Knight s in
Shining Armor
Use this guide to learn about the DIA’s Armor Collection.
Your museum map will help you find the Great Hall and the armor.
Now let’s explore
You should be in the Great Hall surrounded
by suits of armor. More than 400 years
ago, this armor protected knights when
they fought in battles or competed
in tournaments. Some armor was
made just to be worn for special
occasions like parades.
Beginning at age 7,
you would spend many
years working for a knight–first
as a page and then as a squire.
Finally, by age 18 to 20, you would
be knighted and addressed as
“Sir” because of your
honorable rank.
armor!
You couldn’t just fill
out a job application and
become a knight. For starters,
you had to be a boy. And you
had to be a boy of noble birth,
meaning your family had
to be wealthy and
own land.
No roughhousing
for the girls! They couldn’t
be knights, but like the boys,
girls of noble birth were educated
and could usually read and write.
Girls also learned to sing and play
music. Mainly, they learned how
to behave in polite society.
1
Hot Styles and Cool Metal
Find a suit of armor with pleats like this:
Fashionable clothing of the early 1500s inspired this
pleated armor design. Armor suits like this one are
named for Maximilian. He was a Holy Roman Emperor
who ordered several suits of armor in this style.
2
Fancy Footwear
Find the suit of armor that has odd, pointy foot
coverings. Like pleats, pointy toes made a fashion
statement more than 500 years ago. Look for the
small round pegs on the top of each shoe. These
could be pulled out to remove the points,
making it much easier for the
knight to walk – or run!
This suit weighs
65 pounds – as much as the
average 8-year-old kid. Imagine
carrying someone that size on
your back – your brother, sister,
or friend – and trying to
wave a sword around!
What kind of footwear would go with the suit of armor you
designed? Use the space below to draw your footwear. 
 Think about today’s cool clothes. In
Unknown artist, German, Maximilian Armor (detail), 1510/20, steel. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene H. Welker
the space to the left, draw a modern
suit of armor. Would you use metal to
make your armor? Plastic? How much
does your “suit of armor” weigh?
Lorenz Helmschmied, Gothic Armor (with later additions; detail), about 1485, steel. Gift of William Randolph Hearst Foundation
Knight s in
Shining Armor
Use this guide to learn about the DIA’s Armor Collection.
Your museum map will help you find the Great Hall and the armor.
Now let’s explore
You should be in the Great Hall surrounded
by suits of armor. More than 400 years
ago, this armor protected knights when
they fought in battles or competed
in tournaments. Some armor was
made just to be worn for special
occasions like parades.
Beginning at age 7,
you would spend many
years working for a knight–first
as a page and then as a squire.
Finally, by age 18 to 20, you would
be knighted and addressed as
“Sir” because of your
honorable rank.
armor!
You couldn’t just fill
out a job application and
become a knight. For starters,
you had to be a boy. And you
had to be a boy of noble birth,
meaning your family had
to be wealthy and
own land.
No roughhousing
for the girls! They couldn’t
be knights, but like the boys,
girls of noble birth were educated
and could usually read and write.
Girls also learned to sing and play
music. Mainly, they learned how
to behave in polite society.
1
Hot Styles and Cool Metal
Find a suit of armor with pleats like this:
Fashionable clothing of the early 1500s inspired this
pleated armor design. Armor suits like this one are
named for Maximilian. He was a Holy Roman Emperor
who ordered several suits of armor in this style.
2
Fancy Footwear
Find the suit of armor that has odd, pointy foot
coverings. Like pleats, pointy toes made a fashion
statement more than 500 years ago. Look for the
small round pegs on the top of each shoe. These
could be pulled out to remove the points,
making it much easier for the
knight to walk – or run!
This suit weighs
65 pounds – as much as the
average 8-year-old kid. Imagine
carrying someone that size on
your back – your brother, sister,
or friend – and trying to
wave a sword around!
What kind of footwear would go with the suit of armor you
designed? Use the space below to draw your footwear. 
 Think about today’s cool clothes. In
Unknown artist, German, Maximilian Armor (detail), 1510/20, steel. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene H. Welker
the space to the left, draw a modern
suit of armor. Would you use metal to
make your armor? Plastic? How much
does your “suit of armor” weigh?
Lorenz Helmschmied, Gothic Armor (with later additions; detail), about 1485, steel. Gift of William Randolph Hearst Foundation
Knight s in
Shining Armor
Use this guide to learn about the DIA’s Armor Collection.
Your museum map will help you find the Great Hall and the armor.
Now let’s explore
You should be in the Great Hall surrounded
by suits of armor. More than 400 years
ago, this armor protected knights when
they fought in battles or competed
in tournaments. Some armor was
made just to be worn for special
occasions like parades.
Beginning at age 7,
you would spend many
years working for a knight–first
as a page and then as a squire.
