Unconventional Knightly Armor In The Middle Ages (History Explained)

Jason Kingsley, tries out some unusual chainmail clothing and tries riding a horse when wearing it. #historyfacts #history #medieval
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[@ThreadbareInc]

Gonna be honest, this one kind of feels like a medieval knight doing a KZbin product review. "Hast thou ever concerned thyself o'er rising blows towards thy nethers in a foot melee? Mine blacksmith has claimed these Iron Pants shalt ease thy worries..."

[@Earthy-Artist]

😂😂🤣🤣

[@loddude5706]

"Chaucer's the name, selling's the game . . . 'Fong-proof' - the new name in mail undies - true protection from the old 'under & up! Thank you, I'm here all week." : )

[@simong9067]

@@loddude5706 Chaucer, thou drastie knave! Thou knowst right welle that Master Eadward 'Uppe and Under' Wearinge devised this garment before thee.

[@loddude5706]

@@simong9067 - Avast . . . I am undone! : )

[@ebrim5013]

Love it.

[@griffin5226]

If anyone was wondering how much Jason uses his kit, the state of his doublet is pretty telling.

[@russellfisher1303]

“Learn to fear the warrior who’s doublet looks like a rag found underneath a redditer’s bed.” - Me, I said that just now.

[@baconthulu]

If you didn't use you wouldn't know if it worked.

[@RoberttheWise]

That thing looks like it was dragged behind a horse all the way from England to the Holy Land.

[@jefferyindorf699]

@@RoberttheWise...and back to England too.

[@markfergerson2145]

As various sword tubers keep pointing out, folks back then weren’t stupid. I for one find it hard to imagine such maille undies were not extremely popular with those who could afford them. You just demonstrated their utility and comfort by the simple expedient of getting on a horse to see if they would work. Surely an educated experienced knight of the day would give it a go.

[@karinefonte516]

And you have to imagine that any discomfort would be nulled by extra padding on the breeches beneath. Anything to protect the "crown's jewels"!

[@JHaven-lg7lj]

I think I’d have thongs permanently tied to the edges of the flap, for easier access when you had to relieve yourself. Having them on the flap would make it easier ti grab the flap and re-tie it

[@petric334]

Also, undies could be adjusted accordingly. Reference the hilarious silicone taint pads integrated into modern bike shorts.

[@robsealsey5052]

@@JHaven-lg7lj Yeah just a permanent point worked into the garment. Ironically, I think this maybe only became an issue in the later middle ages as plate became more common. I've got a mail hauberk and I'm getting chausses from circa 1250 and your groin has a layer just from the hauberk tending to hang low even when split for riding.

[@carsonjones528]

That’s quite “ballsy” of you to try it out on a horse.

[@lindybeige]

German Gothic armour was very often cavalry armour, and often they wore mail braes instead of skirts rather than in addition to them (so it is thought).

[@ModernKnight]

The late medieval 'gothic' stuff has visible maille under crackers in effigies and images, I always assumes the Milanese stuff, being significantly heavier was more for cavalry, and with that sort, we don't know what went on under the maille skirt as far as I'm aware.

[@corvidcapers]

I remember seeing a few sets of maximillian armor at the met museum in NYC with what looked to be chainmail boxers and codpieces. I don't know the correct terms or what they called them at the exhibit but I remember thinking both options looked more sensible than a mail skirt if you wanted to avoid getting unpleasantly upskirted by a long weapon or an enemy lying on the ground.

[@annunakim525]

Oi Govnah

[@dainagareboshi]

I love the genuine expression of joy you show when you make such discoveries, especially when they defy your (and our) expectations. Wonderful video. Thank you.

[@ModernKnight]

Thanks for watching!

[@sarahlouise7163]

😆 this was 100% funnier than i thought it would be and then the horse side-eyeing you 🤣

[@lukedogwalker]

07:08 love the look in Ghost's eye when Jason starts talking about "chafing". That horse has excellent comic timing 😂

[@alisonhall4465]

In the painting The battle of San Romano by Uccello , there is a fully armed figure lying on the ground face down ( National Gallery panel ). A close look reveals that he appears to be wearing a pair of Iron pants . Painting dates from 1438 -40 . I study Renaissance paintings but not usually the fundament area of figures , but it’s all fascinating…. 😊

[@spawniscariot9756]

It honestly looks like a simple mail ‘skirt’ to me

[@alisonhall4465]

The mail curves under between the legs , but you do need magnification to see it .

