Historical Overview

Although the Norman helmet took its name from the descendants of the Vikings living in northern France – the Normans, and is most associated with the peoples of the north, it was nevertheless popular among all European medieval knights. It was also used by Slavic warriors. In this version, it was forged from a single piece of sheet metal with a profiled nasal to protect the face. A chainmail shield was often attached to the helmet, which was sometimes hung on a hook located on the nasal. Some claim that the conical shape of the helmet indicates influences from the East. Historical sources indicate that such a helmet belonged to Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of the Czech Republic and Poland. The original is in the museum at Prague Castle in Prague.