[wildbill]

Modern writers always speculate that the suits of armor couldn't really have been worn in combat because they were so heavy and awkward and so forth.

I think they should accept the fact of the armor itself and the plethora of written accounts and stop projecting their own opinions on the past.

[SunkenCiv]

I wholeheartedly agree.

[annie laurie]

Modern writers always speculate that the suits of armor couldn't really have been worn in combat because they were so heavy and awkward and so forth.

I think they should accept the fact of the armor itself and the plethora of written accounts and stop projecting their own opinions on the past.

So true! This belief is a perfect example of the old quote, "It's not what we don't know that's the problem, it's what we 'know' that ain't so."

I watched a live fencing and swordsmanship demonstration a few weeks ago, and the presenters spoke about this very subject. Apparently the idea that "they couldn't possibly have really worn that heavy armor in battle" has become nearly universally accepted by the general public.

The presenters demonstrated fighting and running in a full suit of armor, and even performed "rolling somersaults" (in armor!).

I wonder how the "too heavy" silliness ever got started in the first place.