If you like the videos with Dr. Capwell at the Wallace Collection, then be sure to check out the rest of the playlist (more videos coming soon!) ruclips.net/p/PLMUtS78ZxryPGtL_vMIeRDZU29ooW4dId
This is a preposterously fabulous piece of artistic armour. We know that other suits were extravagantly painted, do we know whether or not the floral/fabric emulated elements were also painted to further emphasise fabric? One would expect that the intricacies would otherwise only be seen in close situations, and I doubt an opponent would have time to even notice just an etched suit. I would personally consider that it would have been highly decorated in order to almost dazzle an opponent as well as to obscure potential weakpoints.
Always great when Toby makes an appearance. It’s clear how much he enjoys his work & how knowledgeable he is on the wonderful collection at the Royal Armories.
Greazed or oiled pistol balls shoved inside a enlarged cod piece with just enough room to jiggle them in desperate situation, pop off on your enemy from a round from your sack XD
One thing I like about both these guys, they talk the talk, but they also walk the walk in terms of HEMA and Jousting. One can read all the books and papers, gab endlessly about this weapon or that technique, but there's nothing like actually doing this stuff as close to the real thing as possible.
I remember Dr Capwell, he was on Insider a couple of times, always came across as really rather knowledgeable. Cool to see him on here, especially as another American.
So he basically was Cosplaying? Really cool, it never ceases to amaze me what Dr. Capwell can dig up from the Wallace collection. I find you are really good at "interviewing" if you will, ask the right questions at the right time but also let Tobi speak.
@@joejoelesh1197 I'd say closer to getting themselves a custom uniform made that's very flashy yet functional. Something like getting ACUs in OCP but cut in a style similar to mess dress but still having a plate carrier and helmet but with ribbons, medlas, and qualification badges. Think of Patton but flashiuer.
@@texasbeast239 Partially. However, this was also a likely nobleman dressing in a manner that invoked the fashion of the lower to middle class/caste mercenaries, when fashion mostly went in the direction of people emulating those of high position. While elements of this style were also used in high society, and while there is the whole presumptuous appropriation as a shallow fashion statement', given the social dynamics, I suspect it was taken as a legitimization of the landsknechts in its context. 'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery'; aristos indicating affiliation, solidarity, or acknowledgement would likely have been regarded as raising landsknechts' social status, however slightly.
I was completely unaware of the practice of looping precious metal wire through velvet to achieve a visual effect. Imagining that, and then seeing the armorer's work, is quite the mental image. Very striking!
iridescent blue OR PURPLE and gold ooooooomg this is such amazing! I would love to see someone do a rendering of those colors overlaid! and in 1515 like etching, color, engraving, and functionality armor!!! Must of been like seeing a modern hypercar with glowing floor panels, winged doorlets, like whoever commissioned this probably REALLY appreciated it, I'm I'm paradise and don't even get to see it colored! I'm speechless!
Capwell's description about the intersection of fine textiles and armor drew me in and makes me yearn to see even a sample peice of such work in it's original glory.
13:30 I had no idea how history could be so FANTASTICAL These GIGANTIC SWORD wielding MERCENARIES wore GIANT EMBROIDERED HATS! Like are you kidding me! Where do I purchase this DLC!
Holy crap. I knew they went ga-ga for armor shaped like fashionable clothes, but I didn't know they went to the deeper extent to model the sewing pattern of the clothing. Dayum! Yeah I agree with the assessment that with the gold inlay and everything else going on, this guy would certainly have -sparkled- Awesome.
Off topic but as someone who only has a casual interest in arms and armour and gets all my exposure to it from Matt, I had a dream last night about joining a HEMA club. I think my subconscious is trying to tell me something about all the videos I've been watching from this channel.
I’m not so sure about the ‘most of them wore no armour at all’ part. For one thing there are a few illustrations of what looks like plate armour like this (but less fancy) being fabric covered. Secondly, it was fairly common at this time to wear a hauberk under civilian jackets if you expected to be attacked (by bandits or someone you were at feud with) so I have often wondered how many Landsknechts wore mail haubetks or even trimmed down breastplates under those baggy costumes of theirs because they weren’t about to wear armour on top of baggy clothes like that. Not saying *all* Landsknechte wearing no visible armour wore hidden armour but quite a few may have.
Being mercenaries, I'd assume the ones who've lived longer would have at least looted bits and pieces of armor for a make shift "Half-Plate" as they call it. And since they had to personally care for their own gear, I don't doubt they would have forked over some of their drinking money for extra survivability. Unfortunately much of that history may be lost to time, and the surviving art of them may not always be perfectly true to life of course. For all we know our theories over their depictions might be the equivalent of seeing Rambo as an accurate portrayal of modern combat lmao.
The landsknecht were low to middle income, and quite a few of them came from very meager backgrounds. Many of them had quite little kit to start off with and would have to purchase further equipment from later payments, provided they lived that long. While plenty enough did have armor, quite a few did not, and those that did often had low to mid-grade armor.
The low on armour is the early period… 1540+ armoured landsknecht becomes much more common in depictions.. i suspect its a supply issue, sizes of armies and number of armies grew rapidly in the early 16th C. while the “productive forces” lagged behind in capacity to meet the demand. I also believe that is why mail mantles are so common in early period.. it was a way to meet the minimum demand
Paul Dolnstein, a landsknecht, specifically wrote the following of a 1502 battle against Swedish forces: "[w]e were all wearing breast and back plates, skullcaps and arm defences." So yeah, there's evidence that considerable numbers of landsknechts wore armor in at least certain engagements. Various 15th/16th-century military treatises also stress the importance of armor for pikers, halberdiers, & similar.
