Thisbook is the first volume of the final part of Ulrich Lehnarts costume historyof the Middle Ages. It comprises the period between the end of the Middle Agesand early modern times. This era is particularly interesting in that bothcostume and armour underwent a gradual yet ultimately radical change. Thechanges in style in civilian and military fashion is a clear indicator thateven in their outward appearance, men and women had entered a new period intime.The sheer abundance of general developments and individual aspects as well asthe many pictorial sources have called for a structuring of this book into twoparts. The volume at hand will thus concentrate on the costume and equipment ofthe German Landsknechts and their wives, the Swiss Reisläufers, the Reisigenlight horsemen, and the knights.The first part of the book concerns itself mainly with the costume of theLandsknechts. The foot soldier is thus the first object of interest, followedby the arms and armour of the men who fought on horseback. The development andtransition of German armour from the Baroque Gothic period to the earlyRenaissance is the subject of a careful and extensive analysis. Many picturesof either original or high-quality reconstructions of both smooth and flutedcuirasses form a large part of this books many illustrations. The weapons ofthe cavalry and for the first time also the edged weapons and polearms of theinfantry form the topic of the last part of this work.
