A large group of forgotten combatants stare out at us every day from the
annals of war history. They are visible to us in everything from ancient stone
reliefs to elegant oil paintings to scratched early black-and-white photos;
they regularly appear in statuary alongside famous war leaders, and they have
taken part in too many historical battles to name. They are horses, and many
avid military history enthusiasts usually don’t give much pause to think about
them. This is because horses are animals and, as such, are often taken for
granted.
Considered within conflict history, horses have often been viewed as little
more than vehicles or baggage conveyors for warriors of the past. Yet horses
were warriors in their own right.
In addition to bearing the stresses of combat, horses have also borne
another burden alongside soldiers of yore—armor.
In medieval and Renaissance Europe, horses were essential for battle as well
as tournament sports like jousting. A complete set of horse armor could weigh
between 40 to 90 pounds—and that’s not even counting the added weight of the
rider.
Most horses selected for battle or tournament challenges were robust
breeds—the four-legged equivalent of tanks. Breeds capable of charging into
combat wearing armor were known as destriers, coursers and rounceys. As with
humans, armor for a horse was not always intended for merely protective
functions, but could also be ceremonial and an indicator of its owner’s status
in society.
While body armor for horses varied according to the riders’ culture,
traditions and available materials, a universal and common element of horse
armor across the globe tended to be the chanfron (also called shaffron or
chamfron), head and facial armor which might fairly be called a “horse
helmet.” The following is a roundup of some unusual examples of chanfrons and
other elements of horse armor from around the world.
This ornate
Italian chanfron dating from 1575 sports a golden spike resembling the horn of
a unicorn, a powerful beast in medieval lore. 
This colorful chanfron was made for Polish-
Lithuanian noble Mikolaj “the Black” Radziwill and features eye protectors.
This late 15th
century German chanfron was made from a single piece of forged and polished
metal and has a hole in the horse’s forehead area where its owner’s coat of
arms might once have been attached. Due to horses’ sensitivity, protection for
a horse’s head would not only deflect injuries but help a rider stay in
control. This imposing
example of a half-chanfron made circa 1553 draws attention to the
modifications that could be made to horse armor–in this case, ear guards,
which could also be detached. There are also protruding flanges over the
horse’s eyes. A Latin inscription on the central plate reads: “The word of the
Lord endures forever.” This late 15th century chanfron, thought
to be of Italian craftsmanship, was made for the French royal court. It is
designed as a dragon’s head. Redecorated in 1539 with gold-damascened motifs,
including dolphins, the fleur-de-lis, and the letter “H,” it was presumably
worn by the mount of France’s King Henry II before his ascent to the throne.
It is an example of ceremonial armor intended to create a heroic spectacle and
emphasize the prominence of a horse’s rider in society. This half-
chanfron belonged to the captain of the guards of Austria’s Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I. It was likely worn during royal tournament games in Vienna in
1560. It was but one piece of a collection of over 60 horse armor pieces.
This late
15th century Italian-made crinet, or neck armor, was modified in the 19th
century to include mail fringe and guards for the horse’s eyes and ears.
This fragment of an
ornate gilt Italian crinet from the late 16th century is thought to have been
part of an original with 10 or more plates. It is adorned with birds, angels
and grotesque creatures. This peytral (horse breastplate) is of Tibetan or
Mongolian origin. Like European horse armor, it is decorated with symbols of
spiritual significance. A “wish-granting jewel” on a lotus throne appears at
the center of the upper piece. 
This Spanish chanfron is of the type
fielded by the horses of conquistadors. A Dutch chanfron features images of battle
trophies and bound captives, and a unicorn spike framed in fleur-de-lis. It
once had full leather lining. This striking chanfron, thought to be of Tibetan
origin, was possibly designed for a general or king. Damascened with gold and
silver, it emphasizes the horse’s eyes and even provides artificial golden
eyebrows. A unicorn-
style spike appears on this chanfron. Unicorns were regarded as especially
wild and fierce beasts, and thus could have emphasized power. This “blind”
chanfron would have been used to prevent a horse from shying away from
jousting and possibly also to provide extra eye protection from a jousting
lance. The peytral protected
a horse’s chest and shoulders in battle and in tournaments. This example made
of shaped and hardened leather is of Spanish origin. The
crupper, or rump armor, provided defense for a horse’s croup, hips and
hindquarters; it also protected the sensitive upper tail area. This Italian crupper dating from the late 16th
century and made for a nobleman features an elaborate tail guard and symbolic
imagery, including David and Goliath and mythical hero Marcus Curtius, who
allegedly offered himself to the gods of Hades to save Rome. Curtius was
likely a metaphor for military sacrifice. A German chanfron features plates attached
with hinges to form cheekpieces and protection for the back of the skull.
This peytral
forms part of a set with the crupper opposite. It depicts the Biblical story
of Judith slaying enemy commander Holofernes among other legends. This rare
chanfron is from India and dates back to the 17th century. It is flexible due
to its textile backing and features cheekpieces. This gilt chanfron, of French origin, showcases
a good example of ear guards that allowed a horse’s ears total freedom of
movement.
this article first appeared in military history quarterly
See more stories
subscribe
now!
