The Importance of Capturing a Medieval Aesthetic

[@Pyre001]

A really funny thing about Times New Roman incidentally: The font's origin actually go back to the Carolingian Minuscule, which was revived by Italian Humanists in the 15th century because they strongly disliked the Gothic handwriting that was prevalent in Europe at the time. Two German printers, Sweynheym and Pannartz, were the first to set up a printing press near Rome in the late 15th century and rather than use the Gothic printing font that was common in Germany, the chose to adapt the local handwriting font, creating the Roman Type (which was essentially Carolingian Minuscule from the late 8th-early 9th century). This is were Times New Roman gets the 'Roman' part of the name. This Roman Type would be the inspiration for later forms of font, eventually leading to TNR. When you are typing in TMR, you are actually using a 1200y/o font. So while it isn't historically accurate in the least to slap it on bascinets, there is more history attached to it than you might think...

[@metatronyt]

Really really fantastic job, thanks for sharing

[@ThisWasWhatIThought]

Hey Ian, I don’t know when you’re going to upload again or if you’ll ever see this, but I just wanted to say thank you; thank you for making great insightful videos, thank you for giving good sources and always researching things thoroughly, but above all thank you for bringing something I always thought was only in a museums untouchable never to be worn again to realty. I hope someday after I’ve done my research and created my own piece of living history I can meet you and thank you properly.

[@影山平ら]

I remember Raph (the Metatron who is a good friend of Ian Lespina) say that he had suffered an injury of some sort and couldn't upload. I think he will come back, I at least hope he will.

[@roquegabrielroque]

In medieval music we have a really interesting discussion too. There are several grups of ancient music, that try to replicate the mediveal aestethic. But we don't have audio records of the ancient music to rear, we just have manuscript scores, books, treaties of harmony and interpretation, and descriptions of how he music sounded like. In addiction to this, the musical instruments, materiais and tecnologies were differents then today, and even the music scores are incomplete in terms of interpretation and dinamics marks to guide the execution, because of cultural and regional differences, and the lack of others types of music to thesse people too. To play this sons with a minimum criteria of fidelity, is necessery to know thesse styles and regions, to have ancient like instruments; and to get rid of the modern aestethics to dive deep in this ancient world. It's very common that orquestral musicians that get specialized in this type of music, don't play modern and contemporany styles, because of the big diferences in technical performance and interpretation.

[@PhillipPSee]

I used to like fantasy weapons and armor a lot, and to dismiss historical ones for being just boring or not cool enough. However, after two or three years of being interested in historical accurate weapons and armor, now I kinda hate fantasy designs. They look so stupid and silly to me now

[@duchessskye4072]

We have all gone through that process

[@proudtitanicdenier4300]

It is the red pill.

[@ericmonsebroten6476]

this rings of so much truth

[@benerdick_cumberbiatch]

@@duchessskye4072 for me I was more interested in Japanese weapons and armour. Rather than fictional ones. So for me it was more of a transition from one culture to another. I always found simple effective designs more appealing. The lowest level weapons in games often looked vastly better to me than elaborate impractical designs.

[@TheSeanoops]

Agreed, but those fantasy weapons and amour made you interested in the actual historical objects, and by extension, the time period. So, for that reason, the fantasy has value.

[@davidm1563]

I wish Knyght Errant still uploaded :( such a great historical source of information.

[@Dowlphin]

There are always other channels covering anything, including good quality ones. It is actually good to not produce content out of business considerations. When something good has been contributed, it can stand the test of time. A work can be done. - Quality over quantity.

[@longbowscaneasilypenetrate6812]

i really miss your videos man

[@ttaibe]

It has been 10 months,, please make more videos!!

[@chickensandwich8808]

I like how you are mentioning an accurate medieval aesthetic. I have spoken before how I work in tailoring, but in artwork in general I LOVE making maps for table top games my friends and I run. Something I have been really trying to analyze and research are late 14th century to early 15th century artworks to gain a perspective on how the artwork was done in order to capture this feel for a game. I agree 100% that the aesthetic and atmosphere of art, music, clothing, etc. of any given time period in any given culture can lend a greater sense of immersion into those blips of time. I feel this is why something like Living History is so important because its not just reading about the history but at least to some extent interacting with it.

[@Ozepyon09]

I really hope you can come back to your channel soon! I've always loved your history videos about arms and armor far more than any other KZbinr.

