Surcoat Collection

High-waisted houppelandes (gowns) with turned-down collars, V -necks, funnel sleeves & trains, sideless surcoat, mantle, girdle & headdresses, templers & veils Date: 15th century

Edward I, King of England from 1272, (1932). Artist: Rosalind Thornycroft
Edward I, King of England from 1272, (1932). Edward (1239-1307) was popularly known as Longshanks because of his 6 foot 2 inch (1.88 m) frame, and the Hammer of the Scots

Costumes of 14th century German knights, 1889 (chromolithograph)
5912619 Costumes of 14th century German knights, 1889 (chromolithograph); (add.info.: Ulrich V von Landschaden von Steinach (left) died 1369, from his grave effigy in Neckarsteinach church

Federigo Oricono, 1558. In a suit of armour with silk surcoat in plush covering the breastplate and backplate
FLO4678252 Federigo Oricono, 1558. In a suit of armour with silk surcoat in plush covering the breastplate and backplate, sleeve armour pauldrons and elbow pieces, and slops or wide breeches

Sir Guy de Bryan, Baron Bryan, died 1391, 1889 (chromolithograph)
5912632 Sir Guy de Bryan, Baron Bryan, died 1391, 1889 (chromolithograph); (add.info.: Sir Guy de Bryan, Baron Bryan, died 1391. In suit of armour with chainmail camail attached to helmet)

St Nicholas in bishop's robes and St. George slaying a dragon, 1889 (chromolithograph)
5912634 St Nicholas in bishop's robes and St. George slaying a dragon, 1889 (chromolithograph); (add.info.: St Nicholas in bishop's robes and St. George slaying a dragon. St)

Thomas Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick, 1313-1369, English nobleman and military commander
FLO4678215 Thomas Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick, 1313-1369, English nobleman and military commander. He wears plate armour and chainmail, and carries his staff of office as Marshal of the Army

German knight in armour of the late 14th century, 1889 (chromolithograph)
5912633 German knight in armour of the late 14th century, 1889 (chromolithograph); (add.info.: German knight in armour of the late 14th century)

Rudolph von Sachsenhausen in 14th century armour, 1889 (chromolithograph)
5912622 Rudolph von Sachsenhausen in 14th century armour, 1889 (chromolithograph); (add.info.: Rudolph von Sachsenhausen, Rudolf II von Praunheim, died 1370)

A king and his mac-bearer, 1310. The king in plate armour with ailettes, surcoat, crown, sword and shield
FLO4678371 A king and his mac-bearer, 1310. The king in plate armour with ailettes, surcoat, crown, sword and shield. His mac-bearer in chainmail armour, with studded cloth gauntlet

Portrait of Rupert (1619-1682), Prince-Palatine of the Rhine, in Combat Dress, after c.1645. Copy after

Herald, c.1590-c.1593. Creator: Nicolaes de Kemp
Herald, c.1590-c.1593. Herald in surcoat with the coats of arms of Culemborg, Teisterbant, Walgeris / Aquitania, Beusichem, Leck and Pallandt

German knight in armour of the late 14th century. In bascinet with vizor and camail, surcoat and cape, chainmail and plate armour, holding a lance and mace. St

Medieval archers with crossbow and arrows
Medieval archers with crossbow and different types of arrows. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Verico from Giulio Ferrarios Ancient and Modern Costumes of all the Peoples of the World, Florence

Canterbury Tales - The Knight
The Knight, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Ceremonial armour for a High Ranking Official, Chinese, 18th century. Creator: Unknown
Ceremonial armour for a High Ranking Official, Chinese, 18th century

Sir Robert de Septvans, c1306, (1924). From a brass in St Marys Church, Chartham, Kent. Sir Robert was custodian of Rochester Castle during the reign of Edward I

Men in helmets, hauberk, tunic with shield with coat of arms and sword, and civil costume of hooded robe and surcoat
6340057 Men in helmets, hauberk, tunic with shield with coat of arms and sword, and civil costume of hooded robe and surcoat, 12th century by Villain (19th century); (add.info.: Men in helmets)

St Ivel (chromolitho)
3639479 St Ivel (chromolitho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: St Ivel.); Look and Learn / Valerie Jackson Harris Collection

A kneeling knight (stained glass)
3501624 A kneeling knight (stained glass) by English School, (14th century); St Marys Church, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, UK; (add.info.: a kneeling knight); English, out of copyright

Sir Guy de Bryan, Baron Bryan, died 1391. In suit of armour with chainmail camail attached to helmet. From his grave effigy in Tewkesbury Abbey, England

Wicker Frosch, Weikhard Frosch, died 1378. With ermine-lined cape, suit or armour, great helm, vizored bascinet, coat or arms on escutcheon. From his grave effigy in St. Catherines church, Frankfurt

Rudolph von Sachsenhausen in 14th century armour
Rudolph von Sachsenhausen, Rudolf II von Praunheim, died 1370. In surcoat with coat of arms, suit of armour, holding great helm and escutcheon. From a grave effigy in Frankfurt Cathedral

Konrad von Seinsheim, 14th century armour
Konrad von Seinsheim, Conrad von Sauwensheim d. 1369. In suit of armour with great helm, sword and dagger hanging from chains on breastplate. From his grave effigy in St. Johns church, Schweinfurt

Spanish costumes from the 14th century. Men hunting lions with spear and sword, ladies with a knight. From ceiling fresco paintings in the Alhambra Palace, Granada

Third bas-relief of a 12th century sarcophagus. Knights fighting off wild men in bearskins beneath the walls of a city and rescuing a princess

