The Real Historical TOWER SHIELD: What made the Medieval PAVISE SHIELD so Special?

[@rEdQUINOX]

Matt becoming the medieval Ian McCollum is definitely a development I'm happy with

[@JiSe6669]

You need to get the measurements to Tod! We need to see how this works against different kinds of threats!

[@caseco4979]

Like a cluster of flaming plumbatas launched by trebuchet

[@phillip0537]

I definitely second this request!

[@LordTurtleneck]

We really, really, really don’t.

[@BIG-DIPPER-56]

An exact replica put through the normal abuses!!! YES ! 😎👍

[@mrferrer9485]

Sure!🙌🏻

[@FiliiMartis]

Sold for £58,000, now that surprised me a lot. During the auction, it was back and forward and took the longest to sell.

[@dgoodman1484]

Cool thanks! Always nice on these types of videos to see what the actual value was! 👍🏼

[@LaneLibra]

That sounds like a reasonable price point actually

[@FiliiMartis]

@@LaneLibra Can you expand on your opinion? I don't have a good point of reference for this type of piece. What makes it reasonable?

[@Sirenir1]

Very rare survival. It's all organic materials, they don't tend to last long

[@michaldudas7174]

Wow, an extant pavise, what a treat! I spent a lot of time with a reconstruction of pavise on Hussite wars reenactment events. They are not only an integral part of wagenburg (along with even larger shields or mobile fortifications to cover the spaces between wagons) but also an important part of an infantry unit in the field. The reconstruction of the formations is of course a matter of study and we can't be completely sure, but it seems that the Hussite infantry used first row of those large pavises (carried by designated men without polearms, "pavise-berers") to cover infantrymen with polearms (glaives, halberds and long spears) when they dvanced into an enemy formation. It works quite well not only against crossbow bolts, but also in clash with another unit of infantry armed in early 15th century central European style. (Before the widespread use of long pikes.) The lareg pavise is surprisingly handy when used in one or two hands (you basically don't fight with pavise, you just hold the line and create a mobile wall for othes to fight from behind and you use your messer just in the final act, if and when the linde breaks.) The smaller hand-held pavises were fashionable among cavalry and dismounted men at arms in Lithuania, Poland, and Bohemia in the same time.

[@Fidi-h3b]

Those kind of shields were used a lot in Spain to arm companies of spearmen in the 15 century and the first decades of the 16. The most famous places for pavise shield production were Pontevedra and Oviedo ( which makes sense, being the northwest of the country the place with most trees and forests). Those regiment used to carry also partesan spear, sword, dagger and chuzo(a short spear for both throwing or hand to hand fighting), and as armour, a underhat helmet and a brigandine.

[@hannayapelekai1628]

What do you mean by "underhat helmet"?

[@Fidi-h3b]

@hannayapelekai1628 sorry for my English. I mean this kind of small hellmet to use under a hat. In Spain was called "casquete" (small hellmet)

[@АнтонОрлов-я1ъ]

@@hannayapelekai1628 I assume a close-fitting helmet that you can wear under a hat. They were also called cervelliere (skull-cups) or secrete/segreta (secret helmets).

[@Fidi-h3b]

@@nobodyexpectssi4654 y eres un escudo pavés ? 😱

[@riedenschneider1434]

@@nobodyexpectssi4654 Estaba na fortaleza de Vilamarín. Debes telo visto alí.

[@UnclePengy]

I came here because your thumbnail image (or whatever it's called) caught my eye. In the trailer for the upcoming game, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, they show a pretty graphic scene of a castle seige, with men equipped with pistala hand cannons (and some crossbowmen as well) firing them from behind pavise shields set up the way you show here (only the wood piece in the back they have connecting to the center of the shield rather than the top). One of the thing I like about the Warhorse games is that they really give you an education and get you wanting to learn more.

[@Ajmes]

Would be interested in so-called 'Hand Pavises' as you mentioned them. Reasons for use, advantages in design over other similar sized shields, etc. Like/Thumbs-Up if you agree and would like to see more about them.

[@tombancroft8920]

there is a very nice channel on here called The Shieldery where a charismatic German fellow makes old shields (he does a smaller pavise) with period correct materials as much as possible, worth a look for anyone who enjoyed this vid :)

[@danilonascimento9866]

The period correct pigments are the crazy!

