![]() It was relatively lightweight compared to other similar shields at the time such as the kite shield, being easy to move around during both mounted and on-foot combat, and had a fairly high amount of surface area, making for a solid defence. This design lent itself to being relatively inexpensive and easy to make. The heater shield was used by almost every class of society in medieval Europe, from knights to typical soldiers. Ĭontrary to the common interpretations, heater shields did not strap to the arm, but were held and maneuvered by a combination of a hand-strap and a belt called a guige, which was slung around the neck and used to support the shield, as well as sling it around the back when not in use. Some shields, such as that of Edward, the Black Prince from his tomb in Canterbury Cathedral, incorporated additional layers of gesso, canvas, and/or parchment. They were often made of wood braced with metals such as steel or iron. Heater shields were typically made from thin wood overlaid with leather. ![]() By the mid 14th century it was hardly seen outside of tournaments. As plate armour began to cover more and more of the body, the shield grew correspondingly smaller. From the 15th century, it evolved into highly specialized jousting shields, often containing a bouche, a notch or "mouth" for the lance to pass through. Smaller than the kite shield, it was more manageable and could be used either mounted or on foot. Examples are depicted in the great seal of Richard I and John. The term is a neologism, created by Victorian antiquarians due to the shape's resemblance to a clothes iron. The heater shield or heater-shaped shield is a form of European medieval shield, developing from the early medieval kite shield in the late 12th century in response to the declining importance of the shield in combat thanks to improvements in leg armour. ![]() Hyghalmen Roll, Germany, late 15th century ![]() 1250) in Salisbury Cathedral, showing an early triangular heater shield Heraldic roll of arms displaying heater-shaped heraldic shields or escutcheons. Form of European medieval shield whose shape resembles that of a clothes iron Geometrical construction of the Reuleaux triangle style of heater shield, for use as an heraldic escutcheon An effigy of William Longespée the Younger (d. ![]()
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