Can you go to the toilet in medieval armour? (and other funny stories)

Jason Kingsley OBE, the Modern Knight tells some funny stories and answers key questions about wearing and using real medieval armour. #knight #medieval #armour
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @modernknight

[@Ironsix6six]

sleeping in armor is "A bad Knights sleep" lul

[@ModernKnight]

lol!

[@Ser-Smiley]

Damn you! Thats very funny! 😂

[@janeysiegrist5061]

🤣🤣🤣

[@sarchlalaith8836]

FFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

[@alinalexandru2466]

Badum tsss

[@matbroomfield]

If there's one thing Heath Ledger has taught me, it's that any old peasant kid can become a world-class jouster in a single comical montage.

[@ModernKnight]

oh yes, lol, a decent weekend's training and you can be the best!

[@hello7533]

@@ModernKnight clearly, this is only possible when the crowd drums 'we will rock you' in unison.

[@ericwilliams1659]

I think you forget that an old poor hedge knight has to die first to bequeath the armor and horse first. Than the montage.

[@stonewall01]

And to joust without even wearing armor at all.

[@matbroomfield]

@@ModernKnight ROFL!

[@metatronyt]

You look absolutely Stunning in your armour. My Milanese set Is finally on its way to my door. I'll porbabky Ask you a thing or two about proper maintenance, as I see your kit is still in Prestine conditions. Anyhow very very interesting practical answers from real experience. Loved It.

[@ModernKnight]

Happy to help as you need. I have a couple of unusual ways of strapping this harness, mosty down to the needs of riding in it.

[@davidpnewton]

I notice you've also got a convenient strap for attaching the microphone to as well.

[@davidpnewton]

@@aduantas can't say I remember seeing that when I visited Bayeux. Plenty of arrows and dane axes and kite shields, but no wireless microphones for some reason.

[@titanscerw]

@@davidpnewton they tend to have been smaller back then for sure ... 😎👌🏻

[@johnree6106]

@@davidpnewton Well because we hid them pretty well Opps don't mind me there can be only one

[@EcoCurious]

Jason 'Never been unhorsed' Kingsley. Nice flex :P

[@iweinjoos6694]

Alternative title: "Here, I answered them, now let me drink my ale in peace at a festival."

[@isobellabrett]

Remind me, "What's a Festival?"

[@johnree6106]

What is this Ale you speak of

[@dcarbs2979]

@@johnree6106 Early ale was around in the 15th century, although not even close to beer as we know it today. Closer to water with berries and grass floating in it :-)

[@johnree6106]

@@dcarbs2979 It was a joke, but I would see him drinking Mead which is pretty good.

[@isobellabrett]

@@johnree6106 one wld have thought that was pretty obvious, apparently not

[@WookieChef]

"The people with the worst view of the joust are the two jousters." Why is that so hilarious, haha.

[@natehammar7353]

“Wonder if I won? I’m still on my horse, I think. So that is a good sign.”

[@ragnkja]

@@natehammar7353 “I felt an impact through my lance, but not one hitting my body, and I’m still in my saddle, so I guess I did well.”

[@AFatalPapercut]

I was stationed in Büdingen, Germany for a few years and one time I was walking around the main town area and could hear what sounded like someone crushing a ton of soda cans in the distance, or better yet, it sounded like someone swinging a trashbag full of sodacans against another trashbag full of sodacans. It was a rather loud, metallic, crunchy sound that echoed through the narrow streets. I walked around to the old medieval gate area in the town and realized the sound I was hearing was actually 4 or 5 dudes all in full armor re-enacting a fight. I instantly realized that if the armor of those 4-5 dudes were making that much noise, It would've been insanely loud with thousands of people doing it. And that was JUST the sound of the armor moving around, not hundreds of swords hitting, dudes yelling/screaming/cursing, etc. Just dudes reenacting, not an actual battle and it was still very very loud all things considered...I'm glad I got a pic of them, they looked sharp in their gear.

[@ModernKnight]

wonderful story.

[@stevencoardvenice]

The sounds of Iron arrowheads hitting the amor from hundreds or thousands of arrows during war was also extremely loud. Similar to the sound of a bullet hitting a metal target during practice. Tod's workshop channel has some simulation

[@luthersmithers6052]

Sounds like something you'd come across in Rothenburg. I was stationed in both Wurzberg and Ansbach and went out there a few times. Loved Rothenberg.

[@assassinaria]

Do you think they yelled? I've been in fights and neither of us peeped a word because we'd waste energy that way

[@stevencoardvenice]

@@assassinaria lol I've never seen someone yell in 20 years of watching UFC!

[@TobyVenables]

"Why didn't armies use gigantic magnets against knights?"

[@APV878]

I was once asked by a young boy if Knights used electricity, and if there was a risk of getting hit by lightning. I admit, the "did they use electricity" was a fantastic question and while I was trying to answer him, in my mind I had these epic visuals of knights blasting each other... ZAAAAP! Or, chasing each other around the castle zapping each other with static-electricity , rubbing themselves over the tapestries....

[@kanrakucheese]

@@APV878 Did you tell him about Faraday cages and explain electrical engineering far above his understanding?

[@APV878]

@@kanrakucheese Oh was that you? Sorry for the trauma ;D

[@michellebyrom6551]

@@APV878 the original light sabres.

[@Shrapnel82]

They didn't understand magnets. According to the troubadours, the "Mad Jester Troupe": "Water, Conflagrations, Heavens, and Soil. Magnets be buggered! What deviltry enables them?"