[@michaeljay4816]

2:30 “An area at which I recommend that you never get stabbed in.” Well said, Sir!

[@Lord_Warden_of_the_Marches]

Yup, and getting slammed there with a mace or warhammer would suck just as bad, lol.

[@minerwaweasley1008]

This doublet will one day fall off you by itself and travel on its own in an unknown direction. Are you sure you don't need a squire with a needle?

[@MyMy-tv7fd]

this type of mail was invented in a little place called Nether Wallop, true fact

[@loddude5706]

Ballroom with it's own postcode eh? - only in England . . . : )

[@michaelthomas2804]

That pony looks like he's seen things... terrifying things that he can't unsee...

[@dl_hines]

This guy needs to be interviewed by Philomena Cunk.

[@aerodylluk2543]

I gather you make these videos as a hobby, but they really are some of the best content of this kind I have found online anywhere. Please keep making them, they are great.

[@ModernKnight]

I make them whenever I have the time, thanks for watching and commenting though. It helps the algorithm and we are at the mercy of the system!

[@corinnedefazio9178]

I agree! The way Mr. Kingsley tests the many materials and aspects of Medieval life brings to life so many details.

[@noahmccann4438]

ChatGPT recommended calling these military-grade intimates :) All joking aside, you struggling with the strings really made me appreciate modern attachment mechanisms - zippers, snaps etc. just make a world of difference. I imagine back then more than a few knights might have sustained an otherwise preventable injury when some corners were cut while prepping for battle (either at their own insistence, or due to laziness/negligence/exhaustion on the part of their squires)

[@susanscott8653]

From the way the way they fasten, I would suggest they are more like a mail nappy - the sort you would fasten with safety pins. 🤓

[@whyidontwant2723]

That was a fantastic video, And I must say your horse Ghost is strikingly beautiful.

[@LynneFarr]

One last appreciative thought. I've never seen Ghost more beautiful. His carriage really showed of his stallion crest, even while rearing. He really is an astonishing horse.

[@beowulfironborn]

Indeed such protections for the privates.

[@beowulfironborn]

Balls

[@marissabulso6439]

Ghost is such a beauty! Always love these experimental videos where you take us along as you go. So interesting to try and figure out how people solved problems.

[@bantartican4926]

Riding on horseback with mail underpants and seeing if it’s uncomfortable/painful taking a test for all of mankind 😂 also another amazing and educational video and I like the backdrop too keep up the awesome work also the sound of moving in plate armour will never not be satisfying to me

[@emeralddraegon]

Ghost thinks the iron pants are uncomfortable. Lol I'm shocked at your discovery. You say, "wearing iron pants while riding hard wooden saddle" and I think, "Most painful ride ever!" But that's not so! This actually answers a question I had sbout protecting those vulnerable spots, too. Great video! (Note to whoever did the sound: absolutely love the choral chanting! Quite beautiful.

[@raraavis7782]

That grin in the beginning, though 😅

[@BarokaiRein]

Do you plan to replace the doublet before or after it starts developing it's own ecosystem? It's really impressive how well and for how long that thing has been holding up.

[@emlangan]

You say that like you think it hasn't already developed its own ecosystem? I just hope he retires it before it evolves sentience...

[@cindyknudson2715]

Is this the second doublet? Or is he wearing his old one in this video?

[@LOL-Can]

My goodness. I never imagined such a thing. They make sense and are creative. Thank you for this.

[@nuvostef]

Oh my GOODNESS Ghost is beautiful! 😊 As for the male mail knickers…Wearing such protection never entered my mind. But then, until I subscribed to this great channel, I honestly never had much interest in medieval life. You’ve certainly changed that! Thank you for another great episode! 🌹 Give Ghost an apple from me. 😉🍎

[@jaroslavpalecek4513]

Thanks Jason for new video. Its been a long time but that does not matter. You discribe medieval life so extensively! Hope you have a good day and all the horses are all right ❤

[@misterhat5823]

Quality is worth waiting for. It's nice that he doesn't slap up junk for views.

[@EmeraldVideosNL]

​@@misterhat5823 Exactly that! Quality over quantity.

[@waffleMccoy]

balls of steel!

[@Skorpychan]

Padding makes sense to me, especially if you're doing active horseriding, or long distances. You NEED a comfy saddle with extra padding if you're going to cover hundreds of miles in a day on a motorbike, especially on bumpy roads. I guess that'd stand up for horse riding as well. I guess the chain mail is armour against the hard medieval saddle, as well. The core of it, really, is that you're not going to fight effectively if you're more focused on how sore and pinched your gentleman's area is.

