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Mail Shirts

10 bytes added, 11:20, 9 August 2012
| colspan="7" | Preliminary data has been collected but the structure of the article is still fluid
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== Mail shirt ring sizes==
=====Literature=====
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===6 - 8mm alternating riveted & welded=Short mail shirts to just below the waist==''A mail shirt that stops a couple of inches below the belt. Sleeves are usually to the elbow but can extend to the wrist.''
{| class="wikitable"
|+ align="top" style="caption-side: top; text-align: left;" | Recreation guide
| scope="col" width="80" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|1041-1100]]
|-
| Colspan="41" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|Optional]]| Colspan="3" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|Allowable]]|}
=====ArchaeologyArt=====*Gjermundbu, Norway, 980AD (TWEDDLE 1992) riveted & welded, internal ring size = approx. 5.5 - 7.3 mm.C1*Gotland, Sweden, (TWEDDLE 1992) graves 14.7 & 14.8. Riveted & welded, internal ring size = approx. 7.4 – 7.6mm. Interestingly some copper alloy rings were in the Gotland finds.*Sutton Hoo c.650AD (POLLINGTON 2006, p.152) - 8mm links, alternate riveted and butt-jointed, to mid thigh*Dublin (HALPIN 2008, p.179)
=====Discussion=====
Most of It would appear that the Viking Age finds seem typical 8th - 9th century mail shirt seems to end just below the belt line. Some of them appear as though they may be in this size rangevandyked or side split – see below.
===6 - 8mm rivetedVandyked mail shirt===Vandykes are a triangular finish to the hem and sometimes the cuff of a mail shirt.
{| class="wikitable"
|+ align="top" style="caption-side: top; text-align: left;" | Recreation guide
| scope="col" width="80" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|1041-1100]]
|-
| Colspan="42" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|OptionalAllowable]]| Colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|Allowable]]|} =====Art=====*T49 London, BL, Cotton Cleopatra C VIII f.18v, Late C10th=====Literature=====--
=====Archaeology=====
--
=====Discussion=====
Although we We have no finds of 100% riveted a few pictures that can be interpreted as Vandyked shirts from 800-????. London, BL, Cotton Cleopatra C VIII f.18v dated to the late C10th is perhaps the most famous although it was felt that they are better than ‘butted mail’ and are thus included under optionalmay not actually be a mail shirt.[Migration era evidence?]
<br>===Butted / riveted links up to 10mmSide split mail shirt===''A side split mail shirt’s skirt is open at the sides. An unsplit mail shirt has an additional side gore added to the side of the skirt to allow movement and offer protection.''
{| class="wikitable"
|+ align="top" style="caption-side: top; text-align: left;" | Recreation guide
| scope="col" width="80" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|1041-1100]]
|-
| Colspan="43" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|Optional]]| Colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|Allowable]]|} =====ArchaeologyArt=====*TunaW1 National Museum, Gotland Nuremberg (TWEDDLE 1992Hs. 156 142) has an internal link diameter up to approx- Codex aureus Epternacensis.10mm in size*Russia (D’AMATO 2012, pC.34) some links measuring up to 25mm1030AD [SKODELL 2008]
=====Discussion=====
It appears that Eastern mail Mail shirts could have even larger rings with some from Russia measuring up to 25mmare usually shown unsplit. (D’AMATO 2012, pA few of the depictions from Western European manuscripts do however show side split mail shirts.34)
<br>==Copper alloy Long unsplit mail links used for decorationshirts from below groin to knee==''A double row of copper alloy links used to edge mail shirts and aventailsshirt that reaches to the thigh, with sleeves that usually come to the elbow.''
{| class="wikitable"
|+ align="top" style="caption-side: top; text-align: left;" | Recreation guide
| scope="col" width="80" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|1041-1100]]
|-
| Colspan="42" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|Optional]]| Colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|Allowable]]| Colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|Allowable]]|} =====ArchaeologyArt=====*York, England, C8th (TWEDDLE 1992, pAachen ivory font c.1003) Coppergate helmet,4 links.*Gotland, Sweden, C9th-12th 1000AD (TWEDDLE 1992, p.1185SKODELL 2008) Graves 14.7 & 8. This had two rows of copper alloy links at a possible vertical edge.– mid thigh
=====Discussion=====
The Coppergate helmet possibly had either a double row of copper alloy links edging This seems to be the aventail or alternatively they could have been talismanstypical size of a period shirt – see illustrations above. Copper alloy talismans and edges are frequently found on medieval Some drawings do show shorter mail shirts (TWEDDLE 1992, p.1003)but mail shirts seem to get longer as the period progresses.
<br>
