The buckler

The buckler is possibly an evolution of the later Roman parma. These round shields had a similar shape to later bucklers, but were made of wood and had a separate shield boss in the center. The parma evolved into small round shields, while the Roman clipeus developed into the larger round shields that we can see with the Franks and Vikings and from the early Middle Ages. 

The heyday of the buckler was in the late Middle Ages to early Renaissance, where the typical round shields that we associate with the buckler emerged. This type of shield was very popular and was adopted by many different cultures around the world. Bucklers remained very popular in later periods in Persia, India, and even America.

The buckler was more manageable than a shield and was used in many different contexts. They were used during duels, as depicted in various fight books, but they also served military purposes, being very popular among heavily armored knights in armour. Bucklers were very suitable to take on trips or even to the bathhouse. In the 13th century, for example, the Norwegian Birkebeins took their bucklers during a surprise attack in the bathhouse. 

The buckler also appears in many stories. Shakespeare, Chaucer, Sir Gawain, the Decameron, and even the Robin Hood stories mention the buckler. The daring adventurer is still called a “swashbuckler”, with the buckler symbolizing this personality.

Defining a buckler is more difficult than you might think. It seems like a simple weapon, but it is surprisingly tricky to determine exactly what a buckler is. The definition is based on two aspects:

1. Morphological characteristics (the shape of the shield)

2. The use of the buckler

The earliest source describing the function of the buckler is the manuscript Ms. I.33 from the early 14th century. Royal Armouries Ms. I.33 is the oldest European fight book (fechtbuch) illustrating various weapon handling techniques. It is also known as The Tower manuscript. By that time, the buckler was firmly established in medieval society. There are also older depictions of the buckler in combat situations with various weapons.

Therefore, a buckler can be defined as follows:

• It is a shield held in the middle

• It has a maximum diameter of approximately 45 cm

The buckler is versatile, has so many forms, and possesses so many characteristics that it is almost impossible to define it further. This definition applies to bucklers in all cultures.

The reason why the shield is held in the center is due to the way the shield is used. There are many manuals on the use of the buckler. From 1300, the weapons that were combined with the buckler changed significantly, and the basic use of the buckler also changed, but always within certain limits. Regardless of the technique, the buckler had to always be maneuverable, so it could be rotated in the hand. It was often used to protect the hand holding the main weapon. This is only possible with this type of grip.

An example is the Scottish targe, which sometimes resembled a buckler in shape and size, but was attached to the forearm. Its use was fundamentally different from that of a true buckler. It does not matter whether the handle ran along the midline or was attached with two straps; what is important is that the fist is in the center of the shield and that the shield can rotate with it.

Practical experiments show that a shield of about 45 cm is the maximum size that can still be used as a buckler, according to medieval and Renaissance manuals. Larger shields function more like regular shields. Italian rotella-shields demonstrate this. Training and experiments indicate that 40 cm is still manageable, and 35 cm or smaller is ideal for real sword-and-buckler combat. Larger shields can also be bucklers, but are much more limited in use. Being light enough to use with one hand follows directly from these observations.

Over the centuries, the originally mostly round bucklers took on many forms and sizes. Some had a clear combat function, others simply followed the fashion or taste of the owner. A buckler was often personal property and thus dependent on the financial means of the owner. Therefore, we see many different materials, decorations, and extra’s in existing bucklers. 

Although most bucklers were round, there were always different shapes. Different regions’s often had their own preferences. In 15th-century Italy, trapezoidal, wavy bucklers seemed to be preferred, while in 14th-century Wales, more round, strongly concave bucklers were used. The round variant with central boss was popular everywhere.

To maintain an overview, Schmidt established a typology based on:

1. Basic shape (Roman numerals)

2. Cross-section (lowercase letters)
   
   

Basic shapes:

• Type I: round

• Type II: rectangular or trapezoidal

• Type III: oval or teardrop-shaped
  
  

Cross-sections:

• Type a: flat
  Type b: convex

• Type c: concave

• Type d: wavy
  

By combining these two, the buckler can be roughly categorized, which aids in discussion and research. The most common types are Ia, Ib, Ic, and IId. Spikes, knobs, bars, hooks, etc., are not included in the typology, as that would become too complex.