHARNAY WAS SLAIN DEFENDING THE BANNER AND THE FRENCH KING TAKEN PRISONER. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #3.
POLEARM
THE GENERAL TERM FOR A GROUP OF POLE-MOUNTED WEAPONS USUALLY FEATURING A CUTTING OR SLASHING WEAPON ON ONE END. THE HALBERD, GUISARM, BILL, BEC-DE-CORBIN, AND POLEAXE ARE ALL SPECIFIC KINDS OF POLEARMS, RISING IN POPULARITY DURING THE 15TH CENTURY AND INTO THE 16TH AMONGST THE INFANTRY.
POLEAXE, POLLAXE,  POLAXE
"A KNIGHTLY STAFF WEAPON, ITS HEAD BEING AN AXEHEAD, USUALLY BALANCED BY A HAMMERHEAD, AND SURMOUNTED BY A STEEL SPIKE. THE SHAFT WAS PROTECTED BY STEEL CHECKS AND THE HAND BY A STEEL RONDEL. USED FROM THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY FOR FOOT COMBATS AND FOR WAR. THE COMPONENT 'POLE' IN THE NAME REFERS NOT TO THE STAFF, BUT TO THE OLD ENGLISH WORD 'HEAD.'"-DAVID EDGE AND JOHN MILES PADDOCK, ARMS AND ARMOUR OF THE MEDIEVAL KNIGHT.
POLEYN
THE PERIOD NAME FOR WHAT IS KNOWN IN MODERN SCA VERBIAGE AS THE "KNEE COP," THE DEFENSE OF THE KNEE. DURING THE EARLY 14TH CENTURY, RONDELS WERE LACED TO THE MAIL TO IMPROVE THE DEFENSE OF THE LEG AND ADD TO THE DEFENSE OFFERED BY A MAIL CHAUSSE. BY 1320 THESE RONDELS HAD BEEN REPLACED BY A FULLY-ENCOMPASSING "GUTTER" AROUND THE KNEE ITSELF, LACED INTO PLACE OR ATTACHED TO A LEATHER OR GAMBOISED OR SPLINTED CUISSE AT THE TOP AND THE SAME CONSTRUCTION OF GREAVE TO THE BOTTOM. BY 1350 THE POLEYN WAS ARTICULATED WITH LAMES; A HEART-SHAPED WING WAS THEN EXTENDED FROM THE POLEYN ITSELF TO PROVIDE MORE PROTECTION FOR THE BACK OF THE KNEE. AFTER THIS POINT THE POLEYN DECREASED STEADILY IN SIZE, PROVIDING FOR A BETTER PLATFORM FOR THE ARTICULATION OF THE JOINT. THIS WING EXPANDED AND, WITH MINOR VARIATIONS, REMAINED REASONABLY CONSTANT IN SHAPE (THOUGH LARGER) THROUGHOUT THE 15TH CENTURY. 14TH CENTURY POLEYNS WERE GENERALLY ARTICULATED WITH NO MORE THAN THREE LAMES, ONE ON TOP AND ONE OR TWO BETWEEN THE DEMI-GREAVE AND POLEYN ITSELF. SEE ALSO LEG HARNESS.
POLISH,  FINISH APPROPRIATE FOR THE 14TH CENTURY
WE HAVE ONLY A FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW ARMOUR WAS FINISHED DURING THIS PERIOD. GENERALLY, IT APPEARS AS A SATIN BRUSHED FINISH, SOMETHING YOU MIGHT ACHIEVE WITH THOUSAND-GRIT SANDPAPER. OTHER SOURCES SPEAK OF HIGHLY POLISHED ARMOUR, "THAT GLINTS IN THE SUN." STILL OTHER ARMOUR WAS PAINTED. THE REASON FOR THIS POLISH IS THAT IT RESISTS RUST, AND THAT IT IMPARTS A GLORY TO THE PIECES RARELY SEEN IN THE MODERN WORLD. IT EVOKES THE IMAGE OF THE "KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR," CONNECTING THE COMBATANT WITH THE ROMANTIC HISTORY THAT FEEDS TOURNAMENT REENACTMENTS.  TO ACHIEVE THIS FINISH NOW, A BELT SANDER WITH A 2" X 72" BELT IS THE BEST THING I HAVE SEEN, FOLLOWED WITH A POLISHING WHEEL OF 80 GRIT TO A HIGH STAINLESS POLISH.
POLISH, MAINTAINING (MODERN)
WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE ABSOLUTELY BEST THING IS A MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, SOLD TO MUSEUMS AND TO FURNITURE RESTORERS AS RENAISSANCE WAX. HAPPICH SIMICHROME IS USEFUL FOR REMOVING LIGHT RUST AND CLEANING THE METAL PRIOR TO THE WAXING (MOTORCYCLE SHOPS OFTEN HAVE IT). KEEP ALL PIECES SEPARATED IN THEIR OWN BAGS (PILLOWCASES WORK WELL), SINCE SCRATCHING WEARS PIECES MORE DEFINITELY THAN DOES MOISTURE. LASTLY, POLISH FROM TIME TO TIME BRINGING THE POLISH BACK UP TO A HIGH GLOSS USING A BUFFING WHEEL AND GREASELESS COMPOUND.  
POLISH, MAINTAINING (PERIOD)
MOST PERIOD ARMOUR WAS MAINTAINED BY SQUIRES OR GROOMS WHO WOULD GO OVER THE SURFACES WITH A BRUSH. MORE EXTENSIVE WORK WAS PROBABLY DONE AT A GUILDHALL, WHERE WATERWHEELS COULD BE USED AND COATED WITH FINE SAND TO ACT AS SANDPAPER. SIMILAR WHEELS COVERED IN LEATHER AND PAINTED WITH VARIOUS COMPOUNDS COULD EASILY POLISH ARMOUR IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE CAN DO NOW, BUT AT A MUCH SLOWER PACE.MAIL WAS OFTEN PLACED INTO DRUMS AND DRAGGED OR TURNED, TUMBLING IT WITH SAND AND VINEGAR TO REMOVE THE RUST. I CAN FIND NO AUTHENTIC REFERENCES TO THE USE OF WAX OR OIL IN THE CARE OF PIECES. 
POMMEL
THE END OF A SWORD'S HILT, A COUNTERWEIGHT, FREQUENTLY IN THE SHAPE OF AN ALMOND, 'WHEEL' OR FACETED ELEMENT. NORMALLY POMMELS WERE MADE FROM IRON, LEFT PLAIN OR ADORNED WITH WASHED GOLD, SILVER, ENAMELS, OR PRECIOUS STONES. SOMETIMES THEY WERE MADE FROM LATTEN, AND IN A FEW INSTANCES THEY WERE EVEN MADE FROM SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES. THE POMMEL IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN THE BALANCE OF A *SWORD, PROVIDING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF COUNTERWEIGHT TO ALLOW THE BLADE TO MOVE EASILY IN THE WIELDER'S HAND.
POOK
A MODERN TECHNICAL ARMOURING TERM AND INSIDE JOKE. SERIOUSLY, IT IS A DESCRIPTIVE TERM THAT TRIES TO EVOKE A PICTURE OF PULLING METAL OUT IN A PARTICULAR WAY OR PRESSING IT INWARDS. I HAVE FOUND THIS TERM USED BY MANY ARMOURERS AROUND THE USA, ARMOURERS WHO HAVE LITTLE CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER BUT WHO HAVE FOUND THIS TERM FLEXIBLE AND USEFUL.
PORTCULLIS
A HEAVY WOODEN OR METAL GATE THAT CLOSED AN ENTRANCE TO A CASTLE. PORTCULLISES WERE GENERALLY CONTROLLED FROM AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE GATEHOUSE, RAISING AND LOWERING IT AS REQUIRED.
POURPOINT
LITERALLY "FOR POINTS," AN ARMING GARMENT WORN UNDER OR AS AN AKETON IN ORDER TO LACE ON THE OTHER ARMOUR BITS. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #2.
PREUX
PROWESS COURAGE AND SUCCESS. TO BE CONSIDERED PREUDOMME, A MAN OF PROWESS, WAS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE HIGHEST COMPLIMENTS POSSIBLE FOR A MEDIEVAL KNIGHT. SOIX PREUX! WAS FREQUENTLY THE ADMONITION GIVEN TO NEW KNIGHTS AS THEY WERE TO GO OUT AND EARN RENOWN IN THE WAKE OF THEIR NEW KNIGHTHOOD.
PRIDE
OFTEN A DISPUTED VIRTUE, PRIDE IS ANOTHER MOTIVATOR FOR MEN IN GENERAL, VALUED BY KNIGHTS IN SOME MEASURE, BUT FREQUENTLY PREACHED AGAINST BY THE CHURCH. I BELIEVE THAT A DISTINCTION CAN BE PLAINLY SEEN BETWEEN PRIDE, THE QUALITY OF VALUING QUALITY PERFORMANCE, AND VAINGLORY, THE ELEVATION OF PRIDE TO A MORE IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE EGO.
PRINCE
A RULER, FROM THE LATIN PRINCEPS, MEANING FIRST IN RANK. IN GENERAL, ANY RULER CAME TO BE KNOWN AS THE PRINCE, THE RULER, AS IN MACHIEVELLIS PRINCE. ALSO A MALE HEIR IN A ROYAL HOUSEHOLD, THE CROWN PRINCE WAS THE FIRST IN LINE TO THE THRONE.  IN AN SCA CONTEXT, A PRINCE RULES A PRINCIPALITY, A KINGDOM SUBDIVISION. A CROWN PRINCE IS THE WINNER OF CROWN TOURNAMENT, THE HEIR TO THE THRONE, WHO WILL ACCEPT THE CROWN AT THE END OF THE REIGN. A PRINCE RANKS ABOVE ALL TITLED NOBILITY, THE DUKES, EARLS, COUNTS, BARONS AND THE LIKE, CARRYING THE TITLE YOUR HIGHNESS.
PRINCIPALITY
IN AN SCA CONTEXT, A SUBDIVISION OF A KINGDOM EITHER FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE CONVENIENCE OR INSTITUTED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW KINGDOM IN MIND.
PRIVY
A LATRINE OR BATHROOM. IN A CASTLE CALLED A GARDEROBE.
PRIZE TOURNAMENT
AN SCA TOURNAMENT WHERE THE WINNER IS CHOSEN BY A TALLY OF POINTS OR FROM THE OUTCOME OF A SUCCESSIVE ROUND ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT, KNOWN SOMETIMES AS SINGLE-  OR DOUBLE-ELIMINATION TOURNAMENTS. THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS PRIZE TOURNAMENTS ARE THE CROWN TOURNAMENTS, WHERE COMBATANTS MEET, GENERALLY IN DOUBLE-ELIMINATION LISTS, TO DETERMINE WHO WILL REIGN OVER THE KINGDOM AS KING FOR THE NEXT PERIOD OF TIME. THERE IS SOME DISPUTE AS TO WHETHER THIS STYLE OF TOURNAMENT IS THE BEST MECHANISM FOR SELECTION OF A MONARCH, PRIMARILY OWING TO THE TEMPTATION OF COMBATANTS TO CHEAT THE GRAY AREA OF BLOW CALIBRATION AND THUS ADVANCE TOWARDS THE THRONE OR PRIZE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE OTHER COMBATANTS.
PRIZES IN TOURNAMENT
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PROWESS
PHYSICAL ABILITY FOR KNIGHTLY SPORTS INCLUDING STRENGTH, SPEED, DEXTERITY, TRAINING, TACTICAL ABILITY, CUNNING. IN SHORT, MARTIAL EXCELLENCE. PROWESS IS THE BASIC VIRTUE SHARED BY ALL MARTIAL SOCIETIES, WHETHER IT BE EXCELLENCE IN SWORDSMANSHIP, HORSEMANSHIP, OR IN THE MODERN DAY, MOVEMENT AND MARKSMANSHIP. EARLY ON THESE WARRIOR VIRTUES WERE AUGMENTED BY ADDITIONAL VIRTUES SUGGESTED BY THE ROMANCES AND THE CHURCH, YIELDING A MORE ROUNDED GENTLEMAN. AS LATE AS THE RENAISSANCE, CHRISTINE DE PISAN AND BALDASSARE CASTIGLIONE STILL COUNTED PROWESS AS AN IMPORTANT QUALITY FOR THE COURTIER.
PURSUIVANT
A HERALD. (MORE TO BE ADDED)
QUESTING BEAST
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QUINTAIN
A TARGET ATTACHED TO A POLE, OFTEN ROTATING, USED TO TEACH ACCURACY IN JOUSTING. A POOR HIT OFTEN SPUN THE POLE TO BUFFET THE ATTACKER.
RAISING (RAISED)
THE ART OF COMPRESSING THE METAL TO FORM THE DESIRED SHAPE. RAISED WORK IS DONE FROM THE OUTSIDE, OVER STAKES, RATHER THAN FROM THE INSIDE. RAISED PIECES ARE VERY EASY TO KEEP SYMMETRICAL, HAVE A STRENGTH NOT COMMON TO DOMED, DISHED AND WELDED PIECES, AND ARE FAR MORE DIFFICULT TO CREATE. SEE BOOKS ON SILVERSMITHING FOR THE BEST INSTRUCTION (BUT YOU'LL NEED TO ANNEAL THE METAL DIFFERENTLY AND USE MUCH HEAVIER HAMMERS).  
RAMPARTS
A BROAD EARTHWORK AROUND A FORTIFICATION UPON WHICH WALLS OR PARAPETS WERE BUILT.
RANSOM
THE IDEA THAT A KNIGHT WOULD BE CAPTURED RATHER THAN KILLED IF DEFEATED. IN WAR, THIS GENERALLY MEANT THE PAYMENT OF A LARGE CAPITAL SUM, WHILE IN TOURNEY IT OFTEN MEANT FORFEITURE OF ARMOUR AND HORSE. SEE ALSO ARMOUR, AS INSURANCE.
RANSOM TOURNAMENT
A MODERN FORMAT OF TOURNAMENT GROWING IN POPULARITY IN THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM, FREQUENTLY CALLED WILLIAM MARSHAL TOURNAMENTS AFTER THE GREATEST TOURNEYER OF THE RANSOM-TOURNEY AGE. IN THESE TOURNAMENTS MEN ENTERED THE LISTS AT THEIR OWN RISK--IF THEY WERE DEFEATED THEIR HORSE AND ARMOUR WAS FORFEIT TO THE CAPTURING KNIGHT. THIS WAS A POPULAR WAY FOR YOUNGER SONS OF KNIGHTS AND NOBLES TO EARN A LIVING AND TO EARN RENOWN. IN THE SCA FORM OF THE TOURNEY, COMBATANTS ENTER THE LISTS WORTH A CERTAIN NUMBER OF TOKENS OR COINS OR A POINT VALUE RANKING ACCORDING TO THEIR RANK WITHIN THE SOCIETY. IF THEY ARE KILLED, THEY MUST ACCOMPANY THEIR CAPTOR WITHOUT HINDRANCE TO THEIR RECESS, WHERE THEY MUST SURRENDER THEIR RANSOM OR TALLY THEIR POINT VALUE TO THE CAPTORS TOTAL. THESE TOURNEYS HAVE PROVEN TO BE EXCELLENT FUND-RAISERS; THE COMPANY OF SAINT GEORGE FIRST TRIED SUCH A TOURNEY AS A FUND-RAISER FOR THE KINGDOM NEWSLETTER, THE PAGE, AND THE COMPANY OF THE ANGELS HELD ANOTHER SUCH TOURNEY TWO YEARS LATER, DONATING THEIR PROCEEDS TO THE TOMB OF WILLIAM MARSHAL IN LONDON. SEE CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #9 AND THE TOURNAMENT FORMATS FOR SCA COMBAT MONOGRAPH.
