HELM OF KING RICHARD THE LIONHEARTNW80550MADE IN INDIA Perhaps the most famous crusader of all was "Richard the Lionheart." At the end of the movie Kingdom of Heaven, he makes an appearance on his way to the Holyland for the first time wearing this stunning helmet. It is made from 18 gauge steel with brass details and has a beautiful brass crown. This same style helm is seen worn by King Richard in Ridley Scott's Robin Hood (youtube below to view Richards death scene) It is open faced for good vision and easy breathing and is fun to wear as it is to display. This full sized wearable collector's piece is leather lined with strap and measures 10 inches in height, 8-1/8 inches across and weighs approx 2 lbs 12oz. Truly a regal helm. Perfect for theatre, film, LARP or Medieval reenatment events.
• Overall Height: 10"
• Material: 18 Gauge Polished Steel & Brass
• Leather Liner
• Weight: approx 2 lbs 12 oz
Note: Minor cosmetic imperfections are a natural characteristic of genuine hand made armour.
For such a brave and noble man, King Richard's death came about in a rather strange way. In Chalus, Aquitaine, a peasant plowing his fields came upon a treasure. This treasure consisted of some gold statues and coins. The feudal lord claimed the treasure from his vassal, Richard in turn claimed the treasure from the lord, who refused. This prompted Richard to siege the village.
During the siege Richard was riding close to the castle without the protection of full armor. He spotted an archer with bow in hand on the wall aiming a shot at him. It is said Richard paused to applaud the Bowman. He was struck in the shoulder with the arrow and refused treatment for his wound. Infection set in and Richard the Lionheart died on April the 6th 1199. He was buried in the Fontvraud Abbey in Anjou France.
THE MEDIEVAL KNIGHT AND HIS ARMOUR
Every knight needed one set of armour for tournament and one for warfare. Each cost a fortune. Suits of armour had to be made to measure. There were over one hundred and fifty parts, such as gauntlets, breastplates, thigh plates, helmets, and from top to toe, each had to fit perfectly. Protecting oneself in battle has always been a concern for any soldier, and medieval knights were no exception. In fact, it was their protective armor that helped define them as a military unit and social class as armoring oneself during the Middle Ages was a great expense that only the wealthy could afford. Today, the Knight's Armour and Medieval Swords are both exceptionable symbols of Historic and Noble times, and are often adapted to make beautiful focal pieces to many interior decors.