A few Points About Armets.
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- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2024
- While the Sallet was by far the most common helmet for much of the 15th century, the Armet also had it's uses, and played an important role, especially in situations where you needed to be extremely well protected. In this video I share a few points about armets, and share my experience of jousting in an Armet.
Will West made this armet: / englysheplatearmourie
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I like when people make original, but historically inspired designs. So many artifacts have been lost to time, it is wonderful when people bring what might have been to life.
Same the coolest helmets are like that
The last bit is really important to keep in mind. The average poverty of the average reenactor that has to pick a single piece for every part of his body tends to skew the view on how people did back then.
That little Johnny has a budget where he has to choose either an armet, or a sallet or a barbuta; doesn't means Sir Fiercesword woudn't have had all 3 of them, along with several versions of his armor pieces to mix and match accordingly to the perceived need of the day.
And a valet to follow him around and make sure he had access to them for different points of the battle.
@@ZacharyEvans Hahahaha, that comes along with the poverty. I reenact 12 century so at least my gear is easy to put on and off by myself. But I wouldn't like to deal with a full plate harness on my own for sure.
Especially as Sir Fiercesword is most likely footing the bill for his squire's armor and perhaps the Miller's son and some other beefy local to round out his retinue. What's one more helmet?
That is one really lovely helmet! And very informative video, great job!
Thank you.
@@ZacharyEvans hey Zach, just a quick question, I thought I could see a hole it the top of the helm? Is that correct, and if so, what is it’s purpose? Ventilation perhaps?
@@jamesmorgan5796 The hole is for crest-mounting. A very important aspect of the helm!
@@ZacharyEvans ahhh, thank you!
That is a NICE Armet indeed.
My favourite Armet though is the "B4" from "Santa Maria delle Grazie a Curtatone - Mantova"
That is a amazing Armet!
Great video! I love a good armet and may think about one for my next helm if that ever happens.
It's a good helm, but unless its necessary to have one for a particular reason I would always recommend a sallet first. An armet is a nice option to have though.
That's a sweet armet/froghelm
The rondel is really interesting. Something I noticed recently is that close helmets seem to never have them. I'm not aware of a surviving close helmet that possesses a rondel anyway. And you'd think the use case would be similar?
Surviving examples aren't always the best thing to go on, because they are such a small % of what was originally made. The difficulty we come to then is how do you differentiate in art between a close helm or an armet, especially once they have a wrapper on!
@@ZacharyEvans Yeah I have no idea. Maybe a "close helmet" is just an advanced sallet variant anyway, sort of like how "sidesword" is a modern term that would have meant nothing to the people who used them. If that's true then some of them will have had rondels I expect.
I've just checked: there is one extant close helm that shows signs of a rear rondel: the one at All Saints church in Godshill, on the Isle of Wight. It's in Toby Capwell's second book on the armour of the English Knight.
@@ZacharyEvans Damn! Nice spot
The pin to help lift the visor interests me, as very similar features are present on motorcycle helmet visors, for exactly the same reason. What works in one century evidently works in another.
Does the pin lock the visor down? Does one have to pull it outwards to release the visor or is it just a handhold?
@@roberthultz9023 Just a handhold allowing the visor to be raised or lowered easily while wearing thick leather gloves, potentially while on the move - it's very similar to the tab on the armet in this video for raising and lowering the visor.
Not in this case. There are examples of spring-pins, but not until later.
@@ZacharyEvans Would have have any advice on finding later examples with spring pins? I'm looking to commission and armet and I'm limited to a span of 100 years for which elements I'm allowed to incorporate. Thanks!
Thank you for the really informative video!
I've seen 2 "styles" of Armet, one where the brow is reinforced and the visor is only a "mouthguard", and the other where the visor covers everything but the eyes. Is there a difference between the two, or are they just something a knight might have preferred over another style?
As for the wrapper, would you say that a wrapper is more common if you have a fully closed off visor, and use something more akin to a bevor (a wrapper including an extra plate to go over the lower part of the visor) if you have breathing holes?
The difference in visor style is something you see in all types of helmets. There are regional variations, but it ultimately comes down to personal choice. We decided to go with the integrated forehead plate as it stops the sight from being forced wider by impacts, something that can happen when the top edge of the sight is formed by the helmet skull.
Wrapper wise, I see it as a modular addition. Most armets probably had them as an option but it is unlikely they were always used, in the same way that people often left their bevor off when wearing a sallet.
@@ZacharyEvans huh, hadn't thought about the sight being forced wider.