REAL AMERIA, MADRID
THE FINEST COLLECTION IN SPAIN, FEATURING A LARGE COLLECTION OF ARMOUR FROM THE 15TH, 16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES.  
REBATED
WEAPONS WITH NO EDGES OR WITH THE EDGES REMOVED, USED IN TOURNEYS A PLAISANCE.
RECESS
A SAFE AREA IN AN EARLY TOURNEY, WHERE HORSEMEN COULD GATHER AND REST WITHOUT FEAR OF CAPTURE.
RECET
SEE RECESS.
REIGN
THE DURATION OF RULE BY A KING, PRINCE OR NOBLE, TAKING THE FORM ...IN THE FOURTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF KING STEPHAN.... IN AN SCA CONTEXT, THE REIGN OF A KING LASTS FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS, EXCEPT IN THE WEST KINGDOM, WHERE REIGNS ARE FOUR MONTHS IN LENGTH.
RELIC
A HOLY OBJECT OR PORTION OF A HOLY OBJECT THAT MAINTAINED A MYSTICAL CONNECTION WITH THE HOLY. THERE WERE MANY FALSE RELICS PAWNED DURING THE MIDDLE AGES, FORGERIES NO DIFFERENT FROM THE ART FAKES NOW SOLD. RELICS WERE OFTEN USED TO SWEAR UPON, PERHAPS THE BONES OF A SAINT, A PORTION OF THE TRUE CROSS, OR SOME SUCH WAS TOUCHED IN THE IMPROMPTU CEREMONY OF AN OATH. RELICS WERE ALSO INCORPORATED INTO OTHER OBJECTS WITH THE HOPE THAT THE CONNECTION WITH THE HOLY WOULD TRANSMIT SOMETHING OF THAT HOLY CHARACTER TO THE LARGER ARTIFACT. SWORDS SOMETIMES WORKED RELICS INTO THE POMMELS AND IN CHURCHES, ALTARS WERE CONTAINED SOME OBJECT THOUGHT TO BE A RELIC.
RENOWN
THE REPUTATION OF A COMBATANT BASED UPON THE VIRTUES THAT OTHERS PERCEIVE IN HIM FROM HIS WORD, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS. SEE ALSO THE ESSAY CONCERNING ERRANTS THE COMPANY OF SAINT GEORGE. I HAVE CALLED RENOWN THE COIN OF THE TOURNEYER, THE ONLY THING A COMBATANT TAKES TO THE FIELD, AND THE ONLY THING HE TAKES HOME FROM IT.
REN-STYLE TOURNAMENT
IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SCA, SEVERAL GROUPS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO STAGE TOURNAMENTS IN THE TRADITION OF KING REN DANJOU AS DETAILED IN HIS TOURNAMENT BOOK. SUCH TOURNEYS GENERALLY HAVE SOMETHING OF THE FESTIVAL ABOUT THEM, SEVERAL ACTIVITIES TIED TOGETHER INTO A GENERAL THEME. THE TENANS OF NOBLE FOLLY, GRAND COMPANY OF THE PEACOCKS, AND COMPANY OF SAINT MICHAEL HAVE ALL EXPERIMENTED WITH THE FORMAT, BASED ON AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION DONE BY DR. ELIZABETH BENNETT. THIS TOURNAMENT STYLE IS A FICTIONAL PERFECT TOURNAMENT AS ENVISIONED BY REN AS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DONE DURING THE 15TH CENTURY. SEE ESPECIALLY CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #15.
REREBRACE
THE DEFENSE FOR THE UPPER ARM, ALSO KNOWN AS PART OF THE CANON. SEE ARM HARNESS FOR DEVELOPMENT DETAILS.  
RHODES
SEE HOSPITALLERS.
RICHARD IS TOURNAMENT DECREE (1194)
RICHARD LICENSED FIVE PLACES IN ENGLAND WHERE TOURNAMENTS COULD BE HELD: BETWEEN SALISBURY AND WILTON, WARWICK AND KENILWORTH, STAMFORD AND WARINFORD, BRACKLEY AND MIXBURY, AND BLYTH AND TICKHILL. THOSE WHO WISHED TO TOURNEY THERE HAD TO OBTAIN A LICENSE AND ISSUE PAYMENT FOR THE PRIVILEGE, AND FOREIGN KNIGHTS WERE PROHIBITED FROM TOURNEYING IN ENGLAND. THIS IS PERHAPS THE FIRST SECULAR REGULATION OF A TOURNAMENT, DONE FOR THE DUAL PURPOSE OF ENCOURAGING THE SPORT AND REDUCING THE POTENTIAL FOR IT TO BE USED AS A GATHERING POINT FOR DISLOYAL OPPOSITION. "THE FAMOUS KING RICHARD, OBSERVING THAT THE EXTRA TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION OF THE FRENCH HAS MADE THEM CORRESPONDINGLY FIERCE IN WAR, WISHED THAT THE KNIGHTS OF HIS KINGDOM SHOULD TRAIN IN THEIR OWN LANDS, SO THAT THEY COULD LEARN FROM TOURNEYING THE ART OF WAR AND SO THAT THE FRENCH COULD NOT INSULT THE ENGLISH KNIGHTS FOR BEING CRUDE AND LESS SKILLED."
RITTER
GERMAN FOR KNIGHT.
RIVETS
SMALL "ARMING NAILS" PRODUCED IRON, STEEL, OR BRASS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ARMOUR. SEE ALSO ARTICULATION AND ARMOUR, TECHNIQUES REQUIRED FOR BUILDING FOR MORE INFORMATION.  
ROBERTO DI MILANO, OL
ROBERT MACKENZIE, ONE OF THE FINEST ARMOURERS IN THE UNITED STATES, CURRENTLY WORKING OUT OF ITHACA, NY, KNOWN FOR HIS EXTENSIVE FOCUS ON ABSOLUTE AUTHENTICITY AND HIS VERY HIGH LEVEL OF TECHNICAL EXPERTISE.  
ROI DE ARMS
FR. FOR KING OF ARMS.
ROLL OF ARMS
MANUSCRIPT ROLLS OR BOOKS THAT KEPT LISTINGS OF ARMORIAL BEARINGS EITHER PAINTED OR DESCRIBED.
ROMAN DE LA ROSE
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ROMANCES
WORKS WRITTEN CONCERNING KNIGHTS AND CHIVALRY, ORIGINATING DURING THE 12TH CENTURY, EXPANDING TO ENGLAND, SPAIN, ITALY AND GERMANY. THE WORKS ORIGINALLY WERE BUILT BY THE TROUBADORS, WEAVING THE TENETS OF COURTLY LOVE WITH THE ACTIONS OF KNIGHTS. THE ROMANCES WERE ONE VEHICLE OF EXPRESSION THAT CHANGED FOREVER THE POPULAR PERCEPTION OF WHAT A KNIGHT SHOULD BE--DRIVING THE ROUGH-HEWN WARRIOR KNIGHT TOWARDS THE MORE REFINED GENTLEMAN THAT WOULD EMERGE. THE ROMANCES PUT THEIR VISION OF WHAT KNIGHTS SHOULD BE ALONGSIDE THE CHURCH'S PERCEPTION, THE REALITY OF WHAT KNIGHTS BECAME BEING A FUSION OF ALL THREE INFLUENCES--THE KNIGHTS THEMSELVES, INFLUENCED IN TURN BY THE COURT AND THE CHURCH.
RONDEL
A SMALL DISC OF METAL INTENDED FOR DEFENSE. THEY ARE COMMONLY FOUND AT THE ARMPIT (PRIOR TO 1350) WHEN THEY ARE KNOWN AS BESAGEWS ON A BACKS OF ARMETS (FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON) AND RARELY ON THE METACARPAL OF 15TH CENTURY ITALIAN MITTEN GAUNTLETS.  
RONEVALLES, BATTLE OF
15 AUGUST 778, WHEN THE BASQUES ATTACKED AND SLAUGHTERED CHARLEMAGNES REAR GUARD DEFENDED BY COUNT ROLAND, DETAILED IN A CHANSON DE GESTE THAT INSURED ROLANDS ENDURING RENOWN IN THE SONG OF ROLAND.
ROUND TABLE
A KIND OF TOURNAMENT THAT WAS MORE STRUCTURED THAN A HASTILUDE OR PAS DARMES, WHERE KNIGHTS PLAYED THE ROLES OF HISTORICAL OR ROMANTIC CHARACTERS, USUALLY INVOLVING THE ARTHURIAN MYTHOS. MODERN TOURNAMENT FORMATS LIKE THE SEVEN SINS TOURNEY ARE EXAMPLES OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AND ENTERTAINING ROUND TABLES. LADIES OFTEN ENJOYED A PROMINENT ROLE IN THESE FESTIVALS, AND THE PAGEANTRY WAS OFTEN VERY STRIKING.
ROUNDEL
THE ROUND METAL ATTACHMENT AT THE BASE OF A POLEARM TO KEEP THE HANDS FROM SLIDING DOWN THE SHAFT AND ONTO THE BLADE, WHERE THEY MIGHT BE HARMED.  
ROUNDNOSE
THE MODERN NAME FOR THE EARLY GERMAN KLAPPVISIERS, A BASCINET VISOR ATTACHED WITH A CENTRAL HINGE FEATURING A ROUNDED RATHER THAN A POINTED SHAPE.  
RUST
THE BROWN OXIDATION THAT ATTACKS ARMOUR WHEN EXPOSED TO SALT OR MOISTURE. VARIOUS STRATEGIES WERE USED DURING THE 14TH AND 15TH CENTURIES TO DEFEAT RUST, INCLUDING HIGH POLISHES, PAINTING, AND BLACKENING.  
SABATON, SOLLERET
ARMOUR FOR THE FOOT, USUALLY CONSISTING OF ARTICULATED PLATES ENDING IN A TOECAP. PLATE SABATONS SEEM TO HAVE MADE THEIR APPEARANCE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 14TH CENTURY, REMAINING IN COMMON USE THROUGHOUT THE 15TH AND 16TH CENTURIES. IN THE EARLY 14TH CENTURY, THE FOOT WAS DEFENDED BY MAIL OR SCALES, THOUGH NO EXAMPLES OF THESE DEFENSES REMAIN APART FROM EVIDENCE ON FUNERARY BRASSES. MILANESE ARMOUR FROM THE 15TH CENTURY GENERALLY USED MAIL FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE FOOT RATHER THAN THE SOLLERET; THE REASON FOR THIS IS UNCLEAR, ESPECIALLY SINCE ARMOUR MADE IN NEARLY EVERY OTHER REGION OF EUROPE ADOPTED THE SABATON LONG BEFORE THIS.
SABLE
THE HERALDIC TERM FOR THE COLOR BLACK.
SACK OF LIMOGES
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SAFE-CONDUCT
PASSAGE ALLOWED THROUGH A TERRITORY FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES; IT WAS OFTEN GIVEN TO STUDENTS, MERCHANTS, KNIGHTS ON THEIR WAY TO TOURNAMENT, CERTAIN HERALDS & MESSENGERS, AND PILGRIMS. SUCH SAFE-CONDUCTS COULD EITHER BE ISSUED BY THE PRINCE OF A REGION; THESE WERE GENERAL PROCLAMATIONS THAT BOUND THE PRINCES SUBJECTS TO RESPECT THE PASSAGE. THE OTHER SAFE-CONDUCTS WERE OFFERED BY INDIVIDUAL NOBLES, ISSUED AS SEALED GUARANTEES, WHERE THE NOBLE HIMSELF EXTENDED THEIR OWN PROTECTION TO THE HOLDER OF THE SAFE PASSAGE. THESE WRITS NAMED A SPECIFIC RECIPIENT BY NAME, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN HIS PARTY ALLOWED TO PASS, THE GOODS THEY COULD CARRY. OTHER GOODS CARRIED WERE SUBJECT TO CONFISCATION--THIS WAS NOT AN UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE. KNIGHTS ON THEIR WAY TO TOURNAMENT WERE FREQUENTLY GIVEN SUCH SAFE CONDUCTS, THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED IN SEVERAL TOURNAMENT DECLARATIONS.
SAINT INGELVERT, TOURNAMENT OF (1390)
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SALLE
FR. ROOM OR HALL. THE NAME SALLE DARMES BECAME POPULARLY USED FOR A LARGE HALL USED FOR THE INSTRUCTION OF ARMS, FIRST DEFINED DURING THE 17TH CENTURY.
SALLET,  SALADE
A COMMON HELMET OF THE 15TH CENTURY, VARYING IN STYLE ACCORDING TO NATIONAL PREFERENCES AND RAPID CHANGES IN DEFENSIVE REQUIREMENTS. MOST SALLETS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY A FLARED TAIL, DRAWN OUT EITHER FROM A SINGLE OR SEVERAL ATTACHED PIECES. SOME SALLETS WERE FITTED WITH VISORS, WHILE OTHERS WERE WORN OPEN-FACED. SALLET DESIGN ROUGHLY FOLLOWED THE NATIONALISTIC STYLE PREFERENCES REPRESENTED BY THE MILANESE AND GOTHIC STYLES, THOUGH THERE WAS A DEGREE OF OVERLAP AS ARMOURIES STROVE TO CREATE PIECES IN COMPETITION WITH THEIR RIVALS. THERE IS NO CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN A SALLET AND THE BARBUTE OR THE ARMET; THERE ARE PIECES THAT ARE CLEARLY BOTH A SALLET AND A BARBUTE OR AN ARMET. GENERALLY THE SALLET WAS A LIGHTER HELMET THAT WAS IN COMMON USE AMONGST THE SOLDIERY THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD, WHILE THE ARMET AND BARBUTE SEEM TO HAVE BEEN MORE POPULAR WITH THE NOBILITY, AT LEAST IN ITALY. IN GERMANY THE SALLET HELD UNIVERSAL APPEAL, WHILE IN ENGLAND AND FRANCE ALL THREE STYLES WERE WORN, IMPORTED FROM CONTINENTAL ARMOURIES FOR THE BEST QUALITY.
SANCTUARY
THE RULE THAT ALLOWED CRIMINALS NOT ACCUSED OF INFAMY OR FELONIES AGAINST CHURCH PROPERTY TO SEEK REFUGE AGAINST THE HEW AND CRY ISSUED WHEN A FELONY WAS DISCOVERED. IN MOST ECCLESIASTICAL PROPERTIES, SO LONG AS NO CRIME WAS COMMITTED AGAINST THE CHURCH, A CRIMINAL COULD SEEK REFUGE FOR 40 DAYS, AFTER WHICH THEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE PREMISES. IN ENGLAND, CERTAIN ABBEYS HAD AN EXTENDED RIGHT OF SANCTUARY, EXTENDING ABOUT FOR A LEAGUE OR MORE, WITH NO LIMIT ON TIME. AT THESE ABBEYS WANTED PERSONS COULD REMAIN INDEFINITELY, PART OF THE ABBEY COMMUNITY.
