Category Archives: 11th Century

Costume and Fashion History of the 11th century. The Middle ages fashion period. Knee-length tunics, cloaks, gowns, long flaring sleeves.

Gallic fabrics and embroideries. Merovingian fashion.

gaul, ancient, Gallic fabrics, merovingian,embroideries, fashion, history, Paul-Louis de Giafferri

Fabrics and embroideries. The comfortable costumes of the Gauls.

Gallic fabrics and embroideries.

Gaul Plate 8.
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English kings Henry I and King John. 12th century costumes.

english kings, John, henry, 12th century, costumes, fashion, middle ages, medieval,

Henry I (c. 1068 – 1236) and king John (1167 – 1216).

English kings Henry I and King John.

initial letter, middle ages, decoration, Jenson, Pliny, manuscriptIN one of the Cottonian manuscripts (Julius, E. IV.), a brief metrical chronicle of the kings of England, which has been attributed to John Lidgate (1), and which was composed soon after the 10th Hen. VI., is illustrated by a series of singular and bold drawings of the monarchs whose reigns it commemorates. Two of these figures are given on the accompanying plate, which were intended to represent Henry the First and King John. The costume of King John is rather remarkable, particularly the high clogs which he has on his feet.

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Spanish warriors, jongleurs, minstrels in the 11th century.

Spanish warriors,armour, 11th century,middle ages,medieval,illustration,Henry Shaw,Anglo-Norman soldiers

Spanish warriors in armour, 11th century.

Spanish warriors from a MS. of the end of the eleventh century

ornamented initial letters, E,Drop-cap, Medieval manuscript, 10th century, Anglo-Saxon, Norman

Ornamented initial letter E

EVERY step which we trace back in the history of the nations of Europe brings us nearer to a uniformity of costume. Fashions in dress did not begin to go through that quick vicissitude of change which characterizes modern times, till towards the thirteenth century. We can trace little variation in the dress of the Anglo-Saxons during the whole period of their history, and not much between that of the Anglo-Saxons and the Franks.

As people became more distinctly separated from each other by national jealousies, and long and obstinate wars, the new fashions adopted in one country were more slowly communicated to another, and thus the similarity of costume becomes separated by distance of date; while some countries became so entirely estranged from each other during a long period, that the resemblance of costume and the simultaneous variation was altogether lost.

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The Norman fashion period. England 1066-1154.

Content:

Empress Matilda, female regent, England, history, Middle ages, 12th century, costumes

The Lady of the English on her visit to Winchester on 3rd March 1141. Matilda was given a formal welcome to Winchester and handed the keys to the treasury.
Empress Matilda (also Empress Maude 1102 – 1167) was the first female regent of the kingdom of England, but was not crowned.

The Norman Period

William the Conqueror, 1066-1087.

by Mrs. Charles H. Ashdown.

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Knight served by his squire and pages. 11th century.

Knight in Armor, squire and pages costumes. 11th century clothing.

Knight served by his squire and pages. 11th century.

Knight served by his squire and pages. 11th century.

Chevalier servi par son écuyer et ses pages.
From the book: Costumes civils et militaires des Français à travers les siècles. 1883. Author: Jean Baptiste Marie Augustin Challamel. Engraver: Meunier, Jean-Baptiste. Ouvrage couronné par l’Académie francaise.

Associated to:

  1. The Carolingian Fashion Period from 987 to 1270.
  2. Life-size warrior figures in full armor and equipment. 
  3. 11th to 13th century. Medieval clothing in France.
  4. The Knights of the Teutonic Order of Knighthood.
  5. The First Crusade. The Knights Hospitallers.
  6. The Crusades. The Knights Templar.
  7. Middle Ages fashion history in Germany. 11th to 13th century.