[@stunningfreefall]

"It gets incredibly cold in cold weather and incredibly hot in hot weather." Sounds like my apartment. 🥲

[@FlyingAxblade_D20]

LOL! wood stove time ? =)

[@ghostcityshelton9378]

Sounds like my Hud Apt! I'm thinking about charging the Roaches rent !😅😄😃😂😁 Ahhhhh it will be a fun day in court this summer !!! Playing 'dumb' and being 'dumb' are two different thin!!!👍😎

[@FlyingAxblade_D20]

@@ghostcityshelton9378 not ereading more...CROWHOUSE on LBTy duswwde, damn Im twashe hdfgr yeah, I''m msf hahhaha, even trying to spell zi ican't. SO YOU THINK? I RULE YOU! hehehe, it's sop up the milk fun using a paper towel to get your milk.

[@Krshwunk]

Maybe your apartment is at least well armored.

[@FlyingAxblade_D20]

@@Krshwunk das rite! stumble traps & a a floor littered with Rottweiler nail clippings. =) I'm a mess. Only drunk once a day. Well sometimes twice on a day off.

[@johnfitzalan3128]

We did an event a few summers ago and we had to use cooking gloves to take peoples helmets off.

[@virglibrsaglove]

Think how their poor heads must have felt.

[@johnfitzalan3128]

@@virglibrsaglove strangely it didn't really feel any hotter than any other day.

[@ragnkja]

@@virglibrsaglove I assume that the padding also worked as insulation against the heat.

[@Seelenschmiede]

Since the heat inside isn't rising at an instant, you will not feel it as strong as the people suddenly touching the hot helmet. But it is hot in there, even with the padding, because at a certain point, the padding itself heats up too. The running sweat cools it off a bit, but damn, it is still hot. You are getting cooked slowly. And being exhausted, your brain will not recognise it as good as it normally would. Look at professional sportspeople: what gibberish they talk after large soccer sessions or something ike that: the brain get's less oxigen, is drowned in adrenalin and you are done. You will not recognise the heat as sever as it is. One moment fighting soldid, the next moment gone down thanks to overheating. And yes, wetting your garments is a thing and it helps extremely well.

[@corazzinatanner498]

Yup. Not something ever thought about until my first SCA event. Quickly learned how to make a shady spot for my helmet by using my stick and shield.

[@andrewkitzhaber4663]

The debate over visor open vs visor closed has a modern parallel in the decision of tank crews to fight closed or open hatch. Closed hatch offers much more protection, especially from artillery, but at the same time, the additional situational awareness from the tank commander fighting out of the hatch can shave seconds off an engagement time or prevent the tank from going into a ditch.

[@katydid5088]

So then, we have an answer. The visor goes up for visabilty and long range scouting but down for close combat or full charges as a gallop. (Or arrow volleys. Rare as it was ,probably, getting an arrow shot from long range to the eye; an arkabus or bolt from a crossbow up close ought to do it.

[@ThexXxXxOLOxXxXx]

Tanks are so 20th century

[@vgamuseum]

Well i guess that this was jousting helmet only and they took different type into real combat, where they needed to see more. Jousting was like highend sport, real battles was something much different. After all they had only one lance and after first attack they had to use another weapon (mace, warhammer etc)....as most lances were broken, or left behind in bodies of unlucky enemies...

[@Mardion94]

@@katydid5088 German Armoured Corps guy here, we generally only close the hatch in urban Ops and under Artillery Fire.

[@thalassaer4137]

Just make a tank with cameras instead of a hatch there are plenty of materials that can protect the cam albeit expensive but its war so who cares about expenses lmao

[@Quazi-moto]

Fighting those old battles had to be a nightmare in and of itself. But fighting in one while also battling bubble guts HAD to be the ultimate in 'having a bad day.'

[@viceb7]

Dysentery warfare sounds absolutely awful

[@staceya5149]

Videos like these are why I love this channel - as well researched as the medieval period is, you simply cannot get this kind of authentic detail through anything other than first-hand experience. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!

[@ModernKnight]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@andyknightwarden9746]

Agreed.

[@Aundrich]

Not too often do you see ladies interested in medieval history. Nice to see your interest.

[@gerardolopez9368]

💯💯💯

[@DukeOfKidderminster]

I’d have thought knight attacks would’ve been quite common in the middle ages.

[@ModernKnight]

lol

[@DukeOfKidderminster]

@@ModernKnight Oh, you meant **night** attacks! Yeah, that makes more sense…

[@benjaminbrewer2569]

Groan

[@SirFrederick]

You know why they called them the dark ages... They had a lot of knights

[@carebear8762]

Every true knight hired a drummer to follow them around to do rimshots after a joke.

[@nuvostef]

Your torment at the...”hands” of a fly caused me to laugh, not only because of your description, but because once when in dress USAF uniform, bloused trousers, white boot laces, white ascot and gloves, and hands completely occupied holding the national ensign aloft, a fly chose that moment to land on my right eyeball. It then executed a loop and vanished from view right up my right nostril. Fortunately, a modest snort ejected the beast but he then landed on the left corner of my mouth, which was a bit distasteful and caused me to instinctively curl that side of my mouth inward and upward in a bizarre grimace. So there I am all spit ‘n polish with VIPs and generals and possibly the ghost of Curtis Lemay himself eyeballing us intensely, and I’ve got one eye squeezed shut, my lip all twisted out of anything like a normal expression, and it was at that moment that a crystal clear Technicolor mental image popped into my mind and I was convinced that everyone was staring at my Popeye The Sailor impression. 🤣 As always, I love your viddies and your channel. Thank you, sir. 🌹🤙🏼

[@ModernKnight]

funny story, thanks for sharing!

