Norman Conquest Encyclopedia
Ventail
12th century ventail. (© Osprey Publishing Limited, from Warrior 1 Norman Knight 950-1066 AD, by Christopher Gravett, artwork by Christa Hook)
The ventail or aventail was a mail flap that protected the neck and lower face of a Normanknight and could be opened and shut as the wearer desired. There is some doubt about what is illustrated in the Bayeux Tapestry as embroidery is not a precise illustrative technique. It appears that some knights have a reinforcing square of mail on the chest, but this may be a conventional representation of a ventail.
See also: Armour; Bayeux Tapestry; knight; Norman
Related Reading:
- Norman Knight AD 950-1204
(Warrior 1)