Medieval helmets were essential components of a knight’s and soldier’s armor, offering crucial protection in brutal hand-to-hand combat. Over the centuries, helmet designs evolved from simple nasal helms to complex forms like the bascinet, great helm, and sallet, each crafted to balance defense with visibility and breathability. Forged by skilled armorers, these helmets reflected not only advances in metallurgy and warfare tactics but also social rank and regional styles. Whether worn on the battlefield or in a jousting tournament, medieval helmets stood as iconic symbols of strength, status, and technological innovation throughout the Middle Ages.
The Helmet was probably the most important part of a warrior’s armour, without it the battlefield was a perilous place, however, soldiers did partake in battle without helmets especially during the early medieval period, using just their shields as their main source of protection.
The most popular helmets during the medieval period were the Spangenhelm open-faced helmet, Bascinet, and Great Helm of which there were many variations.
The history of the helmet and armour, in general, is one of constant development and improvement, in the constant struggle against the advancements made by weapon makers during this period.
Helmets have been uncovered from Germanic tribes who settled in England during the earliest periods of medieval times and became known as the Anglo Saxons.
Anglo Saxon Helmets
The Coppergate Helmet (also known as the York Helmet) was an 8th Century Anglo-Saxon helmet discovered in York, England.
The Sutton Hoo is another Anglo-Saxon helmet that was discovered in the famous Sutton Hoo ship burial Historians believe that it was the helmet of a high-ranking member of society such as an Anglo Saxon Noble or King.
Spangenhelm Construction *Norman & Viking Helmets
The Spangenhelm was a popular construction method used to make helmets during the early medieval period, commonly separate sections of the helmet were joined together using metal strips that were riveted in place.
These Norman and Viking helmets were conical in shape, designed to lessen the strikes from weapons by encouraging the blow to skim off the head thus reducing its force.
Viking and Norman helmets used the Spangenhelm construction method.
Medieval Helmet – History and Development
Norman Nasal Helmet – Knights *Infantry
The Norman nasal helmet had a ‘Nasal Guard’ – also referred to as the Norman Casque!
The Norman Spangenhelm construction helmet was fairly easy to produce, inexpensive, and popular, however, it did not protect the whole face and these areas were left vulnerable to attack.
New weaponry advancements such as the metal bodkin tipped arrow head created the demand for a well-rounded type of Helmet that completely protected the head.
Viking Helmet
Viking warriors are always depicted as wearing horned helmets, however, modern historians now believe that this was an embellishment created by the Catholic Church and that horned helmets were mainly worn for ceremonial purposes, not warfare.
It is now thought that Vikings wore Spangenhelm construction-type helmets commonly with additional protective eye plates or cheek plates.
Spangenhelm-type helmets were used for almost seven centuries by soldiers of all ranks.
Crusader Helmets *Knights
As the medieval period progressed helmets with side and full face plates became more common, it seemed a gradual transformation to helmets that fully encased the head such as the crusader helm helmets.
In this period of open-faced and fully encasing medieval helmets, there was often a choice to be made between the total protection of a Great Helm and the lighter more comfortable open-faced helmets with superior breathability and vision.
For this and other reasons, later medieval periods saw a mixture of open-faced and fully enclosed helmets being worn.
The introduction of the visor in some ways resolved these issues as the helmet could be worn as both a closed and open helmet.
Great Helm – Flat Top Crusader Helmet
- Large Flat-Topped Helmet
- Rectangular Eyes Slits
- Breathing Holes improved Lower Visibility
- Period – Crusades 1095 – 1291
- Worn Underneath – *Padding *Mail Coif *Cerveilliere Helmet
The main disadvantage of this crusader’s flat top helm helmet was its flat top that would take the full force of an enemy blow, however, historians believe that historical evidence concludes that knights probably also wore padding, a chainmail coif, and a secondary helmet underneath called the Cervaillier to counter this problem.
Among a host of helmets used during this time, the early crusader flat-topped helm was the first to replace the Spangenhelm open face helmet designs by fully encasing the head.
The design of the flat-headed helm was later improved so that a weapon’s blows would glance at it in a similar way to the earlier conical nasal helmet, this new design was called the ‘Sugarloaf helm’.
This type of Helm was known as the Sugarloaf Helm
Bascinet Helmet
In line with developments with better weapons, a number of medieval helmets were developed during this time which offered better total head protection in comparison to those from earlier medieval periods.
The Bascinet was a basic open helmet that could be adapted to being a visored helmet. The Open Bascinet was popular with medieval infantry such as archers.
The closed Bascinet with Visor was popular with Knights.
