User:Gwinva/sandbox2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[edit] Random pieces that might be useful sometime
There are many common misconceptions regarding the Middle Ages. They have arisen from a number of sources, and have so thoroughly entered the public consciousness many do not even question them. Some have been 'corrected' by historians but still prove persistent.
Many misconceptions have arisen through the historicising of legend and fantastical stories. The legends of King Arthur, for example, have grown over time, and been portrayed by so many sources, that it seems to enforce false ideas about arms and armour, 'maidens in distress', chivalry, knights and general life in the middle ages.
In the modern day, films based on the Middle Ages continue to perpetrate errors, through mistakes and inadequate research by the film-makers, a simple disinterest in achieving historical accuracy, or a desire to remain fantastical, in much the same way as the early legends of Arthur were to the original reading public. Many films, such as Braveheart, claim to be based on fact, but bear little resemblance to truth.
Historical novels can also perpetuate popular error. Many are merely period pieces, set in the past but making little concession to historicity, such as the 'bodice rippers'. Others fictionalise historic events, but even the most well-researched can contain assumptions or errors which linger in the mind of the reader, reinforcing the myths.
Historical reenactments are becoming more popular, and there are many societies and organisations which promote events to 're-enact' the past. Many of the enthusiasts research their period and occupation thoroughly, and new research has been developed by their interpretations and experimentation. However, for many, enthusiasm wins out over research, and others delight in anachronism, seeking historical role play rather than true interpretation.
However, the most significant source of error come from historians themselves. With the dependence of many on secondary sources, rather than primary sources, errors are reproduced and recounted in book after book, until it becomes accepted fact. Unfortunately, Wikipedia is not immune from this. This article attempts to address these errors, and attempts to reference those works which are based on primary sources. Please note, however, that the linked main articles for each subject may still contain the error (or other errors).
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Destriers, in fact, were not very common, most knights and soldiers using cousers or rounceys. [1] The Destrier, or great horse, was a middle-weight horse, similar to modern-day heavy hunters or show-jumping horses. [2]. Horse armour, usually restricted to tournaments, comprised padded leather pieces, covered by a trapper (a decorated cloth), which is not particularly heavy. [3]
There are literary references to horse armour (an "iron blanket") from the late twelfth century.[4]
Medieval swords were in fact finely-made, well-balanced specimens, easily wielded by the experienced swordsman. They are similar in weight and size to the swords from the Renaissance, a fact confirmed by a study of the swords now currently held in the Wallace Collection, the Stibbert Museum, Florence, and the Royal Armouries.
| sword type | grip length (cm) | sword length (cm) | weight (g) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-handed swords | ~10 | 75-120 | 650-1400 | |
| Hand-and-a-half (bastard) swords | min. 15 | 800-1400 | ||
| Two-handed swords | ~20-45 | max. 150 | 1500-2600 |
Note that the results were evenly distributed for length and weight throughout time period.
(where is the reference to the RA research on mail? -replicating man's movement, even arrow couldn't pierce.)
Cuir bouilli is hardened leather used for armour, horse-harnesses, boots and other household items. It is not boiled (which would destroy it) or oiled (which would soften it). It was in fact soaked in cold water, then dried (or heated) in a mould. [6]
Consent -willingness to marry- was central to the concept of marriage, and if given under duress, the marriage was deemed invalid, as long as certain requirements were met, regarding the nature of the threats and the consummation (if any) of the marriage. Cruelty was grounds for dissolution, although reconciliation (and pledges from the guilty party) were encouraged. [7]
For the general reader:
- Medieval Lives by Terry Jones and Alan Eriera, London: BBC Books, 2004
[edit] References
- ^ Prestwich, Michael, Armies and Warfare in the Middle Ages: The English Experience, London:Yale University Press, 1996. p 30; (analysis of horses lost in Flanders, 1330s)
- ^ Oakeshott, Ewart, A Knight and his Horse, USA:Dufour Editions, 1962, revised 1998, p 10
- ^ Barker, Juliet, The Tournament in England, 1100-1400, UK: Boydell Press, 1986, pp 175-6 (based on purchase orders)
- ^ Bumke, Joachim. Courtly Culture: Literature and Society in the High Middle Ages, translated by Thomas Dunlap, USA: Overlook Duckworth, 2000, p 176 (First published in 1986 as Höfische Kultur: Literatur und Gesellschaft im holen Mittelalter by Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag)
- ^ Dawson, Timothy, 'A Club with an Edge', Medieval History Magazine, Vol 2, Issue 3
- ^ Nicolle, David, 'Jawshan, Cuirie and Coats-of-Plates: An Alternative Line of Development for Hardened Leather Armour', in Companion to Medieval Arms and Armour, edited by David Nicolle; UK: The Boydell Press, p 180
- ^ leyser, Henrietta, Medieval Women, London: Phoenix Press, 1995, pp 113-114 (refers particularly to English law)
