So here goes. . . I know that the shield, when used, was typically the "heater" shield strapped to the arm during the 14th century. Is there *any* evidence (extant copies, effigies, anything) that a center grip shield was used anywhere in western Europe during the late 13th or early 14th century? I'm looking for anything besides bucklers or the Spanish adarga (which I've heard was often held in the center via two straps).

I looked at as much documentation as I could get my hands on, and the only thing *close* to a center grip shield I've seen was a round in the Maciejowksi that appeared to have had a boss and looked too big to be a standard buckler (slinger on the right). . .
http://www.medievaltymes.com/courtyard/images/maciejowski/leaf42/otm42rc&d.gif

But this is wholly speculative, and even if it's agreed that this was a center grip round, it's one of the the only instances I've seen, and people have pointed out that the Mac isn't always the most reliable source. There are also some drawings in the I.33 that have some rounds that seem much bigger than the other bucklers used in the manual (guy on bottom left). . .
http://www.aemma.org/onlineResources/i33/i33Home.htm

Again, a subjective interpretation of one artist's rendering.

So. . . any other visual or physical evidence out there?

Thanks much for bearing with the rambling question!

WARNING: Very large, might take a while to load.

There are two men at the bottom right of the page, both with heater shaped shields. From one angle, you can clearly see the umbo/boss, and from the other, the exact way the handle was positioned, obviously held in the center.

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Doug Strong
doug-strong@comcast.net

http://armourresearchsociety.org

quote:

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Originally posted by Jeff:
Someone kindly pointed out this manuscript leaf to me the other day (The Romance of Alexander, Bodleian ms 264 folio 108 verso)
There are two men at the bottom right of the page, both with heater shaped shields. From one angle, you can clearly see the umbo/boss, and from the other, the exact way the handle was positioned, obviously held in the center.

Now, this could have been an isolated incident, or judicial duelling shields. Heck I don't know what it means, but it seems to be pretty compelling evidence that at least two center grip shields other than the round buckler existed in the mid 14th century.

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They look to me like performers given the three on the left side are doing some form of acrobatics. The little images along the outer edges of such manuscripts are often very interesting, depicting scenes from everyday life or myths, humour and fantacy. One springs to mind of a half man-half beast fending off with sword and shield a snail almost as large as him.

I wouldn't put too much weight on that image as representing real armour. My guess is it represents real props from a performing troupe.

Illuminations of Froissart's Chronicles depict some oddball shields in the 15th century Here's a center grip oval (man ascending ladder)
http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/images/jpeg/i4_0012.jpg

Does anyone know when the Spanish adarga was first used? Wasn't there some some evidence to suggest that was held in the center by two straps?

[ 02-23-2004: Message edited by: Jeff ]

[ 02-24-2004: Message edited by: Jeff ]

Also from a similar context is a heater being used like a center grip buckler in the Dyson Perrins Apocalypse, MS Ludwig III 1 fo.22v, an English text from circa 1255-60. http://www.getty.edu/art/collections/objects/oz3365.html

I have a scan of fo.123r from the Vie et Miracles de St. Denis (presented in 1317) showing a scale-clad Sissinius using a cross strapped adarga faced with a lion's mask. The shield is worn on the upper arm while mounted, but one would suspect the crossed handles to be used one-handed. I'll be glad to forward a scan if you like.

"954. A shield, circular, 19 inches (diameter, my comment)average, the shield is made from wood, with an iron rim, an iron boss to cover the hand, likewise (i.e. made in iron, my comment)the mountings that go from the centre of the shield to the rim on the outside of the shield. The grip on the inner side, which has been of wood, is gone, on the flat rim of the shield boss in runes:
"gunar gir fim ikke hiamik".

The shield has for a long time been kept at the farm Rige (pronounced Rikje)in Valle Sogn in the upper Sætesdal and has been used as decoration mounted into a small house's door. According to tradition the shields owner was called Eigil Gunnarson Rikje.

This shield would be of about the same size as the dutch shield reported by Doug Strong.

[ 04-30-2005: Message edited by: Endre Fodstad ]

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