[@bassemb]

"I'm a bit of a pilot myself", said the fly as it executed a loop!

[@hannanickell8950]

Your description is so vivid!

[@nuvostef]

@@bassemb They’re insufferable wee aviators, innit? 😁

[@nuvostef]

@@hannanickell8950 Thank you, Hanna. 🌹

[@michaelshort2388]

"You heard the man, the king's too fat for his armor! Get the breastplate expander!"

[@matbroomfield]

"I wear this for festivals and events sometimes and there are questions that I always get asked." Children at Pokemon festival "Mummy, why is that man wearing armour?"

[@ericwilliams1659]

"are you headed for the mosh pit?" is another important question.

[@matbroomfield]

@@ericwilliams1659 Ha ha

[@zxbzxbzxb1]

It's worse for the stoned hippies at Glastonbury

[@matbroomfield]

@@zxbzxbzxb1 lol

[@RealRagnar816]

Why would he be at a pokemon festival

[@diagorasofmelos4345]

I haven't worn armour in nearly a year and a half. I seriously miss the hobby; the rich atmosphere at festivals, the talks around the evening campfire, the battles, the entertainment, and so on. Here's to resuming it soon!

[@eetfuk5699]

How do you find the events?

[@darkdrow66]

What I love about this channel is the way you go into specific details about various facets of medieval life that no one else thinks to talk about.

[@GravesRWFiA]

I've re-enacted the american revolution for nearly 30 years. We always get asked 'aren't you hot in that" was we wear waist coats, coats and bearskin hat. At the battle of monmouth in 1778 the heat was so high more men were dropped by heat than bullets.and that was just in wool coats.

[@Cricket-zp6wi]

😵

[@arthas640]

Ive heard the same thing happened to some knights during battles, especially during the crusades when the poor bastards mostly wore wool. I can only imagine what it felt like with mail armor and wool gambeson in the middle of a Syrian summer.

[@BlaBla-pf8mf]

@@arthas640 mail armor doesn't trap heat. Those who could afford them wore aketons which like the name tells us, where made of cotton.

[@capuchinosofia4771]

That's amazing info! Thank you for sharing!

[@WWZenaDo]

@@BlaBla-pf8mf Cotton? During the crusades? What were the sources of the cotton, back then?

[@corwin32]

‘Scuse me, Sir Geoffrey, can we delay the charge for a few minutes? I have to go to the little knight’s room.

[@krdiaz8026]

Just go where you are, why don't you? I already did. (Points at yellow puddle.)

[@mistahanansi2264]

I hope whoever writes those D&D and Pathfinder books are taking notes whenever this guy uploads a video.

[@Arrek8585]

Pretty sure there was a D&D rule at some time; that if sleeping in armor you get a level of exhaustion. Most people didn't run it and I think it got dropped in the newer editions.

[@mistahanansi2264]

@@Arrek8585 I’m aware of that one, but I just meant as far as overall information.

[@yajurka]

@@Arrek8585 Yes, there was a feat which allowed you to sleep in armor i think. There were also rules about placing your armor on hastily. Though as in videogames, lots of realistic mechanics are being replaced by more action-driven mechanics. (i.e. much faster health regeneration).

[@IIIRikaIII]

Rolebooks are already so heavy XD

[@Barnabas64]

The ship has sailed 40 years ago to give a serious overhaul of D&D. People play D&D for the nostalgia and experience of playing D&D. Changing D&D to be true to life would be like changing Monopoly to be like real life real estate investing. It would change the game into something entirely different. What games should take note are the King Arthur Pendragon games or Paladin: Knights of Charlemagne. Those games are meant to actually simulate the experience of a historical medieval knight.

[@adriansecord1369]

That description at the end of what a jousting hit would look and feel like from the jouster's viewpoint: fantastic. Thank you.

[@scouttyra]

Heh. Your anecdote about the fly in the helmet reminds me of the time my stepfather had to drive with catpiss in his. He was a rally driver, and was going to a competition; he was slightly short on time so just grabbed his kit and went. Of course, when he went to put on his helmet, there was a moment of "oooof, the cat cot in here earlier", but he had to put it on and keep going.

[@ModernKnight]

lol

[@Chef_Alpo]

Cat piss always adds a memorable layer to any event, if not entirely overshadowing it and becoming the main event itself.

[@guilherme5094]

Finally the question about the toilet was answered. Thank you very much, sir.

[@ModernKnight]

Happy to help

[@Mike-oz4cv]

I still have questions. Is he able to pull down his trousers all the way to the knees and sit down (or squat) to take a dump? Or can he only pull the front of his trousers down far enough to pee while standing? Or was the whole “yes you can go to the toilet in armor [and then talking about soldiers soiling themselves on the battlefield]” meant as “yes you can soil yourself in your armor because no, you can’t take your trousers off quickly”

[@ragnkja]

@@Mike-oz4cv Split hose (with a codpiece covering the groin by the 15th century) would allow a knight to relieve himself of “number one” without taking off the armour, but “number two” might be a problem, especially if it’s very urgent (like it would be in a case of dysentery).

[@garrick3727]

If Jason rides around in front of the Queen wearing armour, maybe he will get leveled-up to KBE. He has a horse, he has the armour, he can joust - I mean, is anyone better qualified to be a Knight? Then he will be Sir Jason.

[@ModernKnight]

lol, if I'm very lucky.

[@EmperorSigismund]

But for some reason he still wouldn't be able to carry a sword around London. Apparently that would knife crime.

[@16m49x3]

@@EmperorSigismund You're not even allowed to bring a spoon with you in London...