I don't even know why I'm here or why this was recommended but this video was so much fun! So many thoughts, insights, realizations! Felt like a girl in a muesuem of a hobby she just became passionate about. I love when two passionate people geek out on things on such a level it becomes infectious! I'm hooked!
I love these in-depth discussions on single pieces of armor and weapons from the Wallace Collection. The knowledge i received has changed my mind on many popular myths. Myths that are not true but are widely spoken. Dr.Capwell is such a joy to listen to and his expertise is unmatched. That fact he takes time to educate and discuss history with your audience speaks volumes to his character and how he is truly passionate about his profession. The etching on the armor is incredible! Without the close ups I would have never known there was sooo much detail put into this functional armor and incredible work of art. There is so much going on with this piece it's a historians dream. Not only does it give us information on its creator, materials, and technology used in creating it but it also tells us who's using it, their fashion styles, their wealth, and how they fought. It tells the story of its crafter and its user while also telling us about the whole of people in the German region at the time.
I'm kind of surprised there aren't elaborate morions or kettlehelms done up like lansneckt hats, obviously not the same size (imagine the weight lol) but in a style evocative of them.
@@intergalacticimperialist9670 Kettle hats had largely been phased out by this point in favor of motions. Motions were also mostly a low to middle-status helm, and as mentioned,any landsknechts had little or no metal armor. There are plenty of richly decorated helmets in the period, although none in a slash-and-puff style that I know of.
10:35 OMG YES THANK YOU! I can't even imagine how stunning this must of looked new, let alone with a fancy loin underneath! Incredible find, thank you discussion and allowing us to view it! Fascinating!
It's interesting that the most common form of armour worn by the actual Landsknechts in the engravings featured here seems to be a sort of mail poncho. I've seen something similar, also from the early 16th century, but it was supposed to have been worn by a Spanish Conquistador. Would be interesting to know more about those poncho things- it seems an odd form of protection to prioritise, but they must have found it useful.
Paul Dolnstein, a landsknecht, wrote the following about a 1502 battle against Swedish forces: "We were all wearing breast and back plates, skullcaps and arm defences."
"Would the southern German 🇩🇪 Landsknecht mercenary gothic plate 🍽 armor and chainmail 🔗 protect them from the ancient primitive stone 🪨 age weapons 🔫 of the Aztecs of Mexico,🇲🇽 in the year of fifteen hundred twenty-one?"
That was my first thought too... that this design, although purposefully ornate, hides many tactical advantages. There is relatively few flat areas, and the ribs serve to not only strengthen the armor but also deflect blows. Similar in some ways to samurai armor, in terms of pushing all angles downward. Interesting piece.
Eric Dube, Canadian armourer, made a video about making a raised breastplate with a top roll like that. Perhaps you can find it. Amazing craftsmanship.
I was just there on 8/14/24. Sorry I missed this one. I enjoyed seeing a lot of my old friends again. Especially A72. One of my favorite helmets. I managed to buy their last copy of volume 3 of Dr. Capwells set, so now I’m complete. Enjoying it very much. I did get to see the Rogendorf suit in Vienna a week later, I was so happy, since it had been in restoration the last time I was there. Got a few decent pictures from the side. Now I see you guys have published a whole book on it! I guess I’ll have to get that now too! Both these harnesses are magnificent.
Just to comment; thanks for your info. I once worked at the John Woodman Higgins Armory Museum, in Worcester, Massachusetts. The collection now resides at the Worcester Art Museum, but their collection is wonderful, and “Diverse “. This certainly adds to that!
That must have been made for a rather short man. I would love to see an artist render of what someone would have looked like wearing that full armor, with all the fresh gilding and heat blued. A steel skullcap under a fantastic hat would be a perfect match for that armor. It would be nice if museums did that sort of thing more regularly. Showing people what items would have likely looked like new helps more people understand history better.
I went to visit the Wallace collection when I visited London in April 2019. I saw many wondrous things, but I don't recall seeing that armor. I guess I'll have to go back!
It would have been good to see the articulation working - next time please ask Toby to manipulate the joints so we can see how effective they were. Great video.
I went to the Wallace Collection for the first time last Saturday after hearing about it in yours and Tod's videos and I spent quite a while looking at this armour. It's a fabulous place and the extent of the collection has to be seen to be believed.
this is a really breathtaking design, the slashed look and the attention to detail through verious techniques. its truly a work of art made with various sub arts while also being a usable tool. A masterwork that deserves some real respect. I found the super tight inner elbow layering very interesting as well. I wonder how they work? do we have any recreation/imaginings of how it looked when it was fully ornamented? Id love to see a visual of it. I would like to see one of these videos on some of the very late masterwork armors from the later 1500s during the very peak of armor crafting. Edwardian, Elizabethan, Greenwich and gendarmerie style stuff. you and Capwell do a great job communicating all these elements about historical items in a way that you can really appreciate them more fully.
The plate inner elbows are basically comparable to to overlapping plates on sabatons in the way of how they function. Way more impressive (and absolutely mind-boggling) is that they eventually gotten this to work in the armpits and the groin.
