Description
This Padded Arming Cap served as a crucial layer beneath mail coifs or helmets, offering both comfort and protection. Woven from thick, densely packed cotton, it softens the impact of blows and helps spread out the force, lessening the chance of painful bruises or cuts on the head. The cap’s laces are designed to pull it tight, keeping it firmly in place beneath heavier headgear during the chaos of battle. Traditionally, these caps came in colors like red, black, or off-white, using dyes common to the medieval period.
Fun fact: Knights and soldiers sometimes stuffed their arming caps with extra wool or horsehair to add thickness and cushioning before putting on their helmets, turning this humble cap into a vital part of their defense.
