Safeguarding Arms and Hands
Arm guards and gauntlets were critical companions for any knight during the Middle Ages, especially when considering the physical demands of wielding heavy weapons. These weapons required strength and endurance to be wielded effectively, yet the arms were also vulnerable to serious injury. A missed strike or insufficient parry often led to direct hits, rendering a fighter unable to defend. Thus, protecting one’s arms became a primary concern. From simple leather bracers for archers to the evolution of metal arm guards, the protection of arms progressed over time, eventually incorporating plate armor that extended from the wrist to the upper arm, offering comprehensive protection while maintaining mobility.
The importance of a knight's hand in the Middle Ages was paramount. The phrase "hand and foot" originated from a knight's necessity to wield a sword while keeping balance on a horse. Medieval gloves evolved from rudimentary bag-like coverings to finger gloves made of leather, serving as a crucial defense against injuries from weapons and extreme weather. Symbolically significant, gloves were used in ritual acts and continue to hold meaning in linguistic expressions, such as challenging to a duel by smacking someone with a glove or throwing down/picking up gloves to initiate or accept a feud.
Knights progressed from coarse leather gloves to more sophisticated armor, such as chain mittens and eventually, plate gloves during the High and Late Middle Ages. These plate gloves, along with other arm protectors, formed a unified defense for the entire arm. They advanced from rough plate mittens to intricate fingered gloves, with individually moveable fingers in the late Middle Ages.
