History Channel - Knights and Armor (1994)
Arms and armour is a tremendously evocative subject, conjuring up images in the mind of great crusades, gallant heroes and medieval battles. Our imaginations are lit up by the subject and we continue to be fascinated by it after centuries. The idea of a bygone age of derring-do and adventure appeals to our romantic stories we have heard of gallant knights, courageous in battle, overcoming evil. The story of knights is the story of their armour, from simple and functional, to the almost futuristic and fantastical. Join HISTORY for a look at the story of the knights and their armour, from their early beginnings to the peak of their power, to their decline and the legacy they have left us today. Knights and Armour combines the adventure and heroism of Excalibur, with the romance and chivalry of Camelot. Following, in part, the incredible true story of the quintessential knight, Sir William Marshal, Knights and Armour travels to the battlegrounds and ancient courts to tell the glorious tale of the knights who cut majestic and colourful figures whether on parade, jousting or fighting hand to hand with mace, sword, axe or lance. Clad in burnished metal upon a steed of superior might, William Marshal was an invincible force. In battles and tournaments throughout medieval Europe, he brought unprecedented glory to himself and to his queen. Journey back to the days of chivalry and knighthood for the story of this quintessential knight, and of the arms, technology, warfare and romance of his majestic profession. In Austria, the evolution of battle behind visor and chain mail is recounted through the celebrated Graz collection of armor. In Britain, Normandy, and on other storied grounds, the life and times of Marshal come alive through interviews, recreation and historical artwork. Join Marshal on the parade grounds and battlefields, where his astonishing successes made him a legend. Trace the history of arms and armor with an up-close look at the world-famous Graz collection of Armor in Austria. Travel to some of the most celebrated battlegrounds of Europe to relive the epic clashes where the steel-clad warriors clashed. KNIGHTS AND ARMOR recaptures the chivalry and grandeur of a legendary, by-gone age.
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