9th century chain mail

The 9th century - a time of great change and upheaval in Europe, marked by the rise and fall of empires, the spread of Christianity, and the development of new technologies. It was also a time of great innovation in armor, as chain mail became a popular choice for warriors across the continent.

Chain mail, also known as chain armor or maille, is a type of armor made from interlocking iron rings. The rings are typically made from iron wire, which is shaped into a series of interconnected loops. The loops are then linked together to form a flexible, yet protective, garment.

In the 9th century, chain mail was a popular choice for warriors because it offered excellent protection against slashing and piercing attacks. The rings were designed to absorb and distribute the force of an impact, making it difficult for an attacker to penetrate the armor. Additionally, chain mail was relatively lightweight and flexible, making it easier to move around on the battlefield.

There are several types of chain mail that were popular in the 9th century, including:

  1. Byzantine mail: This type of mail was popular in the Eastern Roman Empire and was characterized by its use of small, tightly linked rings.
  2. Frankish mail: This type of mail was popular in the Frankish kingdoms of Western Europe and was characterized by its use of larger, more loosely linked rings.
  3. Arab mail: This type of mail was popular in the Islamic world and was characterized by its use of intricate patterns and designs.

Chain mail was often worn over a linen or leather undergarment, and was sometimes reinforced with additional materials such as leather or steel plates. It was also often decorated with intricate designs and patterns, which were often symbolic of the wearer's status or rank.

Some of the most famous examples of 9th century chain mail can be found in the following locations:

  1. The Viking Age hoard from the Oseberg ship burial in Norway, which dates back to around 820 AD.
  2. The Carolingian-era armor from the tomb of Charlemagne in Aachen, Germany, which dates back to around 814 AD.
  3. The Islamic-era armor from the tomb of the Abbasid caliph Al-Wathiq in Baghdad, Iraq, which dates back to around 842 AD.

Overall, chain mail was a popular and effective type of armor in the 9th century, and its development played an important role in the evolution of warfare and armor design.