@@psychoaiko666 oh really? It makes sense with the elbow since its essentially a one way hinge, but the armpits and groin seems to have a much wider range of motion. yah, those bits also seemed really advanced.
The talent and artistry of smiths 600 years ago, truly a stunning piece of work....is it fair to say probably a bit gaudy when new? Or is that just because I'm used to plain steel?
A lot of armour used to be painted, but most paint was removed by time or by people who liked the metal look more. Only a several painted armour pieces still exists.
Could you at some point do a video on how medieval people maintained and cared for their weapons and armor? I’ve noticed that my swords with carbon steel fittings rust if I give them a glance that is too steamy. Was rust and the removal of rust something that was just expected? I’d imagine that they would have to grease/oil/wax their weapons multiple times per day to keep them rust free. I can’t even imagine trying to keep mail armor from rusting.
Though I can only speak of what I've read in some old Swedish texts from the medieval period I can say that mail was often kept oiled up pretty heavily while stored for any period of time, sometimes even stored multiple in barrels of oil during shipping and such. But while in use, mail kinda does it's own "self maintenance" simply by moving around. Weapons were cleaned and oiled after use but otherwise just kept in good shape by the person using it. Just like a handyman has to keep his tools clean and rust free today. But also like with mail, swords, axe heads and other blades were often stored in oil or folded in oiled/waxed blankets to prevent rust.
Yes, maintenance was laborious and time-consuming...which is why there were squires (more than one) whose job was to clean and polish all the bits. I've read/heard they used oiled sand and wool (lanolin in the wool) as a kind of 'scrub brush' or sandpaper to polish mail and plate armor, shields, etc. One has to keep in mind that medieval guys weren't prancing around in their armor all the time, movies aside; battles were usually sort of formal affairs, one of reasons why attacking someone in camp would be effective, but unsporting. Rust with swords and daggers was probably not as much of an issue, since they had to be kept sharp. Note also that weapons fittings, like the pommel, cross-guards, etc. were frequently made of non-rusting metals. Remember the old adage: Rust never sleeps.
"Would the 16th century renaissance southern German 🇩🇪 Landsknecht mercenary gothic armor, chainmail, and weapons 🔫 go up 👆 against the ancient primitive stone 🪨 age weapons of the Aztecs, Mayans, Toltecs, Mixtecs, Olmecs, and Zapotecs, of Mexico?" 🇲🇽
Always a pleasure to hear dr Tobias Capwell speaking on historical topics; I thoroughly enjoyed his Agincourt lectures and some of his debunking hollywood movies videos; great insights from a deep mind; although, it seems to me that lately he's kinda tired of this internet fame that nonplusses him anymore. Cheers!
That's what we call bling. However I would think that all that ropework/puffy bits would provide places for something like a bec de corbin to catch and concentrate it's force.
Pieces like this one could really do with an artists rendering of what it _might_ have looked like in its full glory! Maybe a few different options with the theoretical headgear and everything! Maybe placing it in its proper context too. It's hard for us today to imagine, but bright synthetic colors are a very modern invention. Having bright and radiant colors was something only the very richest could afford. So having a set of armor like this one must have been like seeing an extremely high end sportcar or super-yacht. A huge status symbol.
Has anyone done a computer recreation of different color combinations that may have been on this armor along with the different options for gauntlets helms what have you would have finished the look? I'd love to see what it would or may have looked like at its birth.
I love it when people who know and are passionate get angry at entertainment media for making mistakes. There is something satisfying knowing some time centuries in the future someone will get equially angry about how future media miss represents how we wear something today
Due to victorian sensibilities of what was appropriate and not, codpieces tend to go missing once armors are in the hands of victorian curators. Armor is displayed without the codpiece, and once separated and forgotten it goes missing.
That's a very good point - some bluenose probably said, "My good sir! For shame! You have ladies visiting the museum, and those codpieces might give them the vapors." So it got put in a box, and is in a storage room somewhere, if someone didn't just take it home with them :-(
I must revisit. There's just so much to see. But it's a long way. Here's hoping that the Wallace Collection will make a recreation of how it would have looked.
I like these with the Doctor, I guess you did this when working on your swords, but for someone like me outside of your country, it's very interesting.
For anyone who's curious and doesn't know, the skullcaps they mention that were worn under broad-brimmed hats were known as a secretes or secrets. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secrete_(helmet)
Toby should make more documentary films. Cause he also has experience fighting in armour it gives him this leverage over book smart historians. Anyone knows where one can find them? I know he filmed some already..
Wow, that was a great presentation. I was always under the incorrect impression, that this armour was a parade amour. I love learning new (to me) things about European Renaissance armour. Thanks guys you are champions. Bravo! and more please! 👍
Well now I'm really interested in this idea of 'courtly combat'. Makes total sense that a bunch of guys with money to spare would basically just do renaissance buhurt, but I wonder what kinds of rules they played under.
Very nice piece of amor. It would be pretty cool to see illustraions/3D renderings of wheat it might have looked like back when it was complete and new next to it.
What's the evidence for the claim a lot of landsknechts didn't wear armor at all? Of a 1502 battle between Swedish forces & landsknechts, Paul Dolnstein on the latter side wrote that "[w]e were all wearing breast and back plates, skullcaps and arm defences." This directly contradicts the narrative that only or primarily higher-status landsknechts wore armor. Likewise, lots of depictions of landsknechts show many soldiers in armor. Various 15th/16th-century military manuals stress the importance of armor, especially for pikers. Certainly some landsknechts armed even with pikes lacked armor, but the weight of the evidence indicates that significant numbers of landsknechts wore armor & that armor was extremely important for pikers & halberdiers.
