Gauntlets

Gauntlets or mittens, as they are also known, were part of medieval combat armor. They served to protect not only the knight's hands but also part of his forearm.

Among the first to use gauntlets for protection in combat were the Persians. Their gauntlets were made of leather and were quite strong and resistant. Later, throughout the 11th and 12th centuries, this part of the armor evolved, going from leather to a simple mail bag, which was formed by the end of the hauberk sleeve, and subsequently, different combinations of leather and iron parts emerged.

It would not be until the 14th century when the fingers were separated in the gauntlet, although shortly after, in the 15th century, it was redesigned so that this piece was made of steel pieces, adapted to the divisions of the hand, with no finger separation as such.

Finally, by the mid-16th century, the fingers were separated again to be able to fire the pistol.

Types of combat gloves/mittens

We can distinguish two types of combat mittens:

·         Jousting mitten: This was a strong mitten worn on the left hand. The fingers of this gauntlet were not articulated. This piece of armor was used to withstand lances in jousts and tournaments.

·         Slit mitten: This was a gauntlet with separated fingers and made of multiple pieces. They were simply called that to differentiate them from single-piece mittens. 

In this category, you will find gauntlets from different historical periods, so you can prepare your faithful re-enactment, show, or simply decorate a space in a medieval style.