[@rhokesh4391]

Counterpoint: Western saddles do not usually have (a lot of) padding, and those were meant to be sat in all day (although mostly at a walk).

[@alexk7973]

Also a lot of cavalry saddles from a time when there still were cavalry saddles weren‘t padded much and they are also meant for long distance riding. Then again, the riders didn‘t buy the equipment themselves in those days and the military didn‘t care that much about the rider‘s bum-comfort I guess. In medieval times when a knight was responsible for sourcing his own equipment I guess he would have been more attentive to his comforts.

[@mslauriedarlin]

My goodness! So impressive…I love learning about medieval life from someone who seemingly has been there… every time I see one of his videos it feels as if I’m stepping into a different day in time. He’s just so authentic. And that beautiful horse, Ghost… Ghost is simply regal, magnificent. 👏🏼 BRAVO BRAVO! 👏🏼

[@DanteTorn]

I appreciate that you gave special credit to Ghost. You always seem to treat your horses (and mule) with a lot of respect.

[@Nayr86]

Poor Ghost the horse looks like its having ancestral flashbacks of battle 😅

[@minerwaweasley1008]

Hurrah! New video! For now without subtitles, but let's wait :) Thank you!

[@ragnkja]

Proper closed captioning would indeed be welcome.

[@minerwaweasley1008]

@@ragnkja They will, they will. You have to wait a while, it does itself.

[@ragnkja]

@@minerwaweasley1008 Good captions do not write themselves, and computer generated ones are too inaccurate to be of much use to me, because they’re just distracting instead of clarifying.

[@ragnkja]

@@minerwaweasley1008 If you think good captions write themselves, try watching a speech-heavy video without sound, using only automatically generated captions.

[@minerwaweasley1008]

@@ragnkja Good subtitles - of course no. Just like Google Translate will not give you a good translation. But for someone who reads English better than hears it, it is absolutely sufficient.

[@thegreatgrapehippo1614]

Ghost has a look in his eye like he's seen some stuff

[@JamesBond-ux1it]

beautiful dive into my favourite age period.. you, sir, are amazing. ghost is wonderful and got a lot of spirit, great horse. you are a medieval knight incarnate :)

[@ModernKnight]

Thanks.

[@cianwalsh9137]

Even with them on the outside, I still wouldn't have worn those. You are a braver man than I

[@norskattforfun8575]

Ghost is looking fantastic. Very surprised that the pants were comfortable

[@alanjefferson1127]

Damn, Ghost is one scary looking horse, so aptly named.

[@carolinegreenwell9086]

every time you said "mail pants" I heard "male pants"

[@franciscusvdlouw5436]

Jason, you are by far my favourite history/medieval youtube guy. Always informational and enthusiastic. And you even get bonus points because even my girlfriend gets interested in medieval stuff just because of your horses :) *how's Ghost doing btw?

[@freesaxon6835]

Rides out as a Bass singer comes back as a countertenor 🎵🎶

[@pawepluta4883]

And we all thought Pratchett was joking with Dwarves' chainmail underwear...

[@SJ76]

These are the questions that need to be asked!!!

[@notforwantoftrying1]

Ghost is a truly beautiful animal, you must feel proud to own such a handsome horse

[@LoveStrangeDr]

His eyes thought, it’s like he’s seen a ghost! 😂

[@ModernKnight]

I do appreciate him every day.

[@killerkraut9179]

@@ModernKnight Do you know coincidentally about Medieval Horsebread? Do you know coincidentally if its healthy or good for horses ? I have heard and read about it!

[@alexk7973]

@@killerkraut9179 I‘m not going to lie, I had to google horsebread, to know what you were talking about. So I‘m not going to presume to talk about the particulars of the bread itself, as you probably know more about the ingredients and such that I do from that short search. However generally speaking about feeding horses bread-like substances: commonly only thoroughly dried and hard bread is fed to horses. This avoids mold to form. You could, I guess, also soak it in water right before feeding, to give it some elasticity and avoid any bloating or dehydration of the horse that might come with feeding it large amounts of bread. But then you would have to be careful not to soak it too long, so that it doesn’t go bad then. Today feeding bread is usually done as either a snack or because getting the old and unsold bread from bakers is cheaper than investing in grain. I‘m not sure how much of that was applicable to the medieval ages, where the cost of milling the grain down to flour and then to bake it potentially made even old and hard bread more expensive than straight grain. But this really is just something that came to mind.

