Shields from the late Middle Ages

Among the weapons once stored in Vienna’s Civic Armoury, are a total of sixty-eight nearly human-size painted wooden shields from the late Middle Ages, which at their time of origin were called “targes” or “pavises.” Shields of this type were set up on the ground next to one another to form protective walls, behind which, bowmen and crossbowmen, but also the numerous foot servants armed with long spears found cover.