Helmets and armour of the 14th century. Conical helm 1, trellis helm 2, round helm 3, frogmouth helm with visor 4, chainmail and surcoat 5, and breastplate with lance rest 6

12th century battle scene showing knights in combat
Battle scene showing knights in cylindrical helmets and chainmail hoods, armorial surcoats and shields with coats of arms

Effigy of Sir Hugh Bardolph, 1259-1304, Banham Church, Norfolk. He wears a surcoat over a suit of chainmail with chappelle de fer (helmet), legs crossed to show that he was a crusader

Equestrian statue of Philippe VI de Valois, king of France, 1328-1350. In suit of chainmail armour with plate greaves, ailettes, shoes and helmet

Tomb of Edward the Black Prince, Canterbury Cathedral (engraving)
3655231 Tomb of Edward the Black Prince, Canterbury Cathedral (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Tomb of Edward the Black Prince, Canterbury Cathedral)

A knight of the 13th Century in his military habit (coloured engraving)
972930 A knight of the 13th Century in his military habit (coloured engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A knight of the 13th Century in his military habit)

Fr 9084 f. 20v: Departure for the First Crusade (vellum)
BAL4484 Fr 9084 f.20v: Departure for the First Crusade (vellum) by William of Tyre (Archbishop) (c.1130-85); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France; (add.info.: Depart pour la premiere croisade)

Military habits of the 13th Century (coloured engraving)
972929 Military habits of the 13th Century (coloured engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Military habits of the 13th Century)

Knight on horseback (colour litho)
6000152 Knight on horseback (colour litho) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Knight on horseback)

Mrs Arabella Walker-Heneage, nee Cope (d. c. 1818), in cream dress with lace border
5667194 Mrs Arabella Walker-Heneage, nee Cope (d. c. 1818), in cream dress with lace border and fur-bordered surcoat, pearls entwined in her upswept and curled hair, sky and cloud background

The Order of the Garter (engraving)
1625158 The Order of the Garter (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Order of the Garter. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 12 October 1844)

All The Gorgeous Panoply of A Knight with the Various Parts of His Armour, c1934. Illustration showing the various parts of a suit of armour and weapons: hauberk, cuirass, taces, rerebrace, vambrace

Robert the Bruce kills Sir Henry Bohun, Battle of Bannockburn, Scotland, 1314 (1864)
Robert the Bruce kills Sir Henry de Bohun, Battle of Bannockburn, Scotland, 1314 (1864). Sir Henry de Bohun (d1314), an English knight, spotted the Scottish king on the battlefield

King Henry III and his Parliament, Westminster, 1258 (1864). In 1258, a group of powerful barons led by Simon de Montfort compelled Henry (1211-1271) to accept the Provisions of Oxford

Anglo-Saxon warriors, 19th century. Plate 14 from The History of the Nations

A Sergeant at Arms to the king arrests a militia looter, 1290-1330 (1882-1884). A print from La France et les Francais a Travers les Siecles, Volume II, F Roy editor, A Challamel, Saint-Antoine

A knight saying a prayer before departing for the second crusade, 1146 (1882-1884). Artist: Deghouy
A knight saying a prayer before departing for the second crusade, 1146 (1882-1884). A print from La France et les Francais a Travers les Siecles, Volume II, F Roy editor, A Challamel, Saint-Antoine

Sir William de Ryther, (1924). From a brass in Ryther Church, Yorkshire

Edward III, c1355, (1843). Artist: Henry Shaw
Edward III, c1355, (1843). The king, wearing full armour and a surcoat quartered with the arms of England and France, kneels in prayer. From St Stephens Chapel, Westminster

Battle of Alnwick, Northumberland, 1174, (1864). Victorian depiction of the capture of William I of Scotland, The Lion (1143-1214) by the English

German Costume Late C14
Man: Gipon (doublet) with side vents, girdle & dagger, hood, piked shoes, hose. Woman: ornamental fillet, loose garment with a low neckline like a surcoat but without vents. Date: circa 1350

English Noblewomen C14Th
English noblewomen: headdresses include a goffered veil, a coronet & an ornamental fillet. One lady wears an ermine lined mantle & surcoat. 14th century

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"The Surcoat: A Symbol of Medieval Fashion and Power" In the 13th century, during the reign of Edward I, King of England from 1272, a remarkable garment known as the surcoat emerged. This iconic piece was not only a fashion statement but also held significant historical importance. Artists like Rosalind Thornycroft captured its essence in their works, showcasing high-waisted houppelandes with turned-down collars and V-necks. These gowns were worn by both German noblewomen and English ladies in the 14th century, exuding elegance and sophistication. The surcoat was not limited to women's attire; it found its place among knights as well. German knights donned this distinctive garment over their armor during battles in the late 14th century. It served as a protective layer while displaying their coat of arms proudly. Medieval archers armed themselves with crossbows and arrows but also sported surcoats that added an element of style to their practicality on the battlefield. The combination of functionality and fashion made these archers stand out amidst chaos. Even beyond Europe's borders, ceremonial armor for high-ranking Chinese officials featured elements reminiscent of the surcoat in the 18th century. Though created by unknown artisans, these garments spoke volumes about authority and prestige. Historical figures like Sir Robert de Septvans became immortalized wearing surcoats around c1306 - a testament to its enduring popularity throughout time. Meanwhile, depictions from Germany between 1300-1349 showcased men clad in helmets, hauberks, tunics adorned with shields bearing coats of arms along with swords – all complemented by hooded robes or surcoats for civil occasions. The versatility of this medieval garb is evident even through various art forms such as chromolithos depicting St Ivel or stained glass windows portraying kneeling knights adorned in magnificent surcoats.