Buckler

illustrated in Lombardy, ca. 1390. A buckler (French bouclier 'shield', from Old French bocle, boucle 'boss') is a small shield, up to 45 cm (18 in) in diameter, gripped in the fist with a central handle behind the boss. It became more common as a companion weapon in hand-to-hand combat during the Medieval and Renaissance periods. Its size made it poor protection against missile weapons (e.g., arrows) but useful in deflecting the blow of an opponent's weapons, binding their arms, hindering their movements, or punching them. Royal Armouries Ms. I.33 (c.1300 A.D.), considered the earliest extant armed-combat manual, describes a system of combat with buckler and sword.

illustrated in Lombardy, ca. 1390. A buckler (French bouclier 'shield', from Old French bocle, boucle 'boss') is a small shield, up to 45 cm (18 in) in diameter, gripped in the fist with a central handle behind the boss. It became more common as a companion weapon in hand-to-hand combat during the Medieval and Renaissance periods. Its size made it poor protection against missile weapons (e.g., arrows) but useful in deflecting the blow of an opponent's weapons, binding their arms, hindering their movements, or punching them. Royal Armouries Ms. I.33 (c.1300 A.D.), considered the earliest extant armed-combat manual, describes a system of combat with buckler and sword.

Decoration

In classical antiquity, bucklers on medals were either used to signify public vows rendered to the gods for the safety of a prince, or that he was esteemed the defender and protector of his people: these were called votive bucklers, and were hung at altars, etc.

References

External links

The Buckler

Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1357044482 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.