[@andrewsock6203]

Then after a few years he would become pretentious and ignorant and we would all lose the Jason we love ❤️

[@garrick3727]

@@andrewsock6203 Since he's got as far as he has without that happening, I doubt it would. He has a mule. No pretentious person ever rode a mule.

[@The_Lone_Outlaw]

Suddenly I realize that being a knights squire is shittier a job than I thought.

[@carebear8762]

Gotta love the "Hasn't happened to me, but I have unhorsed three people" humble-brag. =)

[@Colonel_Overkill]

Modern armor, at least the heavier plate carriers suck just as bad to sleep in so the more things change the more they stay the same.

[@jamesgraham1772]

Y’all probably have to sleep in it a lot more than they did back in the old days too.

[@moreparrotsmoredereks2275]

Modern helmets are good for sleeping in a 7 ton though. Pads the head so you don't get brain damage every time they hit a bump

[@cuteshadow]

@@moreparrotsmoredereks2275 to be fair, medieval helmets were padded too.

[@bernardobastos5996]

@@cuteshadow Yes, they were often padded on the inside. In addition you'd also have a coif.

[@LeutnantJoker]

@@moreparrotsmoredereks2275 I can confirm that lol. Modern combat helmets are fantastic for sleeping en route in a vehicle :D I think everyone in uniform eventually learns to sleep in those weird positions. Helmet is great. You can lean your head against any steel part of the vehicle and not care :D

[@charleston7717]

Whenever I reenacted wearing chainmail and gambesons during the summer I would often get asked if it was warm to wear... While I was sweating profusely lol

[@Seelenschmiede]

"No, I'm sweating out of anger that it isn't warmer!"

[@charleston7717]

@@Seelenschmiede haha 😂

[@serindas]

The question about sleeping in armor I think come from some D&D players, because, at least in the old rule set, you can sleep in full plate, but you have some malus for it. About the heat, I can confirm that the heat here in sout Italy can cause you to pass out even with an incomplete set of armor. During a filming session wearing only the upper part of a plate armor (with no back plate) one of my colleagues passed out, and I've had also problems, despite being, at that time, really fit. Great video as usual, Jason and beautiful armor.

[@elainemacdonald6541]

Jason, I've noticed that you personally reply to so many of the comments from your viewers, compared to other KZbinrs. It shows how much you appreciate your followers, and I bet folks are delighted to get a reply from you. I stumbled across you via the equestrian side of things, and whilst I had no particular interest in the medieval historical stuff, I have found your vids fascinating and have been subbed for a while now. Also, I like your followers, they're a great bunch and not horribly rude and confrontational like some I've seen on other sites. See a lot of humour in some comments and replies, and clearly a lot of knowledge out there too.

[@ModernKnight]

i do try when i have a moment or two, glad you appreciate it. I enjoy interacting with supporters too.

[@sudstahgaming]

king henry v died of heat exhaustion apparently combined with dissentry

[@paulprior9875]

I had a wasp fly into my motorbike helmet. Never panicked so much in my life but had to concentrate and pull over when it was safe to do so haha 😅

[@TheMonkey747]

My brother in law had a bumble bee get stuck in his nose while riding his Bagger. Said he snorted it out, I can't remember if he was stung.

[@lordrewwot7336]

@@TheMonkey747 I don’t know anyone who ever got stung by a bumblebee. Probably because they do so rarely. I didn’t even know that they can until I read the Wikipedia article. But to be fair it’s quite possible that they would do so in this kind of situation. I would be scared too if I would be stuck in someone’s nose (Especially considering my size).

[@TheMonkey747]

@@lordrewwot7336 I'm pretty sure it didn't sting him, the bee was probably stunned from hitting a guy doing 60 and didn't have time to think before it was blown out. If it survived I wonder if it thought, "So that happened... but what did happen?"

[@caroleecochard9123]

It also happened to me a few years ago... The challenge was to remain the helmet quickly but cautioulsy.

[@ragnkja]

@@lordrewwot7336 Bumblebees are extremely easygoing, and if you get stung by one it’s because of something you did. I’ve only been stung by one once, because I accidentally stepped on it. In my defence, I wasn’t expecting there to be a bumblebee on the kitchen floor!

[@kinjiru731]

This was really interesting to learn so much about the restrictions that wearing such armor put on the wearer. Fascinating.

[@smakfu1375]

What I learned from this video: the armor might look cool, but the reality of being a knight, during the medieval era involved being extremely uncomfortable nearly all the time, potentially have flies or wasps flying around in your helmet, not being able to see... all combined with really lousy toilet facilities.

[@yossarian00]

Most people were uncomfortable all the time back then

[@oddvoid]

A belly full of short beer, shitting yourself with dysentery, unable to hear or see stuff well, flies buzzing in your helmet, and getting baked by the sun. A Knight's tale.

[@nickscurvy8635]

Not all the time. The vast majority of a knight's time would be spent doing stuff that did not involve wearing your armor. Knights were lower nobility and one of the perks and compensations was land. Outside of war and practice, they probably lived alright.

[@mortache]

I mean, its better than being all fleshy and squishy and getting your guts displayed

[@smakfu1375]

@@mortacheAs your eviscerated body fades away, to the sound of the flys and wasps buzzing in your helmet, you’ll at least be comforted by the fact that, while your armor and chainmail didn’t stop that sword, at least your guts aren’t displayed.

[@sirwi11iam]

To be honest, it is quite noisy when i go to the toilet too.

[@ModernKnight]

lol, I wondered if someone would say that!

