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GERMAN CAVALRYMAN c.1480

An extract from Armies of the Middle Ages, Volume 2
by Ian Heath


[Based on Mittelalterliches Hausbuch von Schloss Wolfegg Medieval House Book of Wolfegg Castle]

118.      GERMAN CAVALRYMAN c.1480

This figure and the next come from the 'Das Mittelalterliches Hausbuch', the outstandingly detailed illustrations of which constitute a mine of information on late- 15th century costume and armour. For protection he wears a long-sleeved jack, mitten gauntlets (Hentzen) and a plumed sallet worn over a fringed hood of a type that was highly popular in 15th century Germany (see also 112, 119 and 124-126). A scarf is tied round the helmet. In addition he carries - rather unusually for this late date - an angular, bouched shield, shown slung at his back; its shape can be seen more clearly in 118a. The tall riding boots, usually turned down below the knee, are characteristic of this date, and generally seem to have been either black or dark brown.

Other figures in the same source wear a varied selection of shoulder capes, cloaks, hats, caps and tunics, the somewhat globular body-shape of some of the latter doubtless indicating a breastplate worn underneath.

Breast and backplates with faulds and arm-harness (but not leg-harness see also 112) are also to be found, as are long-sleeved mail corselets.

The few cavalry to be found in Swiss armies of this period, such as the 1,800 supplied by Rene, Duc de Lorraine, and Alsatian and Swabian noblemen at Morat in 1476, and the 3-4,000 at Nancy in 1477, would have resembled this figure and the next.