"The history of England records no more charismatic figure than King Henry VIII. His reign reveals an intriguing amalgam of the old and the new, and during it his kingdom emerged as a power to be reckoned with. He was fascinated by weapons and armour, taking a personal interest in their design and manufacture. Henry's impact upon the Royal Armouries' collection is immense. The arms and armour made for him, his personal guard and his army still form the core of the collection. This book is part of a series of introductions to aspects of the Royal Armouries' collection of arms and armour, written by specialists in the field and packed with fascinating information and stunning photography."--woodslane.com.au.

This volume brings together papers written by curators, conservators and scientists who have worked very closely with European and Oriental arms and armour from some of the world's finest collections. The pieces, which have been examined in detail, include not only those made for royalty, such as the helmet of the Black Prince, the armours of King Henry VIII and the jewel-encrusted dagger of Shah Jahan, but also the apparently more mundane and those created to deceive. Through careful study and hands-on experience, each of the authors provides an eye-opening insight into the history, science and interpretation of these important objects.The essays in this title were written in honour of David Edge.Published by Archetype Publications Ltd in association with the Arms and Armour Society

In celebration of the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's accession to the English throne, an international exhibition, 'Henry VIII: Dressed to Kill', was held at the Tower of London in partnership between the Royal Armouries and Historic Royal Palaces. Published to coincide with the launch of the exhibition, this definitive publication illustrates and records over 90 Henrician treasures drawn from the Royal Armouries' own collections and from museums and institutions worldwide. Leading historians and specialists in arms and armour have contributed major essays on subjects which encompass the wide-ranging aspects of Henry's reign from war and politics to dress and dining.

War should be recognised as one of the defining features of life in the England of Henry VIII. Henry fought many wars throughout his reign, and this book explores how this came to dominate English culture and shape attitudes to the king and to national history, with people talking and reading about war, and spending money on weaponry and defence.

The Elizabethan court was a vibrant and colourful place, where the inherited traditions and technological skill that had characterised the Middle Ages came face to face with the decorative techniques of the Renaissance. This book shows how the arms and armour in the collections of the Royal Armouries can be studied to gain insight into this creative and dynamic period. This book is part of a series of introductions to aspects of the Royal Armouries' collection of arms and armour. Written by specialists in the field, they are packed full of fascinating information and stunning photography.

The idea of late medieval arms and armour often conjures up images of lumbering warriors, clad in heavy plate armour, hacking away at with each other with enormous weapons - depictions perpetuated in both bad literature and bad movies. In this introductory guide, replete with fabulous photography and marvellous anecdotes, internationally-renowned edged weapons expert Robert Woosnam-Savage describes the brutal reality of personal protection and attack in the so-called 'age of chivalry'. From Bannockburn to Bosworth, Poitiers to Pavia, this book is an indispensable introduction to an iconic era.

Volume 1: European Armour is the first catalog to offer a comprehensive inventory of this substantial and historically significant collection in more than one hundred years. Among the highlights of the collection are imposing sets of Greenwich armor created in the sixteenth century for Henry VIII and Sir Christopher Hatton; an exceptionally beautiful set of armor created in the early seventeenth century for Henry, Prince of Wales; and an ornate field garniture belonging to Julius, Duke of Brunswick, a fine example of armor in the continental style. In addition to fresh research, the book features more than five hundred new photographs that provide clear front, back, and side views, as well as close-ups of ornamentation, maker's marks, and other features for the most important pieces. The book also includes full resources for further study, including two essays giving a broad overview of the history of the collection; specially commissioned reconstruction drawings of important Greenwich garnitures, including lost pieces; a glossary of important terms; and an index, appendix, and bibliography.