In divisions of Polish infantry in late 15th and early 16th century, it generally seems that only small percentage of soldiers had armor. On the other hand, it also incidentally seems that all those soldiers are pikemen/polearm wielders. So while shooters (vast majority of infantry) would often be unarmored and hiding behind pavises, it seems that people expecting serious direct combat would have armor.
@Lścibor Raimond de Fourquevaux wrote that it was common practice in the middle of the 16th century for only the soldiers of the first few ranks of a pike formation to have much armor. He disagreed with this practice & wanted all regular pikers to have three-quarters harness with mail hose & a helmet with the sight almost covered. (He also wanted arquebusiers to wear mail or brigandine armor that covered the torso & upper arms, plus a helmet.) Fourquevaux & other sources indicate that possibly a significant number of pikers & halberdiers lacked significant armor. This depended on the exact time & place in question & probably happened because of insufficient resources rather than any tactical consideration. (Though it was important to have lightly armored pikers for certain roles.)
The armour is beautiful but I think that roping is dual purpose - that design will add a huge amount of protection and strength to that armour (in addition to looking pretty)
If you like the videos with Dr. Capwell at the Wallace Collection, then be sure to check out the rest of the playlist (more videos coming soon!)
ruclips.net/p/PLMUtS78ZxryPGtL_vMIeRDZU29ooW4dId
Glad to hear more are on the way, always enjoy your videos with Dr. Capwell!
Hell yeah! 🥰
This is a preposterously fabulous piece of artistic armour.
We know that other suits were extravagantly painted, do we know whether or not the floral/fabric emulated elements were also painted to further emphasise fabric?
One would expect that the intricacies would otherwise only be seen in close situations, and I doubt an opponent would have time to even notice just an etched suit.
I would personally consider that it would have been highly decorated in order to almost dazzle an opponent as well as to obscure potential weakpoints.
So where the landsknecht armys and similar armies in that era less armored than the 15 century black army(hungary)?
Outstanding. Can't wait to hear of the replica deal. Might require a rather high price point though... 😁
You two and Tod Cutler are the real treasures of youtube 🙌
Not the only. Shout out to C&Rsenal and the patented plastic poking of historic firearms.
You meant to say "Tod of Tod's workshop" right?
@@peterlynchchannel the same chap, yes. He also goes by Tod Cutler
@@TheBaconWizard Always makes sure to introduce himself as Tod of Tod's workshop and Tod Cutler so everybody gets it 🤟
@@TheBaconWizard Thanks, yes, I was joking.
Imagine this armor in blued steel with the sparkling effect, wow.
😆
I can see the ladies of the court whipping out their hand fans right now🤣
A suit of armor like that really requires a hydraulic brass codpiece.
Oh boy! Did someone turn up the heat?
Someone oughta recreate that in a videogame...
Always great when Toby makes an appearance. It’s clear how much he enjoys his work & how knowledgeable he is on the wonderful collection at the Royal Armories.
Absolutely!
Real men of culture righthere!
He's also someone whom Mattt actually has a hard time talking over too. 😂
@@Riceball01 and has great respect for, justifiably so.
Agreed! Wallace collection though I believe.
I can't just pop over to the museum to have a informative chat with the expert. This is such a lovely thing to have access to. Thanks.
Not to suggest that this actually happened, but you've now given me the idea of someone taking the cod pieces of defeated enemies as a form of trophy.
Jesus Christ
"A fine addition to my collection."
"Head" hunters...
Greazed or oiled pistol balls shoved inside a enlarged cod piece with just enough room to jiggle them in desperate situation, pop off on your enemy from a round from your sack XD
Just lob his Wang off and take that instead !
One thing I like about both these guys, they talk the talk, but they also walk the walk in terms of HEMA and Jousting. One can read all the books and papers, gab endlessly about this weapon or that technique, but there's nothing like actually doing this stuff as close to the real thing as possible.
I remember Dr Capwell, he was on Insider a couple of times, always came across as really rather knowledgeable. Cool to see him on here, especially as another American.
If you look in my Wallace Collection playlist, you can see lots more of him :-)
ruclips.net/p/PLMUtS78ZxryPGtL_vMIeRDZU29ooW4dId
So he basically was Cosplaying?
Really cool, it never ceases to amaze me what Dr. Capwell can dig up from the Wallace collection.
I find you are really good at "interviewing" if you will, ask the right questions at the right time but also let Tobi speak.
Poser?
Kinda like peeps wearing camo in modern times, mayhaps.
@@texasbeast239 more like a 4 star General wearing ACUs.
@@joejoelesh1197 I'd say closer to getting themselves a custom uniform made that's very flashy yet functional. Something like getting ACUs in OCP but cut in a style similar to mess dress but still having a plate carrier and helmet but with ribbons, medlas, and qualification badges. Think of Patton but flashiuer.