SANS REPROCHE
FROM THE FRENCH, LITERALLY WITHOUT REPROACH. DURING THE 15TH CENTURY THIS BECAME A COMMON TAG TO ATTACH TO KNIGHTS OF VERY HIGH REPUTATION--IN THE IDEAL, A KNIGHT SHOULD BEAR A RENOWN SUCH THAT NO STAIN COULD BE SAID TO CLOUD A KNIGHTS CHARACTER. BECAUSE OF THE IDEALISTIC NATURE OF THE PHRASE, I SEE THE PHRASE AS A LITERAL INVOCATION OF THE IDEAL IMAGE, A USEFUL TOOL BOTH AS A CHECK ON REALITY (SEE HOW FAR FROM THE IDEAL WE REALLY ARE) AND AS A WAY TO REFOCUS THE ACTIVITIES ON THE IDEAL RATHER THAN ON THE GRITTY REALITY. CHIVALRY ALWAYS SOUGHT PERFECTION, EVEN IF IT ALWAYS FAILED; SANS REPROACH WAS ONE WAY OF SHORTHAND REFERENCE TO THAT IDEAL.
SARACEN
A BEDOUIN TRIBE FROM SINAI, THE TERM WAS MORE GENERALLY APPLIED TO ARABS AND MUSLIMS DURING THE CRUSADES.
SAUVAIGN
THE PRINCIPLE SWORD OF OGIER THE DANE, FROM THE CHANSON DE GESTE OF THE SAME NAME.
SCA
SEE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM.
SCONE, STONE OF
THE ANCIENT CORONATION CHAIR OF SCOTLAND, TAKEN FROM SCOTLAND TO LONDON BY EDWARD III, PLEDGED BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO BE RETURNED IN 1996.
SCUTAGE
FEE PAID FOR A KNIGHT OR MAN-AT-ARMS TO AVOID MILITARY SERVICE SPECIFIED IN THE TERMS UNDER WHICH THEY HOLD A FIEFDOM.
SCUTIFERI
LATIN FOR SQUIRE IN THE TIME OF EDWARD I.
SEEKING ADVENTURES
A KNIGHTLY SPORT UNDERTAKEN BY YOUNG BACHELORS WHERE AS ERRANTS THEY WENT OUT INTO THE WORLD SEEKING CHALLENGES AND TO EARN RENOWN BY JOUSTING, TOURNEYING, FIGHTING IN WARS, AND BY SEEKING IN GENERAL TO WIN FAME BY KNIGHTLY DEEDS.
SENESCHAL
LORDS REPRESENTATIVE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF AN ESTATE, PRESIDING AT MANORIAL COURTS, AUDITING ACCOUNTS, CONDUCT INQUESTS, AND THE LIKE. WITHIN THE SCA, THE SENESCHAL IS THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER FOR A SHIRE OR COLLEGE. IN A BARONY OR LARGER UNIT, THEY SERVE UNDER THE BARON, PRINCE OR KING, DEPENDING UPON THE SIZE FOR A REGION, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAY TO DAY ADMINISTRATION AND NON-EXECUTIVE ISSUES.
SERF
A PEASANT, THE LOWEST CLASS IN THE FEUDAL SYSTEM, BELONGING TO A CLASS WHO WERE TIED TO THE LAND THAT THEY WORKED ON BEHALF OF THE LORD. THEY WERE IN A VERY REAL SENSE OWNED BY THE LORD OF THE MANOR OR PROPERTY, GRADUALLY BECOMING RISING IN RIGHTS AND EVENTUALLY SYNONYMOUS TO THE ENGLISH VILLEIN.
SERGEANT
A KIND OF INFANTRY OR LIGHT CAVALRY RANK BELOW THAT OF KNIGHT.
SERVITUM DEBITUM
THE MILITARY SERVICE OWED BY A VASSAL FOR THE KNIGHTS FEE RECEIVED FOR THE USE OF LAND, GENERALLY FORTY DAYS SERVICE FOR THEMSELVES AND A SPECIFIED NUMBER OF MEN-AT-ARMS. IN MOST CASES, THEIR EQUIPMENT WAS ALSO SPECIFIED.
SEVEN SINS TOURNEY
TOURNAMENT FORMAT FOR THE SCA DESIGNED BY KEVIN BRINK (AKA SCA LORD OLOFF--WEST KINGDOM) WHEREIN SEVEN KNIGHTS PLAY THE SINS, TRYING TO COMPEL THE PILGRIMS TO FALL TO THE SIN THEY REPRESENT. A MODERN FORM OF ROUND TABLE, VERY INTROSPECTIVE AND ENTERTAINING AT THE SAME TIME.
SEXT
A CANONICAL HOUR CORRESPONDING TO NOON.
SHERIFF
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SHIELD (CONSTRUCTION OF)
THE KNIGHT'S SHIELD OF THE 14TH AND 15TH CENTURIES WAS GENERALLY FORMED FROM WOOD, COVERED IN GESSO, AND PAINTED WITH HIS HERALDIC CHARGE. OFTEN THE GESSO WAS RAISED TO GIVE SOME TEXTURE TO THE SHIELD, THE BACK WAS COVERED IN SOME KIND OF CLOTH, AND FINALLY ENARMES AND A GUIGE WERE ADDED SO THAT THE SHIELD COULD BE CARRIED. THE SHIELD WEIGHED NO MORE THAN 6-10 LBS, USUALLY LEANING TOWARDS THE LIGHTER NUMBER.  MODERN SHIELDS USE A VARIETY OF CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES TO PRESERVE THEM SINCE LABOR IS NOW MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAT IT WAS DURING THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES. FIBERGLASS, EDGING, AND LACQUER ARE ALL COMMONLY USED IN AN ATTEMPT TO PROTECT THE SHIELD. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #8
SHIELD (KNIGHT'S)
MOST KNIGHT'S SHIELDS DURING THE 14TH CENTURY WERE OF THE FAMILIAR "HEATER" SHAPE, VARYING WIDELY IN SIZE. KNIGHTS WHO ARE ILLUSTRATED IN TOURNAMENTS USUALLY CARRY A VERY SMALL SHIELD, WHILE THOSE IN WAR OFTEN CARRY A LARGER ONE. THIS OWES ITSELF PROBABLY TO THE PRESENCE OF HIGHLY DANGEROUS MISSLE WEAPONS ON THE BATTLEFIELD, SOMETHING THE TOURNEYING KNIGHT DID NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT VERY OFTEN. ALSO, THE TOURNAMENT CARRIES AN ELEMENT OF SPORT THAT RARELY EXISTED IN WAR, SO THE SMALL SHIELD MIGHT ALSO HAVE SERVED TO ENCOURAGE DEEDS OF AGGRESSIVE PROWESS RATHER THAN DEFENSIVE BOREDOM FOR THE GALLERY.  LIKE HIS OTHER ACCOUTREMENT, THE KNIGHT'S SHIELD CAME TO TAKE ON SYMBOLIC MEANING. A DISHONORED KNIGHT HAD HIS SPURS HACKED OFF AND HIS SHIELD HUNG UPSIDE DOWN IN DISGRACE, WHICH INSINUATES THAT THE SHIELD STOOD FOR THE HONOR AND RENOWN OF THE KNIGHT, WHICH MAKES SENSE SINCE HIS HERALDIC BLAZON, THE WAY HE WAS KNOWN ON THE BATTLEFIELD OR TOURNAMENT LIST, WAS KNOWN.
SHIELD WALL
A MILITARY FORMATION OF INFANTRY FORMED BY CONDENSING THE SHIELD -CARRIERS SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, MAKING PENETRATION OF THE WALL DIFFICULT. IF THE INFANTRY WERE WELL DISCIPLINED, THEN, AS THEY DID AT THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS, THE WALL CAN SOMETIMES REPEL A DETERMINED ATTACK BY CAVALRY. A SHIELD WALL ALSO DEFENDS SOME OF THE COMBATANTS AGAINST ATTACKS BY MISSILE WEAPONS (ARROWS, ETC.).  WITHIN THE SCA, THE SHIELD WALL IS A DOMINANT TACTIC EMPLOYED BY INFANTRY UNITS. THE MOST EFFECTIVE SHIELD WALLS INVOLVE RECTANGULAR OR OVAL SHIELDS, GENERALLY LARGE ONES. SCA UNITS TEND TO USE SPEARS AS HEAVY CAVALRY, THEIR AGGRESSIVE PIKEMEN ATTACKING THE SHIELD WALL. MOST SUCH WALLS ARE DEFENDED IN THE SECOND RANK BY SLASHING POLEARMS OR THEIR OWN SPEARS, AN ATTEMPT TO KEEP WOULD-BE PENETRATORS FROM GETTING TOO CLOSE TO THE WALL. WHEN ONE SHIELDMAN IS SLAIN, ANOTHER COMES FORWARD TO TAKE THEIR PLACE, PLUGGING THE HOLE. THESE DEFENSES ARE MUST USEFUL IN NARROW PASSES SUCH AS ON BRIDGES WHERE THE FLANKS ARE ANCHORED. IN THE FIELD, THE WALL IS EXPOSED, TO A DEGREE, AND THE BEST TACTIC TO BREAK A WALL IS GENERALLY TO ATTACK THE FLANKS, DISTRACTING THE CORNER ANCHORS AND BESIEGING THE UNIT ON TWO OR MORE FRONTS.
SHILLING
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SHILTRONS
DENSE FORMATIONS OF SPEARMEN ARRANGED THREE DEEP, DESIGNED TO DEFEAT CAVALRY, USED BY WILLIAM WALLACE IN THE BATTLE OF FALKIRK. UNFORTUNATELY FOR WALLACE, THEY PROVED CAPABLE OF DEFENDING AGAINST CAVALRY, BUT WERE DESTROYED BY CONCENTRATED ARCHERY.
SHIPS
MEDIEVAL NAVAL VESSELS  - BALINGER: A SMALL, MANEUVERABLE, FAST SHIP USED BY MERCHANTS AND FOR WAR. - BARGE: A SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZE OCEAN-GOING VESSEL - COG:
SHIRE
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SIEGE
MILITARY BLOCKADE OF A CITY OR FORTIFICATION, DESIGNED TO FORCE IT TO SURRENDER. THE BESIEGERS USED THREE MAIN TECHNIQUES; CLOSE ASSAULT, BOMBARDMENT, AND CAPITULATION. IN CLOSE ASSAULT, THEY WOULD PLACE TOWERS AND TUNNELS TRYING TO DEFEAT THE WALLS OF THE FORTIFICATION, GENERALLY CONDUCTED AFTER A PERIOD OF BOMBARDMENT WITH ARCHERY, BALLISTA, TREBUCHETS, CATAPULTS, AND EVEN CANNONS. IF THE FORTIFICATION WOULD NOT FALL TO DIRECT ASSAULT, A DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION, OR THE DEFENDERS WOULD NOT GIVE OVER THE KEYS (SOMETIMES USING PARLAY THE ATTACKERS AND BESIEGERS WOULD AGREE ON A SPECIFIC LENGTH OF TIME THE DEFENDERS WOULD DO THEIR BEST TO HOLD OUT UNLESS RELIEVED BY A FRIENDLY ARMY), THEN THE ATTACKERS WOULD TRY TO KEEP NEW SUPPLIES OUT OF THE FORTRESS, CAUSING PRIVATION WITHIN AND USUALLY FORCING CAPITULATION.
SIEGE ENGINE
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SIEGE PERILOUS
THE SEAT AT KING ARTHURS ROUND TABLE THAT STOOD EMPTY, SIGNIFYING THE SEAT OF JUDAS. THE SEAT REMAINED EMPTY UNTIL GALAHAD TOOK IT AS A SYMBOL OF HIS UNDERTAKING THE GRAIL QUEST.
SILK
USED IN BANNERS, PENNANTS, PAVILIONS, AND ARMING CLOTHES.
SINGLE-ELIMINATION LISTS
AN SCA TOURNAMENT FORMAT WHERE EACH COMBATANT MEETS ANOTHER IN SINGLE COMBAT, THE LOSER OF THE FIGHT BEING ELIMINATED FROM THE LISTS. THESE TEND TO BE USED WHERE MANY COMBATANTS ARE EXPECTED TO REDUCE THE TIME NECESSARY FOR A LARGE LIST. SEE ALSO DOUBLE-ELIMINATION LISTS AND SCA TOURNAMENT FORMATS.
SIR
THE TITLE FOR A KNIGHT
SIRE
ONE TITLE USED FOR KING, A MORE FAMILIAR TITLE GENERALLY RESERVED FOR CLOSE CONFIDANTS.
SKULL
THE CROWN OF THE HELMET, THE CENTRAL DEFENSE FOR THE UPPER PORTION OF THE HEAD. A CASQUE CONSISTS OF A 'SKULL' ALONE, WHILE AN ARMET OR CLOSE HELMET ARE BUILT IN SEVERAL PIECES, THE VISOR AND BEVOR ATTACHED IN VARIOUS FASHIONS.
SLAG
AN IMPURITY IN AN IRON METAL, IN MEDIEVAL ARMOURS GENERALLY COMPOSED OF IRON OXIDES AND SILICA CREATED WHEN THE HEATED ORE REACTS WITH THE FURNACE'S CLAY AND STONE LINING.
SLUYS, BATTLE OF
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SMELTING
THE PROCESS THROUGH WHICH IRON ORE IS SEPARATED FROM OTHER ELEMENTS TO PRODUCE BILLETS OF ORE USEFUL IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL OBJECTS. SEE ALSO INDIRECT REDUCTION & BLOOMERY PROCESS.
SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM (SCA)
THE LARGEST OF THE MEDIEVAL RE-ENACTMENT SOCIETIES,ESTABLISHED IN 1968 AT THE HOME OF DIANA PAXTON. THE SOCIETY HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN 40,000 MEMBERS WORLDWIDE, ENCOMPASSING MEDIEVAL SOCIETY IN EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST FROM ROUGHLY 600 A.D. TO ROUGHLY 1600 AD.   THE SCA HAS DEVELOPED ITS OWN COMBAT SYSTEM, WHERE WOODEN WEAPONS SIMULATE THE WHALEBONE AND ASH WEAPONS USED IN MEDIEVAL BHOURDS OR VESPERS TOURNEYS. IN THE SCA SYSTEM, COMBATANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CALLING THEIR OWN BLOWS, A TECHNIQUE THAT ATTEMPTS TO PLACE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FIELD CONDUCT SQUARELY ON THE COMBATANT THEMSELVES INSTEAD OF A PANEL OF JUDGES. MARSHALS WATCH OVER THE COMBAT TO INSURE THAT THE TONE OF THE FIGHT IS CHIVALRIC AND THAT THE RULES OF SAFETY ARE NOT VIOLATED, AS WELL AS TENDING TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF REGISTERING COMBATANTS AND THE LIKE. THIS MEDIEVAL MARSHAL ART HAS BECOME IMMENSELY POPULAR IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH ACTIVE BRANCHES IN AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, KOREA, BRITAIN, GERMANY, SWEDEN, AND CANADA. AT ITS FINEST, THE SOCIETY STRIVES TO USE THE MARTIAL SYSTEM TO TEACH CHIVALRIC VIRTUES, A PLACE WHERE THE CURIOUS CAN COME AND EXPERIENCE SOMETHING OF THE MEDIEVAL EXPERIENCE. KNIGHTS IN THE SCA ARE MADE BY THE KING IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR PROWESS, COURTESY, AND NOBLE DEMEANOR; KNIGHTS OFTEN TAKE SQUIRES, LESS EXPERT COMBATANTS WHO WISH TO LEARN THE CHIVALRIC ARTS. AT THE PINNACLE OF THE MARTIAL EXPERIENCE COMBATANTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN AND STRIVE TO BECOME VICTORIOUS IN CROWN TOURNAMENT, EARNING A HIGHER LEVEL OF NOBLE RANK.MORE...
SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM (SCA)-CONT.
ALONGSIDE THESE MARTIAL PURSUITS, THE SCA STRIVES TO ENCOURAGE RESEARCH AND EXPERTISE IN MEDIEVAL ARTS, HAVING DEVELOPED A THRIVING MARKET IN WHICH CRAFTSMEN CAN LEARN MEDIEVAL TRADES AND GROW IN THEIR ARTISTIC EXPERTISE. THE ORDER OF THE LAUREL IS AWARDED AS A PEERAGE AWARD TO RECOGNIZE THE PINNACLE OF ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE. SERVICE IS ALSO VERY HIGHLY VALUED IN THE SOCIETY, WHERE THE ORDER OF THE PELICAN AND MANY LESSER SERVICE AWARDS ARE AWARDED TO GENTLE WHO GIVE CEASELESSLY OF THEIR TIME AND ENERGY FOR THE GOOD OF THE SOCIETY, OFTEN IN ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY.   THE SCA IS BROKEN DOWN INTO A NUMBER OF KINGDOMS, EACH OF WHICH HAS A SEPARATE GOVERNING STRUCTURE RULED BY A KING DETERMINED IN CROWN TOURNAMENT. EACH KINGDOM HAS DEVELOPED THEIR OWN CULTURE AND FLAVOR, POPULATED BY AN ENTHUSIASTIC BODY OF PARTICIPANTS. THE SCA IS NOT LIKE THE RENAISSANCE FAIRES WHERE THE EXPERIENCE IS PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED. IN THE SCA THE ESSENCE OF THE EXPERIENCE IS PARTICIPATION; THE SCA STRIVES TO TEACH SOMETHING OF COURTESY AND ETHICS BY DEVELOPING AN INTERPERSONAL NETWORK THAT REINFORCES THE DESIRED VALUES.   VISIT THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM'S WEB SITE, LOCATED AT HTTP://WWW.SCA.ORG.
SONG OF ROLAND
THE MOST FAMOUS CHANSON DE GESTE, COMPOSED BETWEEN 1098-1100, DESCRIBING THE BETRAYAL OF COUNT ROLAND AT THE HAND OF GANELON, AND HIS RESULTING DEATH IN THE PYRANEE MOUNTAINS AT THE HANDS OF THE SARACENS. ROLAND WAS A LOYAL DEFENDER OF HIS LIEGE CHARLEMAGNE, AND THE TAKE HAS BECOME A LANDMARK IN THE ICONOGRAPHY OF CHIVALRY.
SOTHEBY'S
THE LONDON AND NEW YORK AUCTION HOUSE THAT DEALS IN THE FINEST ART OBJECTS IN THE WORLD. THEY PRODUCE A SPECIAL ARMS AND ARMOUR CATALOG, RELEASED APPROXIMATELY QUARTERLY, THAT DETAILS THE PIECES FOR SALE. THESE CATALOGS ARE INVALUABLE IN KEEPING TRACK OF THE COLLECTOR'S MARKET, AND THEY OCCASIONALLY FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHS OF PIECES NOT AVAILABLE IN MUSEUMS. SEE ALSO ARMOUR, BUYING.
SPANGEN HELMET
THE EARLY HELMETS DERIVED FROM THEIR ROMAN PREDECESSORS, THE 'SPANGEN' HELMET, POPULAR DURING THE 7TH - 11TH CENTURIES, CONSISTED OF A SEVERAL SMALL PLATES OF IRON OR LATTEN BOUND TOGETHER WITH VARIOUS PATTERNS OF BANDING, ALL HELD TOGETHER WITH MANY RIVETS. A FEW SURVIVING EXAMPLES IN THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART SHOW EVIDENCE OF GOLD GILDING OR WASH, AND THERE ARE WRITTEN REFERENCES TO THE HELMETS OF LOCAL CHIEFTAINS BEING ADORNED WITH PRECIOUS METALS AND STONES. MOST SPANGEN HELMETS WERE DOUBTLESS MANUFACTURED LOCALLY, SINCE LARGE SHEETS OF *IRON PLATE WERE HARD TO COME BY UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THE 14TH CENTURY.
SPATHA
THE CAVALRY SWORD OF THE ROMANS, BETWEEN 36" - 40" IN LENGTH, MADE FROM IRON. THE SHAPE OF THE HILT IS UNKNOWN TO US, AS ONLY A FEW BLADES HAVE SURVIVED. THESE BLADES CAN EASILY BE CONFUSED WITH THEIR MEDIEVAL COUNTERPARTS, WHICH WERE OF APPROXIMATELY THE SAME LENGTH AND SHAPE. THE ROMAN FOOTSOLDIER WIELDED A MUCH SHORTER CHOPPING AND THRUSTING SWORD CALLED THE GLADIUS.
SPAULDER
THE 14TH AND 15TH CENTURY DEFENSE FOR THE SHOULDER POINT, FEATURING A SMALL DISHED DEFENSE FOR THE SHOULDER POINT AND A NUMBER OF LAMES EXTENDING DOWN THE ARM. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY THESE LAMES WERE GENERALLY ATTACHED PERMANENTLY TO THE REREBRACE, BUT DURING THE 15TH CENTURY MANY DESIGNS SEPARATED THE SPAULDER INTO A SEPARATE PIECE. AS THE DESIRE FOR GREATER AND GREATER DEFENSE INCREASED THE DEMAND FOR FULL PLATE PROTECTION, THE SIZE OF THE SPAULDER WAS INCREASED TO COVER THE ARMPIT AND EVEN PART OF THE BACK AND CHEST, AT WHICH POINT MODERN SCHOLARS HAVE SEPARATED OUT THE TERM PAULDRON TO CLASSIFY THESE MORE EXTENSIVE DEFENSES.
SPEAR
"THE OLDEST FORM OF STAFF WEAPON, INTENDED PRIMARILY FOR THRUSTING. THE WAR SPEAR USUALLY HAD A LONG, LEAF-SHAPED OR LONG, THIN, TRIANGULAR HEAD."-DAVID EDGE AND JOHN MILES PADDOCK, ARMS AND ARMOUR OF THE MEDIEVAL KNIGHT. IN COMMON USE DURING THE ENTIRE MIDDLE AGES, THE SPEAR RANGED IN LENGTH FROM FIVE TO NINE FEET, AT WHICH POINT MODERN SCHOLARS BEGIN REFERRING TO THEM AS PIKES RATHER THAN SPEARS.
SPEARMEN
FOOTSOLDIERS, GENERALLY NOT OF THE KNIGHTLY CLASS, ARMED WITH A PIKE OR SPEAR, GENERALLY ARRANGED INTO DENSE FORMATIONS. THESE SOLDIERS, WHEN DISCIPLINED, WERE A POTENT DEFENSE AGAINST THE HEAVILY ARMOURED CAVALRY, PARTICULARLY WHERE MISSILE WEAPONS WERE SCARCE OR WHERE THE FIELD COULD BE RESTRICTED, SUCH AS IN THE SWISS OR GREEK MOUNTAINS (THE SWISS PIKEMEN OF THE 16TH CENTURY WERE AS RENOWN AS THEIR PREDECESSORS IN THE GREEK PHALANX HAD BEEN TWO MILLENNIA BEFORE).
SPECTROSCOPY
ONE TECHNIQUE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH METALLOGRAPHY TO DETERMINE A METAL'S COMPOSITION AND THE TECHNIQUES THROUGH WHICH IT WAS SMELTED AND WORKED. SEE CHRONIQUE #13, THE KNIGHTLY SWORD.
SPLINTED DEFENSE
USUALLY USED ON ARM AND LEG DEFENSES DURING THE 14TH AND VERY EARLY 15TH CENTURY, THE IDEA WAS TO ADD LONGITUDINAL STRIPS OF REINFORCING TO A HEAVIER LEATHER GUTTER THAT FORMED THE VAMBRACE AND ANOTHER THAT FORMED THE REREBRACE. THE COUTER WAS GENERALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS, ATTACHED WITH INTERNAL STRAPS RATHER THAN ARTICULATED WITH LAMES. THE LEATHER VAMBRACE AND REREBRACE ARE OFTEN DEPICTED IN SURVIVING EFFIGIES AND BRASSES AS BEING TOOLED; THE STRIPS MIGHT HAVE BEEN FORMED FROM IRON, BRASS, BRONZE, OR LATTEN, THOUGH IRON WAS PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON. ESPECIALLY POPULAR IN GERMANY AND IN ITALY DURING THE WHOLE OF THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD. (SEE BLAIR P. 64)
SPUR
THE Y-SHAPED HARDWARE ATTACHED TO THE HEEL BY STRAPS, THE SPUR WAS ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL TOOLS A KNIGHT POSSESSED AS AN EQUESTRIAN, AND THEY BECAME ON OF THE DOMINANT SYMBOLS OF KNIGHTHOOD. PRIOR TO THE LATE 13TH CENTURY SIMPLE "PRICK" TYPE SPURS WERE IN WIDE USE, BUT DURING THE LAST TWO DECADES OF THE 13TH CENTURY AND INTO THE 14TH THE "ROWEL" SPUR GAINED WIDE POPULARITY.  14TH CENTURY ROWEL SPURS HAD A SHANK RANGING IN LENGTH FROM TWO TO MORE THAN NINE INCHES, WITH A FLARED TONGUE THAT ALLOWED THE SPUR TO RIDE UP THE ANKLE SLIGHTLY WITHOUT CAUSING DISCOMFORT. MADE OF BRONZE, BRASS AND IRON, THESE SPURS WERE PROBABLY BOTH CAST AND FORGED, DEPENDING UPON THE PREFERENCES OF THE CRAFTSMAN. ROWELS WERE GENERALLY SHARP WHEELS, SOMETIMES DECORATED WITH FASCINATING PIERCEWORK PATTERNS. 15TH CENTURY SPURS WERE GENERALLY MUCH THE SAME, BUT DURING THE 16TH CENTURY THE SHANKS WERE SHORTENED AND MORE SPIKES ADDED TO THE ROWEL.  SPURS WERE GENERALLY ATTACHED TO THE FOOT WITH ONE STRAP RUNNING UNDER THE FOOT AND OTHER OVER THE FOOT, THESE STRAPS AFFIXED TO THE SPUR ITSELF BY METAL CLIPS THAT HAD RINGS AT THE OTHER END PASSING THROUGH A HOLE AT THE APEX OF EACH FORK OF THE "Y" SHAPE. THE UNDERSIDE STRAP WAS GENERALLY MADE IN ONE PIECE WHILE THE SPUR WAS FASTENED INTO PLACE IN TOP OF THE FOOT USING A DECORATIVE BUCKLE.
SPURS
POINTED DEVICES ATTACHED TO A KNIGHTS HEEL USED TO URGE A HORSE. WHEN THEY FIRST CAME INTO EXISTENCE, ALONG WITH THE STIRRUP AND COUCHED LANCE, THEY EXTENDED A KNIGHTS ABILITY TO CONTROL A HORSE IN COMBAT. ACCORDING TO THE ORDENE DE CHEVALERIE, THE SPURS SYMBOLIZED. IN RAMON LULL, THEY WERE SAID TO SYMBOLIZE.
SQUIRE
A YOUNG MAN IN TRAINING TO BECOME A KNIGHT. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY ARMING SQUIRES OFTEN JOINED THEIR KNIGHTS IN BATTLE, A PART OF THE KNIGHTS HOUSEHOLD UNIT OR LANCE. SEE CHRONIQUE, THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #8. IN THE WORDS OF RAMON LULL: "THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE SCHOOL OF CHIVALRY IS SUCH THAT THE KNIGHT MAKES HIS SON TO LEARN IN HIS YOUTH TO RIDE, FOR IF SHOULD TAKE ON THE KEEPING OF A HORSE. IT BEHOOVES HIM ALSO THAT HE SERVE, AND THAT HE BE THE FIRST SUBJECT OF THE LORD, FOR OTHERWISE HE WILL NOT KNOW THE NOBILITY OF LORDSHIP WHEN HE SHOULD BECOME A KNIGHT. AND THEREFORE EVERY MAN WHO WILL COME TO KNIGHTHOOD SHOULD LEARN, IN HIS YOUTH, TO CARVE AT THE TABLE, TO SERVE, TO ARM AND TO ADOUBE A KNIGHT; FOR IN LIKEWISE AS A MAID WILL LEARN TO SEW IN ORDER TO BE A TAILOR OR A MAN TO BE A CARPENTER IT BEHOOVES EM TO HAVE A MASTER WHO CAN SEW OR HEW. LIKEWISE IT BEHOOVES THAT A NOBLE MAN WHO LOVES THE ORDER OF CHIVALRY AND WILL BE A KNIGHT TO HAVE FIRST A MASTER WHO IS A KNIGHT, FOR THUS IT IS A DISCOVENABLE THING THAT A SQUIRE SHOULD LEARN THE ORDER AND NOBILITY FROM ANY OTHER MAN THAN A KNIGHT. SO VERY HIGH AND HONORED IS THE ORDER OF CHIVALRY THAT A SQUIRE SHOULD SUFFER HIMSELF NOT ONLY TO LEARN TO KEEP HORSE AND LEARN TO SERVE A KNIGHT, THAT HE GO WITH HIM TO TOURNEYS AND BATTLES; BUT IT IS NECESSARY THAT HE BEHOLDS THE SCHOOL OF THE ORDER OF KNIGHTHOOD."  SEE ALSO: JOHN HARDING'S POETIC FRAGMENT TRAINING OF A SQUIRE  IN THE SCA, SQUIRES ARE TAKEN BY KNIGHTS IN A VARIETY OF ROLES: TEACHER/STUDENT, FRIEND/FRIEND, FATHER/SON. EACH RELATIONSHIP IS DIFFERENT, BUT THE ESSENCE OF EACH IS GENERALLY A TRADE OF TEACHING AND GUIDANCE ON ONE AND FOR SERVICE ON THE OTHER. FOR A MORE EXTENSIVE ESSAY SEE THE BOOK OF THE TOURNAMENT.
STAKE
THE METAL TOOLS OVER WHICH AN ARMOURER HAMMERS SHEET IRON OR STEEL. THERE ARE MANY SHAPES OF STAKES, BUT MOST OF THEM ARE EITHER CLASSIFIED AS "MUSHROOM" STAKES, "T" STAKES, "CHISEL" STAKES, OR "HORNS." SEE ALSO HAMMER, AND ARMOUR, TECHNIQUES REQUIRED FOR BUILDING.
