From the Crusades to the 21st Century – Teutonic Knights in HEMA

Today’s project draws directly on the era of the Crusades, which shaped the face of Europe throughout much of the Middle Ages. The history of the Crusades is inseparably linked with knightly orders. One of these was the Teutonic Order, which, after its activity in the Holy Land, later moved to Eastern Europe to fight against pagans. But we are not here to tell the history of the Order itself…

The 13th-Century Knight

A knight of the 13th century, before the rise of full plate armor, relied primarily on the chainmail hauberk for protection – a garment made of thousands of interlinked metal rings. Thanks to the Crusades, padded or textile surcoats began to be worn over the mail, protecting against the sun, dust, and also helping identify warriors on the battlefield.

Knightly orders placed distinctive crosses on these surcoats, with specific shapes and colors. Such markings also appeared on shields, becoming a broader system of identification for armies and noble families alike.

A 13th-Century Teutonic Knight in the 21st Century

And that was our challenge: how to bring the impression of a medieval knight clad in chainmail and a Teutonic surcoat into the 21st century, onto the stage of HEMA.

The foundation for the project was our “Sellsword” jacket in white, with an embroidered chest detail and black edging. The sleeves and collar were made from our special fabric that imitates chainmail.

Most importantly, the entire project was created using our Customizer, showing just how much can be designed and personalized according to one’s own vision of HEMA gear.

As always – let us know what you think of this project and the customization tools available to you.

@spes.histfenc Check this out! 13th century crusader easily reinterprated in our customizer ? #teutonicknight #crusader #hemagear #historicalfencing ♬ Medieval Battle for Honor Fantasy - Andrei Krylov