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<blockquote data-quote="El Mahdi" data-source="post: 5724093" data-attributes="member: 59506">In general, a large round shield with a bar grip was probably about the same weight as a standard kite shield (as much as any medieval weapon or shield can be called &quot;standard&quot;).&nbsp; So, I don't think weight was the impetus behind the trend towards enarmes.&nbsp; I think that the Norman teardrop-shaped kite shield started as more of a cavalry shield, able to provide protection to the full side, torso and legs.&nbsp; But it became popular with infantry also.&nbsp; And, although the kite shield was more of a Norman/French/Southern European development at first, at the time of the Battle of Hastings even some Anglo-Saxon infantry were using kite shields (as shown on the Bayeux Tapestry).&nbsp;I think that the main difference was that a kite shield doesn't require as much up and down movement to block blows as a round shield would, since the shield already provides coverage for the lower body and legs.&nbsp; So, any movement of the kite shield would be more side to side, allowing for the use of more secure and better weight-distributing enarmes without trading off versatility or tactical options.&nbsp;In general, the kite shield became more and more popular as the high middle ages progressed, and as Viking/Germanic influence declined.&nbsp; It remained the preferred form until armor improved from mail, through transitional armors, and on to plate.&nbsp; As the shield became less and less important with the advent of plate, the kite shield steadily shrank into the &quot;heater&quot; style shield.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="El Mahdi, post: 5724093, member: 59506"] In general, a large round shield with a bar grip was probably about the same weight as a standard kite shield (as much as any medieval weapon or shield can be called "standard"). So, I don't think weight was the impetus behind the trend towards enarmes. I think that the Norman teardrop-shaped kite shield started as more of a cavalry shield, able to provide protection to the full side, torso and legs. But it became popular with infantry also. And, although the kite shield was more of a Norman/French/Southern European development at first, at the time of the Battle of Hastings even some Anglo-Saxon infantry were using kite shields (as shown on the Bayeux Tapestry). I think that the main difference was that a kite shield doesn't require as much up and down movement to block blows as a round shield would, since the shield already provides coverage for the lower body and legs. So, any movement of the kite shield would be more side to side, allowing for the use of more secure and better weight-distributing enarmes without trading off versatility or tactical options. In general, the kite shield became more and more popular as the high middle ages progressed, and as Viking/Germanic influence declined. It remained the preferred form until armor improved from mail, through transitional armors, and on to plate. As the shield became less and less important with the advent of plate, the kite shield steadily shrank into the "heater" style shield. [/QUOTE]

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