The CourtiersThe Courtiers

Renaissance Knights?

When we think of knights....

We think of mounted military pageantry....

Armor . . . Weapons . . . .

Chainmail

Helmets

Scabbards

So . . . what happened to them?

Gunpowder makes all that passé....

But why did knights turn into this?

When they originally were this?

Consider the Codpiece.

• Renaissance noblemen let their private bits dangle in cloth containers.

• This mimics the protected openings used in knightly armor for urination while wearing armor.

• An important consideration in battle--now rendered into a fashion statement with courtiers.

Why wear hose?

• How else will the knight show off his calf-muscles--which demonstrate his ability to “cling” to the saddle using his legs and guide the horse--even without stirrups? The courtiers (even without horses) still think of themselves as knights….

•Note the “ruff” around the neck--made to resemble protective shoulder harness on late armor.

Why the feather?

• Note the feather again?

• The Courtier is still wearing a sword--because duels still happen.