[@anduin181]

Thank you so much for this, Mr. LaSpina. I am a game designer myself, running a role-playing game set in a "medieval fantasy" type world, and I started watching videos on HEMA and medieval history purely to learn more about how to make that world feel more real. I still watch these type of videos for that reason, but I've also come to enjoy them for their own sake as well. You make an excellent point about loving the sources being a good foundation. Even though the world I've created is a fantasy world with magic and monsters and a different history to our real one, it doesn't change the fact that certain weapon and armor designs are the way the are for a reason, and those reasons make them effective in combat. I have learned a lot about how to make combat in my game feel more real thanks to people like Matt Easton, Roland Warzecha, and yourself. And my players have definitely noticed, so thanks again!

[@barnydeathmail]

i discovered your work recently and i just fell in love with your channel ! Every video is clear, detailed, and well illustrated and you can feel the passion emanating from every frame ! being an artist myself its not always easy to refrain from filling my lack of knowledge with fantasy elements or modern interpretations. This video is a great guide on how to search for and capture an accurate medieval aesthetic ! keep up the good work ! (also sorry for my bad frenchy english)

[@daveh3997]

Thank you for a well thought out argument for seeking the original sources. As a person with degrees in history/anthropology, I agree wholeheartedly with seeking how the people you are trying to emulate viewed their world. A big problem I have noticed with modern reenactment is the tendency to use mass produced items which look mass produced. Granted, not all of us can hand make a sword or spear. However, if possible, customizing them based on originals should still be attainable.

[@MRKapcer13]

I still see you post on Facebook a lot, but I have to say I miss your videos. You make some incredible content.

[@Tork789]

Hey man, you alright? Haven't seen a video from you in a while. I hope you are alright and will continue soon.

[@KnyghtErrant]

Hey, thanks for the concern. I'm in the middle of getting a lot of long overdue medical stuff taken care of so I've had to take an extended break from the video thing but I've been more active on my other social media platforms in the mean time.

[@Tork789]

@@KnyghtErrant Take as much time as you need, I hope whatever medical stuff you have to do isn't too serious. Get well!

[@Luke_Danger]

Here from Shadiversity and his recent video regarding 'female armor'. I really liked the point towards the end about understanding the why of things through the lens of the time - I think a lot of people dismiss the past because they only look through their own lens. It is important to keep that in mind, yet to understand the past we must also understand the context, and not just armor design but society as well. It's an important thing to keep in mind when writing pseudo-medieval fantasy and such if you want to bring the less-than-presently-admirable aspects of the society, just as it is important to keep it in mind with armor design and decoration as you showed.

[@Novusod]

The biggest medieval aesthetic gaff is with regards to modern reproductions is chain mail coifs. If you look at paintings from 12th to 15th century you will see chain mail coifs look nothing like modern artwork, games, and movies. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5PQlWChi8yWaKc

[@KnyghtErrant]

+Novusod I would be careful with the information in Lloyd's video in that particular instance - I made a bit of a response to that one as part of a two-parter on mail coifs if you're interested - kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnPZmX9-o7Rsfqc

[@LukeDelBinkey]

This is an excellent video Ian. Well done and thank you!

[@KnyghtErrant]

Thanks Luke!

[@robertmacpherson9044]

Well said, Ian. This is a message I have been trying to convey for decades. I hope you reach more people than I have.

[@jamesc.2054]

I miss this content. Hope all is going well in the world of the Knyght Errant.

[@ianalexander6977]

You mention it but i’d also trying to get into the headspace of the period is very important although probably impossible. I’ve seen great kit ruined by a totally anachronistic lazy performance that plays into common but false tropes about the past.

[@kernowerrant961]

Without a doubt my favourite KZbinr.

[@LukasVos]

I totally agree. And the most simple example for modern aesthetics is symmetry: I often see recreations of e.g. leather cases with medieval patterns, but they are completely symmetrical, while the originals of the intended time period weren't symmetrical after all, so in a result the cases are formed after originals and have original inspired patterns, but with modern aesthetics.

