Knight clothing in the Middle Ages

Medieval clothes for knights and other people

As mentioned above, under his protective equipment and weapons, the knight also wore normal clothes. This was already true because chain mail, bracers and greaves would otherwise have scratched the skin quite terribly. The lower garments were made of linen or nettle, because hemp and wool were also scratchy. Modern cotton was rare in the Middle Ages. Cotton, like brocade, was very expensive as an import. But unlike the rough fabrics worn by poor people, knights in the Middle Ages could afford the fine fabrics. So they wore linen, nettle, cotton and hemp. The noble ladies were dressed in silk, later velvet was added. Those who had money could also dress colorfully. The 90% of the population who lived as peasants wore natural and earth-colored shirts and tunics, underwear was thought of only in higher circles. But the nobles loved colors. Black and brown for the leather and coats, but otherwise they loved the red, green and yellow. Purple was reserved for the highest ranks of the church.

Garments and pants

The garments and dresses in the Middle Ages were, of course, primarily intended to keep warm and preserve pure morals. But with the emergence of cities and larger settlements from the year 1000, it was much more about the line of status. Clothes served as a sign of class and wealth. People wanted to be able to tell from afar who they were dealing with. Although medieval dress did not change much over the centuries, the regulations became stricter as the church became more powerful. While leggings and later pants were still worn by ladies and gentlemen in the early Middle Ages, this soon changed in the 13th century. From then on, pants for women were an impossibility for the next 800 years. Unless, of course, you were a Viking or belonged to the Celts or other tribes outside courtly society in Western and Central Europe.

The garb for gentlemen

The peasants, apart from the shirt, tunic and clogs, had at most a simple cloak cape with a button on the shoulder. The garb for knights and lords looked different a lot. The shoes or boots were made of sturdy cloth or even nailed leather. The leg warmers often had longer leg parts, which could be used as a kind of socks. When it was cold, calf wraps or gaiters were attached around them. The gaiters were made very strong, because they had to resist thorns and brushwood. Pants for over it existed from the 11th century in the most different forms. The famous Viking Rus pants or the Thorsberg pants found in the bog show the spread of these ideas. In contrast, the Germanic and Celtic peoples had already worn pants in black, brown and natural colors before Christ and had been ridiculed by the Romans for it. Like many other things, trousers had to be reinvented after the early and dark Middle Ages. Among the many forms of pants, the most famous is the bloomers, the lower end of which were stuffed into the leg warmers or boots. Then they puffed up. Over the trousers also the knight wore a gambeson, tunic or two kinds of tunic. The short tunic fit for underneath. The longer upper tunic was worn over it and perhaps taken off in the house. In cold weather, the hoode cowl was worn over it to keep the neck, shoulders and chest warm. Last came the coat in black, brown or dark earth colors, which could be either a converted blanket or a precious fur-trimmed work of art. The latter then did not need to be black or brown, because it was worn to raise attention and admiration.

Tunics and the garb of the ladies

Whether it was a house, a castle or a palace, it is important to remember that it was always only slightly warmer inside than outside. For the medieval woman, clothing looked very similar to that of men. However, she wore an undergarment and an outer garment. The undergarment was often white linen and was allowed to peek out a little at the sleeves and neck. Braids in red or green decorated the upper dress. The sleeves of the upper dress could be extremely wide and showed the sleeves of the lower dress when the arms were bent. The breast cloth was wrapped around the upper body underneath. Wide belts were worn by both sexes. They contained hooks and pockets in which all sorts of things could be placed. The pants bag, that is, the pantsack was developed much later. Ladies wore veils or hoods on their heads, while for men headgear was uncommon, unless protective hoods or helmets were worn.

And the armament?

Do you, as a warrior, pirate or real rogue, feel like using medieval weapons? Then we recommend a trip to our medieval weapons page. Here you will find stylish and precious LARP weapons, but also shields, knives and the good broad axe. Throwing knives and war scythes, the Viking sword or the stiletto - for the weapon lover we provide the whole medieval equipment. But always keep in mind that no weapon makes as much impression as your whole personality, which you proudly wear to market with your clothes!