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Author
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Topic: Scottish Armor
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Lord Thomas the Black
Member
Member # 394
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posted 12-09-2002 03:01 PM
   
I was recently asked if I would be willing to participate in the Highland Games taking place in July, by setting up a demo in the history tent, and talking about what the Scots wore into battle (I was asked at the renfest, where I was doing a maille demo). The problem is this: aside from chainmail, I have no idea what the Scots (highlanders) wore into battle, and numerous searches have turned up nothing. Can anyone help me? Maybe point me at some books that can answer my question? For reference, I'm assuming the SCA standard "period" of 600-1600 CE. I have until June to get to work finding or making examples of Highland armor, so please help!
Thanks!-------------------- Lord Thomas the Black
of House Leatherwolf
Rogue #693, Merc #373,
Mailler, Leathersmith
Registered: Dec 2002 | IP: Logged
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chef de chambre
Admin & Advocatus Diaboli
Member # 4
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posted 12-09-2002 05:21 PM
Hi Thomas,Why must "Scots" be Highlanders alone? If you want armour, then you must look to the lowlands. The majority of Highlanders from the dawn of people recognizable as such, into the 18th century wore no armour whatsoever into combat (unless you consider their shirts armour). Only the pinnacle of the social hierarchy wore armour, and then that was minimal, and usually outdated. Highland funeral effigies of the aristocracy show fellows in gambesons, open faced bascinets, and aventails (from the late 14th century till the end of the 15th). The most affluent sporting a mail shirt. We are talking the Laird of the Isles (a king essentially) when we are discussing anything approaching recognizable complete armour. Scotland had no native armour industry, as is readily documented by Flodden James and his father resorting to importing armour from the continent - France and Germany in specific) - Flodden James in LARGE quantity. James father tried to entice French brigandiniers to settle in Edinburgh, with limited success. Most assizes of arms in the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries list the equipment of middle class soldiers as being 'jacks' of thigh length (wether they had cuisse or no, as one assize mentions), and a helmet. THE book for you is "Scottish Weapons & Fortifications - 1100 - 1800". I gave a copy to Jeff some years back, but the chapter on armour lists in essence almost every national law pertaining to armour, inducement to foriegn armourers to settle, etc. James of Flodden fame was the fiorst Scottish king to field a heavily armoured host - mostly in the German (Maximilian) fashion, trying to conver the traditional schiltron to the discipline of the Swiss and Landesknecht pike blocks. He filled the front ranks of the pike block with heavily armoured lowland nobility and gentry, and they were slaughtered for their pains. No Scottish host post that date went into battle heavily armoured, to the best of my knowledge. -------------------- Bob R.
Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged
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Alan F
Member
Member # 386
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posted 12-09-2002 07:43 PM
A few points,I think I should pick up one here, especially as my group, Gaddgedlar, does Scottish Medieval and 16th Century re-enactment!
As Chef says, Why do the scots have to be Highlanders? We don't re-enact them prefering to do Lowland. Lowlanders have provided the majority of the soldiers for Scotland's Wars throughout the whole of Scottish history. The contribution of the Highlanders is negligible, most accounts see them doing what they are extremely good at, notably running away, or mass desertion. Lowland troops, on the other hand, were famous for standing their ground, evenif it meant certain death, as happened at Flodden.
For more info, I suggest you look here: www.Gaddgedlar.com, my group's wensite, which can provide you with as many answers as you want. as well as pictures of us wearing what the Scots wore into battle.web page
Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged
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chef de chambre
Admin & Advocatus Diaboli
Member # 4
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posted 12-09-2002 08:18 PM
Hi Alan,Having just had the time to look at your website, I think you chaps look very good. I especially like the 16th century page. Given the quote under the photos (and coming from a border 'riding' family the wrong side of the border for you though), I'm sure you'll forgive me that 16th century quote, of a cleric traveling through Liddesdale, and seeing no churches "Are there no Christians amongst you?", and the reply "Na, we be all Armstrangs and Elliots here." (my family apparently had a penchant for marrying into the Armstrongs....). -------------------- Bob R.
Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged
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chef de chambre
Admin & Advocatus Diaboli
Member # 4
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posted 12-09-2002 09:51 PM
Hi Alan,Oh yes, just finished reading it for the 5th time. I'm a Reed, albeit 370 years removed from Redesdale and the vicinity of Troughend. Borders didn't matter to the borderers, it was self interest and family connections on either side of the line.  -------------------- Bob R.
Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged
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Rodric
Member
Member # 227
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posted 12-09-2002 09:56 PM
>I don't know if either of you have seen George MacDonald Fraserr's excellent The Steel Bonnets: The Story of the Anglo-Scottish Border Reivers,<It's sitting about 3 feet behind me in my bookshelf. A most excellent read. Sigh, yet another period I would like to do. -------------------- Cheers
Rod
Sweat more in Training. Bleed Less in War.
Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged
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Alan F
Member
Member # 386
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posted 12-09-2002 10:19 PM
We, Gaddgedlar, have only recently started doing 16th Century, having concentrated on the The Armee Ecosse and the Wars of Independence. However, we've found Flodden an excellent area to do, as well as the Borders stuff in general.
Getting back to the question.... A mail-shirt would be a good idea (don't wear tartan, go for breeches and shirt) as well as maybe a buckler. If you want a helmet, try a Morion, or even a plain steel skull cap. As to weapons, take either a braodsword or rapier, if you're a noble a hand-and-a-half would also be OK.
Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged
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