The Scottish targe

The Scottish targe is a type of round shield with straps on the back, which was used by the Scottish Highlanders in the early modern period. From the end of the 16th century until the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the targe was the main defensive weapon of the Scottish Highlanders in battle. In February 1596, clan leader John Grant of Freuchie managed to gather 500 men, of whom 40 were armed "according to Highland tradition" with bows, helmets, swords, and targes.

After the disastrous defeat of the Jacobites at Culloden, the carrying of the targe was prohibited by the Disarming Act, and many were destroyed or repurposed. The specimens that have been preserved often feature intricate patterns and decorations, indicating that they originally belonged to important individuals.

The targe is a hollow (inwardly curved) shield, equipped on the inside with straps: one adjustable with a buckle to secure to the forearm, and another as a handle for the left hand. In some cases, the Scottish targe is equipped at the front center with a pike, allowing for strikes to be executed with this weapon. 

The word targe comes from the Frankish targa = shield (the Proto-Germanic targo = edge). In late Old English, this was a general word for shield. The diminutive target acquired the meaning of "target" to aim at in the 18th century.

The term was used for various types of shields used by infantry troops from the 13th to the 16th century, or earlier. From the 15th century, the term could also refer to special shields used in jousting. A considerable number were made purely for decoration.

Targes are generally round shields with a diameter of 45 to 55 cm. The inside consisted of two very thin layers of flat wooden boards, with the wood grains laid crosswise. These were fastened together with small wooden pins, creating a sort of plywood.

The front was covered with sturdy cowhide, often decorated with embossed patterns in the Celtic style of the late Renaissance. This leather was attached with many brass (sometimes silver) nails, and sometimes brass plates were added for extra strength and decoration. The decoration ensured that the cowhide remained tightly on the shield and thus protected the wood from blows and impacts. Many targes have a shield boss in the center, where in some cases a pike can also be attached. In peacetime, this pike can be stored in a sheath on the back of the shield. The pike ensured that the targe could be used not only for defensive purposes but also as a weapon, similar to some types of 15th -16th century bucklers. The inside of the Scottish targe was covered with goat or sheep fur. This had a shock-absorbing effect. Scottish targes were very sturdy shields and offered protection against swords, bayonets, and in some cases even indirect bullets and other projectiles. 

A Highlander often fought with a basket hilted broadsword in their right hand, the sword hand. This was combined with a dagger, the dirk they carried in their left hand under the targe. The leather straps kept the Scottish targe hanging on the arm, allowing them to easily wield their weapons with both hands. This method was combined with their famous Highland charge, which was particularly effective from ambushes. Accounts of the battle of Falkirk (1745) and Prestonpans (1746) show how powerful a well-planned Highland charge could be. In the first wave, the enemy was fired upon with muskets, after which the entire line charged at the enemy. Due to his armor, the Highlander was equipped with three deadly weapons: the targe, broadsword, and dirk used in combination during an impact. 

The Scottish targe was not a standalone development. The Jacobite wars should be viewed in a broader European context, as part of the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714) or, even more broadly, the conflicts that arose between Catholic and Protestant Europe. The House of Stuart was Catholic and had deep alliances with France, Spain, and Italy. The targe evolved from the Spanish and Italian rotella shields which were very popular during the Renaissance. In some cases, these shields were also equipped with the characteristic spikes in the center of the shield. However, the targe was considerably cheaper and more durable to use in the wet climate of the Scottish Highlands.