Example Equipment: Teutonic Knights in the 1270s

From the 13th to 16th Centuries, the Teutonic Order, founded in the 1190s in Palestine, originally running a hospital but later becoming a powerful brotherhood of armed knights, began to dominate the Baltic, combating Lithuanian Pagans, amongst others.

The knights of this order were heavily armed, making fearsome foes for any who faced them, establishing many castles across Prussia, including the famously impenetrable Malbork Castle, the site of a famous siege following the Battle of Tannenberg.

Equipment of a Knight in 1270:

By the late 13th Century, the knights of the order and very well armed and equipped:

Helmet

The knight would have worn an enclosing iron great helm, covering the face and domed around the crown of the head, to deflect glancing blows.

A fitting was also placed at the top of the helmet, where a crest could be attached. These were fear-inducing accoutrements designed to resemble demonic horns, inducing fear in foes. These could be used as representations as family heraldry or as mere decoration.

Body Armour

The knight would have worn under his chain-mail shirt, or hauberk, a gambeson, a tunic padded with wool, designed to add another layer of protection while also preventing the mail from chafing the skin. 

On the head, under the coif or above it was worn a padded arming cap which cushioned the head.

Above this would have been worn a chain-mail hauberk, covering the upper body, including the arms. A mail coif, or hood would have covered the neck and head. Chain-mail was also worn on the legs and feet, while mail gloves were worn on the hands.

On the knees, an early form of plate armour was worn in the form of solid poleyns worn on the knees for further protection.

Above the mail coat, a loose surcoat was also worn, bearing the heraldry of the Order.

Shield and Weapons

The knight, at this time might have used a longsword, following new fashions with a round pommel. The knight's shield was iron-shaped, bearing the Order's heraldry. It was made of thin wood laminated with layers of leather, providing good protection.

Due to all of these protective items, a Teutonic knight would have been almost invincible on the battlefield, be he on horseback or on foot. This equipment would have allowed the knights to easily dominate the battlefield with their elite troops against the pagan armies. Such an advantage allowed the knights to dominate the Baltic for almost two centuries, and their influence is still present in the region, in their castles and in their culture.

13th Century bronze representation of a knight, wearing equipment similar to previous description. (Public Domain from Wikimedia Commons)

Sources:A Chronicle History of Knights, by Andrea Hopkins (Silverdale Books; 2004)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crest_(heraldry)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_helm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heater_shield