[@timothystevens1529]

Though from a completely different time period and place this reminds me of the Recent Change in the Governor's Palace at Colonial Williamsburg. The original was burnt down long ago but it was remade during the 1930s for the living history museum. When the recreation was made they choose to leave all the paneling unpainted and while unpainted wood was in taste while the rebuilding was being done they just now came to actually painting the panels in a way to imitate marble which was actually in the aesthetic of places like the palace in the 18th century. I Know some people was upset with the change preferring the look of unpainted paneling but it just shows how aesthetic can change over time. Source: www.dailypress.com/features/history/dp-nws-governors-palace-update-20180112-story,amp.html

[@bethwilliams4903]

You are remarkably well spoken and I could kick myself for finding you years late!!! Time to binge watch and catch up!

[@martshearer498]

@ 7:04 -7:12 You need to make that transcript 'widely' available.

[@MadNumForce]

I would add that getting interest in anthropology, ethnology, sociology, also helps grow a more flexible mind, more prone to grasp cultural elements and work them together, as they are, as products of a different but coherent mindset. And though the material culture and artwork is indeed a very precious source, period texts can also be part of it. Best is to at least try to read them in their original condition, with no modernized spelling and no translation. That may mean having to learn another language, but if you're passionate, how could it not be worth it? That way, you also get to see how medieval Europe was so different, in its politic, economic, demographic, cultural configuration to modern nation states. In the end, it's all about learning about ourselves. Medieval people were different in so many ways, but deeply we absolutely haven't changed, and you get to see they liked things just like us, they were moved by things just like us, they could get angry or generous, they could be hypocritical or greedy, or have elevated standards and goals, they could be dumb or clever, they made good and bad choices, and on every aspect of being human, they were just like us, and through that common experience of living life being a human, the more you read what they wrote, examine what they produced, you start to walk in their shoes. And on the way, you might just realize you barely understand your contemporaries more, and when you try to get things at a deep enough level, you realize raising your awareness about the medieval man is also raising you awareness about your neighbour, and vice versa.

[@nanorider426]

Thank you! As an amateur historian and as a Game Master for D&D players I can't thank you enough. I need to show this video to my players. However, I need to dive into more Medieval videos because it's one of the few areas in history that I don't know so much about - apart from the regular fantasy tropes. Again thank you. :) I came here from Shadiversity.

[@ttaibe]

imo this is still the best channel medieval wise I have found so far. Thank you.

[@slaaneshgod]

I really appreciate this video. I do personally tend towards more of a modern aesthetic myself but I am anachronistic so modern improvements are more desirable anyway. However that bias was not something I was aware of and one I now will put alot more effort into recognizing. Thank you!

[@MrvanderKruk]

Excellent video, I very much like your approach to the historic. In combination with educating the interwebs without stepping on someone's toes makes your channel unique on this website. Keep up the good work, I'd love to see more.

[@Dosman0026]

I can't wait for the next video always really enjoy your extremely well made videos

[@Navak_]

Guy! Upload something! You do really awesome work!

[@Aethrian]

One of the biggest influences on my perception of the middle ages without me realizing was romantic and neogothic art and architecture. I started doing some research on furnishings and architecture and was surprised by what I found. People in the late 1800s were OBSESSED with the middle ages and so much art was produced on that theme. While neogothic art is beautiful to look at, contemporary bias made its way into their depiction of history as well. Judging from modern movies and art, I'd say it's fair to think a lot of our ideas about medieval Europe come through a lense of neogothic and romantic art of the late 1800s.

[@KnyghtErrant]

The Victorian Medieval Revival didn't stop at art either, it spawned an entire industry of counterfeiting artifacts. A lot of unscrupulous dealers and artisans were more than willing to take advantage of over-eager collectors looking to own the arms and armor of the Middle Ages and happily obliged them with fakes. A lot of these fakes still plague private and public collections. Many of them are pretty bad to the eye of someone who knows what they're looking at, but some are more subtle and more refined and have slipped through the cracks. In many ways, the 19th century is a giant speed bump in the scholarly understanding of the Medieval era.

[@Aethrian]

Knyght Errant Thanks for the response! Very interesting about the counterfeits. I've really enjoyed looking through your videos the past few days, I just started making costumes and props for the renaissance festival my family and I are going to and while I'm not restricting myself to accurate reproductions, I'm certainly interested in learning about the real Middle Ages and using what I've learned to inform and expand my creativity.

[@vincentoppenheimer9473]

Yet another greatly in depth video. Thank you.

[@tapnad7263]

Any leaks on when we might be getting a new video? Been missing your info tons.

[@NoName-yw1pt]

We've ran out of topics

[@tapnad7263]

@@NoName-yw1pt If we ran out of topics already shadiversity, metatron, and countless other youtubers would have been out of a channel by now. Hardly enough content in only 85 videos from Ian.

