The Burgundian Bard Horse Armour

Highly engraved silvered horse armour on a wooden stand embossed with the firesteels and raguly crosses of the Order of the Golden Fleece, with scrolling tendrils bearing pomegranates.
© Royal Armouries

About

Did you know horses have been helping humans in warfare for more than 6,000 years?

Because of their protective armour and elevated position, it was much easier to kill or wound a medieval knight if they had already fallen to the ground and so the horses they rode on became targets. This ‘barding’ (horse armour) would fit over a horse measuring more than a metre wide!

Surviving examples of barding are very rare. This particular piece was presented by the Holy Roman Emperor, Pope Maximillian I to Henry VIII as a wedding gift on his marriage to Katherine of Aragon. As well as this horse armour he also gave the young king this rather impressive helmet.

Things to think about:

  • Why do you think a heavy cavalry horse needed to be so big? Which parts of the horse would still be exposed when wearing this?
  • Why do you think Henry received such an impressive gift from the Holy Roman Emperor for this marriage?
  • How would you feel facing a line of heavy cavalry like this before the start of a battle?

Museum's description

Horse armour of King Henry VIII (known as the Burgundian Bard). Flemish, about 1511-15. Part of an armour presented by the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I, to Henry VIII to mark his marriage to Katherine of Aragon. Made by Guille Margot and decorated by Paul van Vrelant. Consists of saddle-steels, reins, shaffron, crinet, peytral, crupper and flanchards. The bard is decorated with the firesteels and raguly crosses of the Order of the Golden Fleece, intervening spaces being filled with scrolling tendrils bearing pomegranates, the ornament being embossed in high relief with details rendered by engraving. The entire surface was silvered and at least partly gilt; little silver and none of the gilding has survived. Medium carbon steel, air cooled.

Date

c. 1511-15

Artist

Made by Guille Margot and decorated by Paul van Vrelant

Size

Height: 630 mm (24.9 in); width: 1010 mm (39.9 in); length: 890 mm (35.1 in); As mounted: height: 1940 mm (76.6 in); width: 1010 mm (39.8 in); length: 2400 mm (94.7 in)

More details

Place: Made in Belgium

 

From

Royal Armouries