Buckler
A
buckler (French
bouclier 'shield', from old French
bocle, boucle 'boss') is a small
shield gripped in the fist -- it was generally used in hand-to-hand combat during the
Middle Ages, as its size made it poor protection against missile weapons (e.g.,
arrows) but useful in deflecting the blow of an opponent's
sword or
mace. There are two major forms of medievally documented bucklers. The first is a simple round shield with the fist positioned directly behind the boss with a variety of shapes of face and depths of rim. These could also have projections from the top and bottom as in
Hans Talhoffer's
Fechtbücher or serrated rings around the boss as in one example in the
Wallace Collection. The second major form is a corrugated rectangle as suggested by
Achille Marozzo in his
Opera Nova.
MS
I.33 (around 1300) contains an early description of a system of combat with buckler and
sword.
The buckler was more widely used than is commonly known. It was a simple yet effective weapon, often combined with a short sword, falchion, or rapier. It was popular circa 1100 to 1600. The buckler had a variety of roles when it came to swordplay, but three principal means come to the fore. Each use recognizes the shield's small size and maneuverability when dealing with light blades. Of particular note is the circular bulge in the center of the shield.[
1]
1. As a deflector: The buckler's lightness and curved center made it excellent for deflecting attacking blades. Such a deflection would leave the attacker open for a rapid counter-attack.
2. As a blinder: The light blades used in conjunction with the buckler depended on rapid movements, which meant that a single second was an important advantage. The wielder of the buckler could certainly used the metal disc to shield his sword-hand's position from view, keeping his opponent from guessing his next strike.
3. As a "metal fist": A buckler can be used to directly attack an opponent by punching with either its flat face or its rim. In MS
I.33 the buckler is use to strike the opponent's sword hand and weapon.
4. As a binder: The buckler can be used to bind an opponent's sword hand and weapon against their body. The buckler is also very useful in grappling where it allows an opponent's arms to be easily to wrap up and controlled.
In
classical antiquity, bucklers on
medals were either used to signify public vows rendered to the gods for the safety of a prince, or that he was esteemed the defender and protector of his people: these were called
votive bucklers, and were hung at altars, etc.
*
Lantern shield