[@NoName-yw1pt]

@@tapnad7263 He covers different topics than these guys

[@tapnad7263]

@@NoName-yw1pt It's all still under the same scope of knowledge, you can't just deal with centuries of history in a few videos.

[@NoName-yw1pt]

@@tapnad7263 We are covering only specific topics abut the middle ages, not generally sharing all the knowledge about the whole time period. The scope is not that big.

[@dranorcat44]

i had been told before that pics from those galleries were hard to find so i shouldn't bother. and so too this day i never looked! but here i see you vouching for 'em and i go and holy carp thank you! thankyou for breaking that unnoticed veil!

[@electronkaleidoscope5860]

Knyght Errant Videos aren't common, but neither are miracles. Awesome as always man

[@Miralis-ml7ig]

A topic which i find quite interesting is what was worn with the armor, accessories, like in your bascinet anatomy video you have done. It would be awesome to see a video from you about the different types, variations (like tabard and suircoat) and styles, ranging from clothing, cloths to jewellery and other things

[@Dowlphin]

4:20 Peculiar, the change of skin color in that art. Indication of early adherence to his actual skin color or other reasons like paint availability or decay or maybe even defaulting to darker skin colors even when not accurate?

[@ianmiller4195]

Lots of good points, nice work. Also can we have more videos about the soft kit? Specifically about leather turn shoes.

[@petrvcelak2634]

People who give dislikes, It's absolutely your right to do dislike something and show it publicly. I'm just interested if you put dislikes because of any particular reason based in any reasonable argument or you just do bad because you can.

[@proudtitanicdenier4300]

Ouch the haters are crying now.

[@petrvcelak2634]

Proud Titanic Denier it was just a question. Nothing to make them cry.

[@petrvcelak2634]

I am actually. Really, I'm interested in answer of any of those people. I've always tried to respect opinions of others as I consider interesting to hear out other people's opinions and I was always most interest in those that differs from mine. So when I was asking this question I did not mean any harm or offense, then I would just simply write: ,,all people disliking this videos are idio*s." but that is so silly, that I would just never do that as it is not natural to the way how I try to behave. I was actually hopping to get some interesting approaches or different points of view that might even enrich me. I hope that this was clear answer for your question and that we understand each other now. I know what you meant by your question as you're perfectly correct in statement that you see this very often and the reason why people are asking this question is just to start a fight but I don't praise the "trolling" on the internet and my question was perfectly serious. Yet I know that I'm little bit naive to expect any of them to answer it.

[@Isakkrogh]

Well spoken!

[@MedievalTrebuchet]

A better title for this video: "The Importance of Capturing a Medieval Aesthetic or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Sources."

[@CrownRock1]

Dr Sourcelove

[@Theduckwebcomics]

It's the same with swords as well. People continually hold up Albion swords as the gold standard for various reasons, but they're not really historically accurate: uniformly minimal, always a brushed finish, lacking decoration, cleanly made, etc. They're a modern person's idea of what a high end sword should look like.

[@nutyyyy]

Indeed, they are functional and minimalist while retaining the authenticity of the actual blade itself and how it ideally should function. It's easier to do that when you are mass producing (for lack of a better term) vs having a one off commissioned piece.

[@hanshanszoon]

Very good explanation of why this is important, thank you. I might use it in a discussion in the future.

[@pursuingtheknightlyarts6841]

This very much falls into the same lines when putting together a harness for studying Harnischfechten. By keeping the harness contemporary and having the correct coverage/shaping, you'll learn A LOT about that style when using historical techniques. Great video as always, Ian! We'll be covering a video series soon on building a harness for Harnischfechten and you touched on a lot of the points for this very topic. -Reece

[@dannabats]

Costume through the ages and the age of armour are amazing reference books available.

[@medieverse]

This advice came to me just when I need it most. Thanks Ian!!!

[@paavohirn3728]

Awesome! Good points in a truly inspiring presentation.

[@damasek219]

I cannot agree more. Aesthetics is massively important.

[@h347h]

You still out there man? I was curious as to why none of your videos showed up in my feed for a while. Hope you are doing well!

[@KnyghtErrant]

Still here! Lots of long overdue medical things are being taken care of that has kept me out of armor.

[@h347h]

@@KnyghtErrant Great to hear from you, hope you can get everything in order!

