FireStryker Living History Forum : Nasals in 1280AD

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Topic: Nasals in 1280AD

mcpartridge2003
New Member
Member # 418

posted 02-20-2003 10:10 PM

G'day,
I am a member of a re-enactment group interested in a period of time stretching from 1280 to 1540. The emphasis is for the individual to try and pick a set date in this time period and try to match it as closely as possible (with only a 15 year latitude before and after the date chosen). We do this in an attempt to juggle our desires for authenticity with a degree of flexibility for the group as a whole (in my experience it is very hard to attract a great deal of people with a particular campaign - particularly in a place wiht a small population base like Australia).

Now on to my question. I have a member of my group who wishes to use nasal helmets (specifically spangenhelms). He claims that they were in use up to the earliest period of our group (ie. 1280). I have asked him to provide documented proof of this and he has pointed me to the Maciejowski Bible (1250AD). I am familiar with the Bible and I indicated to him that the nasals depicted are from the artists impression of Saracen armour. However I am wondering if I am missing anything. I would appreciate any advice, or correction.

cheers

Matt

Registered: Jan 2003 | IP: Logged

Mart Shearer
Member
Member # 364

posted 02-26-2003 12:07 PM

Conical helms, though probably not spangenhelms, with nasals can be found in a number of mid-13th century sources. Pushing the use of such a helmet to 1280 seems dubious. Nasaled helms, perhaps best described as a nasaled-bascinet can be found into the early 14th century, examples being found in the Holkham Bible as well as the "Life and Miracles of St. Denis" presented in 1317. I would say a definite "no" to the spangen construction, and probably a "no" to the nasaled conical unless he is portraying a very poor soldier from a rural area.

Registered: Oct 2002 | IP: Logged

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