Medieval Knights In Orange County

I am fascinated with medieval history which is probably why I enjoy traveling to Europe so much -- I can never seem to get enough of those castles, cathedrals, and fortified churches from that time period. So, I was extremely excited to see that The Knights in Armor exhibit was coming to Southern California at the Bowers Museum in Orange County!

The current exhibit is on loan from the Museo Stibbert in Florence, Italy and is considered one of the finest in Europe. The collection isn’t too overwhelming but instead gives just enough to get a taste of European culture.

I hadn’t been to the Bowers in years but was immediately reminded of how the building was quintessentially classic Southern California. This is the place to go if you want to see a representation of true early-Orange County history.

So that’s the outside but on to the primary reason for my visit - - the Knights in Armor. I already knew a little about the history and stories of the knights or chivalrous warriors actually, but I learned so much more in this visit. Although there are no audio guides available, each display has a nice concise description of the piece displayed and explanation of why it was significant. I kept finding myself saying, “I didn’t know that!”

There are many articles on display showing the history of armor and weapons – and the reasons exactly why they evolved over time. Many of the reasons were for very practical purposes but some changed just to keep up with the Renaissance trend of focusing on aesthetics.

Becoming a knight was hard work, took years of training, and started at a very young age. They were usually the second-born sons of noble families who typically didn’t expect an inheritance because it would’ve gone to the firstborn son instead (I didn’t know that!).

The sword is probably the most recognized feature of a European knight and was generally believed to be the weapon of choice – and most prized procession. Swords came in a variety of sizes and functions -- many variations were on display to see.

Of course, the horse was also a costly and indispensable possession for a knight, so plated armor and coverings were essential to protect the war horses (chargers) as well as their human counterparts.

Many of the pieces of armor were so beautiful and detailed, they almost felt like pieces of art in and of themselves.

There was a small media room about half-way through the exhibit that showed a very informative short video which showcased the evolution and manufacturing of swords. Combative experts were also part of the video showing how the knights used parts of swords in actual combat and how precise maneuvering between exposed body parts not covered in armor was essential. A knight’s armor was very expensive and had to be strong enough to protect the person wearing it, yet light enough to be able to mount a horse quickly, which that was a tricky balance. The full harness weighed about 35 pounds – can you imagine how cumbersome it was to carry that much extra weight?

You probably know that honorary knighthood still exists today with recent examples being Paul McCartney and Elton John. But did you know that several true orders of knights from medieval times still exist today as service orders? Well if you read my last blog on Bran Castle, you will remember the Teutonic Knights. Interesting to know that the order who established so many medieval fortresses in Europe is still around today.

Well, if you are in Orange County this weekend, I recommend taking a quick trip to the Bowers to see this fascinating display. It definitely satisfied my nagging desire to explore some of the treasures Europe has to offer…and you can return to work on Monday without suffering from jet-lag.