[@verfugbarkite]

Glad to hear your okay. Missing the content, but your own health far more important.

[@paddylang3433]

Looking at Holbein, Brueghel, et al, paintings to get a colour palette/achieve a correct aesthetic. Basically - Pigments and DYES Green clothing! I see it in re-enactors' and history illustrators works (who seem to repeat each other) 'possibly' based on artworks somewhat. However, intense green DYES seem very rare - in fact the strongest natural green dye seems to be produced from Tobacco (so dates it somewhat). Most greens seem to be olive green at best (ref; Bayeux Tapestry). Using double dyeing, it's still hard to achieve Green from available Blues and Yellows. In artwork, The Virgin Mary is usually portrayed in Blue, derived from Lapis Lazuli - a very exclusive PIGMENT (green pigments were also available) - but were such a DYES available? A range of yellows were available but until Indigo became very common, intense blue dyes are quite hard to achieve. I suspect that a range of strong greens (and blues) dyes were less common than contemporary artworks pigments would have us believe.

[@83jwilson]

Excellent video, and very well put!

[@godofimagination]

Faith. You have to have faith. Even if it doesn't make sense to you while you're making it or studying it, its reasoning will reveal itself eventually. That's my experience, anyway. I've deviated from the sources in the past, and I regret it. I've followed them, even though I didn't want to at the time, and I'm glad I did.

[@sergiodemartinez1415]

Exceptional video! I am truly guilty of this view of medieval armor but slowly improving everyday.

[@aldor9357]

Nice shirt

[@LurkerDaBerzerker]

Aldor Indubitably

[@glenralph5123]

Hopefully he sells them. It's the first shirt from a KZbinr that I'd buy.

[@fransbuijs808]

Yeah, where can I get one?

[@chickensandwich1589]

XpulOOOsion!

[@tamsinsandrielle]

Thanks for this video! Thank you for your time and your work :)

[@Wastelander009]

Could you do a video on types of Chainmail? How effective was it? What happens if you add rings, even double them? What happens if you change the weave pattern? How flexible was it if you do certain things to it? Thanks

[@scrimpypie]

100% on point! Also wouldn't mind seeing more soft kit stuff...

[@michaelmaranda3386]

Wonderful video topic. Keep up the great work. I enjoy your videos immensely.

[@dannabats]

Shadevirsity sent me. From his womans armour video. I liked his take but am more into costuming and era specific props construction. This is absolutely more what i was looking for. Also cod pieces are hilarious. Like the push-up bra for nads.

[@KnyghtErrant]

Thanks for coming to check out the channel!

[@zerozerosud]

I love the art style used for the "modern bascinets"! Are you the artist?

[@KnyghtErrant]

Thank you, yes they are my drawings.

[@j.g.elmslie9901]

In the words of Joliet Jake Blues: YES, YES! JESUS H. TAP-DANCING CHRIST YES! now if only everyone else saw the light too... Seriously, I've been talking about this for years and people think I've grown two heads, when I'm trying to explain that there is a stylistic and aesthetic difference between central germany in 1460, and 1485, or 1485 germany and 1485 Italy so often. its part of the reason I focus on a few periods I can dive entirely into understanding the artistic styles of the periods, rather than scratching the surface in superficial ways

[@shotou]

This was an important topic, and would make a great essay.

[@iTzGt]

Can you do a tutorial on making the red jacket from your Soft Kit Overview video? All the way down to the basics like what kind of wool weave you used, I've found it impossible to find any guides online that tell you the most basic things about what weave they used back then, they only say "wool" (I'm guessing twill).

[@deadextra]

Preach. Very well put.

[@duchessskye4072]

I completely agree. For an example; I personally love the fashion of the medieval ages, with the long limbs, tight waist etc. I don't see why re-enactors try to change that aesthetic. It simply does not carry the same charm. But that might be just because I love the historical fashion so much If I would have a button to change everyones fashion sense, I would. We all know everything was much better in the good old days anyway :D

[@Mtonazzi]

Draugr_the_Greedy our waists won't comply :p

[@nickkraus2263]