Finally, by age 18 to 20, you would
be knighted and addressed as
“Sir” because of your
honorable rank.
armor!
You couldn’t just fill
out a job application and
become a knight. For starters,
you had to be a boy. And you
had to be a boy of noble birth,
meaning your family had
to be wealthy and
own land.
No roughhousing
for the girls! They couldn’t
be knights, but like the boys,
girls of noble birth were educated
and could usually read and write.
Girls also learned to sing and play
music. Mainly, they learned how
to behave in polite society.
1
Hot Styles and Cool Metal
Find a suit of armor with pleats like this:
Fashionable clothing of the early 1500s inspired this
pleated armor design. Armor suits like this one are
named for Maximilian. He was a Holy Roman Emperor
who ordered several suits of armor in this style.
2
Fancy Footwear
Find the suit of armor that has odd, pointy foot
coverings. Like pleats, pointy toes made a fashion
statement more than 500 years ago. Look for the
small round pegs on the top of each shoe. These
could be pulled out to remove the points,
making it much easier for the
knight to walk – or run!
This suit weighs
65 pounds – as much as the
average 8-year-old kid. Imagine
carrying someone that size on
your back – your brother, sister,
or friend – and trying to
wave a sword around!
What kind of footwear would go with the suit of armor you
designed? Use the space below to draw your footwear. 
 Think about today’s cool clothes. In
Unknown artist, German, Maximilian Armor (detail), 1510/20, steel. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene H. Welker
the space to the left, draw a modern
suit of armor. Would you use metal to
make your armor? Plastic? How much
does your “suit of armor” weigh?
Lorenz Helmschmied, Gothic Armor (with later additions; detail), about 1485, steel. Gift of William Randolph Hearst Foundation
Knight s in
Shining Armor
Use this guide to learn about the DIA’s Armor Collection.
Your museum map will help you find the Great Hall and the armor.
Now let’s explore
You should be in the Great Hall surrounded
by suits of armor. More than 400 years
ago, this armor protected knights when
they fought in battles or competed
in tournaments. Some armor was
made just to be worn for special
occasions like parades.
Beginning at age 7,
you would spend many
years working for a knight–first
as a page and then as a squire.
Finally, by age 18 to 20, you would
be knighted and addressed as
“Sir” because of your
honorable rank.
armor!
You couldn’t just fill
out a job application and
become a knight. For starters,
you had to be a boy. And you
had to be a boy of noble birth,
meaning your family had
to be wealthy and
own land.
No roughhousing
for the girls! They couldn’t
be knights, but like the boys,
girls of noble birth were educated
and could usually read and write.
Girls also learned to sing and play
music. Mainly, they learned how
to behave in polite society.
1
Hot Styles and Cool Metal
Find a suit of armor with pleats like this:
Fashionable clothing of the early 1500s inspired this
pleated armor design. Armor suits like this one are
named for Maximilian. He was a Holy Roman Emperor
who ordered several suits of armor in this style.
2
Fancy Footwear
Find the suit of armor that has odd, pointy foot
coverings. Like pleats, pointy toes made a fashion
statement more than 500 years ago. Look for the
small round pegs on the top of each shoe. These
could be pulled out to remove the points,
making it much easier for the
knight to walk – or run!
This suit weighs
65 pounds – as much as the
average 8-year-old kid. Imagine
carrying someone that size on
your back – your brother, sister,
or friend – and trying to
wave a sword around!
What kind of footwear would go with the suit of armor you
designed? Use the space below to draw your footwear. 
 Think about today’s cool clothes. In
Unknown artist, German, Maximilian Armor (detail), 1510/20, steel. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene H. Welker
the space to the left, draw a modern
suit of armor. Would you use metal to
make your armor? Plastic? How much
does your “suit of armor” weigh?
Lorenz Helmschmied, Gothic Armor (with later additions; detail), about 1485, steel. Gift of William Randolph Hearst Foundation
3
Rough Games, Serious Protection
Find the armor with the huge bolt on the
front of the helmet. A knight wore this
suit of armor in a jousting tournament,
where he could practice for actual
battle. Knights jousted in a large open
field, usually in front of spectators.
Riding toward each other on horseback,
two knights tried to knock each other
off with large wooden poles called
lances. Whoever was left on his horse
could win valuable prizes. Knights often
won accessories for battle, like armor,
weapons, or even horses.
Look at the back
of the armor. See the
rod attaching the helmet to
the back plate? This simple
device protected the knight
from neck and spine
injuries.
Unknown artist, German, Armor for the German Joust with Sharp Lances (Rennen), 1580/1610, steel.
Gift of William Randolph Hearst Foundation
You think I
can’t see you,
but I can!
The slits in the
helmet are just big
enough to see out of
but small enough to
protect the knight’s
eyes.
