I found sooooo many pictures of Medieval knights in outrageous Liberace costumes I felt inspired to post more of my findings. These might not fly in Narnia, but perhaps in Galma or Archenland?
John I, Count of Luxembourg
First of all, this getup on the helmet of John I of Luxembourg. It’s a fanciful golden-furred creature that suggests boar, dog, and dragon with flames coming from its mouth, held on with a rolled fabric band that trails two ribbons. The helmet itself covers the knight’s entire head and neck and has a barred, narrow slit for his eyes, a style developed by the jousting and tilting games. It likely wasn’t used in actual battle, which required a wider field of sight. John wields a sword which he is aiming for the swing; not all jousts had lances as weapons. His shield is attached to his armor on the left side leaving his left hand free to hold the reins.
In the picture he is just beginning his charge. Notice his leg position: held forward from the hip to brace for the impact, the arch of his foot in its flexible armor pressed against the stirrup. This position was painted again and again in the period artwork I examined. You can even see it in the never-ending depictions of St. George fighting the dragon that lasted through Victorian times.
St. George and the Dragon, Paolo Uccello, 1458-1460
Tourneys and tournaments were still going strong when this picture was painted. The dragon’s captive stands to the side praying like a well-to-do noble lady should, not running off to safety while her captor is occupied.
St. George and the Dragon, Josef Manes, 1820-1871
Roger Delivering Angelica (detail) by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (1819)
Two Victorian depictions. The bottom one isn’t St. George, being as he’s riding an undersized gryphon, but his posture is correct for a jousting knight.
Back to John I. There were several Johns of Luxembourg, so I’m not sure which one the man in the picture was; but he definitely was a member of that royal house, which contributed emperors to The Holy Roman Empire of the 14th century. Luxembourg’s heraldry includes a lion, sometimes colored in gold, so perhaps that’s what the creature on his helm is.
But more ridiculous helm-toppers than this existed. Take this one.
It’s supposed to be an elephant, rising from a rose briar hedge. I can see some creative knight adopting this mascot after returning home from a Crusades mission in the Middle East. The helm is arranged on a little bush with his shield, gloves, and lance, like a memorial to a life cut short.
Some combatants preferred a “simple” headdress of colored plumes. The quality and fine work of this armor, with its gold chasing, indicates it was owned by a king or great lord.
“Hi Mom! Hi Dad!”
Horses got in on the action too. This pair of knights, looking like a married couple though they surely were not, have mounts decorated with plumes and elaborate cloth trappings. The knight in front has a waterfowl theme with a wreath of greenery and roses on his head (very Eastern European) while the one in back seems to be wearing a … shoe ? … as a helm topper. What’s the tale behind that?
These might have parade or pageant costumes.
A modern recreation of a knight at joust. I think those are oak leaves on his head. Thankfully this horse, unlike the two above, had eyeholes cut in his trappings so he can see (but not hear, because his ears are covered.)
Two knights charge with horse trappings yet more baroque, their armor making them look like a old-fashioned deep sea divers. They’re holding clubs or maybe inflated bladders, which adds a comical aspect.
Examples of accountrement for a tourney horse. These animals were well-trained to accept them.
Pages and heralds were outfitted with elaborate getups representing their house. This is a modern recreation, likely Italian.
Finally, a page from a German manuscript showing helm and shield pairings by house. Pity the knight who had to wear a caged dove on top of his head!
