Category:Late

The Vikings Society primarily covers the period c.800-c.1100 - roughly speaking the period of the viking raids and attacks on western Europe, and the period of the Norman Conquest. However, we do re-enact later events regularly enough to merit including them in this wiki.

The 'late' period covers the mid/late thirteenth and earlier fourteenth centuries, with military events focusing on the campaigns of Edward I and Edward II (approximately 1260-1340). This period saw considerable change in armour, especially for the knightly elites. Where twelfth and thirteenth century armour was essentially maille, in the last decades of the fourteenth century, metal armour plates became increasingly popular. By the mid-fourteenth century a knight would wear armour plates on his legs, arms and torso, and at the end of the century complete suits of armour were becoming recognisable.

Other chronological periods

For completeness, this wiki covers a slightly wider chronological period than the Vikings Society's core period (c.800-1100).

These additional chronological periods are included for information and for completeness. Members of the Vikings Society may not use them at Society events unless explicitly requested.

Other chronological periods and kit checks

Members of the Vikings Society may wish to develop kit for other chronological periods (eg the Anglian period or the twelfth century, Such kit will not ordinarily be accepted as a kit check for members of the Vikings Society seeking promotion to Drengr.

Thirteenth century knightly wargear

This crusader is wearing the full wargear of the thirteenth century. He is clad 'cap a pie' (head to foot) in maille armour, wears a surcoat and has his sword belted around his waist.

Fourteenth century knightly wargear

This image, from the Luttrell Psalter (1320-40), shows Sir Geoffrey Luttrell fully equipped and mounted, with two ladies of his family. His heraldry is displayed on his surcoat, heater shield, ailettes, lance pennant, great helm crest, horse caparison - and the ladies' surcoats!

Images of later knights

Credits: images with thanks to our friends in Tournee.

This powerful lord wears armour typical of the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries. He has armoured gauntlets, elbow couters and rerebraces over his hauberk, and has pushed back his great helm to see better. His surcoat displays his personal heraldry.

This mid-fourteenth century knight wears a full set of armoured plates on his arms - gauntlets, vambraces, couters, rerebraces and rondels. He wears a chapel de fer and maille chausses, and his surcoat displays his heraldry.