STAR, ORDER OF THE
THE ORIGINAL COMPANY OF THE STAR, FOUNDED IN FRANCE DURING THE REIGN OF JOHN LE BON, (JOHN THE GOOD),WAS INTENDED TO BRING THE FRENCH CHIVALRY, INCREASINGLY FRAGMENTED, BACK TOGETHER UNDER THE CROWN, MUCH IN THE SAME MANNERHAS JOHNS ARCHIVAL, EDWARD III, HAD DONE WITH THE ORDER OF THE GARTER IN 1347. ORIGINALLY 500 KNIGHTS WERE ADMITTED INTO THE COMPANY; BY THEIR CHARTER JOHN WAS THEIR PRESIDENT, THEY WOULD MEET AT THE NOBLE MAISON ONCE PER YEAR FOR A GRAND FEAST AT WHICH THEY WOULD EXCHANGE THEIR DEEDS OF THE PAST YEAR, AND THAT MEMBERS OF THE ORDER WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF WITH A PENSION FROM THE COMPANY WHEN THEY WERE TOO OLD TO MAINTAIN THEIR ESTATES. UNFORTUNATELY, THEIR CHARTER ALSO DICTATED THAT THEY WOULD NEVER FLEE MORE THAN 100 ARPENTS FROM ANY BATTLE, A DECLARATION WHICH RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF MOST OF THE STAR COMPANIONS AT THE BATTLE OF MAURON (13XX), THE REST WERE SLAIN AT THE BATTLE OF POITIERS IN 1356.   GEOFFREY DE CHARNAY, A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE COMPANY, WAS ONE OF THE LAST COMPANIONS, SLAIN CARRYING THE ORIFLAMME.
STATUM ARMORUM IN TORNIAMENTIS
RULES FOR TOURNAMENTS SET DOWN IN 1265 UNDER EDWARD I, THE FIRST RULES FOR THE TOURNAMENT YET DOCUMENTED. THE RULES SPECIFIED HOW MANY SQUIRES A KNIGHT COULD BRING TO TOURNAMENT, THAT SUCH SQUIRES SHOULD NOT CARRY A POINTED SWORD, DAGGER OR STAFF. KNIGHTS WHO VIOLATED THE STATUM WERE TO LOSE THEIR HORSE AND ARMOUR AND BE IMPRISONED FOR THREE YEARS.
STECHTARSCHE
THE SMALL RIBBED GERMAN SHIELD LACED TO THE LEFT SHOULDER, USED IN THE GESTECHT, THAT SERVED AS A TARGET FOR JOUSTS OF PEACE. SOMETIMES THESE SHIELDS WERE MADE OF CUIRBOILLE, PAINTED OR GOLD LEAFED TO GREAT EFFECT.
STEEL, AS A MATERIAL FOR ARMOUR
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
STEWARD
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STUCKHOFEN
A FURNACE USED IN THE 15TH CENTURY TO SMELT STEEL FROM IRON ORE, USING A WATER-POWERED BELLOWS TO INCREASE THE HEAT ABOVE THE MELTING POINT OF IRON (1550 DEGREES C). SEE ALSO BLOOMERY PROCESS AND CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #13.
SUGARLOAF
A TRANSITION HELMET BETWEEN THE HEAULM AND THE BASCINET WHERE THE SKULL OF THE HELMET WAS POINTED LIKE A BASCINET AND THE SIDES ENCLOSED LIKE A HEAULM. BOTH WERE WORN UNTIL THE THIRD QUARTER OF THE CENTURY, WHEN THE VISORED BASCINET EMERGED AS DOMINANT. SUGARLOAFS WERE OFTEN ADORNED WITH A CROSS OF BRASS, BRONZE OR LATTEN ACROSS THE FRONT AND DECORATED WITH TORSES AND MANTLES, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY WERE FREQUENTLY WORN IN TOURNAMENTS AND IN JOUSTS.
SURCOAT
A CLOTH COVERING USUALLY WORN OVER THE BODY ARMOUR. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY THEY WERE GRADUALLY SHORTENED FROM THEIR 13TH CENTURY LINES. THEY STARTED DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE CENTURY ENDING AT THE KNEE, AND ENDED THE CENTURY ENDING AT THE EDGE OF THE HIP. DURING THE 15TH CENTURY THEY WERE SHORTENED FURTHER, AND EVENTUALLY ABANDONED IN FAVOR OF A LARGE TUNIC WORN OVER THE CUIRASS. THE ADDITION OF WHITE ARMOUR MADE THE USE OF A SURCOAT LESS IMPORTANT, AS FULL HARNESSES WERE GENERALLY SOMEWHAT INDIVIDUAL. MOST SURCOATS WERE EMBLAZONED WITH THE COTE OF ARMS OR DEVICE OR THE WEARER IN ORDER THAT THEY IDENTITY BE KNOWN IN THE CRUSH OF BATTLE.
SWORD
THE PREDOMINANT WEAPON OF THE KNIGHT; A LONG, TAPERED, USUALLY TWO-EDGED BLADE RANGING FROM 32" TO MORE THAN 72" IN LENGTH ENDING IN A POINT WHICH WAS SOMETIMES, BUT NOT ALWAYS, USED FOR THRUSTING. FOR MOST OF THE PERIOD FROM THE 9TH CENTURY TO THE END OF THE 15TH CENTURY, THE BROADSWORD REMAINED THE MAINSTAY WEAPON FOR KNIGHTS, SQUIRES AND MEN-AT-ARMS. SWORDS GENERALLY WEIGH LESS THAN POPULAR CULTURE WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE; THE FINEST WEAPON I HAVE HANDLED WAS ONE PURPORTED TO BELONG TO EDWARD III; IT WAS NEARLY 40" IN LENGTH AND WEIGHED IN AT ONLY 3 1/2 POUNDS. THE POMMELS ON MANY SWORDS ARE THICKER THAN THEY APPEAR IN MOST TWO DIMENSIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS, BEING HEAVY TO COUNTER THE BLADE. THE SWORD ALSO CAME TO POSSESS STRONG SYMBOLIC MEANINGS, DIFFERENT VIRTUES BEING ASSIGNED TOT HE TWO EDGES. THE QUILLION (A 16TH CENTURY TERM) OR CROSS-PIECE FORMED ACROSS THE HANDLE OF THE SWORD RESEMBLED A CHRISTIAN CROSS, FURTHERING THE SYMBOLISM. SEE ALSO BASTARDSWORD, CLAYMORE, AND CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #13.
SWORD IN THE STONE
{GALAHADS TEST}
TALLAGE
TAXES IMPOSED UPON THE SERFS OR VILLEINS OF AN ESTATE BY THE LORD TO SECURE AN INCOME. ORIGINALLY THE TALLAGE COULD BE ANY AMOUNT, THOUGH DURING THE 12TH CENTURY THIS BECOME MORE FORMALIZED AND THE LORDS GRADUALLY LOST THEIR ABILITY FOR TALLAGE AT WILL.
TASSET (TACES)
THE 15TH CENTURY DEFENSE FOR THE HIPS THAT ATTACHED TO THE FAULD. USUALLY A PLATE OF IRON OR STEEL, OFTEN FEATURING ONE OR MORE FLUTED RIBS AND A THICK ROLLED EDGE (AT LEAST IN THE FRONT) FOR STRENGTH. UNCOMMON DURING THE 14TH CENTURY; AN INTEGRAL PART OF MOST 15TH CENTURY WHITE HARNESSES.
TEMPLAR, KNIGHTS (KNIGHTS OF THE TEMPLE)
FOUNDED IN THE HOLY LAND IN 1119 TO GUARD THE SITE OF THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON AND TO PROTECT PILGRIMS EN ROUTE TO VISIT THE SITE. BECAUSE MANY OF THE CRUSADERS RETURNED HOME AFTER THE FIRST CRUSADE AND THE CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM IN 1099, THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF SOLDIERS TO PROVIDE THIS STEADY STREAM OF PILGRIMS WHO WHERE HARASSED AND AMBUSHED BY BRIGANDS AND BY MUSLIM IRREGULAR FORCES. HUGH DE PAYNS AND GODEFROI DE SAINT OMER, TWO KNIGHTS, SWORE AN OATH TO DEFEND THE PILGRIMS, TAKING AN OATH OF POVERTY, CHASTITY, OBEDIENCE, STYLIZING THEMSELVES AS KNIGHTS BUT IN THE TRADITION OF THE MONASTERIES. THESE WERE THE FIRST MONKS OF THE SWORD, MEN WHOSE DEVOTION TO FAITH AS SOLDIERS OF CHRIST BORE THE FULL FRUIT OF THE CHURCH EFFORTS TO CIVILIZE THE EARLY KNIGHTS.  IN 1130, BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX DREW UP THE RULES FOR THE ORDER IN THE PRAISE OF NEW KNIGHTHOOD. BERNARD SET UP THE ORDER WITH TWO MAIN CLASSES OF KNIGHTHOOD, THE KNIGHTS AND SERGEANTS OR SERVING BRETHREN. SERGEANTS OR SERVING BROTHERS WORE A BLACK OR BROWN MANTLE TO SHOW THEIR LOWER STATUS, WHILE THE KNIGHTS WORE A RED CROSS GRANTED BY POPE EUGENIUS III. MARRIED MEN WHO JOINED THE ORDER COULD ONLY JOIN AS SERGEANTS, THEIR PROPERTY COMING INTO THE POSSESSION OF THE ORDER RATHER THAN TO THEIR WIVES UPON THEIR DEATH.  THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR WERE AMAZINGLY SUCCESSFUL, ATTRACTING MEN OF ALL STATIONS TO SERVE IN THEIR ILLUSTRIOUS RANKS. FAMOUS KNIGHTS FROM ALL OVER ENGLAND TOOK UP THE MANTLE OF THE TEMPLARS, EVEN WILLIAM MARSHAL TOOK A KIND OF ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP, BEING BURIED IN TEMPLAR SILK. THE TEMPLARS RECEIVED LAVISH GIFTS BOTH FROM KNIGHTS WHO JOINED THEIR RANKS AND FROM MEN WANTING TO INCREASE THEIR FAME BY DEMONSTRATING THEIR LARGESSE, TO THE POINT WHERE THE TEMPLARS SET UP A HUGE BANKING INDUSTRY AND WERE PERHAPS THE RICHEST SINGLE ENTITY, NEXT TO THE CHURCH, AT THE POINT WHEN THEY WERE BROUGHT DOWN.  THIS AMAZING STORY CULMINATED IN 1308 WHEN KING PHILIP IV OF FRANCE, CHARGED THEIR LEADER WITH WITCHCRAFT AND HERESY, SEIZING THE TEMPLE ASSETS FOR FEAR OF THEIR IMMENSE POWER. PERSECUTION FOLLOWED THIS INSTANCE, THE POPULAR NOTION OF POOR KNIGHTS OPERATING A LARGE, SUCCESSFUL INTERNATIONAL BANKING OPERATION AND POSSESSING HUGE, LUXURIOUS ESTATES FEEDING JEALOUSY AND MAKING THE IRONY OBVIOUS FOR EVERYONE. THE TEMPLARS WERE DESTROYED AT THIS POINT, THOUGH SOME POPULAR LEGEND HAS THEM GOING UNDERGROUND.  ANOTHER SIMILAR ORDER, THE HOSPITALLERS, SURVIVED AND STILL EXIST TODAY.
TENANS
THE DEFENDERS IN A PAS DARMES; THOSE WHO SPONSOR THE PASSAGE, SET UP THE PAVILIONS, PROVIDE THE REFRESHMENTS, AND SOME TOKENS OF RECOGNITION TO THOSE WHO COME TO CHALLENGE THEM, WHO ARE KNOWN AS THE VENANS. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #4.
TENANS OF NOBLE FOLLY
AN SCA TOURNAMENT TEAM WITH MEMBERS IN WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA AND CALIFORNIA WORKING WITH THE GRAND COMPANY OF THE PEACOCKS TO BRING THE REN-STYLE OF TOURNAMENT TO THE MIDDLE KINGDOM. THEY ARE KNOWN BY THEIR DISTINCTIVE BLUE AND WHITE {SEMMAYED} WITH COUNTERCHANGED {SPOTS}. A LATE 14TH / EARLY 15TH CENTURY COMPANY, THE TENANS HAVE PUT FORTH A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT TO BRING AN INTEREST IN CHIVALRIC DISPLAY AND AUTHENTIC APPEARANCE TO THEIR REGION.
TEUTONIC KNIGHTS (TEUTONIC KNIGHTS OF THE HOSPITAL OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN)
A MILITARY-RELIGIOUS ORDER OF KNIGHTS THAT RESTRICTED MEMBERSHIP TO GERMANS. THEY WERE PART OF THE ORIGINAL HOSPITALLERS, BUT UNDER HERMANN VON SALZA THEY SPLIT FROM THE MAIN BRANCH AND FOUNDED THEIR OWN ORDER, TAKING ON A VERY DISTINCTIVE WHITE CLOAK BEARING A STARK BLACK CROSS ON THE LEFT SHOULDER. UPON THE FALL OF ACRE IN 1291 THEY RETIRED TO VENICE WHERE EMPEROR FREDERICK II COMMISSIONED THEM TO CONVERT THE HEATHENS IN PRUSSIA, LITHUANIA, AND ESTONIA, BECOMING A VERY SUCCESSFUL ORDER HEADQUARTERED IN MARIENBURG FROM 1309-1509.
THREE-DAYS TOURNAMENT
A ROMANTIC LITERARY DEVICE WHERE THE KNIGHTLY CHAMPION COULD APPEAR AT A TOURNAMENT FOR THREE SUCCESSIVE DAYS IN DIFFERENT COLORED ARMOUR, ALL INCOGNITO, WINNING RENOWN BY HIS DEEDS OF PROWESS RATHER THAN THROUGH HIS ALREADY ESTABLISHED REPUTATION. SUCH LITERARY USAGES GAVE RISE TO SIMILAR FORMATS IN THE MEDIEVAL TOURNAMENT AS A FESTIVAL, WHERE DIFFERENT FORMS OF COMBAT WERE DONE ON DIFFERENT DAYS. SEE ESPECIALLY KING RENɒS STYLE OF TOURNAMENT. SUCH THREE DAYS TOURNAMENTS WERE FOUND IN CLIGES, RICHARD COEUR DE LION, AND SIR GOWTHER.
THRUST
THE TECHNIQUE OF PUSHING WITH THE END OF A WEAPON TO PIERCE WITH THE TIP, USUALLY BASED ON SPEED AND SURPRISE, AS WELL AS POSITION. USED IN WAR DURING THE MIDDLE AGES, BUT SCORNED IN TOURNAMENT (SEE ESTOC). AS FENCING BECAME MORE POPULAR, THE THRUST BECAME THE PRIMARY ATTACK OF THE SWORD, APPROPRIATE WHEN THE ARMOUR OF THE DEFENDER WAS REDUCED BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF GUNPOWDER.
TIERCE
THIRD CANONICAL HOUR, APPROXIMATELY 9 AM.
TILT
A TERM USED TO DETERMINE BOTH JOUSTS DONE OVER A BARRIER AND TO DESCRIBE THE BARRIER ITSELF, COMMON FROM THE EARLY 15TH CENTURY ONWARDS. SEE ALSO  LA TOILLE.
TINCTURE
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TIPTOF, SIR JOHN, TOURNAMENT RULES
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TIRANT LO BLANC
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TITHE
LITERALLY A "TENTH", A MEDIEVAL FORM OF TAX OFTEN OWED TO THE LIEGE LORD OR TO THE CHURCH AS RENT ON LAND. SOMETIMES THE TITHE COULD BE AS MUCH AS THIRTY PERCENT, BUT TEN OR FIFTEEN WAS NORMAL. WHEN TITHES WERE COLLECTED NO OTHER TAXES WERE NORMALLY DUE ON THE PROPERTY, AND THE TITHE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A PERCENT OF PRODUCTION, NOT VALUE.
