Heaume

The heaume is a Casque of emblematic Cavalerie of the Chevalerie, protecting all the head.

During the Antiquity, the Greek carried already a helmet recalling by its form the medieval heaume and the Roman helmet wrapped exactly cranium in the same way, but they left both the face with overdraft. With its appearance at the end of the 12th century, the heaume initially consisted of a simple cap of Acier at which was fixed a mask covering the face then it evolved/moved by completely enclosing the head for a better protection. The conical helmet with nasal (of origin Norman), used until there in Europe since the 10th century, will leave the use definitively at the 13th century.

The successive improvements of the helmet, which consisted in covering the face more and more, made difficult the identification of its owner. One can see, on the Tapisserie of Bayeux, Guillaume of Normandy obliged to raise his helmet to show with his men who it is always in life. It is thought that it is that which gave rise to the Héraldique, science of the Blason S, in order to identify the combatants by their armorial bearings.

The heaume could show a certain artistic research, with floral or geometrical reasons obtained by painting, addition of supernumerary Rivet S or by metal decorative reliefs, sculpture of the cross of reinforcement the facial part, etc At the time of the opening of the Tournoi S, the heaumes of the participants were overcome of a Cimier, with the manner of the ancient helmets, although sometimes much more worked. The unit was laid out close of the ecu armorié for the watch to the heaumes , parade during which the Héraut S identified the jousters, and the ladies could débouter the knights who had lack of respect with the fair sex.

Form and evolution

At the beginning of the 13th century, in a concern of better protecting the face, was created the cylindrical heaume, wrapping the whole head with slits for the eyes. Although few blunt weapons could then come to the head from the knight, the flat top consitutait a regression compared to the helmet previously of use. The improvement of the techniques of Forgeage during the 13th century made it possible to return to a conical form, which made less vulnerable to the blows related to the top of the head. Finally, the heaume took a form ogival, known as out of sugar loaf at the 14th century.

In same time, in order to leave less catches for the arrows and especially the Lance S of the adversaries charging with the novel method with the Lance lying, the openings of ventilation, just as those for the sight, strongly fell of number for the first and in the face for the seconds. This heaume was heavy and made breathing difficult what explains why it was only carried during the combat.

Towards the beginning of the 14th century, the facial mask became mobile, thus making it possible to have the face with discovered apart from the critical moments. This last evolution, improving considerably comfort of the knight, preceded the arrival of the small basin, lighter, studied better to deviate the blows and whose visor facilitated breathing largely.

Towards the end of the 14th century, new a heaume very reinforced appeared: the heaume with head of clamping plate . Its reducing surfaces made it possible to deviate the blows and it was very much used in the tournaments and tournaments.

The heaume cease completely to be used at the end of the 15th century, replaced by the Armet and the salad.

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