THE MILITARY SERVICE     

The armament of the time is well-known well, mainly through the written sources. Like offensive arms, the horseman carried the lance and the sword. One and another one was evolving, as much tipológicamente (spear length, forms of the grip, size of the leaf, etc...), as by its function (the lance, happened to be of throwable to of shock, the sword changes its function of edge by the one " to puncture ").

The written sources also speak of the daggers, with grips similar to the sword, and the knives. Other blunt weapons were the axe, that practically disappeared in century XIII, and the mace, that greater diffusion had every time. As projectile weapons are also mentioned the darts and the wild sows. As propulsive the arc were used, in disuse, and the crossbow, perfected in century XIII.

Miniature that represents a combat.

 

In order to defend itself the level of meshes or ring was used, together with from century XII the hood. Also stockings of meshes, gorgueras for the neck and gloves were used. By the end of century XIII tended to superpose pieces of rigid metal to the meshes.

The helmet or yelmo evolved from the conical form or of hemispheric cap - with addition of the orejeras and the nasal -, to the model that covered in its totality the head - with one narrow opening to the height with the eyes that spread in second half of century XIII.

The shield happened to be made oval to triangular. It reduced his size and in him the emblems or blazons of the military leaders were drawn. It is necessary to also emphasize the machines and talents military that catapulted stones to beat strengths, and that received names like fundíbulo, algarrada or manzanilla.