Why did Richard the Lionheart wear a FANCY HELMET?

Jason reminds me of a medieval James May. He can make anything super interesting by dint of his own charisma. Well done sir.

I started laughing. You were worried that you couldn’t see through the helmet… then I saw the horse’s forelock covering his eyes.

Jason, will you consider making a video on period travel as it pertains to horses (and mules and the like)? Such as, how much of the horse's food and drink would you need to carry with you (as compared to the horse foraging from fields when resting), and how much would that cut into its potential load for carrying other things? What other major considerations are there, such as the crenel bells that you covered before?

I love how Talos paws the ground so eagerly. Such a great horse; I am certain that King Richard would have loved him as much as he loved his Fauvel.

"You have to remember what's on the ground" - that puts everything in perspective. It's easy to understand why cavalry had to charge and retreat. If they would hand around, people on foot would get to them and the cavalry would possibly not see what's even happening! Great to see you back, Jason!

12:45 - "A Knight never goes into battle without other people - to support him in his endeavors." Wise words for Knights. Don't get ahead of yourselves in your endeavors - remember your team.

Thanks for the reminder that most objects from history are not an "ultimate" form but rather represent transitions in development and how to deal with a problem. This form of helmet may be iconic, but it is a great example of how helmet design was still a work-in-progress.

I have a rounded spangenhelm with a faceplate of the same period and after a time I could definitely feel the weight imbalance in my neck. I imagine they did just get used to that, but I actually riveted a small lead weight inside the rim at the back to balance it and that massively improved the comfort of it over time. What I find most extraordinary is that all this stuff was worn in the heat of Palestine during the crusade. It’s hot at the best of times…

Your horse was just DYING to run around. Just waiting for you to tell her you're ready. What an amazing creature

Your speech about feeling enclosed but not really claustrophobic does remind me of when I had to put on a motorcycle helmet for the first time. It really felt like half my vision was suddenly gone. On a car, a simple glance was enough for me to see everything around me. On a motorcycle I have to physically move my head to be able to see anything. You really don't realise how much you rely on your peripheral vision until you no longer have it. When going down the stairs I have to fully look down because I can't tell where my legs are, when normally I can text on the phone while walking down a flight of stairs. I don't envy the knights of later medieval periods who had even less vision than me, AND had to fight like that.

From what we know of King Richard's battles such as Arsuf and Jaffa he usually lined up most of his army for battle but held back a reserve force of knights that he led personally. Once the battle began in earnest he would lead this reserve to wherever the fighting was fiercest. I imagine that once the orders had been sent and the troops committed there was little opportunity for anyone to change his mind so the tunnel-vision and poor hearing wouldn't be too big an issue from an army commander's perspective.

Love how Jason is so experienced at wearing medieval helmets, he can discuss the intricacies of design and using them day-to-day and for specific tasks. Anyone else would notice the enclosed experience but only know what it is like compared to a bare head, not other designs of period helmet or what they would be like to wear over the course of hours or on multiple different days. A unique insight and one hell of a horse too.

Great video but I had to laugh when Jason said "I would normally wear chain mail" in much the same way I would say "I usually wear jeans and a T-Shirt".

I love how Talos paws at the ground. "C'mon Jason Let's go!" is what I imagine he's trying to convey.

Knee to knee cavalry charges with vision impairing helmets makes sense in the same way as ancient Greek and Macedonian phalanx and medieval pikemen do. Some lovely insights by recreating and testing 👌

As someone whose main occupation is to ride horses (modern english style but still horses), I admire how well trained your horses are and how you‘re able to communicate with them while still upholding the historical accuracy. Great quality channel!

Medieval combat must've been unbelievably brutal and I often think if I could have had the courage to wage war in those times. I'm a US navy submarine veteran and I guess I always felt more comfortable with the idea of a relatively quick death by torpedo and crushing ocean depths 😂 Excellent video as always, you are definitely a national treasure of your country and the world of learning lost knowledge of medieval life. 🖖Ps love the design of the helmet, its creator is talented indeed!

So nice to leave 2021 with an wondrous history lesson from Jason. Well done, and thank you. Happy New Year, everyone!

Even though fighting on horseback was a key-signifier of a knight on the battlefield, we know throughout medieval history knights have been routinely used as elite heavy infantry as well (during certain periods more routinely than others). Therefore we need to be careful about referring to knights exclusively as cavalrymen (I am not saying that you did that). Knights were essentially the professional warrior-class (which by ancient European tradition was also interlocked with belonging to the political elite). Knights were not a type of military regiment. When you were in dire need of elite heavy infantry during the Middle Ages, you had your knights dismount, even as early as the Norman knights of the 900s. We have a particularly interesting example from the First Crusade where the crusader camp is under attack, the knights then form a ring around the camp to protect both the camp followers AND the common footmen.

I know it's probably a thing that needs to be trained out of him, but it's so adorable to see Talos pawing the ground like "Come on! Walkies!" when you're talking about the helmet. Give him and all your horses some extra love. They're very good boys and gals.