A Point About Medieval Blackened Armour

A response to Matt Easton of Schola Gladiatoria, offering some further information regarding blackened armour during the Medieval period, specifically focusing on Mercenaries during the late 14th Century.
Matt's original video & channel can be found here:
/ @scholagladiatoria
Enjoy!
www.patreon.com/AlexTheHistoryGuy
I've made a Patreon! Feel free to support me with just $5 a month for exclusive & extensive photography of all the historic sites I visit, behind the scenes armoury videos and medieval reenactment events I attend across the UK.
Feel free to leave a like, comment, and subscribe for more!
Follow me on Instagram! / alex_the_history_guy
Some music used: Master of the Feast by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon... Source: incompetech.com... Artist: incompetech.com/ Lord of the Land by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon... Source: incompetech.com... Artist: incompetech.com/ Long Road Ahead B by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon... Source: incompetech.com... Artist: incompetech.com/ Fiddles McGinty by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon... Source: incompetech.com... Artist: incompetech.com/ Celtic Impulse - Celtic by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon... Source: incompetech.com... Artist: incompetech.com/ Angevin 120 loop by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon... Source: incompetech.com... Artist: incompetech.com/ Angevin - Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon... Source: incompetech.com... Artist: incompetech.com/ Achaidh Cheide - Celtic by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon... Source: incompetech.com... Artist: incompetech.com/
Video Game Soldiers by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...
Source: www.twinmusicom...
Artist: www.twinmusicom...
A Dream Within a Dream by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...
Source: www.twinmusicom...
Artist: www.twinmusicom...
Stopping By the Inn by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...
Source: www.twinmusicom...
Artist: www.twinmusicom...
Hero's Theme by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...
Source: www.twinmusicom...
Artist: www.twinmusicom...
Dial M by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...
Source: www.twinmusicom...
Artist: www.twinmusicom...
Journey in the New World by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...
Source: www.twinmusicom...
Artist: www.twinmusicom...
Evil March by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...
Source: incompetech.com...
Artist: incompetech.com/

[@kcnmsepognln]

I suppose it's because we rarely see blackened armour in films etc (unless it's to make a dramatic point), that I assumed polished armour was "normal" (for want of a better word). But your explanation makes perfect sense. If you're leading a band of mercenaries that you've armed, a-looting and a-pillaging across the land, then more practical considerations than looking hawt come into play.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Well it's also key to note that the Victorians are largely responsible for all the shiny polished armour that we see today - they used to polish armour fit for museums since they believed that people ouldn't want to see painted or blackened armour. Plus they liked the "King Arthur and the shiny knights of Camelot" stories since it fit in with their Imperialism... So I guess we will never know how much armour was actually blackened during the medieval period :O

[@kcnmsepognln]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy Ah! "The Victorians"... [sigh]

[@sowianskizonierz2693]

Great analysis. I appreciate the effort you put into adding knowledge to lesser-known medieval topics.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you, that's what my channel is all about :)

[@dmr6640]

It would be great to interview Toby Capwell for arms, armor and jousting. Your explanation of the blackened armor make a lot of sense. Are there examples in medieval history of doing this?

[@calhoon1113]

you're telling me I season my cast iron the same way you blacken armor

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Haha apparently so! I guess the reasoning is the same.

[@philipsmith7913]

Absolutely logical - saving money and time. An excellent assessment.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thanks I appreciate that - I worked at an armoury for a year and I can confirm that blackened armour was a decent amount cheaper and quicker to make

[@staceygallard7999]

Love your channel and love medieval history 😊

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Much appreciated:)

[@SpillTheMead]

BLACK. ARMOR. We love it.

[@jamesrobins8776]

love your videos dude

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ayy thanks mate I really appreciate it

[@bobbyjeffsupremelordofcraz3532]

Two quick questions: Would mail have been blackened in the same way? And what event was the re-enactment footage you showed from?

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

As far as I'm aware we dont have any concrete evidence that maille was ever blackened. It makes perfect sense as blackening helps protect it from the elements and inevitably rust - but the maille doesn't rust when worn due to the motion of movement when being worn rubs the rust off automatically before it has time to form. The footage is mainly from various reenactment events such as Barnet and Tewkesbury in England, I film everything myself so I travel all over the UK in my spare time to capture the footage.

[@Pentagathusosaurus]

Would mail have been blackened too?

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

This is something I haven't personally researched so I only have second hand knowledge from other people - but apparently yes, maille was sometimes blackened. Again, this was supposed to prevent rest and I personally own a maille hauberk and can confirm it definitely does prevent rust as I've used my hauberk at events for 4 years and never needed to clean it. Although saying that, a normal maille shirt is weirdly self-cleaning as when you wear it, the maille links rub against each other to clean the rust off. So as long as you're wearing it often you shouldn't have to clean it anyway unless you find yourself in a pool of water somehow. Regarding what they used to blacken it - I'm not sure. Possibly linseed oil, possibly a firm of black tar, I haven't looked into it.

[@Pentagathusosaurus]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy Yeah I'd heard of mail being self cleaning which is partly why I asked. Do you know if the the blackened finish would also be degraded in the same way rust on mail is?

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Tbh I'm not sure, I believe my personal maille is chemical blackened in a modern way so that stays on. I'm getting new maille soon so I could perhaps test it in the future :)

[@SuperFunkmachine]

@@Pentagathusosaurus The black layer would be worn off but in the same areas that wearing mail self cleans. Mail is only party self cleaning, in areas where the rings don't rub it will get dull and rusted.

[@timmoran9378]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy I blackened a maille coif using the oil over flame method. The results were good for a time, but eventually the maille rusted and very much did *not* self-clean (despite twice-per-week use in combat practice). It proved impossible to re-blacken adequately due to pitting, even after burnishing in a sand tumbler. I eventually had to discard it because, each time it was hit, a rusty cloud would emerge. My experience only, and not a claim to historical practice.

[@romans883]

How do you blacken your armour ? I hope not by spraying it black with paint lol

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

No no of course not! I used boiled linseed oil which is burnt into the metal after I've sanded off the scale.

[@romans883]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy WHERE DO I GET THIS LINSEED OIL AND HOW DOES IT WORK ? I GOT FEW SETS OF MEDIEVAL ARMOUR AND I WOULD LIKE TO BLACKEN ONE ! soz 4 caps Im excited to try this !