 <br>==Mail edged with leatherLong front split mail shirt to knee== =====Art=====There appears to be 3 distinct types of front split mail shirts depicted in C11th art. A ‘Short split’, ‘Full split’ and the difficult to interpret ‘Bayeux style’. These are discussed in detail delow =====Literature=====--=====Archaeology=====--=====Discussion=====They appear common on such sources as the Bayeux Tapestry and continue to make appearances on numerous manuscripts from the 1060’s onwards although they nether totally replace the traditional unsplit mail shirt. ===Short Split===''A strip of leather sown over mail shirt to the edge of knee with a small slit in the skirt and sleeves to the elbow.'' =====Art=====* T44 Boulogne, MS11 f.104v late C10th (Possible – detail hidden)* A carving at Hildesheimer cathedral [SKODELL 2008]* 980AD Byzantine [NICOLLE 2005: p.51] ===Bayeux Style===''Interpreted as either a front split mail shirtor alternatively a mail shirt with mail shorts.''=====Art=====* Bayeux Tapestry c.1076AD [WILSON 1985]* T86 The Old English Hexatech 1025-1050AD * Winchester carving 1050-1100AD [WILSON 1985]=====Discussion=====The ‘mail shorts’ theory has been dismissed by Wilson [WILSON 1985], Grape [GRAPE 1994] and others. ===Full Split=== =====Art=====* Bayeux Tapestry c.1076AD [WILSON 1985]* R1 Dijon, Bibliotheque Municipale MS 14 fol.13, Bible of St. Etienne, 1109-1111AD – Picture of Goliath [SKODELL 2008] == Mail shirt ring sizes=======Literature=====-- ===6 - 8mm alternating riveted & welded===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ align="top" style="caption-side: top; text-align: left;" | Recreation guide
|-
| Colspan="4" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|Allowable]]
|}
<br>==Mail shirt lengths===Archaeology==Mail shirt from just below waist===''A mail shirt that stops a couple of inches below *Gjermundbu, Norway, 980AD (TWEDDLE 1992) riveted & welded, internal ring size = approx. 5.5 - 7.3 mm.*Gotland, Sweden, (TWEDDLE 1992) graves 14.7 & 14.8. Riveted & welded, internal ring size = approx. 7.4 – 7.6mm. Interestingly some copper alloy rings were in the beltGotland finds. Sleeves are usually *Sutton Hoo c.650AD (POLLINGTON 2006, p.152) - 8mm links, alternate riveted and butt-jointed, to mid thigh*Dublin (HALPIN 2008, p.179)=====Discussion=====Most of the elbow but can extend Viking Age finds seem to the wristbe in this size range.''   ===6 - 8mm riveted===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ align="top" style="caption-side: top; text-align: left;" | Recreation guide
| scope="col" width="80" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|1041-1100]]
|-
| Colspan="14" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|Optional]]| Colspan="3" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|Allowable]]|} =====ArtArchaeology=====*C1 --
=====Discussion=====
It would appear that the typical 8th - 9th century mail shirt seems to end just below the belt line. Some Although we have no finds of them appear as though 100% riveted shirts from 800-????, it was felt that they may be vandyked or side split – see beloware better than ‘butted mail’ and are thus included under optional.
===Mail shirt from below groin to above kneeRiveted links over 8mm===''A mail shirt that reaches to the thigh, with sleeves that usually come to the elbow.''
{| class="wikitable"
|+ align="top" style="caption-side: top; text-align: left;" | Recreation guide
| scope="col" width="80" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|1041-1100]]
|-
| Colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|Optional]]| Colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|Allowable]]| Colspan="14" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|Allowable]]|}=====ArtArchaeology=====*Aachen ivory font cTuna, Gotland (TWEDDLE 1992) has an internal link diameter up to approx.1000AD 10mm in size*Russia (SKODELL 2008D’AMATO 2012, p.34) – mid thigh some links measuring up to 25mm
=====Discussion=====
This seems to be the typical size of a period shirt – see illustrations above. Some drawings do show shorter It appears that Eastern mail shirts but mail shirts seem could have even larger rings with some from Russia measuring up to get longer as the period progresses25mm. (D’AMATO 2012, p.34)
=== Butted links ===
--
<br>
==Vandyked Copper alloy mail shirtlinks used for decoration==Vandykes are a triangular finish to the hem and sometimes the cuff ''A double row of a copper alloy links used to edge mail shirtshirts and aventails.''
{| class="wikitable"
|+ align="top" style="caption-side: top; text-align: left;" | Recreation guide
| scope="col" width="80" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|1041-1100]]
|-
| Colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|Allowable]]| Colspan="24" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|Allowable]]|}=====Art=====*T49 London, BL, Cotton Cleopatra C VIII f.18v, Late C10th=====Literature=====--
=====Archaeology=====
*York, England, C8th (TWEDDLE 1992, p.1003) Coppergate helmet,4 links.*Gotland, Sweden, C9th--12th (TWEDDLE 1992, p.1185) Graves 14.7 & 8. This had two rows of copper alloy links at a possible vertical edge.
=====Discussion=====
We The Coppergate helmet possibly had either a double row of copper alloy links edging the aventail or alternatively they could have a few pictures that can be interpreted as Vandyked been talismans. Copper alloy talismans and edges are frequently found on medieval mail shirts. London(TWEDDLE 1992, BL, Cotton Cleopatra C VIII fp.18v dated to the late C10th is perhaps the most famous although it may not actually be a mail shirt1003).[Migration era evidence?] 
<br>
==Side split mail shirtMail edged with leather==''A side split mail shirt’s skirt is open at strip of leather sown over the edge of the sides. An unsplit mail shirt has an additional side gore added to the side of the skirt to allow movement and offer protection.''
{| class="wikitable"
|+ align="top" style="caption-side: top; text-align: left;" | Recreation guide
| scope="col" width="80" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|1041-1100]]
|-
| Colspan="3" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|Optional]]| Colspan="14" style="text-align: center;"| [[Recreation guide|Allowable]]
|}
=====Art=====
* W1 National Museum, Nuremberg (Hs. 156 142) - Codex aureus Epternacensis. C.1030AD [SKODELL 2008]
=====Discussion=====
Mail shirts are usually shown unsplit. A few of the depictions from Western European manuscripts do however show side split mail shirts.
<br>
==Front split mail shirt to knee==
 