Also, since your visor locks in an upward position (or at least seems able to lock somewhat), would it be a viable strategy to fight with the visor open for as long as possible, and then only lower the visor when you're in immediate combat (or facing the english with their massed longbows)?
At least from my modern thinking, that should help somewhat with the claustrophobic feeling.
That's certainly possible, but not always the best idea. It works well without the wrapper, but the wrapper can sometimes interfere with the fast closing of the helm.
It does look altered but still a nice lid .
beautiful helm, a question, what is hearing like and do you think a small hole on either side right where your ear opens to each inside would be advisable? It might not be historical but if a small hole on each side does not overly compromise the integrity shouldn't improving hearing in the helm be a thing?
Hearing is much reduced, and they do end up putting hearing holes in similar helms of the 16th century. I'm afraid I haven't seen any 15th century examples of hearing holes however.
What is that u-shaped staple like object that's below the pin for bringing up the visor?
It's a hook for locking the visor in place. It's an early 16th century technology added for extra safety, but it probably isn't actually needed: I often find the hook has fallen out by the time I get to the end of the list.
What is the disc shaped piece on the rear of the helmet? It's got me puzzled.
It's a rondel. I explain what it's most likely for in the video. You see them on a variety of different armours in art, but very few remain on original harnesses.
How comfortable is an armet compared to something like a great bascinet with a hounskull visor? Also would any period armets have holes placed on the sides of the helmet to allow for better hearing similarly to how holes are placed at the front of the visor of some armets to allow for better ventilation?
It will vary based on personal taste and construction. My armet was heavier than Graham's bascinet, because it was made especially thick. A GB stops side to side movement of the head, but is further away from the face, while an armet allows more movement but is closer in, so can feel more claustrophobic.
Some 16th century armets and close helms include hearing holes over the ear areas, but I'm not aware of any on 15th century examples.
Hi, you mention that this armet is based off of several paintings, could you please share which paintings?
I will probably turn it into a short video. Thanks for the suggestion.
This armet somehow gives me Frogmouth vibes...only that it seems to be a bit more versatile. Anyways, really nice hat you have there.
Thank you. The visor style certainly works in the same way as a frogmouth.
This is clearly armet made for jousting. Thus it's beefier. Armets can be actually really light, with good quite good vision and breathing. It just mean there won't be as much steel and maybe more breaths etc. Since armet hugs the head quite closely, it can actually have less surface area than some other helmets, meaning less steel.
well several centuries on I would feel amazed that anyone wanted to copy my armour, especially when a single rifle round could pass clear thru front to back...
Yeah, some form of confusion may reign, but as some tournaments were designed as re-enactments they might understand the idea.
I love the idea of Warwick rolling in his grave because of all the commoners wearing *his* armour.
@@ZacharyEvans Hahaha I was thinking the same thing! He would be ROYALLY pissed off! Literally.
Given that this is a piece specifically meant for maximum protection during jousting, would an armet meant for battlefield use feature visor perforations to improve air circulation, or is it rather contrary to what surviving examples and artistic depictions would hint on?
Also would this type of helmet been worn as-is, or it wouldve been supplented by another layer of protection, like separate padded cap?
And lastly - specifically for the final phase of hundred years war, cca 1430-1453, would armet helmet type in the broader sense be already appropriate for the period as a possibility for a french gendarme? If so, is it possible to assess roughly how popular its usage was compared to other types? (if the timeframe is too broad, then maybe a narrowed down period of 1445-1453, roughly during the reconquest of Normady and Acquitaine.)
The armet was definitely in use by 1435, although the forms develop over time. When looking at Art it is sometimes hard to assess what is an armet, a close helm or a great bascinet, and in many ways these are modern distinctions rather than medieval ones.
Because it is hard to pick out exactly what is what, it can be tricky to say weather an armet would have breaths. As a general rule, most surviving examples don't have them, until you reach the 16th century.
The hole in the top center of your armet's skull is for mounting a crest, right? When it is mounted, are you able to fully raise the visor? Is it a problem?
Correct. In this case I can raise the visor as much as I need to. A larger crest would make this a problem, but in such a case there are various options such as reducing the size of the brow reinforce, or the lower visor.
@@ZacharyEvans Many thanks.
So when you've got the heavy helmet on can you hear at all? Would you need to use visual communication?
You can hear a bit, but not loads. The issue was bad enough that many 16th century examples have thinner padding over the ears, and even holes in the steel at that point.
Have English plate armoury changed their name to dragon armoury or something?
Yes they have.
Great video! How long are you able to joust for before you get too tired to carry on? How knackering is it in comparison to say a sallet and bevor?