Matías Tonazzi well thats not true :D When you are talking about "beeing to fat" for a tight waist (I am just assuming here because I hear that quite often^^) I have to say that is by 99% due to the lack of skill in tailoring and/or because of laziness. I am quite a big person with beeing 189cm and weighing 105kg but my dublet takes away arround 20cm of my waist and therefore giving the same look. Yes of course most people would have been thinner back in the day but not everyone had the perfect fashionable bodyshape back then. What people often forget is that medieval clothing doesn't look the part on people who have the perfect shape, rather medieval clothing is shaping on its own. You can achieve quite a lot when made properly :) Of couse that needs expertiese and that is usually expensive. Sorry fot the rambling, medieval bodyshapes and achieving them is just really my thing :D Oh and also posture does wonders as well :P

[@WickedNPC]

I noticed that certain medieval styles tend to make many men uncomfortable. You don't often see male reenactors go for tights with pointed shoes under a gayly coloured, puffed sleeved doublet that shows half of their bum and topped off with a feathed fancy hat. They usually think that it will make them look unmanly. I don't agree, that look is smoking hot!

[@Mtonazzi]

Nick Kraus I was being mostly humorous. Luckily, while being "big" on the sides, I've got a well defined waist that even allows me for great flexibility there. But I couldn't let the joke pass xD Frida Bergholtz that's the problem most people have. I myself had issues convincing myself of wearing hoses, but I now reckon they're quite comfortable once they're on. I still have to agree with World's Biggest Booty Hoes though... once you've got all put on (and if you're also wearing armor, the worst) you better not have to go to the bathroom in a hurry xD

[@nickkraus2263]

Frida Bergholtz well sadly thats true. I had some problems when I started to. But the more I fell in love with the period, the more I enjoy going to the extremes of the modern eye within perfrectly perfectly accaptable period stuff. E.g. my new 13th century kit going to be a cotte in nearly neon like yellow lined in white silk down to the ankels with 8 meter of hem :D over that will be a pink surcot lined with blue silk that is like 10cm shorter than the cotte. Usually (at least for high and late middle ages) if the missmatching of colours burns you eyes you,just about hit the medieval standard :D

[@maginotline9601]

Does anyone know whether the enclosed helm would have been used in the third crusade? 7 years after the crusade Richard I used it in his official great seal.

[@KnyghtErrant]

The second great seal of Richard I is literally one of the first depictions of an enclosed helmet. Things obviously need to have been invented before they start showing up in artwork, but how much before is difficult to say. I understand the seal is dated to 1198. and the other thing we need to consider is that Richard was a king, and thus had access to the 'latest and greatest' innovations in armor. Putting it on his seal is a sign that he wanted to show himself equipped in the most up-to-date armor. Enclosed helmets don't start becoming common in artwork until after 1200. With those things in mind, it's possible the first ones had been in existence before 1198, but they probably would have been pretty scarce and reserved for the upper crust of people who could afford to be on the cutting edge of armor, and how far back before that, we can't know for sure without more evidence. Virtually all of the evidence we do have for the 3rd crusade still points to the overwhelming ubiquity of nasal helmets in their various forms.

[@maginotline9601]

Knyght Errant I see! thank you very much!

[@godofimagination]

Hey Ian, I've been trying to track down the source for the first picture (0:58) for a while now. Can you please tell me where you got it? Excellent video, by the way.

[@KnyghtErrant]

It's from the Tres Riches Herues of the Duc de Berry, and thank you!

[@Tybrarian]

Dude, where did you go? Hope everything's ok.

[@eddys.3524]

good argumentation!!! Missed your video's for some time...

[@GallowglassAxe]

I love this. I know I'm guilty of this in my outfits too. I think the hardest field of history to look at is medicine. To look at something that back then was proper and normal medicine but now we know better is hard to wrap your mind around.

[@kimosabe6692]

Love this mate.

[@tristankendrick2582]

Found you via skallagrim, cool content!

[@KnyghtErrant]

Thanks, welcome!

[@hysteriq8640]

Incredible video! Subscribed.

[@duchessskye4072]

Hello there Ian. I came to ask you if you're planning to do a video on blunt force against armor. I've seen that a lot of people see blunt weapons as definite anti-armor weapons. I do not agree as most sources suggest that knights preferred swords over blunt weapons. It's my assumption that they would not have used swords if maces were that effective. Personally I believe that the inherent versatility of swords make them better as anti-armor weapons, but my main point (and concern) is that people _severely_ underestimate the effectiveness of armor against blunt force. If not a video, I would appreciate your input on this.

