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Today, when we think of armor, we tend to think of the plate armor used by mounted knights in the High Middle Ages. Most medieval armor was not of this type.

The primary armor of foot soldiers was shields, which were usually made of wood and leather, often with an iron or brass boss in the middle to give extra protection to the hand holding it. These were of a number of different designs and ranged in size from rather small to very large. The Anglo Saxons used large shields, interlocked to form a sort of wall, very effectively against the Danes and Vikings.

Depending on the time, place, the wealthier foot soldiers often had helmets.

A food soldier was likely to use chain mail, which was small rings of iron linked together like a chain, but in two dimensions. It was shaped to the body, and was very heavy.

Another approach to body armor was to have a heavy cloth or leather with plates of iron embedded or riveted on.

In the Late Middle Ages it became evident to many people that the time of the mounted knight was over, because improvements in Archery, such as the English long bow, made it possible to penetrate armor with arrows at great distance. The problem was that if the knights could reach the archers, they could be very destructive. This problem was solved by protecting the archers with massed pikes, carried by foot soldiers. Interestingly, the best armor for these foot soldiers was very similar to that of the knight, and so the knights began to ride to battle on their horses, and then dismount and protect the archers on foot. So there were times when the foot soldiers' armor was very similar to the knights'.

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12y ago
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10y ago

Medieval foot soldiers could have armor of leather or other materials but the heavy metal armor of the knights was too costly for a foot soldier to buy. It was also too heavy for a foot soldier to wear while walking into battle.

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12y ago

usually what ever they could afford. most likely just there everyday clothes and if they had enough money a helmet and if they had lots of money a sword.

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Q: What armor did foot soldiers use in the middle ages?
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What was the armor in the middle ages like?

The armor of the foot soldier was a bit different from that of the mounted knight. Early in the middle ages, soldiers had shields made of wood or leather on wooden frames. This developed, but not much, though central bosses made of metal were added. Some soldiers, most notably archers, had little armor or none. This made archers very vulnerable to cavalry attack. This lead to the use of dismounted knights, with full plate armor, just as they would wear mounted, defending the archers with halberds and other pole arms, and this was a very effective combination in the Late Middle Ages. Ordinary infantry had mail at the beginning of the middle ages, and still had male at the end, though in the end they were somewhat likely to have breast plates much like plate armor. As time progressed, pieces of armor were stitched to the mail, and strips of metal were added on the limbs. But the infantry was never armed as heavily as mounted knights. Helmets for infantry were likewise simpler, especially as their visors were not especially designed to protect their eyes from lances.


What is a large group of foot soldiers trained to charge the enemy called?

Any group of foot soldiers fighting on the ground is called the infantry.Any group of foot soldiers fighting on the ground is called the infantry.Any group of foot soldiers fighting on the ground is called the infantry.Any group of foot soldiers fighting on the ground is called the infantry.Any group of foot soldiers fighting on the ground is called the infantry.Any group of foot soldiers fighting on the ground is called the infantry.Any group of foot soldiers fighting on the ground is called the infantry.Any group of foot soldiers fighting on the ground is called the infantry.Any group of foot soldiers fighting on the ground is called the infantry.


What did Newcastle look like in the middle ages?

Assuming you mean the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, during the early middle ages it was an Anglo Saxon village, eventually taken over by Vikings. After the Norman Invasion, it was pretty much destroyed, and a new castle was built there by Robert Curthose, a son of William the Conqueror. For a while, it was a village around a motte and bailey castle. Then a 25 foot high wall was built around it, so in the end it was a walled village with buildings of the High Middle Ages and Late Middle Ages.


What is the name of an army of soldiers who fight on foot?

In ancient times, heavily armed foot soldiers were called heavy infantry. This term is often used to describe the soldiers in the armies of Alexander the Great.


How many cavalry archers and foot soldiers did William the Conqueror have?

He had 1500 archers, 2000 knights and about 4000 foot soldiers.

Related questions

What was the armor in the middle ages like?

The armor of the foot soldier was a bit different from that of the mounted knight. Early in the middle ages, soldiers had shields made of wood or leather on wooden frames. This developed, but not much, though central bosses made of metal were added. Some soldiers, most notably archers, had little armor or none. This made archers very vulnerable to cavalry attack. This lead to the use of dismounted knights, with full plate armor, just as they would wear mounted, defending the archers with halberds and other pole arms, and this was a very effective combination in the Late Middle Ages. Ordinary infantry had mail at the beginning of the middle ages, and still had male at the end, though in the end they were somewhat likely to have breast plates much like plate armor. As time progressed, pieces of armor were stitched to the mail, and strips of metal were added on the limbs. But the infantry was never armed as heavily as mounted knights. Helmets for infantry were likewise simpler, especially as their visors were not especially designed to protect their eyes from lances.


What did the soldiers armor look like?

The armor of the foot soldier was a bit different from that of the mounted knight. Early in the middle ages, soldiers had shields made of wood or leather on wooden frames. This developed, but not much, though central bosses made of metal were added. Some soldiers, most notably archers, had little armor or none. This made archers very vulnerable to cavalry attack. This lead to the use of dismounted knights, with full plate armor, just as they would wear mounted, defending the archers with halberds and other pole arms, and this was a very effective combination in the Late Middle Ages. Ordinary infantry had mail at the beginning of the middle ages, and still had male at the end, though in the end they were somewhat likely to have breast plates much like plate armor. As time progressed, pieces of armor were stitched to the mail, and strips of metal were added on the limbs. But the infantry was never armed as heavily as mounted knights. Helmets for infantry were likewise simpler, especially as their visors were not especially designed to protect their eyes from lances.


Why knights come from the wealthy class of society middle ages?

Knights had to come from the aristocracy in the middle ages because the equipment of the knight was extremely expensive, particularly their horses and armor. Common people took up the military life as well, but they were equipped with armor of cloth or leather rather than metal, generally fought on foot, and used more basic weapons such as spears, pole arms, and daggers. Commoners were also employed as crossbowman and archers.


How did Wallace and Bruce travel in the middle ages?

By foot or by horse. Sometimes boat.


What transportation does the middle ages people use?

Foot, boat, horse, wagon.


What are the infantry?

Infantry are foot-soldiers who carry a weapon by hand, opposed to cavalry, who rode on horses, or armor, which is divisions of tanks and artillery.


What was a medieval knight?

The knight was one of three types of fighting men during the middle ages: Knights, Foot Soldiers, and Archers. The medieval knight was the equivalent of the modern tank. He was covered in multiple layers of armor, and could plow through foot soldiers standing in his way. No single foot soldier or archer could stand up to any one knight. Knights were also generally the wealthiest of the three types of soldiers. This was for a good reason. It was terribly expensive to be a knight. The war horse alone could cost the equivalent of a small airplane. Armor, shields, and weapons were also very expensive. Becoming a knight was part of the feudal agreement. In return for military service, the knight received a fief. In the late middle ages, many prospective knights began to pay "shield money" to their lord so that they wouldn't have to serve in the king's army. The money was then used to create a professional army that was paid and supported by the king. These knights often fought more for pillaging than for army wages. When they captured a city, they were allowed to ransack it, stealing goods and valuables.


Who was Lief Eriksson from Middle Ages?

He was a Viking explorer, and was the first European to set foot in North America.


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What is the code for the horrible histories time sewers?

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How did people travel in the middle ages?

Way back then in the Middle Ages, they didn't have cars, trains, buses, airplanes etc. so they traveled on horses. They also traveled on ships.


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