how heavy are knights armors?

Answer 1

I assume that you mean full plate armor, the kind that became common in the 14th century.

Contrary to popular opinion, battle armor was surprisingly light and the weight was very well-distributed. There were variations in quality, naturally, but premium custom-made battle armor could weigh as little as 45 lbs. It is a myth, therefore, that a knight could not get up from the lying position unassisted, that pulleys had to be used to hoist knights on their horses, or that knights had to spend weeks on horseback doing both kinds of business into their pants. On the contrary, a physically fit knight could mount and dismount a horse, fight on foot, run, jump, get up from the sitting and lying positions, and even swim short distances (to say nothing of undoing his pants). By the way, the weight does not include the sword. A medieval sworn could weigh as much as 30 lbs.

Ceremonial armor was heavier, mainly due to various decorations, extra velvet elements, etc. It weighed about 60 lbs.

The heaviest kind of armor was jousting armor (80-150 lbs, not including the jousting lance). But remember what a joust is -- two mounted knights charging at each other with lances. There is no fighting on foot. Once you are unhorsed, the contest is over anyway, so maneuverability wasn't essential. Besides, jousting was a game; it wasn't meant to result in death or severe injuries. So armorers made jousting suits extra safe at the expense of the liberty of movement.

Of course, heat was a problem with all kinds of armor. In the summer, when all jousts and warfare took place, the blistering sun would turn a suit of armor into an oven. The fact that it was fashionable to paint armor black didn't help things. Many knights, particularly older and portlier ones, died of heat exhaustion. Edges of armor at the neck and armpits, as well as the leather undersuit, would rub against sweaty skin, resulting in blisters and rashes. Skin infections were the third leading cause of death among knights, running closely behind death in combat and from wounds, wound-related infections, etc.

Bonus: THE number-one cause of death for medieval soldiers was dysentery. Henry V of England, the boy-king who nearly conquered France, was probably the most famous warrior to have died of this foul disease. (Alexander the Great is another candidate, but we are not sure.)

Answer 2

Depends on what what kind of knight you are asking about.

Lets take the knights that invaded with William the Conquerer. They would have worn a mail coat. Mail was extraordinarily heavy, usually being anywhere from 30 to 50 pounds. The knight would have worn belts fit snugly around his body, which would have distributed the weight evenly over his body, rather than focus it on his shoulders.

You are probably asking about a classically armored knight, in full plate. Full plate would have been heavy, at maybe 40 pounds, up to 80, depending on the thickness of the plate, but remember the major difference would have been weight distribution. Knights would have had a number of belts underneath their armor, which would have distributed the weight virtually evenly along their body. Despite being heavy, a knight would have been agile. Medieval texts showed knights who could do handstands in their armor.

The idea of a knight's armor being cumbersome actually comes from Mark Twain's "A Conneticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." It is a popular and influential novel that showed knights as needing levers and teams of squires to suit up and get on his horse. Historically however, a knight would have balanced protection with maneuverability and ease of use. Melee combat is a physically exhausting ordeal, the knight would have wanted to be as comfortable as possible.

Fun Trivia: In the late Roman Period, there were a heavily armored group of knights called the Clibinarii. Their armor was adopted from the Persians. Clibinarii literally translates as "Oven-men". Not something you would want to be wearing in the hot Middle eastern summer.

Answer 3

Being a knight required immense strength and endurance. Knights were well-protected by their armor, but protection came with a price.
Armor alone could weigh half as much again as the knight. During the Crusades, European armor became an oven. Many knights died from heat stroke and dehydration.

Answer 4

The full armour as used in the 13th and 14th centuries was very heavy. If a knight fell from his horse he would have difficulty in getting up.

Answer 5

50 lb for normal fighting armour, 80 lb for ceremonial jousting armour.
You can fight, you can mount a horse unaided, you can get up when down wearing that. The ony thing you can't do is RUN any distance.
That's why, in the English wars of the Roses, the losing leaders were always captured (English archery ruled out fighing from horseback) and beheaded.

Answer 6

Matters on the era. A cavalry mounted soldier carried about seventy pounds of armor, his horse another one twenty.

Answer 7

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