[@braydenj1327]

I'm no expert but I think the reason knights used swords as secondaries was because they were a status symbol for a long time in a lot of places. Knights also probably wouldn't have gone up against another knight all that often, they would fight against a common soldier so they didn't need to have a mace to kill them. Also people do underestimate armour, armour will stop a mace hit, maces were used to dent and disorientate the knight so they could either knock them over and kill them by repeatedly hitting them or stabbing in the gaps or to capture and ransom them.

[@Leto85]

Despite how I completely agreed with how we should focus as much as possible on the aesthetics of the century we try to reproduce in our own work, what I personally am worrying about is reader expectation. Will the audience still like it? Writing specifically for an audience who only goes for 100% aesthetic authenticity (for as far that percentage is even possible to reach) would be writing for an audience too slim, in my opinion that is. So, long story short; how to find that tender balance? Or is it more like I have to find a way of writing style that makes it appearing for a broader audience without giving up on aesthetic authenticity?

[@taylorrichardson7875]

Need some more content

[@userequaltoNull]

Hey man! Shad sent me!

[@jennyrapp4082]

Hey man! Do you think we could look at more peasant and lower end armour and clothing? As you said in the soft kit video is that it is easier to start with soft things, and i'm getting into collecting medieval things and clothing, sewing a liripipe

[@Quicksilver_Cookie]

Could at least tell people you are alive. I hope you are. Maybe give just a brief update on whether you're planning to make some more material or not. Whatever you're up to I wish you all the best. This was a fantastic channel.

[@KnyghtErrant]

Thank you for the concern, I appreciate it. For what it's worth I'm still very active (for me) on my Facebook page and in the comments sections of my various videos as questions arise (less so on Instagram, I just don't really like that platform...). One of my recent posts on Facebook should be good news for my KZbin audience :)

[@ilrakdementia3610]

Knyght Errant Oy, the Knight himself! What an honour :D

[@shrekas2966]

Its very hard to keep up with the source once it gets lost in time. Slonim, for example is one of the commonly used helmet in baltic reenactment and video games. The only source of it i found on internet was in russian and if you have gone to visit the museum where it is presented in belorus, the faceplate would be missing from the display. That means there are no actual sources to prove that baltic people had used any kind of faceplate helmet in 11-13th century. Except they did, but the source is so restricted that it would be safe to say that they didnt.

[@ClassicColt45LC]

@knyghterrant have you considered coming to a modern armored fighting event? I am with the Armored Combat League and would love to host you at an event to hear your thoughts on the sport

[@TheCompleteMental]

How much would full plate armor increase in height? I know they had thinner soles but they did also have suspended helmets I dont quite expect an answer, from what I know theres very little on the subject

[@nathanhunt9105]

What do you think about doing this for the purpose of fantastical, but medieval-inspired things (does that even make sense; lol)? I think that changing the aesthetic of medieval objects might be the perfect way to start creating fantasy things that are still realist, no?

[@KnyghtErrant]

Absolutely. A fantasy design grounded in an understanding of historical reality can make for much better 'fantasy' in my opinion. You might be interested in this video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2mnknp-gZ2KsK8

[@lordhermis8718]

Gasped when i saw a new vid from you

[@cobraglatiator]

well,it's been a year since the latest video...well i'll try here anyway, so,to get on with it: i'm sorry this isn't terribly relevant to the video, but it's the latest,and i feel like that makes the chances of someone seeing my comment higher: i have a couple questions about the burgonet, and context i ask this largely because i have a TTRPG(just think DnD) character in mind who i'm trying to find a helmet for(i like to include "realism" in my character designs/armoring.) that gives him the most vision and ease of access to air, for the most protection, and i had come up with a modified version of the burgonet, for him, but i don't actually know if my biggest changes, really change much,and if so if they make it better or worse, so, first up the visor: i thought of taking off the visor and more or less just making the "forehead" portion of the helmet sloped, ending at either the same spot just above the eyebrows, or a little lower, but would that actually affect vision much? would it be better or worse if so? and secondly the crest, the thoughts that come to me is: what function does the crest serve other than decorative? it seems like if anything hit that area with enough force to be worried about in the first place, the crest would just make the weapon bounce/ricochet off instead of slide/glance off, and just move your on your head/move your head, and i think, surely the weapon glancing off and not jerking your head about is better for your neck? the other changes i'm a little more confident about: the cheek pieces would be moved in, not necessarily covering the mouth at all, but being a lot closer to the nose, and then there'd be a piece "attached" to the cheek pieces, being in front of the nose to cover it, (maybe protruding slightly further down than the nose.) i also have questions about this characters weapon but i'll leave that out for now, if anyone knowledgeable or w/e, sees this and feels like responding, please do, whether it be someone in the comments, or ian himself, if you consider it, thanks! and if the CC doesn't want me spewing my fantasy shit in his historical comment section, i'm sorry, and will remove it if asked. (by the content creator.)

