Medieval Shields Designs

Kite Shield-12th Century

The Medieval Shields designs will be diversified about the middle of the 12th Century, when the triangular shield was introduced.  The new form was obtained by reducing the arched top of the kite to an almost straight line. This variety of Medieval Shields was also bowed or flat. And, though the earliest examples were as tall as the kite-shields of the 11th Century, the triangular target soon became much reduced in its height. 

The round shield is of more rare appearance. It appears that it was in frequent use among the foot troops.

Triangular Bowed Shield-13th Century

The kite and triangular shields were provided with straps for attachment to the arm and for suspension round the neck. 

Once we enter the 13th Century, the ordinary Medieval Shields designs were based on the triangular shield.  Notably, the dimensions of the triangular shield of this century are decreasing as the century advanced. It was also bowed or flat.

Other formats of the period were the kite-shaped, the heart-shaped, the round, and the quadrangular. The boss is still retained in some of the shields of this century. The materials of the shields were "wood, leather, and painting".

Triangular Shield-14th Century

The kite-shield is of rare occurrence, as well as the heart-shaped one. The curved shield appears in the second half of the century, sometimes notched, sometimes plain. The round shield is of two kinds: that born on the arm, and that held at arm’s length. The enarmes, or straps by which the shield was attached to the arm, were placed either horizontally or vertically. The shield was suspended round the neck by a strap.

The surface of the shield is variously embellished, usually displaying the armorial bearings of the knight's house.

Three-Planes Shield-15th Century

Quartered Shields appeared, and, in England, the first instance might be considered  that of the third great seal of Edward III.  The armorial shield was occasionally enriched by diapering or filigree-work.  The little shield fixed on the shaft (the lance-shield for the protection of the hand), first appears in this century.

In the 15th Century, the triangular shield, richly decorated with the knight's coat-of-arms, is a familiar presence. The round shields of this period are of two kinds: the buckler, borne in the hand, and the larger one, born on the arm.

A novelty among the Medieval Shields designs is represented by the three-planes shield, mainly a piece of the equipment of the foot troops. The three-planes shield borne by the man-at-arms in the centre of the “mêlée” illustrated on the right, is characteristic of this period.