[@BPOOHEAD189]

Ooo sounds cool

[@Tristan-mc4wm]

I'm in the midst of making one myself using his video as a rough guide. Great content!

[@Rickity-Tikki]

4:34 When you said "inner face", I lost it when I realized that shield's actual inner face was staring right into my soul. I have no idea if that camera zoom was intentionally comedic, but it got me good.

[@daroth7127]

Im so glad that you're doing videos like this in auction houses, it reminds me so much of Forgotten Weapons, my other favorite channel.

[@J_n..]

In the Muster scroll of Leipzig, Saxony, from 1466 these Paveses are listed to be used by infantry, preferd armoured, together with Spears. The crossbowmann would have been in the second rank

[@Bwaze]

Thank you for this video, this is immensely helpful! I have seen lots of pavises now in museums, but they are usually presented in a way where it is difficult to see the back side, or even the nuances of the general shape!

[@BIG-DIPPER-56]

How on earth did that survive?!? How was that taken care of all those years?!? FANTASTIC - Very Nice ! 😎👍

[@gronthgronth2628]

basically 4 centuries of people being too lazy or "not my job" to get rid of them until they were found lying around in XIXth century.

[@rumblin_cynth_rampo374]

There are a lot of pavises in European museums and castles. I seem to remember seeing a number on display in Burg Rappotenstein and in the Rustkammer in Vienna Austria. There also a few in the Royal Armouries in Leeds, UK

[@BIG-DIPPER-56]

@rumblin_cynth_rampo374 Ahh, Ok, so in armories ! Yes, that makes sense -Thank you so much 👍

[@hanspeterstrassl6052]

Great video! I like it that you look at worldwide weapons and shields and I specially like that you show us an Austrian shield here because I am from there.

[@doctomahawk1993]

Outstanding content!!! Loved seeing a close-up look at one. Thank you.

[@rex-y7v]

These are the same pavis's that got lost in the French baggage train which left the Genoese crossbowmen unprotected at the battle of Crecy. Usually the crossbowmen worked in pairs with one loading and the other shooting both inline behind the shield. The reason being that working the winch at high speed did not make for steady hands and calm breathing

[@leoliviu1763]

Happy New Year, Matt. Many thanks for your passion and effort. God bless you mate.

[@Tristan-mc4wm]

I'm in the midst of making a replica of a museum piece pavise. But photos don't tell the whole story. Seing one being next to and handled by a person helps a lot! Absolutely perfect timing of a video, thanks! 👍

[@tyree9055]

Matt's too tall for a period individual, I do believe. How much height he has to lose to attain the average for that time period, I don't know, but it would simply be easier to make a larger replica! 🤣👍

[@M.M.83-U]

A video on pavesi will be awesome (and other late medieval shields too).

[@michaelmanning5379]

Nifty to see this. There's a German KZbinr, The Shieldery, who has a video showing one of these being made from scratch.

[@crispy_orb]

Enjoyed the coverage of this shield. I find these specialized shields super interesting. Could you cover the Italian armor with the rad engravings (Lot #117) in a video?

[@proy14]

Very instructive! Thanks.

[@kaoskronostyche9939]

Great presentation. Thank you.

[@tcup3946]

I have heard some of these stationary pavise were pretty extravagant. That the inside had pockets and accessory attachments

[@droolhd]

Something of a treat? Yes very much so, thanks for showing this shield to us!

[@nantha7357]

There is a recently published German book about late medieval warfare that suggests pavises were not primarily for crossbowmen but more to protect single units while advancing (as can be seen in some illuminations) or smaller ones to build movable walls for polearms users to reinforce the formation front line.

[@Velesus101]

Could be. We know that in the Kingdom of Poland (and Lithuania) crossbowmen/hand-gunners didn't carry pavises, instead dedicated soldiers constituting about 20% of each unit were equipped with them giving cover to the rest of the soldiers.

[@dylanhentch9719]

I've been dying to know how stable and effective pavis were against heavier range weapons like sling, pillum, and maybe even smaller siege weapons.

