03-22-2004, 12:08 AM
There is plenty of evidence to suggest that medieval mail was quite capable of resisting arrows, even lance thrusts.<br>
<br>
Firstly there were several types of mail. Several documents indicate two categories: "haubert de guerre", and "haubert de joute". Hauberts de joute were mail hauberks specifically designed to be worn for jousting. The josting lances during this time period were war lances with sharp tips, yet this mail was considered capable of resisting them.<br>
<br>
Ffoulkes includes entries from 1316 and 1398 on the proof level of mail in France that suggests 4 proof levels. The higher levels were quite capable of resisting arrows.<br>
<br>
The following passage comes from "Chronicon Colmariense" dated to 1398.<br>
<br>
the author states that men at arms wore, "camisiam ferream, ex circulis ferreis contextam, per quae nulla sagitta arcus poterat hominem vulnerare."<br>
<br>
translation: "an iron shirt, woven from iron rings, through which no arrow of a bow could wound a person."<br>
<br>
There is the previously mentioned anecdote regarding uninjured crusaders with multiple arrows sticking from them after an engagement.<br>
<br>
A sergeant during the seige of Constantinople in 1204 crawled on his hands and knees through a postern gate while the Byzantine defenders struck him with all kinds of weapons. Then he stood up and cleared a path so that his fellows could follow him through the small opening.<br>
<br>
The Fair of Lincoln was an urban engagement involving crossbows at fairly close range yet only one sergeant was killed. Also, William Marshall received many blows to the head and shoulders from the Count of Perche (who was considered a very capable warrior) yet the count could not penetrate William's mail.<br>
<br>
The memoirs of Usamah ibn Munquidh, recounts an anecdote in which he personally jumped his horse over a low wall and struck what he thought to be an unarmored crusader in the side with his lance, nearly knocking the Frank from his saddle and causing him to lose his helmet and shield. When he turned his horse to see the results, he saw the man sitting unharmed on his horse waiting for his servants to fetch the dropped gear. A rip in his silk surcoat revealed a hauberk underneath.<br>
<br>
At Bouvines in 1214 only a couple of knights were killed out of many hundreds. There are many documented attacks with swords, daggers, etc., failing because of their mail hauberks.<br>
<br>
The chronicles are consistent in indicating that mail was more than capable of resisting most battlefield weapons of the time.<br>
<br>
<br>
<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=danielraymondhoward>Daniel Raymond Howard</A> at: 3/22/04 1:10 am<br></i>
<br>
Firstly there were several types of mail. Several documents indicate two categories: "haubert de guerre", and "haubert de joute". Hauberts de joute were mail hauberks specifically designed to be worn for jousting. The josting lances during this time period were war lances with sharp tips, yet this mail was considered capable of resisting them.<br>
<br>
Ffoulkes includes entries from 1316 and 1398 on the proof level of mail in France that suggests 4 proof levels. The higher levels were quite capable of resisting arrows.<br>
<br>
The following passage comes from "Chronicon Colmariense" dated to 1398.<br>
<br>
the author states that men at arms wore, "camisiam ferream, ex circulis ferreis contextam, per quae nulla sagitta arcus poterat hominem vulnerare."<br>
<br>
translation: "an iron shirt, woven from iron rings, through which no arrow of a bow could wound a person."<br>
<br>
There is the previously mentioned anecdote regarding uninjured crusaders with multiple arrows sticking from them after an engagement.<br>
<br>
A sergeant during the seige of Constantinople in 1204 crawled on his hands and knees through a postern gate while the Byzantine defenders struck him with all kinds of weapons. Then he stood up and cleared a path so that his fellows could follow him through the small opening.<br>
<br>
The Fair of Lincoln was an urban engagement involving crossbows at fairly close range yet only one sergeant was killed. Also, William Marshall received many blows to the head and shoulders from the Count of Perche (who was considered a very capable warrior) yet the count could not penetrate William's mail.<br>
<br>
The memoirs of Usamah ibn Munquidh, recounts an anecdote in which he personally jumped his horse over a low wall and struck what he thought to be an unarmored crusader in the side with his lance, nearly knocking the Frank from his saddle and causing him to lose his helmet and shield. When he turned his horse to see the results, he saw the man sitting unharmed on his horse waiting for his servants to fetch the dropped gear. A rip in his silk surcoat revealed a hauberk underneath.<br>
<br>
At Bouvines in 1214 only a couple of knights were killed out of many hundreds. There are many documented attacks with swords, daggers, etc., failing because of their mail hauberks.<br>
<br>
The chronicles are consistent in indicating that mail was more than capable of resisting most battlefield weapons of the time.<br>
<br>
<br>
<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=danielraymondhoward>Daniel Raymond Howard</A> at: 3/22/04 1:10 am<br></i>
