12-11-2013, 10:28 AM
Manuel I again - relevant to chainmail.
In another battle Manuel fought a Hungarian "Grand Zupan" whose name was rendered in Greek usage as Bakchinos. Bakchinos struck the emperor with a sword and "shattered the iron screen dependent from the helmet that protected the emperor's face and eyes." The emperor survived and cut off his opponent's arm with a swordblow.
This sounds very much as though a complete mail aventail, covering the face leaving only eye holes, was damaged by a sword cut. However, it is known that the Byzantines did sometimes use anthropomorphic iron face-masks. A number of them were excavated in Istanbul and a coin of Manuel I was associated with them.
In another battle Manuel fought a Hungarian "Grand Zupan" whose name was rendered in Greek usage as Bakchinos. Bakchinos struck the emperor with a sword and "shattered the iron screen dependent from the helmet that protected the emperor's face and eyes." The emperor survived and cut off his opponent's arm with a swordblow.
This sounds very much as though a complete mail aventail, covering the face leaving only eye holes, was damaged by a sword cut. However, it is known that the Byzantines did sometimes use anthropomorphic iron face-masks. A number of them were excavated in Istanbul and a coin of Manuel I was associated with them.
Martin
Fac me cocleario vomere!
Fac me cocleario vomere!