[@elementzero3379]

This is a time in which we need Tod Todeschini from "Tod's Workshop" to scroll through.

[@johnladuke6475]

Well that's interesting. I was under the impression that a pavise would usually be larger in almost every dimension, almost like a scutum. They're always described as being so unusually large, thick, and heavy... but that example seemed to be at the large-ish end of the normal range of shields, and not tremendously thick either.

[@tedrex8959]

Is the gutter used to store the pole? If it were me I would put the pole under the straps, (if present) and attach the pole at the top with a notch so you could carry it all in on package.

[@matthewmillar3804]

More info on these please! 😊 Construction, maybe get Tod with a big crossbow behind one. Show use with other types of soldiers. I want to know all the things!

[@tubekulose]

Yeah!!! Greetings from Austria! 🙂👍

[@filthypappenheimer5355]

I was in the Bavarian Army Museum in Ingolstadt today and saw some of them in real life! Really cool

[@KieranSearleTheDracul]

Awesome pieçe, appeals to me on many levels as a collector (prussian genes and ex-archaeologist). Wish I could've bought it (but that requires money and I have none 😢). Excellent presentation 👍

[@jellekastelein7316]

Wow, that is a super rare thing to see!

[@arc0006]

Great video a few questions and observations. 1. I don't see any battle damage on that shield. Not hit by an arrow? 2. How well would this shield stop an arrow? From tests with other shields I would assume roughly the same as other medieval shields? 3. Looks barely big enough to cover a kneeling person. Makes sense that it is angled back towards user. I guess they would be used in series to create a small wall?

[@roirenaud2695]

Some of these pavises had only ceremonial purpose; some were stored in town armories and never used in battle.

[@johncook3817]

Excellent! I have seen pictures but never seen a real one! 😊

[@daemonharper3928]

Very much a treat - you're very lucky to get to handle it too.

[@cadenceclearwater4340]

Cracking sledge that ☃️

[@MattisH3rz3r]

Thanks for your contribution. In my new book „Wehrpflichten und Heerfolge im Spätmittelalter“ (“Conscription and Military Service in the Late Middle Ages”), for which I evaluated numerous German text sources on the arming and equipment of mercenaries and urban military contingents, I discovered a different use for large pavises. The crossbowmen probably used smaller pavises that only covered the size of their backs. Pavise and sword/messer served as secondary armament when the bolts were shot or the crossbow could no longer be used. The larger pavises were primarily used by group leaders who navigated their group on the battlefield under the protection of the shield, similar to today's special police units. In the book I go into this topic in detail with examples. So far the book is only available in German, but an English translation is scheduled to appear later this year. Best regards from Germany

[@Velesus101]

Interesting! Any chance of getting your book in English? My German is definitely not at a sufficient level to read scientific works.

[@MattisH3rz3r]

@Velesus101 The English translation of my book will most likely be published by Zeughaus Verlag in the second half of 2024. The title will probably be: "German Medieval Warfare - Lower Nobility, Militias and Mercenaries in the 15th century"

[@Velesus101]

@@MattisH3rz3r Got it. Thanks!

[@GadreelAdvocat]

So cool to be holding an authentic one.❤

[@TheShieldery]

Hi Matt and thanks for the insights! If you want to make a video about how shields where constructed historically correct, maybe we could make a Collaboration :) .

[@АнтонОрлов-я1ъ]

There also are some medieval depictions of spearmen with large rectangular somewhat concave shields, which aren't the same as crossbowmen pavises, but are larger than hand-pavises. Is there a specific term for that type of shield?

[@iatebambismom]

they are smaller than I expected (or you are a giant?). How does the size compare to a Scutum?

[@stefthorman8548]

looks around 2feet, judging compared to that leg armor behind him

[@scholagladiatoria]

It's in the linked description: 117cm

[@ArandomStranger-x3r]

Well I would say people back then were smaller than today (although not drastically smaller but still smaller than todays average) and as Matt already showed even with his size (although barely but still) it covers him so I could imagine people in the 15th century having no trouble being fully covered by it.

