Difference between revisions of "Mail Shirts"
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| − | T86 Hexateuch1.png|Hexateuch c. 1025 | + | T86 Hexateuch1.png|Hexateuch c. 1025-1050 |
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* Bayeux Tapestry c.1076AD [WILSON 1985] | * Bayeux Tapestry c.1076AD [WILSON 1985] | ||
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The ‘mail shorts’ theory has been dismissed by Wilson [WILSON 1985], Grape [GRAPE 1994] and others.<br> | The ‘mail shorts’ theory has been dismissed by Wilson [WILSON 1985], Grape [GRAPE 1994] and others.<br> | ||
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* [[R-M#R1|R1]] Dijon, Bibliotheque Municipale MS 14 fol.13, Bible of St. Etienne, 1109-1111AD – Picture of Goliath [SKODELL 2008] | * [[R-M#R1|R1]] Dijon, Bibliotheque Municipale MS 14 fol.13, Bible of St. Etienne, 1109-1111AD – Picture of Goliath [SKODELL 2008] | ||
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== Mail shirt Construction== | == Mail shirt Construction== | ||
Revision as of 11:50, 31 May 2020
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More Armour pages
Introduction
Type 1 : Short Mail Shirts
Type 1a: Short mail shirt to just below the waist with short sleeves
A mail shirt that stops a couple of inches below the belt. Sleeves are usually to the elbow but can extend to the wrist.
Book of Maccabees c.????
It would appear that the typical 8th - 9th century mail shirt seems to end just below the belt line. Some of them appear as though they may be vandyked or side split – see below.
Type 1b: Short mail shirt to just below the waist with long sleeves
Type 1c: Short Vandyked mail shirt to just below the waist with short sleeves
Vandykes are a triangular finish to the hem and sometimes the cuff of a mail shirt.
BL Cotton Cleopatra C VIII fol.18v Late C10th
We have a few pictures that can be interpreted as Vandyked shirts. London, BL, Cotton Cleopatra C VIII f.18v dated to the late C10th is perhaps the most famous although it may not actually be a mail shirt. [Migration era evidence?]
Side 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.
Codex Aureus Epternacensis f.18v
- O67 National Museum, Nuremberg (Hs. 156 142) - Codex aureus Epternacensis. C.1030AD [SKODELL 2008]
Mail shirts are usually shown unsplit. A few of the depictions from Western European manuscripts do however show side split mail shirts.
Type 2: Standard Mail Shirts
Type 2a: Mail shirt to mid-thigh or knee with short sleeves
A mail shirt that reaches to the thigh, with sleeves that usually come to the elbow.
La Vie De Saint Aubin
Aachen Ivory Situla c. 1000
Type 2b: Mail shirt to mid-thigh or knee with a small split and short sleeves
A mail shirt that reaches to the thigh, has a small split front and back, and sleeves that usually come to the elbow.
Hildesheimer Cathedral c. ????
- T44 Boulogne, MS11 f.104v late C10th (Possible – detail hidden)
- A carving at Hildesheimer cathedral [SKODELL 2008]
- 980AD Byzantine [NICOLLE 2005]:p.51
Type 3: Long Mail Shirts
Type 3a: Long mail shirt with a 'Bayeux style' split and short sleeves
Interpreted as either a front split mail shirt or alternatively a mail shirt with mail shorts.
Hexateuch c. 1025-1050
Winchester Carving c. 1050-1100
- Bayeux Tapestry c.1076AD [WILSON 1985]
The ‘mail shorts’ theory has been dismissed by Wilson [WILSON 1985], Grape [GRAPE 1994] and others.
Type 3b: Long mail shirt with a long style split and short sleeves
Type 3c: Long mail shirt with a long style split and long sleeves
- R1 Dijon, Bibliotheque Municipale MS 14 fol.13, Bible of St. Etienne, 1109-1111AD – Picture of Goliath [SKODELL 2008]
Mail shirt Construction
6 - 8mm alternating riveted & welded
Archaeology
- 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 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 the Viking Age finds seem to be in this size range.
6 - 8mm riveted
Archaeology
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Discussion
We have no finds of 100% riveted shirts that have been dated between 800-1100.
Riveted links over 8mm
Archaeology
- Tuna, Gotland (TWEDDLE 1992) has an internal link diameter up to approx.10mm in size
- Russia (D’AMATO 2012, p.34) some links measuring up to 25mm
Discussion
It appears that Eastern mail shirts could have even larger rings with some from Russia measuring up to 25mm. (D’AMATO 2012, p.34)
Butted links
We have no finds of butted links that have been dated between 800-1100.
Copper alloy mail links used for decoration
A double row of copper alloy links used to edge mail shirts and aventails.
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
The Coppergate helmet possibly had either a double row of copper alloy links edging the aventail or alternatively they could have been talismans. Copper alloy talismans and edges are frequently found on medieval mail shirts (TWEDDLE 1992, p.1003).
Lined Mail shirts
Mail shirts that are lined on the inside with cloth or leather and that have a cloth or leather edging.
Bayeux Tapestry
References
