They could be used mounted or on foot and were thus incredibly versatile – both armored knights and footmen could pick up and incorporate a heater shield into their different roles. The heater shields (later named this due to its resemblance to a clothes iron) were thus designed with mobility in mind. As armor became more effective, shields could become smaller and more agile. What evolved from the Norman kite shield was what later became known as the medieval heater shield. They became so widely used that the First Crusade brought with it a veritable flood of kite shields – which influenced the design and use of shields throughout the middle east for centuries. The use of these shields became popular during the 11th century and was frequently depicted in art. By extending the shield into an almond or a leaf shape, mounted fighters could protect themselves more effectively. Mounted combat, especially mounted combat using lances, combined with traditional round shields resulted in a mostly unprotected left flank. Vikings would also paint symbols and spells on their shields – for protection, for guidance, and for prowess in battle.ĭescendants of the Vikings (via the “aggressive settling” of Normandy) continued to develop the shield as weapons and combat in Europe evolved. Even when not being used to bludgeon enemies, the Viking shield was an effective and mobile tool for defense, allowing a Viking warrior to quickly strike and then retreat back to protection. For Vikings, the shield was a weapon as well – and when edged with metal, could be devastating when punched into an opponent’s face. Viking shields were typically round and made of wooden planks, with a central metal boss that protected the hand. Vikings, too, engaged in a form of combat that revolved around the use of a shield. Both art and pop culture frequently depict Roman legions marching in ranks, holding their shields before them, moving as a single, perfect military unit. Most famous of these was the scutum, the curved, rectangular shield of the Roman Legions. In countless cultures around the world, shields in one form or another make an appearance.Įarly shields used by the Greeks and Romans were precursors of the medieval shield, and a variety of designs were utilized depending on the role of the soldier. In many battles, having a well-made shield was as important as having a good weapon – if not more so. The shield – a wooden or metal object gripped in the off-hand or strapped to the arm – could protect the user from slashing blades, crushing blows, even arrows. Many weapons were single-handed by design, which led to a natural use of the off-hand as a means of defense. As weapons increased in deadliness and versatility due to improvements in construction and materials, so too did the methods that we used to protect ourselves from those weapons. These replaced in the 14th century by smaller heater shields, such as bouches and pavises, and eventually abandoned in battle, favoring mobility and two-handed weapons.The form and function of the shield in medieval history is, like many other aspects of war, a story of evolution. The Normans introduced the kite shield around the 10th century, giving protection to the user’s legs. In the early European Middle Ages, round shields made with light wood and reinforced with leather were designed for intercepting incoming blows to deflect them. The heavily armored Roman legionaries used large shields to create a tortoise-like formation, great for protection against missiles but not ideas for swift movement. On the other hand, the Ancient Greek hoplites used a round, bowl-shaped wooden shield that was reinforced with bronze. The Mycenaean Greeks, for example, used two types of shields: the “ figure-of-eight” shield and a rectangular “ tower” shield. Lightly armored warriors would generally carry light shields, either small or thin, while heavy troops might rely on robust shields that covered most of the body. Historically, sizes and weights have varied greatly. Shields were used from prehistory to protect against attacks by swords, axes and maces, sling-stones, or arrows.
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