13144 w01`

This portrayal of the murdcr of Thomas Bccket dates to the late t2th or early ijth century and illustrates a form of helmet which seems to be proyided with a solid chin-guard, a feature rarely

seen elsewhere. The bear on the shield alludes to Reginald FitzUrse, one of the murderers. (By permission of the British Library, Ms. Harley 5102 f-3²)

old, had his horse killed beneath him, possibly by Robert himself. Wounded in the arm, the King was saved ironically by an Englishman in his army named Toki, who sprang down and gave William his own horse. Toki was then himself killed by a crossbow bolt. The King’s other son, William Rufus, fighting on his father’s side, was also wounded and Robert retired with his troops.

Such a downfall was the greatest humiliation in the King’s career, said the i2th-century chronicler, William of Malmesbury. Being unhorsed was bad enough. That in itself could cause severe panie, as had the rumour of William’s death at Hastings. Here, however, he had also lost the fight, especially un-settling when his troops were fighting other Nor-mans. In many such contests in Normandy and the neighbouring areas after the Conąuest, Normans in the royal army faced those led by a rebellious son or brother. In such cases both sides might use similar tactics and the outeome, unlike many conflicts in Italy, was less elear.

K: The couched lance

Normans in Italy charge Byzantines, who hated the solid lines of horsemen with levelled lances. This solid tactic was now becoming the usual method for a cohesive charge, as the uth century ended and the i2th began. Though many knights wore the same armour as seen in the west, some were influenced by morę eastern styles encountered in Byzantine Italy and Sicily with its overlays of Muslim culture. Some wear scalę armour, seen also in the west, while others are dressed in coats of lamella probably tied at the left side so that the shield protected the laces. The audacious Normans with their fighting ability and lust for land used their prowess to profitable ends. Led by hard-bitten men such as Robert Guiscard and Bohemond, they succeeded in breaking enemy forces in a number of engagements in Italy and Sicily and subseąuently took their fighting methods to the Crusades, modifying them to suit the tactics encountered there.

L: Knight, c.nęo

This knight is dressed in the latest eąuipment. Although some knights still looked similar to those at Hastings, changes had occurred. The lower edge of the mail skirt has shortened to rest above the knee and the sleeves are elongated into mail mufflers with a cloth palm. A lace threaded through the links helps to keep the mail in place. Mail hose enclose the leg and are braced up to the waist girdle on the braies in a similar way to the cloth hose worn beneath and into which the braies are tucked. A lace below the knee helps to stop the mail from sagging at this point. A surcoat is now worn over the mail and belted at the waist. The helmet is cylindrical and flat-topped and is fitted with a rigid face-guard pierced for ventilation. The spurs are still of the prick variety but the arms now have a curve to accommodate the ankle bonę. The shield is a little smaller and flat-topped, the heraldic arms on the front showing this to be Robert FitzWalter, one of the barons who forced King John

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