Evolution of Medieval Helmets

Today's trivia is all about the evolutionary development of the western medieval helmet.

Helmets have occupied a permanent role in personal defense for any professional soldier.

In this Trivia, we will attempt to examine some of the archetype helmet styles of the medieval era and explore the surrounding factors why armour changed over time.

Evolutionary Diagram

Diagram created by Dean Bashford in his book Helmets and Body Armor in Modern Warfare

This diagram is particularly interesting as it highlights the interconnected nature of the development of helmets.

Spangenhelm (apx 600-1000AD)

Attaching mail to the back of the neck (aventail) afforded increased protection

A German word for an early Medieval helmet design. "Spangen" meaning "braces" and "helm", of course "helmet".

Making this style of helmet is technically quite simple and this was its characterising feature. A helmet made of small shaped strips of metal riveted together. Sometimes cheek flaps were added, and or a nasal to protect the front of the face.

By the 6th century it was the most common helmet design in Europe and in popular use throughout the Middle East. They were used for quite some time afterwards due to the simple nature of their construction.

The Anglian Helmet: 8th Century Anglo Saxon helmet based on same design principles

Nasal Helmet (apx 1000-1200 AD)

The conical shape of the Nasal helmet offers better protection from vertical strikes

The Nasal helmet is characterised by the rather obvious protection for the front of the face, but also being made out of one piece of metal. This reinforced protection and conical shape both combined to provide increased protection which explains why it became a common design.

The development of the smithing technology required to shape a strong helmet out of one piece of steel or iron was a crucial step in the development of helmets. All subsequent helmet designs included this feature.

Helmets of most styles could be worn with a mail coif to provide protection for the neck

Great Helm (apx 1200-1300)

A dramatic change in design from earlier open faced helmets

Popularised by knights and heavy infantry of the Crusades, this helmet represents a significant change in purpose. Unlike earlier helmet designs which were more general purpose, the great helm was built for one specific job. To make sure the wearer was protected from almost anything.

This of course comes at a great compromise in visibility and ventilation.

These would have been hot to wear, hard to hear instructions and heavy for prolonged use. The eye slits reduced situational visibility dramatically to a thin horizontal strip.

Underneath the great helm the wearer would wear both a padded coif and a mail coif to protect the wearer against blunt force impact against the helmet. They may also have worn a smaller helmet which represents a precursor to the bascinet.

Reenactment of crusades style heavy infantry armor

Note: fashion of the time has dictated the flat top which was lost from earlier helmets. This disapears in later great helms in favor of the familiar conical or rounded shape.

Basinet (apx 1300-1400 AD)

Helmets of this style would have seen action in pivotal battles like Agincourt

The next major development in helmet technology was the characteristic movable visor of the bascinet. This gave the wearer options as to whether they wanted more visibility and ventilation, or more protection.

In addition to the movable visor a number of other improvements in protection can be seen over previous designs.

• The eye slits are now further away from the user’s face, trading off visibility for protection from the occasional lucky arrow or sword thrust.
• The shaping of visor is ideal for deflecting strikes and arrows from the front. Arrows would have less surface to deliver their kinetic energy through.
• The skull of the helmet is rounded or conical in shape allowing most blows to glance off.
• The eye slits are raised to deflect strikes away from the eyes.

Later example shows a change in fashion for the visor and use of a gorget to protect the neck rather than a mail coif

Sallet (apx 1400-1500 AD)

Later sallet type helmets include a fixed bevor, the front of neck protection shown here

First developed in Italy and then spreading rapidly to Germany and England, the sallet type helmet is characterised by the low sides and back of neck protection.

This helmet design was created at a time when the professional soldier would have been armed full plate armour, and expected to meet other soldiers in equal armour. Visibility, maneuverability and protection were all equally competing requirements.

Characteristic features are the shape of the back of neck protection and the visor shape. Intended to protect much of the face and worn in conjunction with a fixed or movable bevor to cover the front of neck, allowing for increased ventilation as there was no fixed connection between visor and bevor.

Plate, padding and mail would be combined together to provide high degrees of protection and mobility

Armet (apx 1500-1600 AD)

Following on from the technical developments that lead to movable visors and bevors in the sallet. The armet type builds on this further by increasing the articulation of the helmet. Characterised by fully enclosing the wearer in a contoured shape which articulates at the neck allowing a great deal of movement.

The typical armet consisted of four pieces:

• the skull
• two large hinged cheek-pieces which locked at the front over the chin
• a visor

Once closed around the wearer the plates could be locked in place by locking mechanism like a metal pin or swinging clip.

Example of an armet type helmet opened up

Example of exquisite Millanese armour including armet made for jousting full size

Another jousting armour set, most likely also Millanese

The above armour is an example of the extravagance that could be afforded by the richest. Armour with such complexity that it offers the wearer almost complete protection against the hazards of jousting which must be remember was very much a sport rather than a martial activity.

References

For those that want to go further these are some useful video based resources:

• Mike Loades: Documentary on armour
• Lindy Beige: Great Helm
• Lindy Beige: Bascinet
• Mobility Demonstration