=====Art=====
There appears to be 3 distinct types of front split mail shirts depicted in C11th art. A ‘Short split’, ‘Full split’ and the difficult to interpret ‘Bayeux style’. These are discussed in detail delow
=====Literature=====
--
=====Archaeology=====
--
=====Discussion=====
They appear common on such sources as the Bayeux Tapestry and continue to make appearances on numerous manuscripts from the 1060’s onwards although they nether totally replace the traditional unsplit mail shirt.
 
===Short Split===
''A mail shirt to the knee with a small slit in the skirt and sleeves to the elbow.''
 
=====Art=====
* T44 Boulogne, MS11 f.104v late C10th (Possible – detail hidden)
* A carving at Hildesheimer cathedral [SKODELL 2008]
* 980AD Byzantine [NICOLLE 2005: p.51]
 
===Bayeux Style===
''Interpreted as either a front split mail shirt or alternatively a mail shirt with mail shorts.''
=====Art=====
* Bayeux Tapestry c.1076AD [WILSON 1985]
* T86 The Old English Hexatech 1025-1050AD
* Winchester carving 1050-1100AD [WILSON 1985]
=====Discussion=====
The ‘mail shorts’ theory has been dismissed by Wilson [WILSON 1985], Grape [GRAPE 1994] and others.
 
===Full Split===
 
=====Art=====
* Bayeux Tapestry c.1076AD [WILSON 1985]
* R1 Dijon, Bibliotheque Municipale MS 14 fol.13, Bible of St. Etienne, 1109-1111AD – Picture of Goliath [SKODELL 2008]
==See Also==
Retrieved from ‘http://www.vikingage.org/wiki/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/111’