[@killerkraut9179]

@@alexk7973 I have it from the Book ,Der Deutschorden von Akkon Bis zum Baltikum .Die Armee 1198-1420 Author Rolf Fuhrmann Terrible Translation on journeys the horses also received a kind of coarse horse bread And the channel Tasting History Video about How to Make a MEDIEVAL TRENCHER - Torte Bread. horse Bread was mentioned !

[@nowthenzen]

7:07 Ghosts looks directly into the camera.

[@misterhat5823]

I read that as Chemical Underpants and was thoroughly confused.

[@elizabethchadwick9808]

Really interesting and a surprising result. I always enjoy your videos. You know how various knights were given nicknames such as 'Fergant' meaning 'Iron glove' You can now add 'Sir Jason Ironpants' whatever the French is for that!

[@beesi4932]

Glad you wore them over your pants not under.😆 When I read the title I had a hard time imagining how it could possibly be comfortable, but wearing them on the outside instead of inside makes the world of difference.

[@walkir2662]

Always great to seeyou post, especially this experimental archaeology. I have to say I first found you through that medieval food series, so when that Matpat "medieval food sucked" video popped up, part of me wanted a reaction to that from you as well.

[@alexfarkas3881]

Imagine ordering this from Amazon by mistake. ‘I meant to type MALE underwear!!!’

[@patricialavery8270]

So funny .Ancient people didn't record stuff that Moderns want to know.This happens in alot of Historical Recipe videos,the chef has to guess because the writer assumed you'd already know.

[@Earthy-Artist]

Such as those made by 'Tasting History with Max Miller', & 'Townsends', both of which I'm a fan.

[@TorQueMoD]

Hilarious to learn that Iron Pants were more comfortable :)

[@chrisyother4870]

Landsknecht codpieces were the Magnum Opus for groin protection......great to see a new video.

[@scouttyra]

And exaggeration! Some of them do look quite ridiculous to our modern eyes

[@carolinamoonbeam]

How very interesting to learn about these Medieval wonder-pants! You really DO test your mettle, don’t you, Jason! Bravo! 😊

[@relivinghistory710]

That boy has some spring in his step...

[@hemaccabe4292]

You’re a brave man. Ready to risk great pain for knowledge and our entertainment.

[@SPLuvr]

Jason: "What's this piece of mail armor for, and what does it protect?" Me, right away: "It's the balls isn't it?"

[@PoniesandPaintOfficial]

Ghost is such a beautiful stallion.

[@trikepilot101]

Ghost is very photogenic in the sunshine.

[@mouthofthesouth4267]

😂I simply could not ignore this notification for the simple fact that I have wondered what the ppl of these times wore for undergarments in battle before they had jock straps etc etc 😂😂 that and well face it that's quite the hilarious train of thought😂

[@kc218]

I keep hearing “male” not “mail”… 😝😉😂

[@7Cherubim]

It's maybe not glamourous, but for a knight to be killed on the battlefield from a shot to the "wedding tackle" is not the heroic end that they would like to be remembered for I would have thought.

[@paularndt6111]

That is one beautiful horse you have there. So unique looking he is.😊

[@kirkmorrison6131]

I'm having a hard time seeing your videos, I will rewatch them again after cataract surgery. I find them fascinating.

[@Lokarsh21]

Actually didn't surprise me in the least. Mail is extremely smooth if well constructed 🙂nice reconstruction, though

[@Lordoftheramble]

That isn't actually music and singing you are hearing during his ride. That just the sound the wind makes when a knight is wearing iron panties.

[@Mr-Tibbster]

A beautiful horse. Never seen one with blue eyes before!

[@andrewgutierrez668]

Lol when you said “iron pants” and “chaff” the horse’s eyes widened like “WHAT?!” 😂

[@vilevagrant4632]

Sir Jason has returned, huzzah!

[@tallonhunter3663]

I hereby declare this protective item the Bulget. For purely absurdist reasons of course.

[@jillatherton4660]

Rabelais informs us that Friar john of the Hashes was partial to thrusting his staff into the fundaments.

[@sunshine2528]

How very interesting! I saw Henry VIII’s suit of armor at Windsor and it was absolutely beautiful- silver with gold embellishments- but the codpiece made me blush. Perhaps it was of such a size as to accommodate chain mail panties? Probably it did inflate Henry’s ego a bit, too! 😂 Ghost is looking lovely, as always.

