ABSTRACT
The Bayeux Tapestry, that unique medieval work of art, survives as the most important and informative source for any investigation into the armour and weapons employed in the second half of the eleventh century. In excess of 130 mail-clad warriors are portrayed on the Tapestry, that is excluding the dead in the lower border, all wearing the mailshirt or hauberk, the main form of body armour of the period. From the inspection of photographs, it appears to be of a similar pattern to those portrayed on the Tapestry and indeed all other sources, although the sleeves appear to be almost full-length, a feature which became popular again at the end of the eleventh century. Many remarkably fine swords have survived from the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The nearside to nearside method of attack was not to become a common practice of warfare until the late twelfth century, and again it is remarkable to see it at this early date.