[@King.Leonidas]

​@ArandomStranger-x3r matt already done a video about height. If the crossbowmen came from upper middle class they would be as tall as you

[@iatebambismom]

@ArandomStranger-x3r I was thinking more about the relative size between shields. I'd always assumed a pavise was much larger than any 'normal' shield, but it seems not. Every day is a school day.

[@aramos3639]

Been playing manor lords and was wondering why the shields for the spear militia men were almost scutum sized, I didn’t know they made pavises for hand combat

[@Theduckwebcomics]

Hi-vis safety shield for extra protection! Even back then they knew about the magical properties of Hi-vis... That archer would have been totally invulnerable.

[@IceniTotalWar]

You have no idea how much i hate Pavise Crossbowmen in Medieval 2 Total War !!! Except of course when I'm playing as Milan 😁😁

[@mjolnir4639]

Was hoping you would make this video. Is it safe to say that Hand pavises were never used used by crossbowmen while the larger pavises were only used by crossbowman? Is there more to it than that? What is the function of the vertical ridge? please do a deep dive into these shields, fantastic find!

[@theghosthero6173]

No in fact that would be completely wrong. First of all, we know from sources that the crossbowman rarely carried pavises, only like two artworks show that. Pavisiers, aka dedicated shield bearers, protected them in France, England and Burgundy according to texts. In Austria and Hungary large pavise were used to form a dense shield wall in front of the formation by heavily armored man-at-arms. On the contrary, the same armored footman who carried large pavise acted as leaders of small mobile units in Saxony, Prussia and North Eastern Germany, with one armored shieldbearer or a few leading wedge formations of spearman and crossbowman/gunners. In Switzerland they used pavise to protect the front row of their troops being gunners or pikeman, somewhat like how the scottish pikeman carried pavise at Flodden. Small hand pavise were used as militia weapons in various places, notably Germany, and would ironically be less difficult for a crossbowman short on munition to use and carry by himself than a large one.

[@mjolnir4639]

@@theghosthero6173 So in fact the pavises are used more generally to protect infantry formations and are not particularly connected to crossbowmen at all? could the large pavises be used with a weapon at all or were they too heavy to be used in combat? in effect being merely a mobile fortifification?

[@adrianarnaiz4645]

I would really like a video about the construction and more detail about the use

[@fuferito]

Within the red portions of the pavise, a floral design is still visible albeit quite faded. These pavises could be elaborately decorated.

[@grzegorzef991]

Also that small pavisse were used in Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Prusaia(Teutonic Order state) Poland and Bohemia, were called prussian lithuanian shields

[@jimmy12347654]

So cool!

[@kaiser-of-history]

That is such a cool shield.

[@CreeperKiller666]

I'm pretty sure the 'tower shields' we see in most fantasy are actually based on the scutum, not the pavise? Most fantasy examples I've seen have the completely wrong geometry for being a pavise, but are dead ringers for the scutum. They're also *used* like scutums rather than like a pavise-to protect massed infantry formations armed with spears, swords, or axes, rather than with crossbows. Fantasy tower shields basically never have beaks, and are usually curved like a scutum rather than flat and rectangular.

[@АнтонОрлов-я1ъ]

There are medieval depictions of curved rectangular shields used by spearmen, so it is possible that fantasy "tower shields" are based upon those depictions.

[@theghosthero6173]

​@@АнтонОрлов-я1ъin fact, the original "pavise" from Pavia aka nortern italy, is and will stay a large rectangular shield through the late medieval period, the pavise with a ridge is more germanic

[@ClaytonWillets-m4f]

You mentioned that this is very HRE in style, different than what English crossbowmen used. Do we have any surviving examples or visual representations of large English pavises? Thanks for sharing this!

[@cadenceclearwater4340]

More pavise, please 🙏

[@afiiik1]

I can't wait to use these in KCD2 😊 Just one month to go.

[@lyooyiylklykyokyklky]

Wow, there can't be too many originals about. Has anyone done any decent reconstructions and tested them?

[@Deadlybudz]

So I was just playing Path Of Exile 2, and they have this same shield and it looks exactly like this in game! They really must have done their research!