@@texasbeast239 Partially. However, this was also a likely nobleman dressing in a manner that invoked the fashion of the lower to middle class/caste mercenaries, when fashion mostly went in the direction of people emulating those of high position. While elements of this style were also used in high society, and while there is the whole presumptuous appropriation as a shallow fashion statement', given the social dynamics, I suspect it was taken as a legitimization of the landsknechts in its context. 'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery'; aristos indicating affiliation, solidarity, or acknowledgement would likely have been regarded as raising landsknechts' social status, however slightly.
Full contact cosplay? My god, you could re enact star wars battles, with tasers. It happened a long time, ago, after all.
I was completely unaware of the practice of looping precious metal wire through velvet to achieve a visual effect. Imagining that, and then seeing the armorer's work, is quite the mental image. Very striking!
I live in the old "German Armor Triangle" Augsburg, Ingolstadt, Innsbruck (now Austria), so this was quite nice.
Cheers Matt & Dr. Tobias Capwell!
I can only imagine what it would have been like in its freshly finished state it really is a magnificent piece of craftsmanship
iridescent blue OR PURPLE and gold ooooooomg this is such amazing!
I would love to see someone do a rendering of those colors overlaid!
and in 1515 like etching, color, engraving, and functionality armor!!!
Must of been like seeing a modern hypercar with glowing floor panels, winged doorlets, like whoever commissioned this probably REALLY appreciated it, I'm I'm paradise and don't even get to see it colored! I'm speechless!
That armor is beautiful, an actual work of art
"Is it bulletproof?"
@@joeerickson516 I guess it depends on the bullets that you use
"Like the Russian 🇷🇺 built DSHK heavy machine gun?" 🔫 "or the Russian 🇷🇺 built AK-47 assault rifle?" "Russian built armor piercing rounds?"
@@joeerickson516 it would depend on how far away you were. Within a 100 yards, certain death. A mile away, you could walk it off
I'm a simple man, when I see Matt and Dr. Capwell together I hit that like button.
2:39 I love your humour!
Only history nerds can appreciate this exchange
Capwell's description about the intersection of fine textiles and armor drew me in and makes me yearn to see even a sample peice of such work in it's original glory.
13:30 I had no idea how history could be so FANTASTICAL
These GIGANTIC SWORD wielding MERCENARIES wore GIANT EMBROIDERED HATS!
Like are you kidding me! Where do I purchase this DLC!
Holy crap. I knew they went ga-ga for armor shaped like fashionable clothes, but I didn't know they went to the deeper extent to model the sewing pattern of the clothing. Dayum! Yeah I agree with the assessment that with the gold inlay and everything else going on, this guy would certainly have -sparkled- Awesome.
Also also: Daniel Hopfer approves
I’ve had a the pleasure of attending a couple of The good Drs lectures at the Wallace collection and it’s always great to see and hear him talk.
Off topic but as someone who only has a casual interest in arms and armour and gets all my exposure to it from Matt, I had a dream last night about joining a HEMA club. I think my subconscious is trying to tell me something about all the videos I've been watching from this channel.
I would love to join a HEMA group but regrettably, the nearest alleged group is in Wisconsin, about 150 miles away.
@@NinePillar get a bike
@@Yellow.1844 that would definitely help with gas prices and whip me into better shape quickly.
@@NinePillar Yeah, especially carrying 80 lb of gear back and forth on that bike!
@@texasbeast239 maybe get armor you can wear on the bike lol 🤣🤣🤣
The armor behind Matt looks sick
Yeah, I found my gaze drifting over that way more than a few times as well.
I’m not so sure about the ‘most of them wore no armour at all’ part. For one thing there are a few illustrations of what looks like plate armour like this (but less fancy) being fabric covered. Secondly, it was fairly common at this time to wear a hauberk under civilian jackets if you expected to be attacked (by bandits or someone you were at feud with) so I have often wondered how many Landsknechts wore mail haubetks or even trimmed down breastplates under those baggy costumes of theirs because they weren’t about to wear armour on top of baggy clothes like that. Not saying *all* Landsknechte wearing no visible armour wore hidden armour but quite a few may have.
Being mercenaries, I'd assume the ones who've lived longer would have at least looted bits and pieces of armor for a make shift "Half-Plate" as they call it. And since they had to personally care for their own gear, I don't doubt they would have forked over some of their drinking money for extra survivability.
Unfortunately much of that history may be lost to time, and the surviving art of them may not always be perfectly true to life of course. For all we know our theories over their depictions might be the equivalent of seeing Rambo as an accurate portrayal of modern combat lmao.
I was about to ask about that, you took the words out of mouth, haha!
The landsknecht were low to middle income, and quite a few of them came from very meager backgrounds. Many of them had quite little kit to start off with and would have to purchase further equipment from later payments, provided they lived that long. While plenty enough did have armor, quite a few did not, and those that did often had low to mid-grade armor.
The low on armour is the early period… 1540+ armoured landsknecht becomes much more common in depictions.. i suspect its a supply issue, sizes of armies and number of armies grew rapidly in the early 16th C. while the “productive forces” lagged behind in capacity to meet the demand. I also believe that is why mail mantles are so common in early period.. it was a way to meet the minimum demand
Paul Dolnstein, a landsknecht, specifically wrote the following of a 1502 battle against Swedish forces: "[w]e were all wearing breast and back plates, skullcaps and arm defences." So yeah, there's evidence that considerable numbers of landsknechts wore armor in at least certain engagements. Various 15th/16th-century military treatises also stress the importance of armor for pikers, halberdiers, & similar.
I absolutely cannot wait for my trip to the UK next year, The Wallace collection is going to have me like a kid in a candy shop.