Knights took
suits to armorers who
repaired nicks or dents.
That’s why these jousting
suits look so good
today!
 Notice the large screw, nuts, and bolts on this armor. They were used to attach the
extra plates of armor to protect the knight from a lance’s blow. This suit weighs a
whopping 88 pounds! Sure, it’s sturdy and protective, but it’s not very easy to move
around in. In fact, jousting armor was so bulky and heavy that someone had to help
the knight put it on and get onto his horse!
4
Helmets for Horses
Look for the display containing many
helmets. At the top, there is
a piece of armor called a chanfron
(pronounced shan-fron).
You guessed it! It protected the horse’s face during battle or in
tournaments. Chanfrons could be made of leather or steel and were
sometimes painted.
A knight’s horse had to
be very powerful and specially
trained to enter the danger and
noise of battle. Some were even trained
to bite and kick the enemy! A knight also
depended on his horse for travel and
tournaments. No wonder many
knights considered their horses
trusted friends.
Unknown artist, German, Chanfron, late 1400s, steel. Gift of William Randolph Hearst Foundation
5
Showing
Family Pride
Find the suit of armor that has a
shield on the jousting cape (the
piece of armor over the shoulder).
The symbols on this shield, called
heraldry, identify the German
family of the knight who wore
this armor.
hat images would you use to represent your family?
W
Use the space above to design your family shield. 
Armor is protective gear.
Unknown artist, German, Jousting Armor, about 1590, steel.
Gift of William Randolph Hearst Foundation
To find out more about knights and armor, read
Knights and Castles, by Avery Hart and Paul Mantell,
The World of the Medieval Knights, by Christopher Gravett,
or visit
www.knightsandarmor.com
www.metmuseum.org/explore/knights/home.html
3
Rough Games, Serious Protection
Find the armor with the huge bolt on the
front of the helmet. A knight wore this
suit of armor in a jousting tournament,
where he could practice for actual
battle. Knights jousted in a large open
field, usually in front of spectators.
Riding toward each other on horseback,
two knights tried to knock each other
off with large wooden poles called
lances. Whoever was left on his horse
could win valuable prizes. Knights often
won accessories for battle, like armor,
weapons, or even horses.
Look at the back
of the armor. See the
rod attaching the helmet to
the back plate? This simple
device protected the knight
from neck and spine
injuries.
Unknown artist, German, Armor for the German Joust with Sharp Lances (Rennen), 1580/1610, steel.
Gift of William Randolph Hearst Foundation
You think I
can’t see you,
but I can!
The slits in the
helmet are just big
enough to see out of
but small enough to
protect the knight’s
eyes.
Knights took
suits to armorers who
repaired nicks or dents.
That’s why these jousting
suits look so good
today!
 Notice the large screw, nuts, and bolts on this armor. They were used to attach the
extra plates of armor to protect the knight from a lance’s blow. This suit weighs a
whopping 88 pounds! Sure, it’s sturdy and protective, but it’s not very easy to move
around in. In fact, jousting armor was so bulky and heavy that someone had to help
the knight put it on and get onto his horse!
4
Helmets for Horses
Look for the display containing many
helmets. At the top, there is
a piece of armor called a chanfron
(pronounced shan-fron).
You guessed it! It protected the horse’s face during battle or in
tournaments. Chanfrons could be made of leather or steel and were
sometimes painted.
A knight’s horse had to
be very powerful and specially
trained to enter the danger and
noise of battle. Some were even trained
to bite and kick the enemy! A knight also
depended on his horse for travel and
tournaments. No wonder many
knights considered their horses
trusted friends.
Unknown artist, German, Chanfron, late 1400s, steel. Gift of William Randolph Hearst Foundation
5
Showing
Family Pride
Find the suit of armor that has a
shield on the jousting cape (the
piece of armor over the shoulder).
The symbols on this shield, called
heraldry, identify the German
family of the knight who wore
this armor.
hat images would you use to represent your family?
W
Use the space above to design your family shield. 
Armor is protective gear.
Unknown artist, German, Jousting Armor, about 1590, steel.
Gift of William Randolph Hearst Foundation
To find out more about knights and armor, read
Knights and Castles, by Avery Hart and Paul Mantell,
The World of the Medieval Knights, by Christopher Gravett,
or visit
www.knightsandarmor.com
www.metmuseum.org/explore/knights/home.html
3
Rough Games, Serious Protection
Find the armor with the huge bolt on the
front of the helmet. A knight wore this
suit of armor in a jousting tournament,
where he could practice for actual
battle. Knights jousted in a large open
field, usually in front of spectators.
Riding toward each other on horseback,
two knights tried to knock each other
off with large wooden poles called
lances. Whoever was left on his horse
could win valuable prizes. Knights often
won accessories for battle, like armor,
weapons, or even horses.