[@Ser-Smiley]

Hehehe. And i bet thats without armor. 😂

[@saturdaysatan8981]

I can say that too. And I'd guess there is no more need for details, am I right? lol

[@lukasmarks6504]

Ah, I see. Another proud player of the white porcellain horn of Gondor 😉

[@sirwi11iam]

@@ModernKnight didn't take long did it, Jason? Haha I will grow up one day...

[@Peptuck]

In the Stormlight Archive books, they asked the same question about when you had to poop while wearing armor, and they gave the same answer you did. It also led to one of the funniest quotes in the entire book series: "Yes. I, Prince Adolin Kholin, heir the Kholin Princedom, have shat myself three times in my Shardplate, all on purpose."

[@ModernKnight]

lol.

[@GlassTopRX7]

That was the first thing that crossed my mind when he brought that up. I have the GraphicAudio version of that's and the voice actor's are so good in that up to Rhythm of War where cast has been changed for quite a few and including those two.

[@16m49x3]

Well, Brandon does have Shad as an advisor now, and it's clear Adolin has been heavily inspired by this.

[@APV878]

Bring me my Brown Cuisses!

[@masterdimsen]

When shardplate turns into shartplate

[@LordOwenLongstrider]

The armor getting hot when in hot weather was likely the reason we saw a lot of the earlier Crusaders wearing surcoats over their mail as it would help shield the metal mail from the Sun and keep it cooler, which I believe was adapted from the Middle Easterners wearing a similar garment to help cover their bodies in the harsh desert sun.

[@JoeyC777]

"There was a bold knight who swallowed a fly, I don't know why he swallowed the fly..." Perhaps?

[@RAI-1911]

A fly in a helmet was quite interesting and funny story XD

[@gavinclark6891]

until it turns into fly popcorn

[@RAI-1911]

XD

[@quantumratio4311]

better than a spider! I would go crazy and my horse would charge involuntarily, so only the will of god would decide the battle. xD

[@Ceannaire1]

2-3 years waiting time for delivery - It’s the same with some courier companies today...

[@arthas640]

I recently did have something for work arrive by mail roughly 6 months late, and no one can explain what the hell happened to it.

[@ADHDWOOHOO]

11:06 "But with the blast shield down, I can't even see! How am I supposed to fight?"

[@dalentalas]

Speaking of leaving armor out in the sun... A story from back in the early LARPing days in freshly post-Soviet Lithuania, there was an incident of an acquaintance of mine using his (makeshift) breastplate to fry eggs.

[@TekkaSage]

90 degrees in USA Florida... I could only wear my full plate for a few hours cause any direct sunlight would instantly start literally cooking.

[@ragnkja]

It might help to cover up the armour with a big cloak, but that sounds impractical for battle or jousting. I’m sure someone with practical experience could figure out a way to make battles on sunny days possible.

[@jonnyitguy]

@@ragnkja yeah. When your life is on the line people tend to get creative.

[@Yora21]

Wearing partial armor and frying bacon on the back of your gauntlet while wearing it would be pretty boss.

[@Mr_Bob84]

The last three minutes of the video made me wish to read such details in a book: "watch out, our master is approaching, but he can't see us from the horse!" or "damn, we should have attacked earlier. Now I'm charging with an annoying fly within my helmet!"

[@azrani2023]

Exactly why I'm watching, AND loving all of this channel. I write fantasy myself, in a medieval-like setting, and sincerely hope that at some point in my life I'm going to be able to impress someone that's reading my books with one of these details hahah

[@tinymotogarage]

Exceptional content for history buffs - really professional stuff.

[@dancesinblood]

"I normally weight round 80-82 kilos-ish..." Those darn Europeans, what's that in FreedomUnits™ "Which is about..." Ah, the conversion for us Americans "12 stone maybe 12.5 stone" And people say our measurements make no sense 🤣 For us American's though he's about 176-180 lbs out of armor and about 249 lbs in armor, or 333 and 470 Big Macs respectively. (Yes, I know a kilo is roughly 2.2 lbs and I used metric at university here, just taking the piss)

[@Piromanofeliz]

Reject modernity, return to stone

[@Logan-cn4fq]

Cant wait for you to get 1 million subscribers for your amazing work in history

[@ModernKnight]

maybe one day!

[@ragnkja]

@@ModernKnight 2/3 of the way there, except that such growth isn’t usually linear, so you’re pretty close.

[@Bildgesmythe]

The how do you scratch an itch would be the question foremost in my mind.

[@ntscho_tschi1009]

As far as i'm aware you don't it is litrally impossible

[@renepton8735]

Just use your sword to scratch it

[@RyanTheCreator]

Tis but a scratch!

[@Chorochronchotor]

Just jump around a bit, the armor will scratch the itch for you;)

[@itsapittie]

I imagine it's like when you're gloved and gowned for surgery. There's nothing you can do so you just do your best to ignore the itch and press on. I'll bet when they took the armor off they enjoyed a good scratch, though.

[@theoutsider675]

From quite literally walking in the shoes of those who came before, I'm very envious of your understanding of history.

[@ModernKnight]

thanks

[@kirkmorrison6131]

My favorite 2 questions I was asked at a re-enactments were " Is that a real fire?" I had made it with a flint and steel, period. The other a baby was crying next to my spot "Is that a real baby?"

[@ragnkja]

As someone from a small village in northern Norway, someone asking “is that a real fire” baffles me. Building and lighting a good campfire was part of my childhood education, learnt before my age reached double digits.

[@noctaqua1925]

And "Is that real (insert any type of food)?". Also a classic one XD

[@ragnkja]

@@noctaqua1925 Wouldn’t the smell of cooking make it somewhat obvious?