I have a bascinet which is damned heavy, one of the issues I have with it is if I lean forward or backward too much I am very easy to knock off balance. Do you get similar issues with the armet? Thanks!
When in Regular practise I can wear my sallet all day and not really notice. Bevor gets uncomfortable after an hour. Armet is uncomfortable after about 20 minutes, although you forget about it when actually jousting. It's all the time waiting with no adrenaline that's the real problem.
Lovely, thanks! Yeah, I can imagine someone bearing down on you from horseback about to smash you with a stick would get the adrenaline pumping nicely!
Looks very good, who made this armet?
It was made by Will West of Dragon Armoury
@@ZacharyEvans thanks!
I love this design, is there any chance i could get one of these helms for myself?
You would need to have it custom made. This is a one of a kind piece, but you could definitely speak to an armourer about having something similar made.
@@ZacharyEvans How did you make yours? You mentioned a friend making it i think?
Will West of Dragon Armoury made it.
@@ZacharyEvans would i be able to get them to make one for myself? Or is this more of a personal relationship you have with them? Apologies for all the questions however im very interested
@eezo9492 I don't know whether he is currently taking comissions, but you can get in contact with him through his Facebook page
That’s a very feminine helmet 👏 Very nice 👍
I noticed you have a couple minor dents, is the armet tempered steel? How thick does it need to be to withstand a joust?
Different parts of it are made in different ways. The skull is made of very thick mild steel, but the visor and wrapper are thinner, made of high carbon steel.
If you were to make the skull out of spring steel, then it causes problems, because the way it absorbs inpact is to deform and then "spring" back to its original shape. That can work well for some parts of armour, but as an armet is so close fitting you will find that your helmet has no lasting dents, but you may still have bruises on your head.
There are so many factors when it comes to how strong a helm needs to be. Mine is on the stronger side with a combined 6mm in the forhead area, but that thins out in areas that are less likely to take impacts.
How heavy is it?
I don't actually know. I've sold this helmet to help fund my new armour and can no longer weigh it
How thick is the padding in this?
About 8mm/1cm I think.
A lot of people who use modern materials find they need thicker padding, because foams compress far more than wool and linen, so they can still end up with their helm grounding on their skull with a strong blow.
Are you using linen/wool padding?
A mixture of both
Well, how heavy are your armet and your sallet exactly?
I did a video ages ago where I weighed my sallet and cuirass, but people didn't seem interested. I'll have to dig out the scales again and get more weights.
@@ZacharyEvans
Found your video on sallet weights:
ruclips.net/video/GAczfhqer6g/видео.html
It seems your neck in great danger in joust with such helm, which dont attach to cuirass! 🤔
It depends who you talk to. The wrapper for this helm has a plate that comes down to protect the neck, and it's possible to buckle it down to the cuirass. However, I tend not to attach the buckle. There is a period account of some English knights upset that a French Knight didn't tie down his great helm in a joust. It was ruled by the Lords present that it was up to each individual how they wanted to attach their helm.
@@ZacharyEvans armet like this seems kinda field helm, for battle, not for tournament like joust. For joust much more safety for rider great bascinet and frog mouth helms, which attached to cuirass 🤗
Yes, it definitely could be used in battle.
By the 15th century there are broadly 2 types of joust, described as a joust of war and a joust of peace. Jousts of peace were sporting events using specialised jousting armours whereas jousts of war used field harnesses.
Of course this simplifies it a lot and each joust had it's own chapitres written, which are basically variations on the rules of the joust.
I want 😍
I wonder if there would be use for an armet in HMB... At the moment I am waiting for my armor to be made that'll have a bicoque helmet, which I believe to be that middle ground between a great bascinet and an armet
I think it definitely would work, but it cuts down on your awareness a lot. Some sketchbooks show bargrill visors for foot combat.
As far as bicoques, the term in period appears to be used interchangeably. They tended to describe based on intended use, whereas we describe based on construction details.
@@ZacharyEvans so what would the main difference be according to you ?
@@ZacharyEvans as for the visors, I have found a lot of illustrations as to what could be done for such a helmet
@@SgtMcDick I wouldn't define them as different personally. I fully embrace the medieval way of lacking exact definitions as I find it easier with my dyslexia: often I find myself forgetting a word I definitely know and just using a similar one instead.
@@ZacharyEvans so the "armet" and "bicoque" would be the same helmet for the medieval mind... I see where that could be coming from since the bicoque seems to be very similar to the armet in construction, generally being made with two lateral flaps on the the side, hinged from the crown. In that sense, armets could be placed on a spectrum of configurations, with one of the extremes being what we imagine as a bicoque helmet.