The Armorsmith

Armorsmith

An individual who is skilled at forging armour (such as greaves, breastplates and legplates)

Armorsmiths were the unsung heroes of the medieval period, contributing not only to the physical well-being of warriors but also shaping the cultural and economic landscape of their time. Their expertise, innovation, and dedication to their craft played a pivotal role in the historical narrative of medieval warfare.

Although England, France, and the Netherlands imported a large portion of their arms and armor from Italy and Germany, there is evidence that they had thriving national production centers. The sole English center of any importance for the production of armor appears to have been London, which was supplanted after 1515/17, when Henry VIII established his Royal Workshops at Greenwich, then just outside the city. In France, the most important centers were Paris, Tours, and Lyon, as well as Beauvais and Chartres; the latter specialized in mail armor. In addition to importing German and Italian armor, many cities or rulers simply “imported” the Italian or German armorers. For example, Tours and Lyon brought in Italians, while the Royal Workshops at Greenwich employed Flemish, Italian, German, and Dutch makers.

Foundryman

Smithy but applies to armor