[@noctaqua1925]

@@ragnkja I would say yes, but it's a question that's asked suprisingly often. I have also heard a story from a friend, that they once had a person walking into their kitchen-tent, spitting into the cauldron and saying "You wouldn't have eaten that anyways.".

[@kirkmorrison6131]

@@noctaqua1925 True, I was asked that while eating oat cakes, while portraying a Jacobite soldier. It was my 3rd favorite question. My fourth was are those weapons real sword and musket.

[@sminthian]

I'm gonna start calling them thunderboxes, I've never heard that before (I'm guessing it's a British thing. In the USA they're called porta-potties).

[@1IGG]

In german we use a similar word, translated to thunderpole (Donnerbalken)

[@Furniture121]

We always called them " blue rockets", or "rockets" in the Canadian military, likely due to the likelihood of being in one when a rocket attack would occur overseas...

[@wulfriktheviking]

as quite often they are blue, like a famous doctors mode of transport, another favourite is 'Turdis'.

[@scouttyra]

In Swedish, one word for them is Baja Maja (baja means to poop, and Maja is a name, probably chosen because of the rhyme). In scouts we have the chant "Baja Maja Baja Maja usch usch usch, Baja Maja Baja Maja skiiiitbrraaa", which roughly translates as "porta potty porta potty yuck yuck yuck, porta potty porta potty daaamn good (also there's the fact that "skit" means "shit")

[@MrPoupard]

It's aussie. Heard it years ago.

[@vilstef6988]

There is an Italian Renaissance portrait of a noble who had been grievously injured in a joust. It showed left profile and the bridge of his nose was notched and the description said he had lost his right eye. He was extremely lucky to have survived such an injury.

[@ryand.3858]

I imagine the heat is why you always see depictions of Templar knights with a white cloak (I guess thats the term I’d use) over their gear. Granted it was centuries earlier but I think the same principle applies.

[@user-ty5di3ku6o]

Fun fact: I can't think of many people who haven't went to the toilet on themselves in modern day combat. If you're lucky you can find cover and take a quick pee. But otherwise, wet pants. 😅 Never had a bad experience with #2, but I know a few people who have.

[@TeaBurn]

I guess adult diapers would have been a lifesaver to take along.

[@user-ty5di3ku6o]

@@TeaBurn 😂

[@arthas640]

@@TeaBurn some professions do that too. I've known some linemen and drivers who've done that since they may be stuck away from a bathroom for hours and a soggy diaper is better then trying to discreetly pee in a bottle while your 30 feet above a freeway. I've heard pilots wear diapers if its a long flight (especially some fighter pilots can fly for 8+ hours)

[@ragnkja]

@@arthas640 I know that “maximum absorbency garments” are used in human space flight on days when they’re in a suit rather than regular clothes, as it’s impossible to go to the bathroom when strapped in your seat for launch or landing, or when you’re wearing what is essentially a human-shaped one-person spacecraft. They don’t generally intend to use the MAG, but they’d much rather be wearing it and not need it, than need it and not be wearing it.

[@arthas640]

@@ragnkja I've talked to some drivers who have the same "rather have it and not need it then need it and not have it" attitude. I knew a trucker and tank driver who wore diapers on occasions (the trucker more because of traffic jams) because they couldn't leave their vehicles for long stretches

[@cypherfunc]

Good Guy Jason: I'll be nice to non-metric people and give two units of weight. :-) Troll Jason: uses stones instead of pounds ;-) PS - without armor 80 kilos is 176 lbs, with armor 112 kilos is 246.4 lbs

[@JohnyG29]

A stone is non-metric. A stone is 14lbs.

[@ragnkja]

@@JohnyG29 Yes, that was Eric’s joke.

[@seanrea550]

Used more in Great Britain than in the US. I don't think many Americans know that stone is a unit of weight.

[@funjuror]

I really like the clicking chunky sound it makes as you gesticulate.

[@SamBrickell]

The last time I pooped in armor they kicked me out of the museum.

[@davidwong9230]

A fly in the helmet would be a real nuisance...it should be told to flea 🪰

[@craigularr]

I had this dream of a warrior in armor... Some might say... It was a "knight-mare"... Thank you for the upload! Another AWESOME video offering great insight into the many facets of life in the medieval period!

[@ModernKnight]

You're very welcome

[@whirving]

As an avid bicycle racer everyone had had a bee, hornet or wasp get into their helmet at one time. I had one in a race during a screaming high speed (40+mph) downhill. Pucker factor was high but I managed. I believe I have found a brother, but one with a much better helmet.

[@ranjaxwolf9725]

"So yes, I, Adolin Kholin-cousin to the king, heir to the Kholin princedom-have shat myself in my Shardplate. Three times, all on purpose."

[@carvenclabau2431]

History , and the people keeping it alive is really a wonderfull thing! thank you for another great video Knight Kingsley :D

[@ModernKnight]

Our pleasure!

[@pekkamakela2566]

I had a fly inside my gas mask during my conscript service in Finnish army. I had left my glasses under the mask to see, since there was no tear gas in that exercise.

[@alexandravladmets8206]

Fly- Ok. Finnish mosquito- Noooo!

[@katieorr2195]

Coming from someone who actually does this it means so much more. Didn’t know just how heavy armour could be!

[@ModernKnight]

thanks

[@The_Butler_Did_It]

Serious jousting injuries still happen, in 2011 a man named Peter Allen died in a jousting accident at Rockingham Castle when a lance shattered and a splinter went through the eye slot in his visor into his eye and pierced his brain.