[@dandadamo4299]

I'm more of a fantasy guy, and I'm wanting to design and build a costume. I know I don't just want to copy Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones, but I know I don't want to be strictly historical either. The historical aesthetic just doesn't really appeal to me that much. That said, I really do agree that we should all be considering what's historically accurate. You can't take artistic liberties if you don't know what you're departing from.

[@rayye2052]

Hi, Ian. Do you think you can make a video anout the armour in the "Game of Throne" show? There're many different armours in that show.

[@salazar4810]

I wonder, if puting the decorations on the armor/equipement is right way to put it... There probably should be / would be historical objects without it. Since not all the objects did survive or were drawn or captured on statues. Btw.: I have one question, that perhaps somebody here could answer. I try to find out, why German armor of the 1450-70 did change the construction of the elbow to the 3 piece one, that is offten not riveted in the usual way, as for example earlier armor, that Knyght Errant shows in the one of his videos of the construction of the english armor. (sorry for the poor grammar :) )

[@CreeperKiller666]

There is more than one medieval aesthetic. The French, Italians, English, Asturians, Vikings, and every other group of people each had their own, local, aesthetic. They had different modes of dress, different styles of art, and other differences in aesthetic preference from one another. There is also the temporal aspect; the Englishof the 14th century had a different aesthetic from the Anglo-Saxons of the 8th century. So, instead of trying to capture a generic "medieval aesthetic" it would probably make more sense to try to emulate a specific style from a particular place and time. EDIT: You already pointed this out in the video, around the 3:00 mark. (Albeit very briefly)

[@proudtitanicdenier4300]

No shit, Sherlock.

[@CreeperKiller666]

Watch out, you might cut yourself on that edge.

[@proudtitanicdenier4300]

I'm edgy cause I used a swear word?

[@CreeperKiller666]

No. You are edgy because you decided to insult me just because my statement seems obvious to you. KZbin comments are meant for discussing the video and it's topic, and there is no rule against posting basic, non-revelatory information. It's not like Google is going to run out of space on their servers because I posted a less-than-astounding insight.

[@Illasera]

Well done.

[@RobertoRamirez-bk3no]

Hey was just wondering if you would consider making a video about Burgonet helmets?

[@Jovan8111]

Thank you :)

[@luketaber4369]

Ian, where have you gone?!?!?!?!?!

[@fredericanklin]

Great points, and I think the same can be said for movies and the gaming industry - especially games that claim to strive for historical accuracy, such as Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series. Too often, those games try much too hard to make things look “cool” and contemporary, when it would be simple to just go with the available sources. They often end up looking like a weird mix of history and second-rate fantasy. The upcoming Odyssey looks like a particularly bad example (costumes, buildings, those weird, hollywood-style giant statues everywhere...).

[@sojjjer]

Ian, did something happen? This is an unusually long gap between uploads

[@tobiashagstrom4168]

I often wonder what it'd be like if a person from another time got to react to our modern world. Relating to this topic, I often wonder how a person from - let's say - medieval times would react to various aspects of modern fantasy. What would they think of the deigns, and the kinds of stories being told, would they be able to relate to the characters? Obviously, if I was to hang out with such a time-tourist, I'd be quick to explain that things such as modern fantasy aren't seriously made to replicate the time this person is from, and that it should mostly just be enjoyed for what it is. There is this hopeful part of me that wants to think that maybe such a person could enjoy at least some modern fantasy as something that may be somewhat familiar, yet fantastical and spectacular. Sure, I tend to enjoy modern aesthetics, but I can enjoy some retro aesthetics as well, so maybe it could go the other way? Maybe if the person in question is particularly open-minded, or perhaps just still young enough to be curious about new things?

[@willek1335]

Good day. Any chance you'll do an armour review of Robert the Bruce (netflix).

[@jessekarr4257]

I gots a question!? I got family who where “belted knights” in the 1400’s what would of the belts looked like? Plaque belts or something totally different?