by Colette Georgii

Created on: August 19, 2008

Medieval Knights and the Clothes They Wore

Knight's clothing, which included their armor, was very expensive, but Knights were members of the upper class and could afford expensive clothes, unlike most of the peasants and common folk of medieval times.

Clothing for Knights changed through the ages but during the 14th Century their tunics were shorter and tighter than before. They were open in the front and the sides, almost to the hips and were made of velvet, silk, or other material and lined in fur. A coat of arms was embroidered on the front.

Over the tunic the Knight wore a richly ornamental waist belt that was loosely buckled. Special thongs attached to the belt held the Knight's sword on the right side and his dagger on the left side.

Later in the last half of the century the tunics became even shorter and tighter and barely covered the trunk. The belt hung below the hips. These extremely tight tunics were called Lenderers. They were made of thick, pliant leather. They could be sleeveless or have a short sleeve. They were laced or buttoned in the front, sides, and back.

They were highly ornamental and trimmed "magnificently." Either the crest was painted on the Lenderer or it was covered with dyed velvet and the crest was embroidered on it.

Metal rosettes decorated the breast of the tunic. Gilt chains attached to the metal rosettes served to hold the Knight's helmet, sword, and dagger.

Underneath the Knight's tunic, he wore a suit of chain mail. Chain mail covered his whole person. It was strengthened at the arms and legs with leather straps. Underneath the chain mail was a thick and padded coat of leather.

Chain mail was the protective armor and it was made of metal rings. There could be more than 200,000 rings. It was very heavy and made moving very uncomfortable and difficult.

Later armor consisted of plates of metal that covered the chest, back, arms, and legs. A suit of armor could weigh 40-60 pounds. Armor also consisted of a bucket-like helmet to protect their head. A hinged metal visor covered the face.

Knights also wore hose, which was like a long stocking with feet that covered the entire leg and was attached with buckles to the waist. They also wore hoods with a large feathered plume.

Of the three types of fighting men during medieval times, the Knight was the most protected and the most well-trained. The other fighting men were called Archers and Foot soldiers.

Knights were the wealthiest of the soldiers and were of the aristocracy or sons of Knights. They were trained from about the age of eight. At about the age of twenty after serving first as a Page and then a Squire they could be dubbed a Knight.

References:
http://library.thinkquest.org/10949/fief/ medknight.html
http://www.knightsandarmor.com/
Kohler, Carl, A History of Costume, Dover Publications, Inc., New York, 1963.

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