[@JesusVillalobos]

I expected armor to be heavy but 32 kilos? That blew my mind!

[@Specter_1125]

That’s also the heavy end of plate armor. Many were as light as 20 kilos

[@brandonwestfall3241]

Since he uses it for jousting, i'd wager it's a fair bit heavier than what a medieval knight might wear on an actual battlefield

[@ModernKnight]

MIlanese hrness is known for being particularly heavy. It's good cavalry armour though.

[@JesusVillalobos]

@@brandonwestfall3241 That makes sense, most of the real weight will be carried by the horse

[@JesusVillalobos]

@@ModernKnight It makes sense that cavalry armor would be heavier that infantry, since the weight would be mostly carried by the horse. Still, heavy!

[@AVKnecht]

What always amazed me is this constant number of the battle weight. Roman legionaire, knight, modern soldier, they somehow always wear those 20 to 40 Kg of equipment, according to their wealth/skillset (or wealth of the state equipping them).

[@samehedi]

well, our bodies haven't changed that much

[@MichaelAlthauser]

I've been binging a lot of Tod's Workshop videos and he's constantly mentioning this as well, that throughout history there seems to have been a certain weight of armor that you just don't go over.

[@Yora21]

I think the calculation has always been "as much equipment as possible while you still can fight".

[@JacopoSkydweller]

One of my vet buddies talked about this. "everytime something gets lighter, then higher ups go "great, now you can carry some more shit.", it sucks."

[@tobiasmccallum9697]

Well except the SAS etc lol. They train and do ops carrying absurd amounts of kit. But then again, they are specifically trained for it, and are at peak physical fitness with the help of modern nutrition and medicine. Like everyone has said, normal people haven't changed much

[@brettyoss1693]

Thunder boxes?!?! LOL I LOVE IT!!! I have never heard that terminology before.

[@raumfahreturschutze]

A "thunderbox" ROFL I've never heard them called that, but that's hilarious!

[@alexandersarchives9615]

Well, time to start a fight. Where’s my Gothic armor enthusiasts?

[@hdroman5659]

Present

[@TheTommasz]

Here

[@shanethompson3180]

Present

[@holostifaxiqtemplar7862]

Standing ready

[@teofiloljubisavljevic7943]

Present!

[@Vennnaya]

Thank you Jason to you and all your team at Modern History TV. It truly is a delight to watch whatever you put out. I've learned more from you than i have from history classes in school. No Joke!

[@matthewchewning8061]

You have not been to my history class

[@sigitprabowo363]

I've watched so many films, series or even cartoons with medieval era as background, but this man has managed to answers my basic question about knights 😅😅😅😅

[@gffrycole]

Ahhhh an answer to a question I or no one else would've ever had. How to drop a stink pickle while wearing armor...

[@ksavage8851]

Very interesting, thanks. Also thank God for children who will ask the questions we are all wanting to know 😄

[@LeutnantJoker]

To be honest this doesn't sound a whole lot different to my military time. The weight of full kit sounds roughly the same, and yes you get used to it since it's spread all over the body. Going to the toilet is a pain because you have a crapton of layers on you, especially if you have rain and cold protection gear on as well, but hey... you get it done, and in combat your adrenaline and stress usually keep your body from wanting to go anyway. Doesn't sound all that different to me (ok except for the noise that thing makes :D ) Having the visor down is basically the same as in a tank. if possible tank crews also left their ports open and only buttoned up if necessary, because you just have such a worse situational awareness looking through tiny slits.

[@Specter_1125]

Modern day kit tends to weigh more. Jason’s armor is on the heavy end of plate armor for field use. Some suits were as light as 20 kilos

[@LeutnantJoker]

@@Specter_1125 Yeah it depends on what you're wearing, balistic ceramic plate or not etc. But it's still very comparable :)

[@TheVonhollan]

lol As you talk i can listen to you clank away.. Very well done!

[@ModernKnight]

Glad you enjoyed

[@CasMullac]

Well that's going to change a lot for my DnD campaign. "You're not going to take your armour off!? Well role me a con save to see if you get a point of exhaustion or not."

[@ihatethefuture]

Thank you for this video, I can now show it to my DnD players when they try to insist they're able to get a long rest in full plate armour!

[@Seelenschmiede]

Buy the cheapest brigantine (just to safe money) you can find and let them lay down in it for just an hour. This will heal them of all ideas around that theme :P

[@JohnDoe-tx8eu]

One word, MAGIC.

[@hin_hale]

Had an acting gig once where I wore an open helmet. We were performing on an outdoor stage in summertime and sometimes, during a scene, a f-ing wasp would fly into your helmet. Took a bit of concentration to stay in character, to put it mildly.

[@16m49x3]

Shoulda made it a part of the act

[@Vortigan07]

It all sounds utterly terrifying, frankly! And that's before you even get to the point having your opponent racing towards you!

[@Zemnmez]

The way you answer questions always shows such genuine interest in the subject. Not an academic interest or financial, but a genuine interest and love of what the past may have been like. I feel most sources I read or watch on this period either try to glamorise, or make ridiculous life at this time, but your portrayal always has both: how great armour looks, and how it protects your life and limb, but also the little things that frustrate like the story of the fly or how you might go to the bathroom. These make the past seem much more alive with people like you or me, and it's something I really appreciate.

[@ModernKnight]

glad you like it!

[@Ser-Smiley]

Wohooo! New video. 😋

[@spacetexan8695]

And a juicy armor coated one at that 😍

[@Ser-Smiley]

@@spacetexan8695 juicy indeed! 😋

[@Godwinsname]

Great stuff, love all the insight into the practical things. Your channel is awesome.

