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Great helm
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The great helm or heaume, also called pot helm and barrel helm, of the High Middle Ages arose in the late twelfth century in the context of the crusades and remained in use until the fourteenth century.
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The great helm or heaume, also called pot helm and barrel helm, of the High Middle Ages arose in the late twelfth century in the context of the crusades and remained in use until the fourteenth century. They were used by knights and heavy infantry in most European armies.
In its simplest form, the great helm was a flat-topped cylinder of steel that completely covered the head and had only very small openings for the eyes and mouth. Later designs gained more of a curved design, particularly on the top, to deflect or lessen the impact of blows, as verified in historical re-enactment combat.
The style is sometimes referred to as a 'crusader helmet', but also as a 'pot helm', and a later variant with a more conical top is known as a 'sugarloaf helm'. In Spanish they are called yelmo de Zaragoza, referring to Saragossa where they were introduced for the first time in the Iberian peninsula .
Although the great helm offered greater protection than previous helmets such as the nasal helm and spangenhelm, it limited the wearer's vision to some extent, and provided poor ventilation, so was generally put on only just before engaging. A knight might wear the close-fitting steel skull cap known as a cervelliere, or its later development the bascinet normally, and the great helm over this. (Contrary to what is often claimed, however, great helms are not overly heavy, cumbersome, or uncomfortable: modern re-enactment great helms, made for safety from thicker steel than medieval originals, weigh just 1.5 to 3 kg.; though visor slits are usually only some 20-30 mm wide, they do not greatly restrict the field of vision as they are very close to the wearer's eyes.) A great helm may have also an attached mail collar, or camail, to protect the wearer's neck, throat, and shoulders.
The bascinet evolved from its early skull cap form to supersede the great helm for combat, generally with a hinged faceplate. With the evolution of helmets and armour, the great helm was superseded generally in the 15th century, being used thereafter only in tournaments.
The great helm is today especially popular amongst live-action role players and in medieval re-enactment such as the Society for Creative Anachronism. It is inexpensive, easy to manufacture with even rudimentary equipment (metal scissors, drill, rudimentary anvil, rivets and hammer), and provides good protection for the head against both sharp and blunt weapons. Its biggest drawbacks are poor ventilation and air circulation, especially if worn with closed-cell foam padding, making it very hot in warm weather.
Decoration
The Great Helm was often blackened, lacquered or painted, and frequently bore decorations such as:
- Ventilation decoration (crosses and symbols)
- Visor (horizontal and vertical "cross") decorations
- Attached decorations, such as crowns, feathers, metal wings (found on helmets belonging to Teutonic Knights).
External links
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- a discussion of heraldry and great helm crests
- design and construction techniques for replica great helms
- design and construction techniques for helm crests
- for a historical combat re-enactment great helm
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