Look at the back
of the armor. See the
rod attaching the helmet to
the back plate? This simple
device protected the knight
from neck and spine
injuries.
Unknown artist, German, Armor for the German Joust with Sharp Lances (Rennen), 1580/1610, steel.
Gift of William Randolph Hearst Foundation
You think I
can’t see you,
but I can!
The slits in the
helmet are just big
enough to see out of
but small enough to
protect the knight’s
eyes.
Knights took
suits to armorers who
repaired nicks or dents.
That’s why these jousting
suits look so good
today!
 Notice the large screw, nuts, and bolts on this armor. They were used to attach the
extra plates of armor to protect the knight from a lance’s blow. This suit weighs a
whopping 88 pounds! Sure, it’s sturdy and protective, but it’s not very easy to move
around in. In fact, jousting armor was so bulky and heavy that someone had to help
the knight put it on and get onto his horse!
4
Helmets for Horses
Look for the display containing many
helmets. At the top, there is
a piece of armor called a chanfron
(pronounced shan-fron).
You guessed it! It protected the horse’s face during battle or in
tournaments. Chanfrons could be made of leather or steel and were
sometimes painted.
A knight’s horse had to
be very powerful and specially
trained to enter the danger and
noise of battle. Some were even trained
to bite and kick the enemy! A knight also
depended on his horse for travel and
tournaments. No wonder many
knights considered their horses
trusted friends.
Unknown artist, German, Chanfron, late 1400s, steel. Gift of William Randolph Hearst Foundation
5
Showing
Family Pride
Find the suit of armor that has a
shield on the jousting cape (the
piece of armor over the shoulder).
The symbols on this shield, called
heraldry, identify the German
family of the knight who wore
this armor.
hat images would you use to represent your family?
W
Use the space above to design your family shield. 
Armor is protective gear.
Unknown artist, German, Jousting Armor, about 1590, steel.
Gift of William Randolph Hearst Foundation
To find out more about knights and armor, read
Knights and Castles, by Avery Hart and Paul Mantell,
The World of the Medieval Knights, by Christopher Gravett,
or visit
www.knightsandarmor.com
www.metmuseum.org/explore/knights/home.html
3
Rough Games, Serious Protection
Find the armor with the huge bolt on the
front of the helmet. A knight wore this
suit of armor in a jousting tournament,
where he could practice for actual
battle. Knights jousted in a large open
field, usually in front of spectators.
Riding toward each other on horseback,
two knights tried to knock each other
off with large wooden poles called
lances. Whoever was left on his horse
could win valuable prizes. Knights often
won accessories for battle, like armor,
weapons, or even horses.
Look at the back
of the armor. See the
rod attaching the helmet to
the back plate? This simple
device protected the knight
from neck and spine
injuries.
Unknown artist, German, Armor for the German Joust with Sharp Lances (Rennen), 1580/1610, steel.
Gift of William Randolph Hearst Foundation
You think I
can’t see you,
but I can!
The slits in the
helmet are just big
enough to see out of
but small enough to
protect the knight’s
eyes.
Knights took
suits to armorers who
repaired nicks or dents.
That’s why these jousting
suits look so good
today!
 Notice the large screw, nuts, and bolts on this armor. They were used to attach the
extra plates of armor to protect the knight from a lance’s blow. This suit weighs a
whopping 88 pounds! Sure, it’s sturdy and protective, but it’s not very easy to move
around in. In fact, jousting armor was so bulky and heavy that someone had to help
the knight put it on and get onto his horse!
4
Helmets for Horses
Look for the display containing many
helmets. At the top, there is
a piece of armor called a chanfron
(pronounced shan-fron).
You guessed it! It protected the horse’s face during battle or in
tournaments. Chanfrons could be made of leather or steel and were
sometimes painted.
A knight’s horse had to
be very powerful and specially
trained to enter the danger and
noise of battle. Some were even trained
to bite and kick the enemy! A knight also
depended on his horse for travel and
tournaments. No wonder many
knights considered their horses
trusted friends.
Unknown artist, German, Chanfron, late 1400s, steel. Gift of William Randolph Hearst Foundation
5
Showing
Family Pride
Find the suit of armor that has a
shield on the jousting cape (the
piece of armor over the shoulder).
The symbols on this shield, called
heraldry, identify the German
family of the knight who wore
this armor.
hat images would you use to represent your family?
W
Use the space above to design your family shield. 
Armor is protective gear.
Unknown artist, German, Jousting Armor, about 1590, steel.
Gift of William Randolph Hearst Foundation
To find out more about knights and armor, read
Knights and Castles, by Avery Hart and Paul Mantell,
The World of the Medieval Knights, by Christopher Gravett,
or visit
www.knightsandarmor.com
www.metmuseum.org/explore/knights/home.html