The Bascinet helmet was a very popular and common helmet during the medieval period worn without a visor it was an open-faced helmet, worn with a visor it offered complete protection to the head. Knights and infantry used the bascinet (with and without a visor)
The Bascinet helmet was one of the most popular combat helmets during the medieval period, however it was replaced during the late medieval period (mid 15th century) by another combat helmet called the Sallet, most of Europe moved over to the Sallet from the Bascinet, it was especially popular in Germany where it was commonly manufactured.
Sallet Helmet *1450 +
The Sallet became the helmet of choice towards the end of the medieval period, there were many variations made throughout Europe and each country had its own take on the Sallet design.
The Sallet was very popular in England, France, and Italy alongside the Armet helmet, as with previous medieval helmets there were various styles and designs in different European countries.
German Sallet
Armet Helmet 1450+
- Popular Late Medieval Helmet with Knights and Heavy Cavalry
- Helmet Fully Enclosed the Head
- Compact and Light easy to transport and wear
- Common in England, France, Spain, and especially Italy
Tournament Helmets
There were many different types of helmets worn at medieval tournaments by knights including the Bascinet and Great Helm
Variations of the closed helm were very popular with knights during later medieval tournaments.
However, as far as strange-looking tournament helmets go the Frog-Mouth German Helm was a clear winner.
An important feature of helmets during this period was the presence of crests on helmets that identified their ancestry and were considered rather fanciful in design.
In some cases, simple feather plumes were used to denote the same. These types of helmets were commonly worn in medieval tournaments.
Infantry soldiers in a tournament melee (free-for-all tournament battles) could wear many types of helmets such as the sallet, bascinet, Spangenhelm, kettle hat and more.
Who Made Medieval Helmets
A number of materials were used to create medieval helmets, in earlier medieval times, bronze or hardened leather may have been used, in later medieval periods commonly iron and steel were forged by a specialist armour maker specialist ‘smith’ ‘armourer’ or manufacturer.
Commonly dedicated armorers who were classed as specialist smiths and craftsmen were responsible for making helmets.
Best Medieval Helmet Designs?
Among a number of medieval helmet designs, there were a few that lasted for a number of centuries.
The Spangenhelm is associated with both infantry soldiers and norman knights it was worn throughout the medieval period by both.
The Great Helm was a popular helmet with medieval knights, heavily associated with the crusades, it is also known as the crusader helmet.
The Bascinet with or without a visor is considered to be one of the most popular helmets of the medieval period. The bascinet was popular with both knights and infantry soldiers.
The Sallet Helmet was a very popular medieval helmet and took over from the Bascinet
The Kettle Hat (Infantry Helmet)
The Kettle Hat was a popular helmet with infantry soldiers, it was very popular during the 13th century. The Kettle Hat had a wide brim that offered protection from downward blows.
As it was an open-faced helmet it offered good breathability and visibility.
The Barbute was also a very popular helmet in Italy with its distinctive T shape Face!
What were medieval helmets made from?
Medieval helmets were typically forged from iron or steel, with earlier versions sometimes reinforced with leather or bronze for added durability.
How did helmet designs evolve during the medieval period?
Helmet styles evolved from simple conical shapes like the nasal helmet to more complex forms like the great helm, bascinet, and sallet, offering increased facial and neck protection.
What was the purpose of a visor on medieval helmets?
Visors protected the face while allowing the wearer to see and breathe. They were especially common on later helmets like the bascinet and armet used in the 14th and 15th centuries.
Were medieval helmets customized for different roles?
Yes, knights, infantry, and archers often wore different styles. Heavier helmets like great helms were used by knights, while lighter helmets such as kettle hats were favored by foot soldiers.
Did all helmets cover the entire head and face?
Not always. Early helmets like the spangenhelm or nasal helmet left parts of the face exposed, while later designs offered full enclosure to protect against increasingly powerful weapons.
How were helmets secured to the head during battle?
Helmets were fastened with chin straps or padded liners to ensure a snug fit. Some included mail aventails or padded coifs for extra stability and neck protection.
What role did heraldry play in helmet design?
Helmets, especially those of nobility, often featured crests and decorations representing family or allegiance. These were used in both battle and ceremonial tournaments.
Were medieval helmets effective against arrows and swords?
Yes, helmets were designed to deflect or absorb the impact of arrows, swords, and blunt weapons. Domed shapes and reinforced plates helped reduce penetration and trauma.
Are original medieval helmets still in existence today?
Many authentic medieval helmets survive in museums and collections, showcasing the craftsmanship and variation in design across different regions and centuries.
How did helmets balance protection and visibility?
Designers had to balance defense with functionality. Helmets evolved to include visors, slits, and openings that allowed for vision, breathing, and hearing without compromising safety.
[citationic]