TORCHLIGHT TOURNAMENT
SEE PAS NOIRE.
TORSE
A COLORFUL CLOTH ROLL WORN AROUND THE CROWN OF THE HELMET, FROM WHICH THE MANTLING OR CLOTH DECORATION WAS ATTACHED. USED FROM THE 13TH CENTURY THROUGH THE 15TH, TORSES AND MANTLING HELPED TO IDENTIFY THE KNIGHT IN WAR AND PROVIDED A COLORFUL EXPRESSIVE TOOL FOR TOURNAMENTS AND PAGEANTS OF THE 15TH CENTURY. 
TOURNAMENT (TOURNOI)
THE BROAD TERM DESCRIBING A WHOLE RANGE OF MARTIAL ACTIVITIES FROM THE HASTILUDE, PAS DARMES, ROUND TABLE, PAGEANT, EMPRISE, AND A HOST OF OTHERS. THE TOURNAMENT BEGAN AS A TRAINING FOR WAR, AND WAS GRADUALLY MORE REGULATED AND SPECIALIZED. DURING THE 14TH CENTURY THE TOURNAMENT PROPER, THE HASTILUDE, WAS GRADUALLY SUPPLANTED BY THE JOUSTS AND FOOT COMBATS DESCRIBED IN PAS DARMES AND ROUND TABLES. KNIGHTS WOULD COMPETE AGAINST ONE ANOTHER UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYES OF THE HERALDS AND LADIES OF THE GALLERY, EARNING RENOWN AND FAME WHILE THEY DEMONSTRATED THEIR PROWESS. SEE PERIOD TOURNAMENT FORMATS FOR SCA COMBAT.  IT IS THE SPIRIT OF THE TOURNAMENT THAT HAS GIVEN STRENGTH TO THE TOURNAMENT COMPANIES, MODERN GROUPS OF RE-ENACTORS WHO SEE THE TOURNEY AS A TESTING GROUND FOR KNIGHTLY VIRTUE. SEE ALSO THE BOOK OF THE TOURNAMENT.
TOURNAMENT BOOKS
- DUARTE OF PORTUGAL ON JOUSTING  - KING RENɒS TOURNAMENT BOOK - GEOFFREY DE CHARNAYS DEMANDS POUR LE JOUTE, LA TOURNOIS, ET LE GUERRE.  - SIR JOHN TIPTOFS TOURNAMENT RULES  - MAXIMILIAN IS BOOK - ULRICH VON LICHTENSTEINS FREIDEN....
TOURNAMENT DECLARATION
THE CHALLENGE AND SET OF RULES GENERALLY CIRCULATED TO STIR EXCITEMENT FOR A TOURNAMENT OR PAS DARMES. GENERALLY IN THE FORM OF AN INTRODUCTION (THAT TELLS WHO THE DEFENDERS--THE TENANS --ARE), A TIME AND PLACE, THE RULES TO BE FOLLOWED, WHETHER WEAPONS AND ARMOUR WILL BE PROVIDED, AND WHAT PRIZES OR PENALTIES MIGHT BE INCURRED OR EXPECTED FROM VICTORY. MODERN TOURNAMENT COMPANIES HAVE BEGUN USING THE DECLARATION FOR THE SAME PURPOSE; SEE THE COMPANY OF SAINT GEORGE TOURNAMENT DECLARATIONS IN THE KNIGHTHOOD, CHIVALRY & TOURNAMENTS RESOURCE LIBRARY. ANOTHER EXAMPLE FROM THE 15TH CENTURY CAN BE FOUND IN CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #16. - WHEN THE TOURNEY OR PAS DARMES WILL BE HELD - WHERE THE TOURNEY WILL BE HELD - WHO IS SPONSORING THE TOURNEY - WHY THESE GENTLES ARE SPONSORING THE TOURNEY - THE SPECIFIC STYLES THAT ARE EXPECTED TO BE FOUGHT - ALLOWED WEAPONS - SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
TOURNAMENT SOCIETY
BECAUSE OF THE RISING COST AND LOGISTICAL DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED IN SPONSORING A TOURNAMENT, DURING THE EARLY AND MID 14TH CENTURY GROUPS OF KNIGHTS IN THE BAVARIAN REGION OF GERMANY BANDED THEMSELVES INTO SMALL GROUPS FOR THE PURPOSES OF SPONSORING AND PARTICIPATING IN TOURNAMENTS. BARBER AND BARKER (1989) PUT FORTH A THEORY THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THESE SOCIETIES THAT THE TOURNAMENT WAS MORE COMMON IN GERMANY THAN IN FRANCE OR ENGLAND, AND THE TOURNAMENT COMPANIES WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PROLIFERATION.  FOR ONE OF THESE SOCIETIES, THE TOURNAMENT WAS TO ACT AS AN ANNUAL ASSEMBLY, WHOSE MEMBERS WORE THE SAME LIVERY AND HELD A COURT AT THE SAME TOURNAMENT, TO WHICH THEY WERE TO BRING THEIR WIVES AND DAUGHTERS IN ORDER TO BRING HONOR TO THE SOCIETY, DURING WHICH THEY WERE TO CONDUCT THEIR ANNUAL BUSINESS. ALL MEMBERS ARE TO ATTEND, OR WERE FINED. A COUNCIL OF FOUR WAS NAMED TO OVERSEE THE MEMBERSHIP, AND MEMBERS WERE TO HELP ONE ANOTHER IN TIMES OF WAR. THEY FOUNDED A CHAPEL IN FREISING. ALL MEMBERS WERE TO OWN WAR-HORSES IF THEY WERE ABLE. SOME GERMAN SOCIETIES ELECTED A KING TO OVERSEE THEIR MEMBERS. ACCORDING TO BARKER AND BARBER, "...THE SOCIETY WAS INTENDED TO OFFER A SUITABLE ATMOSPHERE IN WHICH CHIVALRIC CULTURE COULD FLOURISH." WE HAVE DEFINITE RECORDS OF SOCIETIES IN EXISTENCE FROM 1387 TO THE 1430S, BUT IT IS LIKELY THAT THEY EXISTED BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THIS.  WITHIN THE SCA, THE TOURNAMENT SOCIETIES AND THE MONARCHICAL KNIGHTLY ORDERS (THE GARTER AND STAR, FOR EXAMPLE) PROVED THE DIRECT INSPIRATION FOR THE FORMATION OF THE TOURNAMENT COMPANIES, GROUPS OF KNIGHTS, MEN-AT-ARMS, AND LADIES DEDICATED TO PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF THE TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE.  UNFORTUNATELY, VERY LITTLE RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE ON THE HISTORICAL TOURNAMENT SOCIETIES; PRESUMABLY SOME OF THEIR DOCUMENTATION LIES BURIED IN THE GERMAN RECORDS, TO BE FOUND BY AN ENTERPRISING SCHOLAR.
TOURNAMENT TEAMS
WITHIN THE SCA, THE NAMES GIVEN TO PERMANENT CONROI OF KNIGHTS AND MEN-AT-ARMS WHO COME TOGETHER WITH THE AIM OF A MORE UNIFORM, HERALDIC FLAVOR TO THEIR FIELD APPEARANCE, A CONCERN FOR THE QUALITY AND AUTHENTICITY OF THEIR EQUIPMENT, AND A FOCUS ON KNIGHTLY BEHAVIOR. IN THE MIDDLE KINGDOM, THESE TEAMS HAVE ALSO DONE A GREAT DEAL OF WORK TOWARDS PROMULGATING THE MORE AUTHENTIC FORMAT OF TOURNAMENT, WHERE TEAMS OF KNIGHTS COMPETE FOR THE PRIZE. THE TENANS OF NOBLE FOLLY IN THE SCA REGION OF NORTHSHIELD WERE THE FIRST SUCH TEAM, FOLLOWED BY THE GRAND COMPANY OF THE PEACOCKS. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #10.
TOURNAMENTS, DEATHS IN
SEE DEATHS IN TOURNAMENT.
TOURNAMENTS, FIRST RECORDED INSTANCES
THOUGH MANY CHRONICLERS ATTACHED THE TERM TOURNEY TO SOME VERY EARLY ENDEAVORS,EVEN BIBLICAL ONES, THE FIRST RECORDED INSTANCES APPEAR TO BE:   - GEOFFREY OF MALATERRAS ACCOUNT OF A 1062 SIEGE IN WHICH THE PARTICIPANTS TOURNEYED - CHRONICLE OF TOURS: GEOFFREY DE PREUILLY, WHO INVENTED TOURNAMENTS, WAS KILLED AN ANGERS. (1062)
TOURNAMENTS, RULES FOR
IN THE EARLIEST RECORDS RELATING TO TOURNAMENTS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THESE ENGAGEMENTS WERE NOT WHAT WE MIGHT NOW THINK OF AS TOURNAMENTS, WITH THEIR COLOR AND PAGEANTRY, BUT WERE RATHER ALL BUT REAL BATTLES, SIMULACRA OF BATTLE, AS THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED, WHERE OPPOSING GROUPS OF KNIGHTS USED WEAPONS OF WAR IN A TEST ENGAGEMENT TO HONE THE SKILLS REQUIRED FOR COORDINATED CAVALRY ACTIONS AND CLOSE-ORDER CHARGES. INDEED, SOME OF THE EARLY RECORDS HAVE FOOTMEN AND IN ONE INSTANCE EVEN CROSSBOWMEN PRESENT AT THE TOURNEY. ALL TOO OFTEN THESE VAGUELY FRIENDLY EVENTS TRAMPLED FIELDS, CAUSED INJURY TO BYSTANDERS, AND OCCASIONALLY BROKE DOWN TO FULL-SCALE WARFARE, AS IN THE LITTLE BATTLE OF CHLLONS, WHERE EDWARD I ALMOST FELL IN A TOURNEY WHERE MORE THAN SEVENTY KNIGHTS WERE KILLED. IT WAS EVENTS SUCH AS THESE, AND THE TENDENCY OF THE ENGLISH BARONS TO USE THE TOURNAMENT AS AN EXCUSE FOR GATHERING TO PLOT AGAINST THEIR KING, THAT THE FIRST RULES CAME INTO BEING. THESE RULES AT FIRST LIMITED ONLY WHERE TOURNAMENTS COULD TAKE PLACE (RICHARD IS LICENSING), BUT LATER CAME TO BECOME MORE AND MORE RESTRICTIVE. FEW OF THESE RULES WERE PUBLISHED; SPECIFIC RULES WERE OFTEN APPARENT IN THE TOURNAMENT DECLARATION, BUT THERE ARE MANY REFERENCES THAT INDICATE THAT THE UNWRITTEN LAWS OF WAR COVERED TOURNAMENTS AS WELL. THE CHURCH ATTEMPTED TO RESTRICT THE TOURNAMENT AS WELL, AT FIRST THROUGH THE PEACE AND TRUCES OF GOD, AND LATER BY OUTRIGHT BAN ON ALL TOURNAMENTUM ACTIVITIES. THOUGH ULTIMATELY UNSUCCESSFUL, THESE EFFORTS DID CAUSE THE FORM OF THE TOURNAMENT TO BE MODIFIED, WHICH, TOGETHER WITH THE INCREASING PRESENCE OF SPECTATORS, CHANGED FOREVER HOW TOURNAMENTS WERE FOUGHT. RICHARD IS TOURNAMENT LICENSING STATUM TOURNEMANTEAUM SIR JOHN TIPTOFFS RULES HEILBRONN ORDINANCES, 1485
TOURNAMENTUM
A GENERAL TERM USED FOR ALL MANNER OF KNIGHTLY SPORTS DURING THE MIDDLE AGES THAT INVOLVED COMBAT EITHER SINGLY OR IN GROUPS. SUCH MIGHT HAVE INCLUDED BEHOURDS, VESPERS TOURNEYS, JOUSTS, EMPRISES, PAS DARMES, HASTILUDES, ROUND TABLES, AND A WIDE VARIETY OF OTHER MORE SPECIFIC GAMES. THIS TERM IS FOUND MOST OFTEN IN RECORDS BY THE CHURCH WHERE THEY ATTEMPT TO BAN TOURNAMENTS OR WHERE THEY ARE REFUSING SACRED GROUND FOR THE BURIAL OF SOMEONE SLAIN IN A TOURNAMENT.
TOURNOI DE CHAUVENCY
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TOURNOIS
FR. FOR TOURNAMENT.
TOWER OF LONDON
THE MOST FAMOUS ARMOUR MUSEUM IN THE WORLD. THE MUSEUM HOUSES WHAT IS ARGUABLY THE FINEST COLLECTION OF ARMOUR IN THE WORLD, INCLUDING SEVERAL VERY FINE VISORED BASCINETS, SEVERAL 15TH CENTURY HARNESSES, AND AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF PIECES FROM THE 14TH AND 15TH CENTURIES, IN ADDITION TO THE VERY LARGE COLLECTION OF LATER EQUIPMENT.
TRAICT DE LA FORME ET LA DEVISE DUNG TOURNOI
SEE THE BOOK ON THE FORM AND THE DEVISING OF A TOURNAMENT AND REN DANJOU.
TRANSITIONAL ARMOUR
ARMOUR OF THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD, WHEN MAIL DEFENSES WERE GRADUALLY AUGMENTED DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FULL PLATE HARNESS.
TRANSITIONAL PERIOD
CORRESPONDING ROUGHLY TO THE 14TH CENTURY, IT WAS THE PERIOD DIRECTLY IN BETWEEN THE USE OF MAIL AND CASQUES AND THE INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION OF FULL PLATE DURING THE 15TH CENTURY. IT WAS A TIME OF BROAD EXPERIMENTATION IN TERMS OF MATERIALS, ENGINEERING TECHNIQUES, AND PREFERRED ZONES OF DEFENSE. MOST OF THE ADORNMENT IN TRANSITIONAL ARMOUR IS EXPECTED TO BE FOUND IN THE ELEGANT SIMPLICITY OF THE PIECES, AND IN THE INTERPLAY OF COLORS BETWEEN THE FABRIC, LEATHER, AND METAL CONTRASTS. ALSO CHARACTERIZED BY A VERY ATHLETIC LINE, INCLUDING THE EMPHASIS OF THE "WASP-WAISTED" LOOK FOR THE BODY AND SLENDER APPEARANCE OF THE LIMBS. THE TRANSITIONAL STYLE AFFECTS A STUDY IN COMPLIMENTARY COLORS, HERALDIC DISPLAYS ENHANCED WITH METAL TO ADD TO THE SENSE OF MARTIAL SERIOUSNESS.
TREE OF BATTLES
BIBLE OF WIGLAF WILFRIDDING, THE TREATISE ON THE LAWS OF WAR WRITTEN IN THE 14TH CENTURY BY HONORET BONET.
TREE OF SHIELDS
THE PLACE WHERE SEVERAL COLORED SHIELDS ARE HUNG FOR A PAS DARMES, WHERE KNIGHTS MAY CHOOSE THE KIND OF COMBAT THEY DESIRE. GENERALLY, THIS IS DONE BY SMARTLY SMACKING A SWORD AGAINST THE SHIELD, STATING YOUR CHALLENGE, AND THEN OFFERING THIS CHALLENGE TO ONE OF THE DEFENDERS ARRAYED OPPOSITE THE FIELD. IN THE COMPANY OF SAINT GEORGE COMBATS, FOUR OPTIONS ARE GENERALLY OFFERED: COMBATS OF COUNTED BLOWS; COMBATS AT THE BARRIER; COMBATS IN THE FIELD; AND THE MLE.
