Shields are a broad piece of armor made of rigid material and strapped
to the arm or carried in the hand for protection against hurled or
thrusted weapons. A shield was mainly a defensive weapon, it was used to
ward off incoming blows. Medieval shields are considered as an extension
of the knight's armor and they were the perfect part of a suit of armor
for self-defense. The value of these medieval shields increased when combined with full plate armor, two-handed swords, heavy pole-arms etc. They were either made of leather-covered wood or metal and was held by the handle or hung from the arm with straps. The shields used during the Middle Ages was also a part of the coat of arms. A coat of arms was used to identify knights in battle and it was more like a label.
Medieval shields were mainly of two kinds-
- The battle shields were designed more for sword deflection.
- The shields used in jousting tournaments were designed to protect the knight from a lance.