[@ModernKnight]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@Godwinsname]

@@ModernKnight Thank YOU!! :)

[@Intranetusa]

Great video. I've read the Spanish conquistatdors abandoned their munitions plate armor in favor of indigenous fabric armors. I'd imagine plate armor became almost as dangerous to the wearer as enemy weapons in the sunny, hot, and humid jungle-like environments.

[@APV878]

"Thunderboxes" That is hilarious! "how heavy" and "can you pee" are certainly the most common questions (we) get. And the issue with leaving your armor in the sun for too long is a very real problem, and I learned this lesson the hard way in my first years of (Roman Legion) living history. I burned my fingertips at a particularly hot outdoors event. I took off the armor midday to "air it out" because I was sweating inside it so much because of how hot & humid it was. But what i find interesting is if you're wearing it, the sun & heat isn't "as bad" as it is when it's been left on a blanket getting a sun-tan. Although with (Roman) armor, there are more gaps so slightly better chance of "ventilation" compared to 15th century harness.

[@MusikCabaret]

"so could knights shit?" - nah man, they shat their armor and didnt cleaned up only after the battle was over.

[@libertyprime6932]

To be fair, no matter what era you're in, if you need to shit during battle you're probably just shitting yourself.

[@inisipisTV]

Sir Robin the not so brave as Sir Lancelot - You silly kit, I soiled me armor I was so scared!

[@inisipisTV]

Sir Robin the not so brave as Sir Lancelot - You silly kit, I soiled me armor I was so scared!

[@Sinewmire]

After all, a knight wasn't responsible for cleaning his own armour, he had squires and servants for that.

[@ragnkja]

How well does a thin cloak protect against the heat of the sun when you’re in armour?

[@lukasmarks6504]

I'd imagine it works reasonably well. It would protect the covered pieces of armor from direct sun rays which is one major part in heating up the metal. If you're already heating up from the inside however, I'm afraid you're back in the good ol' oven.

[@edi9892]

That was most definitely done during the crusades. I've also heard of men covering their head after adding armor. They possibly even wetted it.

[@VespertilioGiganticus]

Kind of.

[@ragnkja]

@@VespertilioGiganticus Really? In my experience it radiates a lot of heat.

[@colinrobertson7580]

@@ragnkja I imagine a thin white cloth cloak would serve the same purpose as thin white loose fitting robes do in the middle east and Africa. They actually vent the heat of direct sunlight away from the body. Metal gets much hotter than textiles do. This is mostly conjecture on my part so take it with a grain of salt.

[@maxotat]

I have been enjoying your vids for over two weeks now. This is one time I’m glad for algorithms! I initially watched out of curiosity and a female bent towards knights in shining armor from my adolescent library, decades ago. I continue watching out of appreciation for the history, your horsemanship and authenticity in your tales. Thanks for sharing your interests and experiences.

[@donttry319]

You should go to the grocery store and restaurants with that armor on, like it’s normal attire.

[@Emperor_Atlantis]

Never really stood still that a armour could take several years to be completed. It makes sence though! These little facts are what I love the most about this channel.

[@Specter_1125]

Depends when, where and how much customization you’d want. During the 15th and 16th centuries, some Milan armor companies could produce a munitions grade armor in a few days, but custom took longer. That said, it would still take weeks to months to ship it to whoever ordered it.

[@robbikebob]

When I used to fight in 13th century reenactment I used to look out of the breaths as they gave far better vision than the eye slit. Another thing knights would have been would have been smelly. Both of sweat and steel (which does have quite a strong smell) and oil.

[@FlyingAxblade_D20]

but steel & oil smells good =) I can't imagine steel & grease though! ACK THE BACON KNIGHT IS CHARGING

[@FlyingAxblade_D20]

but steel & oil smells good =) I can't imagine steel & grease though! ACK THE BACON KNIGHT IS CHARGING

[@louischen5137]

Poor squires that were cleaning up after the knighs did their business during battle, hahahaha

[@kaptainwarp]

How to poop in your armor: Poop in your armor. A squire's job is never finished.

[@virglibrsaglove]

Thank you for the very nice video! 👍

[@ModernKnight]

Glad you liked it

[@fosty.]

A bad knights sleep

[@17wolf359]

The questions I get most often are "can I take a picture with you?", "isn't that hot?" and "how much does it weigh?". I get the picture question about every 5 feet I walk...so it takes forever to get anywhere, LOL! We live in Arizona so if we go to the renaissance fair early enough in the year, it is actually pretty cold in the armor, however it never gets hot, even on warm days (my bronze colored Spartan armor on the other hand gets extremely hot). As far as weight goes, with everything on including a chainmail hauberk and sword, it adds about 140 lbs to my 215 lb body weight...which is quite a workout when you wear it for 10 to 12 hours straight...if I'm not quite feeling up to that much additional weight, I switch to my crusader armor, which except for the helm is much lighter.

[@Alizudo]

Where in Arizona are you? Greetings from Tucson.

[@remainprofane7732]

8:48 I can’t stop imagining the reverb of the wasp buzzing around the helmet. That’s hilarious

[@robwright1286]

Have you seen Detectorists? If not it's a must watch absolutely class. 👌 Interesting vid aswell cheers

[@ModernKnight]

I have, it's great.

[@robwright1286]

@@ModernKnight Ikr, the way you're vids are directed sort of reminds me of it with that Country feel

[@nickymoxey5927]

@@ModernKnight It's a PITA. Every time it aired, some pratt would try and come and dig holes in my Bronze Age settlement.