TRIAL BY BATTLE OR COMBAT
A FORM OF TRIAL OFTEN OPEN TO GENTLES OF THE KNIGHTLY CLASS, GENERALLY TO FEND OFF A CHARGE OF TREASON OR DISHONORABLE CONDUCT. GENERALLY FOUGHT TO THE DEATH; THE DEFEATED OPPONENT WAS GENERALLY REMOVED FROM THE LISTS AND EXECUTED. SEE ALSO JUDICIAL DUEL.
TRISTAN & ISEULT
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TRIUMPH
A 16TH CENTURY TOURNAMENT WHERE MARTIAL ACTIVITIES WERE SECONDARY TO THE PAGEANTRY, THE DISPLAY OF FANTASTIC COSTUMES AND ELABORATE PROPS PREDOMINATING.
TROLIUS & CRISEYDE
{CHAUCER}
TROU-DE-LOUP
FR. WOLF TRAPS. DEFENSIVE POTHOLES DUG IN FRONT OF FLEMISH LINES AT THE BATTLE OF COURTAI TO BREAK UP THE FRENCH CAVALRY CHARGE.
TROUVERE
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TRUCE OF GOD
SEE PEACE OF GOD.
TURNIERBUCH
A GERMAN BOOK OF TOURNAMENTS DATING FROM 1530, WRITTEN BY GEORG RUEXNER, DESCRIBING SUPPOSEDLY ANCIENT TOURNAMENTS.
TWO-SWORD
AN SCA FIGHTING STYLE WHERE TWO-BROADSWORDS ARE USED INSTEAD OF A SWORD AND SHIELD. SEE ALSO FLOURENTINE. BACK TO GLOSSARY
ULNA
THE 14TH CENTURY TERM REFERRING TO CLOTH MEASUREMENTS, THE ELL AND YARD, USED INTERCHANGEABLY; ACTUALLY AN IRON BAR DISTRIBUTED IN ENGLAND DURING THE REIGN OF RICHARD I TO STANDARDIZE THE UNITS OF MEASURE.
VALERIUS SCHOOL
THE MODERN SCHOOL OF ARMOURERS ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE SCA UNDER THE FOUNDING PARTNERS AARON TOMAN (AKA SCA COUNT VALERIUS PAENCALVUS, KNIGHT, OL-MIDDLE KINGDOM) AND WADE ALLEN (NO LONGER IN THE SCA). THE FIRST ARMOURERS IN THIS COUNTRY WHO WERE SUCCESSFUL AT BLENDING ARTISTIC QUALITY WITH HISTORICAL ACCURACY AND SAFETY ON THE TOURNAMENT FIELD. THEY TAUGHT A SMALL GENERATION OF ARMOURERS WHO FOLLOWED THEM, ALL OF WHOM ATTAINED THE RANK OF "LAUREL" IN THE SCA. THESE IN TURN HAVE SPAWNED YET A THIRD GENERATION, WHO ARE CURRENTLY VERY ACTIVE IN THE SCA ARMOUR WORLD. "VALERIUS" PIECES ARE KNOWN FOR BEING OF VERY HIGH QUALITY, HIGHLY DURABLE, HIGHLY POLISHED, AND TO HAVE A VERY SLEEK LINE, IN ADDITION TO BEING EXTREMELY ACCURATE IN TERMS OF HISTORICAL STYLE.
VAMBRACE
"TUBULAR" OR "GUTTER" DEFENSES FOR THE FOREARM, DEVELOPING FIRST DURING THE 14TH CENTURY. DURING THE WHOLE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD, MANY MATERIALS WERE EXPERIMENTED WITH LEATHER, SOMETIMES REINFORCED WITH LONGITUDINAL STRIPS; IRON; WITH OR WITHOUT SEPARATE COUTERS. GENERALLY LACED DIRECTLY TO THE UNDERLYING MAIL, BY 1335 IN ENGLAND THE MAIL WAS REDUCED AND THE VAMBRACE WAS ATTACHED TO THE COUTER VIA LAMES AND RIVETS (SEE ARM HARNESS). THE USE OF IRON WAS ESSENTIALLY INTRODUCED AT THAT TIME. SPLINTED VAMBRACES WERE POPULAR IN GERMANY AND IN ITALY DURING THE WHOLE OF THE 14TH CENTURY, FEATURING HEAVY, POSSIBLY TOOLED LEATHER AND REINFORCED WITH LONGITUDINAL STRIPS OF METAL. (BLAIR P. 64)
VAMPLATE
THE METAL OR LEATHER GUARD FOR THE HAND OR ARM ON A LANCE. SUCH ARE NICELY DEPICTED IN AN ILLUMINATION DEPICTING A JOUST OF WAR BETWEEN SIR JOHN ASTLEY AND PIERRE DE MASSEY.
VANGUARD
SEE AVANT-GUARD.
VASSAL
ORIGINALLY THE COMITATUS OF GERMAN RELATIONS WHERE A MAN WOULD OFFER HIS SERVICES IN RETURN FOR THE PROTECTION OF A LORD. BY THE 12TH CENTURY, THESE CONTRACTS HAD BECOME MORE FORMALIZED, AND A VASSAL GENERALLY SOUGHT TO CLOSELY DEFINE THE TERMS OF VASSALAGE AND TO MAKE THE RELATIONSHIP HEREDITARY AS A WAY OF PROVIDING FOR OFFSPRING. DURING THE MIDDLE AGES A VASSAL WAS A FREE MAN WHO VOLUNTARILY EXCHANGED HIS SERVICE, SOMETIMES MILITARY SERVICE, IN EXCHANGE FOR PROTECTION. A VASSAL SWORE AN OATH OF FEALTY TO THE LIEGE LORD, WHO SWORE A RETURN OATH TO DEFEND THE VASSAL. THIS CONTRACT, ENHANCED BY THE PERSONAL BOND OF HOMAGE, TIED FEUDAL RELATIONSHIPS TOGETHER AND INSURED A MEASURE OF CONTINUITY AND PREDICTABILITY, STABILITY THAT ALLOWED SOCIETY TO GROW AND DEVELOP OUT OF THE FEUDAL AGE.
VENANS
FR. THE CHALLENGERS IN A PAS DARMES; THOSE WHO COME TO TEST THEIR PROWESS AGAINST THE DEFENDERS, THE TENANS. SEE ALSO CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #4.
VENTAIL
(SEE ALSO AVENTAIL) THESE WERE MAIL OR PLATE SKIRTS ATTACHED TO BASCINETS TO DEFEND THE THROAT DURING THE LATTER HALF OF THE 14TH AND TO THE MID 15TH CENTURY.
VENUSFAHRT
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VERT
HERALDIC DENOTATION FOR GREEN, A COLOR RATHER THAN A METAL.
VERVELLES
BRONZE, BRASS OR LATTEN "STAPLES" THAT ATTACHED TO A BASCINET TO ENABLE THE LEATHER CUFF OF AN AVENTAIL TO BE SECURED TO THE HELMET.
VESPERS TOURNEY
A TOURNEY HELD ON THE EVE OF A LARGER EVENT, WHERE THE YOUNGER KNIGHTS BACHELOR AND SQUIRES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR PROWESS BEFORE THE OTHER KNIGHTS AND ASSEMBLED GALLERY. OFTEN FOUGHT AS A BHOURD, USING BLUNTED, ASH OR WHALEBONE WEAPONS AND MODIFIED ARMOUR.
VIGIL
THE KNIGHT S WATCH THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS ELEVATION TO KNIGHTHOOD, THE ACCOLADE, FREQUENTLY CONDUCTED UPON THE ALTAR AT A CHURCH. THERE IS LITTLE MENTION OF THE PRACTICE BEFORE THE LATE 15TH CENTURY, YET IT HAS BECOME AN ICONOGRAPHIC PART OF THE KNIGHTLY IMAGE.  MODERN KNIGHTS IN THE SCA HOLD THEIR VIGILS ALL NIGHT, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, OFTEN ATTENDED BY OTHER KNIGHTS OF HIGH RENOWN, WHO SPEAK TO THE CANDIDATE ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A KNIGHT.
VILLEIN
A BONDSMAN, A MAN BONDED TO THE LAND THAT HE WORKED. VILLEINS LIVED IN VILLAGES, ATTACHED TO A LORD S HOLDINGS, ALL BUT A SLAVE. A LORD WHO OWNED THE LAND TO WHICH A VILLEIN WAS ATTACHED COULD DO ANYTHING WITH HIM HE PLEASED, SAVE MUTILATION OR KILLING HIM. VILLEINS HAD FEW RIGHTS, AND ONLY IN RARE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE RELEASED FROM THEIR BONDAGE. UNDER HENRY I, THIS CEREMONY HAD TO BE CONDUCTED IN A PUBLIC PLACE SUCH AS IN A CHURCH OR MARKETPLACE, THAT MANY GAINED KNOWLEDGE OF THE RELEASE AND THE VILLEIN, NOW A FREEMAN, WAS NOT CONSIDERED TO HAVE FLED HIS FEUDAL CONTRACT. A MAN WAS A VILLEIN IF HIS FATHER WAS A VILLEIN; ONLY BY THE RELEASE OF THE LORD COULD BE EVER BE FREE.  VILLEINS HELD FEW RIGHTS, UNABLE TO FISH IN THE LORDS RIVERS, TO HUNT OR DRAW FIREWOOD FROM HIS FORESTS, MARRY HIS DAUGHTER OFF WITHOUT PERMISSION (AND A FEE, GENERALLY), OR COMMIT HIS SON TO HOLY ORDERS.
VISCOUNT
THE NAME GIVEN TO OFFICERS WILLIAM I CHOSE TO REPLACE THE ENGLISH SHERIFFS, EVENTUALLY GROWING IN STATURE IN THE PEERAGE TO FOLLOW COUNTS AND EARLS, SUPERSEDING THE RANK OF BARON.  IN THE SCA, THE TITLE OF VISCOUNT IS AWARDED TO PRINCES WHO HAVE SERVED A SINGLE REIGN AS HEAD OF PRINCIPALITY, CARRYING THE ADDRESS, YOUR EXCELLENCY  AND RANKING AS IN HISTORY, ABOVE BARON BUT BELOW A COUNT OR EARL.
VISOR
PROTECTION FOR THE EYES AND FACE, AFFIXED TO THE HELMET FROM THE SIDE OR TOP CENTER. ON A BASCINET, THE VISOR IS KNOWN AS A KLAPPVISIER, OR HUNDSKUL.
VOW OF THE HERON
PART OF THE TACTICS USED BY ROBERT DARTOIS TO GET EDWARD III TO CONDUCT HIS CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE FRENCH. ONE DAY, THE EXPATRIATED FRENCH KNIGHT AND COUNT WITNESSED A HAWK TAKING DOWN A HERON, AND REPORTEDLY THIS GAVE HIM HIS IDEA. HE HAD A HERON COOKED AND PREPARED, LED INTO THE KING S HALL LED BY GUITARISTS, LUTISTS, AND TWO LADIES OF GENTLE BIRTH. HE PRESENTED THE BIRD TO EDWARD, EXCLAIMING THAT SINCE THE HERON WAS THE MOST COWARDLY OF ALL BIRDS, IT WAS APPROPRIATE THAT IT SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO HIS MAJESTY, SINCE EDWARD HAD ALLOWED HIMSELF TO BE DEPRIVED OF HIS KINGDOM OF FRANCE. FURIOUS, THE KING VOWED THAT HE WOULD INDEED RECLAIM HIS THRONE OF FRANCE, SENDING THE BIRD AROUND TO SECURE VOWS OF THE KNIGHTS PRESENT THAT THEY WOULD ALSO ACCOMPANY HIM ON THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. IT IS NOT KNOWN WHETHER THIS IS ACTUALLY WHAT HAPPENED OR IF EDWARD ENGINEERED THE EVENT TO CAPITALIZE ON A PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE HIS DESIGNS ON FRANCE KNOWN, BUT IT IS WELL WITHIN THE CAPABILITIES OF WHAT WE KNOW OF DARTOIS TO HAVE ENGINEERED SUCH A FIASCO.
VOWS
A KNIGHTLY PROMISE TO ACCOMPLISH SOME FEAT, USUALLY A MILITARY FEAT IN MEETING A NUMBER OF CHALLENGERS, CONDUCTING JOUSTS, OR CAMPAIGNING AGAINST AN ENEMY. THE VOW BECAME AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THE KNIGHTLY GESTURE, SUCH AS WHEN ULRICH VON LIECHTENSTEIN CONDUCTED THE VENUFAHRT OR WHEN KNIGHTS VOWED TO ACCOMPLISH DEEDS OF CHIVALRY AGAINST THE FRENCH AT THE VOW OF THE HERON.
VULGATE CYCLE
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WACE
AN POET IN THE EARLY ARTHURIAN TRADITION CREDITED WITH FIRST INTRODUCING THE CONCEPT OF THE ROUND TABLE INTO THE ARTHURIAN MYTHOS, HIS VERSION OF GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTHS HISTORY OF THE KINGS OF BRITAIN WAS COMPLETED IN 1155.
WAFFENSAMLUNG, AUSTRIA
THE EXTENSIVE COLLECTION IN VIENNA, FEATURING A VERY LARGE AND HIGH QUALITY COLLECTION OF GOTHIC AND MAXIMILLIAN ARMOURS. SEE ALSO ARMOUR, COLLECTIONS.
WALLACE COLLECTION
THE COLLECTION IN LONDON FEATURING A WIDE VARIETY OF EQUIPMENT. THE PRIZE PIECE IN THE COLLECTION IS A FULL HARNESS FOR HORSE AND MAN OF GOTHIC ARMOUR, ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES TO BE FOUND ANYWHERE. SEE ALSO ARMOUR, COLLECTIONS. THE WALLACE COLLECTION, HERTFORD HOUSE, MANCHESTER SQUARE, LONDON, W1M 6BN. VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.DEMON.CO.UK/HERITAGE/WALLACE.
WAMBAIS,WAMBESIUM,WAMBESIUM,WAMBS
A KIND OF ARMING COAT WORN DURING THE 13TH - 15TH CENTURY BOTH AS A COMPLETE ARMOUR UNTO ITSELF AND AS PADDING FOR ADDITIONAL ARMOUR WORN OVER THE TOP. THEY WERE GENERALLY QUILTED, EITHER SEWN OR STUFFED WITH LINEN, TOW OR EVEN GRASS. MOST OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE 14TH CENTURY SHOW MANY BUTTONS OR LACES UP THE FRONT, AND THERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES THAT FEATURE A HIGH COLLAR TO ASSIST IN THE DEFENSE OF THE NECK. 14TH CENTURY AKETONS WERE GENERALLY CUT WIDE AROUND THE ARM HOLES IN A MANNER THAT FOLLOWED THE LINE OF THE BREASTPLATE OR CUIRASS. THESE EXTRA-LARGE ARM-HOLES SERVED TO GRANT COMPLETE MOBILITY FOR A FULL RANGE OF ARM MOTION WHILE PROVIDING A LAST-DITCH DEFENSE OF THE AREA UNDER THE ARM. I CAN FIND NO EVIDENCE OF AKETONS EVER BEING OPEN UNDER THE ARM, THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON SCA STYLE. SEE ALSO THE POURPOINT, A GARMENT WORN UNDER THE ARMING COAT USEFUL FOR ATTACHING THE LACES FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF A LEG HARNESS. A WORKABLE PATTERN FOR A 14TH CENTURY MODEL CAN BE FOUND IN CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #2.  MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE 14TH CENTURY - 1300-1350 KNIGHTS WORE THE HAUBERGEON OVER THEIR AKETON - 1350-1400 AKETON SHORTENED AND BEGINS TO BE WORN UNDER THE JUPON, SOMETIMES THE ONLY BODY DEFENSE. STRONGLY WASP-WAISTED FORM COMMON TO THE PERIOD. - 1350-1400 SLEEVES WERE SOMETIMES "BANANA SLEEVED" OR BALLOONING OUT OR WERE NARROW SO AS TO FIT UNDER THE ARM HARNESS. BOTH SEEM POPULAR FOR THE ENTIRE PERIOD.