In german language region, watch ,Zwinger" collection in Dresden, or ,Hofrüstkammer' in Vienna.
I don't even know why I'm here or why this was recommended but this video was so much fun! So many thoughts, insights, realizations! Felt like a girl in a muesuem of a hobby she just became passionate about.
I love when two passionate people geek out on things on such a level it becomes infectious!
I'm hooked!
The brass gilding within each slash is just amazing.
I love these in-depth discussions on single pieces of armor and weapons from the Wallace Collection. The knowledge i received has changed my mind on many popular myths. Myths that are not true but are widely spoken. Dr.Capwell is such a joy to listen to and his expertise is unmatched. That fact he takes time to educate and discuss history with your audience speaks volumes to his character and how he is truly passionate about his profession.
The etching on the armor is incredible! Without the close ups I would have never known there was sooo much detail put into this functional armor and incredible work of art. There is so much going on with this piece it's a historians dream. Not only does it give us information on its creator, materials, and technology used in creating it but it also tells us who's using it, their fashion styles, their wealth, and how they fought. It tells the story of its crafter and its user while also telling us about the whole of people in the German region at the time.
Love the idea of the steel skullcap, of course you'd wear that, a matching landsknecht hat would've looked very fashionable
I'm kind of surprised there aren't elaborate morions or kettlehelms done up like lansneckt hats, obviously not the same size (imagine the weight lol) but in a style evocative of them.
@@intergalacticimperialist9670 Kettle hats had largely been phased out by this point in favor of motions. Motions were also mostly a low to middle-status helm, and as mentioned,any landsknechts had little or no metal armor.
There are plenty of richly decorated helmets in the period, although none in a slash-and-puff style that I know of.
I like the vibe the Doctor is putting down! Screw modern affectations of Gorget use!
Great video!
They liked to look fancy even when fighting.
Absolutely awesome video Matt. Love when Toby Capwell gets his keys out and opens up his cases for us. 🙂
10:35 OMG YES THANK YOU!
I can't even imagine how stunning this must of looked new,
let alone with a fancy loin underneath!
Incredible find, thank you discussion and allowing us to view it!
Fascinating!
It's interesting that the most common form of armour worn by the actual Landsknechts in the engravings featured here seems to be a sort of mail poncho. I've seen something similar, also from the early 16th century, but it was supposed to have been worn by a Spanish Conquistador. Would be interesting to know more about those poncho things- it seems an odd form of protection to prioritise, but they must have found it useful.
Paul Dolnstein, a landsknecht, wrote the following about a 1502 battle against Swedish forces: "We were all wearing breast and back plates, skullcaps and arm defences."
"Would the southern German 🇩🇪 Landsknecht mercenary gothic plate 🍽 armor and chainmail 🔗 protect them from the ancient primitive stone 🪨 age weapons 🔫 of the Aztecs of Mexico,🇲🇽 in the year of fifteen hundred twenty-one?"
That's beautiful. I'd love to see that used in a movie. But can you imagine how many people would complain about it?
Yeah, especially with the huge codpiece.
I imagine that the “puffed” parts made it a pain to land a solid hit on whoever wore it.
That was my first thought too... that this design, although purposefully ornate, hides many tactical advantages. There is relatively few flat areas, and the ribs serve to not only strengthen the armor but also deflect blows. Similar in some ways to samurai armor, in terms of pushing all angles downward. Interesting piece.
Definitely functional as well as aesthetic 👍
Id love to sit and chat to Dr. Capwell for weeks on end, what a gem to humanity he is.
what a resource you both have submitted here. My thanks!
I can listen to these guys endlessly
The "rolls" look like they'd add a lot of stiffness to the armored pieces, especially against blunt weapons.
Eric Dube, Canadian armourer, made a video about making a raised breastplate with a top roll like that. Perhaps you can find it. Amazing craftsmanship.
I was just there on 8/14/24. Sorry I missed this one. I enjoyed seeing a lot of my old friends again. Especially A72. One of my favorite helmets. I managed to buy their last copy of volume 3 of Dr. Capwells set, so now I’m complete. Enjoying it very much. I did get to see the Rogendorf suit in Vienna a week later, I was so happy, since it had been in restoration the last time I was there. Got a few decent pictures from the side. Now I see you guys have published a whole book on it! I guess I’ll have to get that now too! Both these harnesses are magnificent.
Just to comment; thanks for your info. I once worked at the John Woodman Higgins Armory Museum, in Worcester, Massachusetts. The collection now resides at the Worcester Art Museum, but their collection is wonderful, and “Diverse “. This certainly adds to that!
That must have been made for a rather short man. I would love to see an artist render of what someone would have looked like wearing that full armor, with all the fresh gilding and heat blued. A steel skullcap under a fantastic hat would be a perfect match for that armor. It would be nice if museums did that sort of thing more regularly. Showing people what items would have likely looked like new helps more people understand history better.
I think like our grandfathers, the natural waist started close to the navel/umbilicus rather than the hips like modern people do
So the torso (cuirass) section in that armour look very small
Excellent video. Brilliant craftsmanship
Wow, the skill and workmanship that went into that kit is increadible. Konrad What'sHisNamer?-) was a genius.
I really love and apreaiteate these videos! It's so cool Dr. Capwell is open to do this.
