When did the Byzantines adopt the kite shield?

It seems to confirm that kite shields were used by the byzantines during the 10th century.

What weapons did the Byzantines use?

Among the regular weapons wielded by Byzantine soldiers on the battlefield was the spear, sword, axe, mace, bow and javelin.

What was Byzantine armor made of?

The Byzantine lamellar was uniquely constructed by using round-top metal lamellae against a leather base, making it very resistant to most weapons and a very effective piece of body armour. However, being quite expensive to produce, the lamellar was largely limited to rich and elite units of the Byzantine cavalry.

Did Vikings use kite shields?

At the end of the Viking era, kite shields were used, shown in the photo to the left and illustrated in the Bayeux Tapestry (right). Their shape helped protect a fighter while riding on the back of a horse. However, during the Viking age, fighting was done on foot, so it seems unlikely they would have seen wide use.

Did Crusaders use kite shields?

Kite shields were introduced in large numbers to the Middle East by the First Crusade, when Arab and Byzantine soldiers first observed the type being carried by Norman crusaders; these left such a favourable impression on Byzantium that they had entirely superseded round shields in the Komnenian army by the mid twelfth …

Is Greek fire a real thing?

Greek fire was an incendiary weapon used by the Byzantine Empire beginning c. 672. Used to set fire to enemy ships, it consisted of a combustible compound emitted by a flame-throwing weapon. Some historians believe it could be ignited on contact with water, and was probably based on naphtha and quicklime.

Did Viking shields have metal rims?

The metal boss, attached to the wooden part of the shield by nails, protected the hand. Viking shields were rimmed with leather or rawhide. Some shields may have had iron rims, but there isn’t much archaeological evidence to support this.

What weapons were used in the Byzantine Empire?

Therefore, the core of the Byzantine army became the heavy cavalry. A typical heavy cavalryman was armed with a long lance, a short bow, a small axe, broadsword, a dagger, and a small shield. He wore a steel helmet, a plate mail corselet that reached from neck to thigh, leather gauntlets, and high boots.

What kind of Shields did the ancient Romans use?

On the other hand, the Ancient Greek hoplites used a round, bowl-shaped wooden shield that was reinforced with bronze. The heavily armored Roman legionaries used large shields to create a tortoise-like formation, great for protection against missiles but not ideas for swift movement.

What was the role of the Byzantine army?

Jump to navigation Jump to search. The Byzantine army or Eastern Roman army was the primary military body of the Byzantine armed forces, serving alongside the Byzantine navy. A direct continuation of the Roman army, the Eastern Roman army maintained a similar level of discipline, strategic prowess and organization.

What kind of Shields did the Mycenaeans use?

The Mycenaean Greek s, for example, used two types of shields: the “ figure-of-eight ” shield and a rectangular “ tower ” shield. On the other hand, the Ancient Greek hoplites used a round, bowl-shaped wooden shield that was reinforced with bronze.