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Miniatures Adventure => Medieval Adventures => Topic started by: Inkpaduta on 20 March 2021, 05:23:19 PM

Title: How long was the Norman era?
Post by: Inkpaduta on 20 March 2021, 05:23:19 PM

Starting in 1066 how long were the armor, helmets and kite shields of the Normans in style?
How far past 1066 can I take this look?

Title: Re: How long was the Norman era?
Post by: Cubs on 20 March 2021, 05:41:24 PM

I'd say 1066 was probably the middle period of Norman dominance with the invasion of England coming after the Norman expansion into Italy. I'd say you have a divergence of styles in different parts of the world, but the conical helm with nose guard and kite shield gradually faded from use over the next 50-100 years or so, with the helmet losing the nose guard and rounding out (also becoming the full helm) and the shield starting to flatten out at the top and become more like the heater shields of the 'high medieval' period.

Title: Re: How long was the Norman era?
Post by: Mr.J on 20 March 2021, 06:14:44 PM

I think King Stephen is traditionally seen as the last Norman monarch, so 1154  would be the end. After that it becomes the Angevin period.

Title: Re: How long was the Norman era?
Post by: HappyChappy439 on 20 March 2021, 06:18:00 PM

Quote from: Cubs on 20 March 2021, 05:41:24 PM

I'd say 1066 was probably the middle period of Norman dominance with the invasion of England coming after the Norman expansion into Italy. I'd say you have a divergence of styles in different parts of the world, but the conical helm with nose guard and kite shield gradually faded from use over the next 50-100 years or so, with the helmet losing the nose guard and rounding out (also becoming the full helm) and the shield starting to flatten out at the top and become more like the heater shields of the 'high medieval' period.

Agreed, Sicily's definitely a bit of an odd case where a lot of different styles got incorporated!

If it helps in England at least, there's paintings and Manuscripts from just after the Anarchy that show the 'traditional' Norman look (nasal helms, mail hauberks, kite shields etc.) still in use, so you'd be covered for the mid-12th century at least, I think by the time the Third Crusade rolls around things change, but you should be covered for before then, at least into the 1150s!

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/BattleOf_Lincoln.jpg/800px-BattleOf_Lincoln.jpg)

Title: Re: How long was the Norman era?
Post by: Mr.J on 20 March 2021, 06:21:12 PM

Apologies, totally missed the point of your question!

As Cubs suggests you’d see a gradual change over the next hundred years or so. Initially maile armour got longer to cover the whole arm/leg. Then you see it over hands and feet too. You also get some lovely helmets with face plates before you get to the full helm.

There’s a reasonable Osprey on this, I think it’s just called ‘The Normans’.

Title: Re: How long was the Norman era?
Post by: Ethelred the Almost Ready on 20 March 2021, 06:21:38 PM

This possibly doesn't answer your question, but this is a good podcast about the Norman era:

https://www.audible.com/pd/Norman-Centuries-A-Norman-History-Podcast-by-Lars-Brownworth-Podcast/B08K572V2Z

Title: Re: How long was the Norman era?
Post by: Atheling on 20 March 2021, 07:51:44 PM

For me, the armours are useful right up to The Anarchy, so from 1066 (a little earlier in reality) up to 1135. You could easily stretch things up to 1153 and the end of the war and a little beyond really.

Title: Re: How long was the Norman era?
Post by: Codsticker on 21 March 2021, 06:04:10 AM

I imagine the Anglo-Norman Invasion of Ireland in 1169 may be stretching it a bit?