That is extremely impressive
My favourite type of armour
I went to visit the Wallace collection when I visited London in April 2019. I saw many wondrous things, but I don't recall seeing that armor. I guess I'll have to go back!
Wow the craftsmanship is beautiful and full battle worthy armor I truly enjoy solid history of this channel so well done! Job well done.
I think all of Mr. Capwell's interviews should have this kind of reverb when he answers!
It would have been good to see the articulation working - next time please ask Toby to manipulate the joints so we can see how effective they were. Great video.
I went to the Wallace Collection for the first time last Saturday after hearing about it in yours and Tod's videos and I spent quite a while looking at this armour. It's a fabulous place and the extent of the collection has to be seen to be believed.
OMG I was hoping for such a video! 🥰
Will watch it immediately when I find the time for it! 😍
this is a really breathtaking design, the slashed look and the attention to detail through verious techniques. its truly a work of art made with various sub arts while also being a usable tool. A masterwork that deserves some real respect. I found the super tight inner elbow layering very interesting as well. I wonder how they work?
do we have any recreation/imaginings of how it looked when it was fully ornamented? Id love to see a visual of it. I would like to see one of these videos on some of the very late masterwork armors from the later 1500s during the very peak of armor crafting. Edwardian, Elizabethan, Greenwich and gendarmerie style stuff.
you and Capwell do a great job communicating all these elements about historical items in a way that you can really appreciate them more fully.
The plate inner elbows are basically comparable to to overlapping plates on sabatons in the way of how they function.
Way more impressive (and absolutely mind-boggling) is that they eventually gotten this to work in the armpits and the groin.
@@psychoaiko666 oh really? It makes sense with the elbow since its essentially a one way hinge, but the armpits and groin seems to have a much wider range of motion.
yah, those bits also seemed really advanced.
These Wallace collections videos are really cool and interesting
That's very beautiful armour!
"Is it bulletproof?"
The talent and artistry of smiths 600 years ago, truly a stunning piece of work....is it fair to say probably a bit gaudy when new? Or is that just because I'm used to plain steel?
It's from the early renaissance , gaudy is name of the game
Then and now, its astonishing what virtually bottomless pools of wealth can buy.
A lot of armour used to be painted, but most paint was removed by time or by people who liked the metal look more. Only a several painted armour pieces still exists.
That's 500 years.
Could you at some point do a video on how medieval people maintained and cared for their weapons and armor? I’ve noticed that my swords with carbon steel fittings rust if I give them a glance that is too steamy. Was rust and the removal of rust something that was just expected? I’d imagine that they would have to grease/oil/wax their weapons multiple times per day to keep them rust free. I can’t even imagine trying to keep mail armor from rusting.
Though I can only speak of what I've read in some old Swedish texts from the medieval period I can say that mail was often kept oiled up pretty heavily while stored for any period of time, sometimes even stored multiple in barrels of oil during shipping and such. But while in use, mail kinda does it's own "self maintenance" simply by moving around. Weapons were cleaned and oiled after use but otherwise just kept in good shape by the person using it. Just like a handyman has to keep his tools clean and rust free today. But also like with mail, swords, axe heads and other blades were often stored in oil or folded in oiled/waxed blankets to prevent rust.
Yes, maintenance was laborious and time-consuming...which is why there were squires (more than one) whose job was to clean and polish all the bits. I've read/heard they used oiled sand and wool (lanolin in the wool) as a kind of 'scrub brush' or sandpaper to polish mail and plate armor, shields, etc. One has to keep in mind that medieval guys weren't prancing around in their armor all the time, movies aside; battles were usually sort of formal affairs, one of reasons why attacking someone in camp would be effective, but unsporting. Rust with swords and daggers was probably not as much of an issue, since they had to be kept sharp. Note also that weapons fittings, like the pommel, cross-guards, etc. were frequently made of non-rusting metals. Remember the old adage: Rust never sleeps.
"Would the 16th century renaissance southern German 🇩🇪 Landsknecht mercenary gothic armor, chainmail, and weapons 🔫 go up 👆 against the ancient primitive stone 🪨 age weapons of the Aztecs, Mayans, Toltecs, Mixtecs, Olmecs, and Zapotecs, of Mexico?" 🇲🇽
Always a pleasure to hear dr Tobias Capwell speaking on historical topics; I thoroughly enjoyed his Agincourt lectures and some of his debunking hollywood movies videos; great insights from a deep mind; although, it seems to me that lately he's kinda tired of this internet fame that nonplusses him anymore. Cheers!
The Wallace Collection is now on my must visit list.
I really love how much passion both show. 😊 I could listen to them for hours... Which I have already done, I guess 😅
12:32 Absolutely amazing! So, just to kind of wrap up, I was cuirass about...
That amour is so damn cool! I love these videos with Capwell. You always learn some interesting things with him.
Good to hear there will be more of these Wallace collection videos!
The level of artisanship is mind blowing !
Awesome episode, thanks for this!
Extreme level of craftsmanship that armor is
Brilliant. Early modern warfare is incredibly interesting and I generally not fully understood or appreciated. More pike and shot please 👍.
"Based on some recent testing" is the scholarly way of saying; "I've seen firsthand how a Rondel Dagger treats maille, and frankly, I am scared"?
And plate! 🤯
#ScholagladiatoriaFlex
Can we get a version of this with the Spanish Tercio/ conquistador weapons/armor
That's what we call bling. However I would think that all that ropework/puffy bits would provide places for something like a bec de corbin to catch and concentrate it's force.
