And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Take a gander at the weirdest pieces of Western European armor, the Savoyard helms.
These represent a type of closed burgonet in use in the XVIIth century. It was also called the death’s head helmet in German and the Tête de cul in French. Spooky!
In the case of picture #2, there is a proof mark where a musket ball was fired into the armor at a given range and did not penetrate - which gives a sense that some combat in addition to jousting may have been envisioned. Even though the field of view was restricted (better helmet for jousting than combat), freedom of movement in that sort of armor was not and usually allowed the wearer to swing his morning star/chain flail or sword. However dismounted against multiple opponents, unarmored with war hammers or archer's pikes, the knight wouldn't last long.
In the case of picture #2, there is a proof mark where a musket ball was fired into the armor at a given range and did not penetrate - which gives a sense that some combat in addition to jousting may have been envisioned. Even though the field of view was restricted (better helmet for jousting than combat), freedom of movement in that sort of armor was not and usually allowed the wearer to swing his morning star/chain flail or sword. However dismounted against multiple opponents, unarmored with war hammers or archer's pikes, the knight wouldn't last long.
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