[@marblubb7289]

My question is wether there was usually a spacer between the planks making up the shield. From what i have seen so far it seem that the gutter in the middle is is deeper or more pronounced in hand pavises as opposed to normal pavises. So are the planks pegged directly to each other or is there separate pieces of wood? And if so are those spacers usually only on the hand pavises or perhaps on some regional variants?

[@vaclav_fejt]

Fun fact: (constitutionally) socialist Czechoslovakia had a hook-gunner pavise as its crest. The argument being, the pavise was the shield of the Hussites, who were supposed to be proto-communist (commies always tried to distort history to fit themselves). TBH, it would be quite a cool crest, if it weren't for that red star and that origin.

[@coherenthomunculus]

Would love to listen in on a deeper dive! I do wonder, why weren't they made of metal if they were primarily deployed as stationary cover. Was it made of wood simply for ease of manufacturing?

[@brianhowe201]

Probably a weight and cost consideration. Probably more cost though, as sheet metal wouldnt weigh much differently overall unless they were trying to make it thick enough to be bullet resistant

[@MaxBrodsky.]

Hi Matt, I've heard it said that the Pavise and the windless crossbow we're usually operated by two man teams. A young boy who was the Pavisure and an adult operating the crossbow. Is this true or is it a myth? There does not seem to be enough space behind the Pavise to effectively shield two people. Or perhaps this was only done by the Milanese crossbowmen? Any clarification would be most welcome!

[@dglukesluthier]

What wood are they using to balance toughness with weight/usability? And is it multiple plies? My intincts would suggest Willow, Poplar or Lime as they are some of the lightest woods available in Europe, and are less likely to split than the European conifers

[@belongaskip]

cool shirt and vest

[@damianvisser977]

Was there a specific term to describe having your pavise attached to you by means of an enemy arrow?

[@W4iteFlame]

Clever design

[@AlexanderCornel]

Awesome ❤

[@lalbus1607]

I would like to see details about the thickness of those shields.

[@emarsk77]

I have two questions: Has its weight been measured? What's the function of the "beak"? I don't buy that it's just for reinforcement, it must interact with the leg in a way that I can't see, or maybe it's something else entirely.

[@stephencairns5967]

I always thought they were much larger, large enough to at least reach upper chest. That one seems only large enough to reach your waist. Are there larger versions?

[@Sutorenja]

sort of related: been trying to find a recipie for medieval gesso for shield painting if anyone know a good source?

[@KyIeMcCIeIIan]

Completely coincidentally I'm writing a book with a medieval setting and a character that was in Hungary has a gules shield with an argent fess.

[@cheyannei5983]

Olympia had an incredible cinquedea from that auction, did you get footage of it?

[@EvilBearSkirmish]

what is the weight like ?

[@c-w-h]

You know with modern materials. We might need these again for the drones. 😁

[@AirsoftTipsandReviews]

Yes, please tell us more about them. Also, how heavy is it?

[@balaam_7087]

Fun fact: if you stow this on your back while you two hand, you still get the passive health regen

[@rogerlafrance6355]

How many Kilos,loadout matters? Suppose formations put them edge to edge and even some above for a shield wall. Other uses, strechers, tent side supports even a recliner.

[@steemlenn8797]

500 years old and in that condition!

[@marcushavland9316]

I've read that specialized pavise carrying troops called paviseurs accompanied crossbowmen. Any truth to this?

[@LaneLibra]

Did he mention what the "mid rib" or gutter structure is for? Did I miss it?... and did he mention what year range that one is from? I notice the title says medieval, but to my eye this looks like something more 16th century? Am I dumb on that one?

[@mfsebcw]

since D+D has separate entries for pavise and tower shield, the little blurb below the video isn't fully accurate.

[@statmonster]

What did French pavises look like? Did Genoese (in French service such as the Crecy campaign if not battle) pavises look like these HRE ones or the French style ones you allude to?

[@benwinter2420]

What about that knife fight to death including biting

[@Aerindelprime]

But WHAT is that beak's purpose? I've been looking into this for years and still nobody has an answer.

[@filmbuiltyouth]

He mentions in the video that it reinforces the stand/pole's bar, but that seems dubious to me, since such a projection seems unnecessary as a structural element. Doesn't seem worth the extra effort to manufacture something so specific.

