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In order to pursue his ambitions in France, Henry VIII formed an alliance with the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I. This painting records their meeting and the main events pertaining to Henry’s first campaign against the French in 1513.

The composit
European Armour in the Royal Collection

An introduction to European armour in the Royal Collection.

JACOB HALDER (ACTIVE 1576-1608)

Close helmet for the field from the armour garniture of Henry, Prince of Wales (RCIN 72831.o)

c.1608

In the Middle Ages and throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, armour was made from iron or an alloy of iron. Although steel is stronger than iron, armourers at the royal workshops at Greenwich – where this helmet was made – continuously experimented with methods to make it even tougher. These sophisticated processes involved heating the steel to a cherry red colour at around 800ºC and quenching it in oil or water, and then heating it again at a lower temperature in order to 'temper' the metal and make it less brittle. The resulting steel might be up to four or five times harder than iron. Recent investigation into the metallurgy of this helmet demonstrates that the skull has been both quenched and tempered to make it harder and tougher.


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