In order to pursue his ambitions in France, Henry VIII formed an alliance with the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I. This painting records their meeting and the main events pertaining to Henry’s first campaign against the French in 1513.

The composit

European Armour in the Royal Collection

An introduction to European armour in the Royal Collection.

WEST EUROPEAN

Round buckler

second half of the sixteenth century

RCIN 72865

This shield incorporates a trap for the blade of an opponent's weapon. In the sixteenth century, the use of the point in sword-fighting had become more common, prompting updates to the design of the small round shields used in the Middle Ages. This example features two rings of metal and a central hook to catch and break the point of an adversary's sword.


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