This is probably a reason why its made in spitzenklasse steel, they knew it had som issues due to flamboyant shape
Pieces like this one could really do with an artists rendering of what it _might_ have looked like in its full glory! Maybe a few different options with the theoretical headgear and everything! Maybe placing it in its proper context too. It's hard for us today to imagine, but bright synthetic colors are a very modern invention. Having bright and radiant colors was something only the very richest could afford. So having a set of armor like this one must have been like seeing an extremely high end sportcar or super-yacht. A huge status symbol.
I was just there this summer. So much amazing stuff to stare at that I don’t even remember this piece.
Has anyone done a computer recreation of different color combinations that may have been on this armor along with the different options for gauntlets helms what have you would have finished the look? I'd love to see what it would or may have looked like at its birth.
I love it when people who know and are passionate get angry at entertainment media for making mistakes. There is something satisfying knowing some time centuries in the future someone will get equially angry about how future media miss represents how we wear something today
Due to victorian sensibilities of what was appropriate and not, codpieces tend to go missing once armors are in the hands of victorian curators. Armor is displayed without the codpiece, and once separated and forgotten it goes missing.
That's a very good point - some bluenose probably said, "My good sir! For shame! You have ladies visiting the museum, and those codpieces might give them the vapors." So it got put in a box, and is in a storage room somewhere, if someone didn't just take it home with them :-(
Super, fascinating video. It would have been great to see the elbow (and waist?) articulation in operation when the suit was out of its cabinet.
I must revisit. There's just so much to see. But it's a long way. Here's hoping that the Wallace Collection will make a recreation of how it would have looked.
I like these with the Doctor, I guess you did this when working on your swords, but for someone like me outside of your country, it's very interesting.
Very cool! It would be AWESOME to see some sort of reproduction this with the bluing and guilding in a movie or show.
Interesting! I need to visit England sometime! :)
For anyone who's curious and doesn't know, the skullcaps they mention that were worn under broad-brimmed hats were known as a secretes or secrets. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secrete_(helmet)
I was really hoping they would flex the articulations, or shown the inside, so that we could see their design.
Una vera bellezza..... Pezzo unico... arte allo stato puro!!!!!!! Wooowww
Toby should make more documentary films. Cause he also has experience fighting in armour it gives him this leverage over book smart historians.
Anyone knows where one can find them? I know he filmed some already..
That was an amazing piece!
Wow, that was a great presentation. I was always under the incorrect impression, that this armour was a parade amour. I love learning new (to me) things about European Renaissance armour. Thanks guys you are champions. Bravo! and more please! 👍
John Dark Souls on the left there also looks amazing.
How goes it fellows Landsknecht?
Codpiecen' my brother
Going to the Wallace Collection tomorrow to see the Richard III exhibit.
I envy you, Sir William.
I want to thank both of you for another good video it was really informative
Well now I'm really interested in this idea of 'courtly combat'. Makes total sense that a bunch of guys with money to spare would basically just do renaissance buhurt, but I wonder what kinds of rules they played under.
interesting *typical shape* on the elbow guards lol you gotta love the landsknecht
Very nice piece of amor. It would be pretty cool to see illustraions/3D renderings of wheat it might have looked like back when it was complete and new next to it.
Too bad part this of the armoury was closed (apparently because of lack of staff) when I was in the Wallace...
I wonder what function the puffy shirts of the Landsknecht served, where they just fashionable or did they serve a military purpose at the time.
I always liked the falling buff and burgonet look
Great video, very informative. I find this time period extremely interesting, even more so than the Middle Ages.
What's the evidence for the claim a lot of landsknechts didn't wear armor at all? Of a 1502 battle between Swedish forces & landsknechts, Paul Dolnstein on the latter side wrote that "[w]e were all wearing breast and back plates, skullcaps and arm defences." This directly contradicts the narrative that only or primarily higher-status landsknechts wore armor. Likewise, lots of depictions of landsknechts show many soldiers in armor. Various 15th/16th-century military manuals stress the importance of armor, especially for pikers. Certainly some landsknechts armed even with pikes lacked armor, but the weight of the evidence indicates that significant numbers of landsknechts wore armor & that armor was extremely important for pikers & halberdiers.
In divisions of Polish infantry in late 15th and early 16th century, it generally seems that only small percentage of soldiers had armor. On the other hand, it also incidentally seems that all those soldiers are pikemen/polearm wielders. So while shooters (vast majority of infantry) would often be unarmored and hiding behind pavises, it seems that people expecting serious direct combat would have armor.
@Lścibor Raimond de Fourquevaux wrote that it was common practice in the middle of the 16th century for only the soldiers of the first few ranks of a pike formation to have much armor. He disagreed with this practice & wanted all regular pikers to have three-quarters harness with mail hose & a helmet with the sight almost covered. (He also wanted arquebusiers to wear mail or brigandine armor that covered the torso & upper arms, plus a helmet.) Fourquevaux & other sources indicate that possibly a significant number of pikers & halberdiers lacked significant armor. This depended on the exact time & place in question & probably happened because of insufficient resources rather than any tactical consideration. (Though it was important to have lightly armored pikers for certain roles.)
The armour is beautiful but I think that roping is dual purpose - that design will add a huge amount of protection and strength to that armour (in addition to looking pretty)