[@scouttyra]

Codpieces were definitely exaggerated!

[@markfergerson2145]

Much of the,uh, ornateness of codpieces was social posturing of course, but there’s some evidence they were necessitated by the spread of syphilis making tactile sensations painful.

[@eidgenossenarkebuse]

Don't forget your Bottle of Ballistol for your Iron Knickers

[@nibbleniks2320]

So beautifully dramatic. And we see how windy it was that day! It is good the iron pants work to protect a knight. .

[@I_Willenbrock_I]

Practical archaeology at its best.

[@ladyofthemasque]

It's very important for people to remember that these chainmail underpants, like the "chainmail bikini" of fantasy novels, need to be LINED with something. Some sort of fabric or leather placed between your skin (including your hairs) and the chainmail. Men in the SCA (medieval society) who wear chainmail hauberks have constantly complained of "armor bites" and "bald patches" from the mail rings pinching & uprooting hairs from their follicles. Chainmail underpants would certainly bind and pinch delicate bits & bobbles if there wasn't a lining in the way to take the abuse instead! Also, it's comfortable for two reasons: one, it is lined (he's wearing woolen pants/hose at the very least), which provides some protection from abasions & pinches; and two, the chain links flex and shift with each movement of wearer & steed, so they do technically provide a bit of cushioning from all that flexing!

[@GooglyEyedJoe]

I'm just reminded of Karl Pilkington talking about knights having some 'sexy metal pants' and Ricky and Steve not believing him.

[@stevecastro1325]

Excellent review and actual operation of the equipment in question.

[@smokesandalloy9487]

Still haven't fixed that skirt. It has character. ;-)

[@ThePerennialEffect]

With Ghost rearing like that, he might need his own pair of metal undercrackers in a battle situation!

[@lucasvisser3864]

Hmmm. Honestly never expected to see chainmail underwear, nor the fact that they'd be comfortable to sit on, let alone ride on a horse with em. Interesting indeed.

[@NIL0S]

Those sideways glances by Ghost 😅

[@Elduriil]

I love that it still worked as armour against the saddle haha.

[@susanwoodcarver]

Of course, we enjoyed seeing you! It’s been a bit of time since you appeared to educate us about medieval horses and armour and life. I can’t help but ask about the mule with no name. I think it’s been three years since the first video. I can’t believe you have left the poor animal without a name for this amount of time. Please let us know. We enjoy all your videos. And our only complaint is we would like them longer and more often. Thank you so much. And have a lovely day.

[@JC-Denton]

The horse looking back at this fancy, well protected knight, is just priceless... Cheers, Bunti

[@margomaloney6016]

The videography of Ghost and you outdoors was amazing! What a handsome animal he is! Thanks for sharing! 🥰

[@davidcooke8005]

8:10 "If I ride in these and they are incredibly painful, I'm going to get off." Alrighty then. I knew 'chainmail underpants' was going to be a gold mine.

[@krinkrin5982]

This was a lovely bit of experimental archeology.

[@cynn3367]

I was thoroughly enchanted by the myriad ways you found of euphemistically and delicately referring to...a certain anatomical region.

[@internetcowgirl12]

Wha- the?! You are glutton for punishment!!!

[@klasandersson7522]

Just one for the algorithm, with a slight add on to mention that I find your horse to be absolutly magnificent, a true beauty!

[@Magmafrost13]

The look on Ghost's face, with those bulging eyes and square pupils, is always really funny to me for some reason

[@RemGaffer]

These two look amazing together! Although one of them calmly does without any pants. 🐎😉

[@hard4hardware]

Ghost's eyes seem to show unlimited power, bridled, but only for now 😅

[@trogdor8764]

He reminds me of Crazy Eyes from Mr. Deeds.

[@mbuhtz]

I love to see these practical tests, especially of things we layfolk would never have thought of!

[@leafgreen9099]

Gotta love that music clip near the end! Thanks for the interesting video.

[@erebus79]

Beautiful shot with the horse in the field.

[@tobyjohnson-ellis7897]

Went to the Leeds Armouries today, and came back to a new video from Modern History 😁Thanks Jason and Team

[@SusanLand]

I've been missing your videos, but talk about a triumphant return. Love to Ghost. He has such a graceful curve to his neck. It's easy to imagine him off on some epic quest.

[@Stig69]

And here I am complaining about the mesh in my swim trunks haha