WAMBESIUM
A KIND OF ARMING COAT WORN DURING THE 13TH - 15TH CENTURY BOTH AS A COMPLETE ARMOUR UNTO ITSELF AND AS PADDING FOR ADDITIONAL ARMOUR WORN OVER THE TOP. THEY WERE GENERALLY QUILTED, EITHER SEWN OR STUFFED WITH LINEN, TOW OR EVEN GRASS. MOST OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE 14TH CENTURY SHOW MANY BUTTONS OR LACES UP THE FRONT, AND THERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES THAT FEATURE A HIGH COLLAR TO ASSIST IN THE DEFENSE OF THE NECK. 14TH CENTURY AKETONS WERE GENERALLY CUT WIDE AROUND THE ARM HOLES IN A MANNER THAT FOLLOWED THE LINE OF THE BREASTPLATE OR CUIRASS. THESE EXTRA-LARGE ARM-HOLES SERVED TO GRANT COMPLETE MOBILITY FOR A FULL RANGE OF ARM MOTION WHILE PROVIDING A LAST-DITCH DEFENSE OF THE AREA UNDER THE ARM. I CAN FIND NO EVIDENCE OF AKETONS EVER BEING OPEN UNDER THE ARM, THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON SCA STYLE. SEE ALSO THE POURPOINT, A GARMENT WORN UNDER THE ARMING COAT USEFUL FOR ATTACHING THE LACES FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF A LEG HARNESS. A WORKABLE PATTERN FOR A 14TH CENTURY MODEL CAN BE FOUND IN CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #2.  MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE 14TH CENTURY - 1300-1350 KNIGHTS WORE THE HAUBERGEON OVER THEIR AKETON - 1350-1400 AKETON SHORTENED AND BEGINS TO BE WORN UNDER THE JUPON, SOMETIMES THE ONLY BODY DEFENSE. STRONGLY WASP-WAISTED FORM COMMON TO THE PERIOD. - 1350-1400 SLEEVES WERE SOMETIMES "BANANA SLEEVED" OR BALLOONING OUT OR WERE NARROW SO AS TO FIT UNDER THE ARM HARNESS. BOTH SEEM POPULAR FOR THE ENTIRE PERIOD.
WAMBESIUM
A KIND OF ARMING COAT WORN DURING THE 13TH - 15TH CENTURY BOTH AS A COMPLETE ARMOUR UNTO ITSELF AND AS PADDING FOR ADDITIONAL ARMOUR WORN OVER THE TOP. THEY WERE GENERALLY QUILTED, EITHER SEWN OR STUFFED WITH LINEN, TOW OR EVEN GRASS. MOST OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE 14TH CENTURY SHOW MANY BUTTONS OR LACES UP THE FRONT, AND THERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES THAT FEATURE A HIGH COLLAR TO ASSIST IN THE DEFENSE OF THE NECK. 14TH CENTURY AKETONS WERE GENERALLY CUT WIDE AROUND THE ARM HOLES IN A MANNER THAT FOLLOWED THE LINE OF THE BREASTPLATE OR CUIRASS. THESE EXTRA-LARGE ARM-HOLES SERVED TO GRANT COMPLETE MOBILITY FOR A FULL RANGE OF ARM MOTION WHILE PROVIDING A LAST-DITCH DEFENSE OF THE AREA UNDER THE ARM. I CAN FIND NO EVIDENCE OF AKETONS EVER BEING OPEN UNDER THE ARM, THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON SCA STYLE. SEE ALSO THE POURPOINT, A GARMENT WORN UNDER THE ARMING COAT USEFUL FOR ATTACHING THE LACES FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF A LEG HARNESS. A WORKABLE PATTERN FOR A 14TH CENTURY MODEL CAN BE FOUND IN CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #2.  MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE 14TH CENTURY - 1300-1350 KNIGHTS WORE THE HAUBERGEON OVER THEIR AKETON - 1350-1400 AKETON SHORTENED AND BEGINS TO BE WORN UNDER THE JUPON, SOMETIMES THE ONLY BODY DEFENSE. STRONGLY WASP-WAISTED FORM COMMON TO THE PERIOD. - 1350-1400 SLEEVES WERE SOMETIMES "BANANA SLEEVED" OR BALLOONING OUT OR WERE NARROW SO AS TO FIT UNDER THE ARM HARNESS. BOTH SEEM POPULAR FOR THE ENTIRE PERIOD.
WAMBS
A KIND OF ARMING COAT WORN DURING THE 13TH - 15TH CENTURY BOTH AS A COMPLETE ARMOUR UNTO ITSELF AND AS PADDING FOR ADDITIONAL ARMOUR WORN OVER THE TOP. THEY WERE GENERALLY QUILTED, EITHER SEWN OR STUFFED WITH LINEN, TOW OR EVEN GRASS. MOST OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE 14TH CENTURY SHOW MANY BUTTONS OR LACES UP THE FRONT, AND THERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES THAT FEATURE A HIGH COLLAR TO ASSIST IN THE DEFENSE OF THE NECK. 14TH CENTURY AKETONS WERE GENERALLY CUT WIDE AROUND THE ARM HOLES IN A MANNER THAT FOLLOWED THE LINE OF THE BREASTPLATE OR CUIRASS. THESE EXTRA-LARGE ARM-HOLES SERVED TO GRANT COMPLETE MOBILITY FOR A FULL RANGE OF ARM MOTION WHILE PROVIDING A LAST-DITCH DEFENSE OF THE AREA UNDER THE ARM. I CAN FIND NO EVIDENCE OF AKETONS EVER BEING OPEN UNDER THE ARM, THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON SCA STYLE. SEE ALSO THE POURPOINT, A GARMENT WORN UNDER THE ARMING COAT USEFUL FOR ATTACHING THE LACES FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF A LEG HARNESS. A WORKABLE PATTERN FOR A 14TH CENTURY MODEL CAN BE FOUND IN CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #2.  MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE 14TH CENTURY - 1300-1350 KNIGHTS WORE THE HAUBERGEON OVER THEIR AKETON - 1350-1400 AKETON SHORTENED AND BEGINS TO BE WORN UNDER THE JUPON, SOMETIMES THE ONLY BODY DEFENSE. STRONGLY WASP-WAISTED FORM COMMON TO THE PERIOD. - 1350-1400 SLEEVES WERE SOMETIMES "BANANA SLEEVED" OR BALLOONING OUT OR WERE NARROW SO AS TO FIT UNDER THE ARM HARNESS. BOTH SEEM POPULAR FOR THE ENTIRE PERIOD.
WARD
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WARLORD TOURNAMENT STYLE
AN SCA STYLE OF TOURNAMENT WHERE IN THE FIRST ROUND THERE ARE SINGLE COMBATS, THE LOSER OF THE BOUT JOINING THE TEAM OF THE VICTOR FOR THE SECOND AND SUCCESSIVE ROUNDS. IN THE SECOND ROUND, THESE TWO JOIN FORCES TO DEFEAT THEIR TWO CHALLENGERS, THE LOSERS ONCE AGAIN JOINING THE VICTORS SIDE UNTIL AT THE END OF THE TOURNAMENT THERE ARE TWO LARGE TEAMS THAT FIGHT IN A MLE TO DETERMINE WHICH MAN IS THE VICTOR.
WARS OF THE ROSES
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WAT TYLER
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WESTMINSTER ABBEY
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WHALEBONE, EVIDENCE FOR USE AS A TOURNEY WEAPON
IN THE 1278 ACCOUNTS OF EDWARD I FOR THE TOURNAMENT HELD AT WINDSOR, WEAPONS OF WHALEBONE ARE MENTIONED ALONGSIDE THE CUIRBOILLE ARMOUR INTENDED FOR THE TOURNEY. SEE ALSO BEHOURDS.
WHITE ARMOUR
THE FIRST COMPLETE CAP  PIED (HEAD TO FOOT) ARMOURS, POPULAR DURING THE 15TH CENTURY. THEY WERE MADE CHIEFLY IN ITALY AND IN GERMANY, TWO OF THE ARMOURING CAPITALS OF EUROPE AND EXPORTED THROUGHOUT THE CONTINENT. THE NAME COMES FROM THE VERY HIGH GLOSSY WHITE POLISH THAT WAS OFTEN PUT ON THE ARMOUR TO PROTECT IT FROM RUST AND THE ELEMENTS.
WING
THE EXTENSION ON A POLEYN OR COUTER TO DEFEND THE JOINT OF THE KNEE OR ELBOW, RESPECTIVELY, COMING INTO USE AFTER 1350 OR SO. SEE ALSO ARM HARNESS AND LEG HARNESS.
WISBY, BATTLE OF
1361. AN ENGAGEMENT WHERE MANY OLD MEN AND BOYS WERE SLAUGHTERED WEARING COTES OF PLATES. AFTER THE BATTLE IT WAS SO HOT THAT THE BODIES WERE BURIED IN A MASS GRAVE, WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE PEAT BOG THAT HAS SINCE PRESERVED THEM IN REMARKABLE CONDITION, YIELDING MANY INSIGHTS INTO BATTLEFIELD WOUND PATHOLOGY AND PROVIDING THE ONLY EXAMPLES OF BRIGANDINE GAUNTLETS AND INTACT COTES OF PLATES.
WROUGHT IRON
IRON RELATIVELY FREE FROM CARBON AND OTHER IMPURITIES. PRODUCED THROUGH THE REDUCTION OF IRON ORE, OR THROUGH THE REFINING OF CAST IRON.
WURTZBURG TOURNAMENTS OF 1479
A SERIES OF TWENTY ARTICLES THAT DETAIL A LATE 15TH CENTURY TOURNAMENT SERIES, INTERESTING FOR THE DETAILS CONCERNING TOURNAMENT FORMS OF THE PERIOD.
YARD
AS A MEASURE FOR CLOTH, GENERALLY 4/5 OF AN ELL OR 36-37".
YSOLDE
SEE TRISTAN & ISEULT OR ISEULT.
YVAIN
THE CHRTIEN DE TROYES ROMANCE WRITTEN ABOUT 1170, CONTAINING THE EARLIEST LITERARY EXAMPLE OF A TOURNAMENT.
ZIFAR
THE PROTAGONIST OF CASTILE'S OLDEST EXTANT CHIVALRIC ROMANCE, THE LIBRO DEL CAUALLERO DE DIOS. THOUGH THERE ARE SOME ARTHURIAN ELEMENTS IN THE BOOK, IT IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO BE A HYBRID WORK, INCORPORATING ETHICO-MORAL TREATISES SUCH AS THE FLORES DE FILOSOFA ALONG WITH CHIVALRIC EPISODES INTO ITS TEXT. IT WAS COMPOSED DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE 14TH CENTURY.(CONTIBUTED BY VINCENT BARLETTA, DEPT. OF SPANISH & PORTUGUESE, UCLA)
DAME SAUVAGE
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 BONNE USANCE ALSO  BUTIN
FOR MY OWN GOOD USE. A CRY UTTERED BY SOLDIERS AS THEY SEARCHED FOR SPOILS OF WAR WHILE AN ENEMY FLED.
 LOGIS PLOYEZ LES BANNIERS
WORDS USED BY HERALDS TO SIGNIFY THE END OF A TOURNAMENT --TO YOUR HOMES--FURL YOUR BANNERS.
 LA TOILLE
A JOUST HELD ON EITHER SIDE OF A BARRIER. PRIOR TO THE EARLY 15TH CENTURY, JOUSTS WERE CONDUCTED IN THE OPEN RATHER THAN ON EITHER SIDE OF A LOW WALL, WHICH MADE THE EVENT MUCH MORE DANGEROUS. THE FIRST REFERENCE FOUND IN CHRONICLES IS FOUND IN A PAS DARMES HELD BY PIERRE DE BAUFFREMONT C. 1442, DESCRIBED IN IN ENGERRAND DE MONSTRELET'S CHRONIQUE. SEE CHRONIQUE: THE JOURNAL OF CHIVALRY #16 FOR A REPRINT OF THIS ENCOUNTER. ALSO KNOWN AS THE TILT.  
 OUTRANCE
(FR. "WITH UTMOST HOSTILITY") INDICATES A COMBAT OF WAR, NOT FOUGHT FOR PLEASURE. WARS WOULD BE FOUGHT  OUTRANCE, AS MIGHT AN EMPRISE, BUT A FRIENDLY PASSAGE AT ARMS, SUCH AS A PAS DARMES, WOULD BE FOUGHT FOR PLEASURE,  PLAISIR. IN AN  OUTRANCE ENCOUNTER, THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY OR DEATH WAS HIGHER, AS THE OPPONENT WAS VIEWED MORE AS AN ENEMY THAN AS A FRIENDLY OPPONENT. JOUSTS OF WAR WOULD BE FOUGHT IN THIS MANNER, WHEREAS A JOUST OF PEACE WOULD BE FOUGHT  PLAISIR.
 PLAISIR
(FR. "FOR PLEASURE") USED TO DENOTE A FRIENDLY COMBAT, A COMBAT BETWEEN MARTIAL PEERS. A JOUST OF PEACE WOULD BE FOUGHT THUS, WHEREAS AN EMPRISE OR A WAR WOULD BE FOUGHT  OUTRANCE.
 PRIX DUNE ESQUILETTE
(FR. "EQUAL SHARES") THE SPOILS OF WAR WON DURING A CAMPAIGN, PART OF THE PAYMENT RECEIVED BY A MAN-AT-ARMS DURING THE 14TH CENTURY.
LE DE FRANCE
THE 14TH CENTURY NAME FOR THE REGION IN FRANCE THAT CONTAINED PARIS, SO-CALLED BECAUSE OF THE BORDERS OF THE REGION, THE RIVER SEINE, OISE AND MARNE.
"BARREL" HELMET
SEE HEAULM.
'CRY THE TOURNAMENT'
THE 'BANS ' CRYING FOR A TOURNAMENT -THE ANNOUNCEMENT SENT WITH HERALDS TO NOTIFY NOBLES THAT A TOURNEY WAS TO BE HELD 'AT A CERTAIN TIME AND CERTAIN PLACE-'TEL TEMPS, TEL PLACE...'). THIS IS NOW CALLED THE 'TOURNAMENT DECLARATION ', A POSTING OF THE TOURNAMENT OR RULES OF A PAS D'ARMES, GENERALLY PUBLISHED IN ADVANCE OF THE TOURNEY.
'FAITES VOS DEVOIRS!'
HERALDS CRY FOR COMBATANTS TO PREPARE THEMSELVES, TO HOLD THEMSELVES READY, UTTERED THREE TIMES IN A JUDICIAL DUEL.