[@nothingtoseehere8738]

@@filmbuiltyouth It would reinforce the attachment points as the curvature means the wood grain is being pulled lengthwise more than stressed cross-grain where it is weakest. If the shield really is three planks and multi-layered this would be much stronger. If we were mass-producing these in the modern era, that shape would be a lot of trouble and we'd do something else to reinforce it. But at the time of that shield's manufacture hand-carving wood into various shapes was completely the normal process.

[@Aerindelprime]

@@filmbuiltyouth I agree. It seems far too distinctive for that.

[@robertbean8116]

After about 1503 these would have been a convenient way to carry the crossbowmen home after a a battle, especially since the musketeers on the other team would have provided drainage holes.

[@mladenmatosevic4591]

Crossbow had probably better accuracy at 100m and above than early smoothbore fired weapons, which had greater stopping power and faster reload time. So there were nice to deal with densely packed heavy cavalry on armored horses.

[@michalpluhar5108]

So what was the point of using those smaller versions of Pavise shield in combat? I guess it wasn't really used as cover for reloading crossbows like the regular size versions. Is the shape somehow better in some way, or did they just consider Pavises to look so cool they just copied visual appearence?

[@rufusdemolka1504]

Matt, please tell what's is that third sword on the wall from left ( your right). That long blade sword. It looks like Polish hussars or hungarian estoc (koncerz). Greetings from Poland !

[@StephenMerchant-up8sg]

Could it stop a crossbow bolt?

[@allmachtsdaggl5109]

HRR = Todays Germany, Austria, Swiss Confederacy, Eastern France, Czech Republic, Netherlands and Belgium, not just Germany and Austria ;)

[@huwtindall7096]

how much protection would this provide against arrows and bolts? Maybe one for Tod to test :D

[@brianhowe201]

I would imagine decent enough, especially if you put a little space between you and the shield. Missile weapons were what it was primarily meant to protect against.

[@tomasnemec5680]

Signature shield used by Hussiten army against the Crusaders in Bohemia. Kdož sú boží bojovníci

[@DaglasVegas]

it looks so thin. hard to imagine it offers much protection from arrows and crossbows bolts

[@revvanmev2885]

.......were roman soldier shields (or any big shields)ever included to be sleds as one of their multiple utilties?

[@windalfalatar333]

A treat!! Please do other videos with original artefacts if possible!

[@insanogeddon]

Informative advertising

[@sigutjo]

What is the reason for that ridge? It's more complicated to make, so there must be an advantage to it.

[@lscibor]

Originally, ridge was present in smaller, very much hand held shields of Baltic tribes, and would probably be simple and clever way of holding some javelins in there, as well as keeping wielders hand further away from any projectiles or points that penetrated the shield (at said ridge). On larger shields they were probably bit more of a vestige thing, but still could serve roughly the same purpose.

[@sigutjo]

@@lscibor Interesting, thanks.

[@МихаилБатькович-м2ь]

About ideas what to tell about it - this type of shield was started by the Rome and lasted till... Many things changed around the battlefield, but it remained. Why, how? Oo How did its role change over time?

[@obeastness]

It certainly seems like a crossbowman on march/the attack had a lot of things to carry, I wonder if there has ever been any evidence of the pavise having a place to put some of those things, like for example, a place to put your stake when you are carrying the shield. I'm curious how someone would maneuver around with both the shield, stake, and a crossbow. They must have had on them a quiver, a tool for loading the crossbow and some kind of hand to hand weapon as well. That seems like way too many things to hang off your body, I really would have liked the idea of offloading some of those things potentially to the inside of the shield.

[@robertbean8116]

You make some good points, in their day crossbow, handgone, arquebus, hackbutt ect.. would have been sort of like crew-served weapons requiring several men to carry all the paraphernalia necessary to support one shooter in a mobile dismounted battle. It'd be a clust🎉k transitioning to a melee fight and back. It would take about 200 years of shot & pike progress to streamline a soldiers kit until after about 1690 a musket & bayonet would arm a more or less " universal soldier".

[@BygoneUser1]

matt if you were a shield you wouldn't be a pavise, you would be probably, like, uhh, a kite shield I don't make up the rules as I go, you've just got kite shield energy... that's just how it is