Bones

Since the 12th century, helmets with a high spherical cone, with a platypus and half-cutouts for the eyes, crowned with a spire, have been spreading in Russia. Moreover, the spire was often fastened with riveting in the "apple" - a spherical top of the helmet. The "apple" was the upper part of the conical sleeve, which was the upper part of the tulle. This sleeve at the base was sometimes distinguished by four protrusions, which serve to rivet it to the crown. The helmets were often supplied with a burgundy, fastened with the help of cylindrical bushings, and from the 13th century - on hinges. By design, the helmets were riveted or soldered ( copper , bronze or silver ) from two halves (front and back or from two side), and, possibly, monolithic. The nacelle was either monolithic with a tulle, or stuck to it. These helmets are probably associated with Kipchak influence. At least, they were used not only by Russians, but also by many neighboring nomads, however, they suggest that a significant part of the nomadic helmets were made by Russian blacksmiths. Helmets with reduced scavengers date back to the time of the Mongol invasion - they are believed to have been designed to increase visibility for the convenience of archery . Similar helmets are found in the Caucasus and Volga Bulgaria . One similar helmet is also found in Hungary . In addition, then there are helmets without a pronounced underfloor ( Mirovka ). Some helmets were decorated - for example, a helmet from Taganchi is decorated with a silver notch. The height of the hull was 20–25 cm, the diameter of the base was 19–25 cm, and sometimes the helmets were longer in length than in width. And the thickness of the metal was small - no more than 1.5 mm. The thickness of the bearing is usually greater - up to 3 mm. ^[6] Of all helmets, up to the 13th century, according to archeology from the territory of Russia, this type was almost a quarter, thus probably being more common than any other type. These helmets are spread thanks to the form most suitable in areas of horse-saber combat. ^[7]

From the second half of the 13th century, helmets with an even rim without scaffolds were found. They were also riveted or soldered from several parts or from one. Tula is often faceted or corrugated. The Mongol invasion , as well as the Iranian influence, where such helmets were common, also contributed to the formation of helmets. Similar helmets existed in the Balkans , and in Turkey , and in the countries of Central Asia . In the XVI century, high helmets in Russia occupy a dominant position. For example, in a picture of 1530 depicting the battle of Orsha , almost all Russian soldiers are depicted in such helmets ^[8] . Their height could exceed 30 cm, and the minimum thickness of the metal was 1.2-1.8 mm. They could be supplemented with barmitsa , no later than the XIV century - with headphones , and from about the XV - with a visor (in this case, there was a frequent sliding platoon). Field helmets existed, but were extremely rare. In Asia (but not in Russia), sometimes a helmet was installed to the helmet, more often on a visor, for a plume . Later, a little hat with a helmet-shaped dome has some use. The shape of the helmets is called bell-shaped, but it is close to the helmet-shaped heads of the Churches . However, helmets were distinguished by a variety of forms. Some were distinguished by a small hemispherical part, smoothly turning into a conical one. In others, the conical pod began directly on the top of the head. Others - it is more likely to be called cylindrospheroconic, sometimes they were completely decorated with coinage. Spheroconic helmets , in which the straight generators of the conical part were tangent to the hemispherical, were used in West Asia - they are close to helmets, but they are not a variety of them. In Central Asia , helmets of various shapes were used in the 15th – 18th centuries, but a significant part of them were riveted from 4–9 or more segments and pulled together with a hoop, and on top they were equipped with a conical sleeve, but they were rarely supplied with a spire ^[9] . On some helmets of the 13th – 15th centuries, the transition from the hemispherical to the conical (with concave generators) part was angular, which somewhat brought them closer to the tent-shaped helmets and eastern bacinets , and was reflected in Russian miniatures. Similar helmets were found on the territory of Prussia and Poland , which is associated with Russian influence, and date from the 14th – 15th centuries. Russian helmets of the 15th-16th centuries, usually with a monolithic tulle, to which a spire was fastened with rivets. Moreover, the tulle was folded from one sheet of metal, and the seam was soldered or, less commonly, riveted. On some helmets, the conical pod was riveted and soldered to the top with copper solder. ^[10] The find of 1895 in Ipatievsky Lane of Moscow , where 5 helmets made earlier than 1547 were found at once, is indicative. All of them - with monolithic tulles, and one - with a patch. One of the helmets is distinguished by a monolithic one with a crown. On three helmets there was also a top - a spire or a bar. ^[6] In general, besides the spire, there were other tops — for example, a small ball, a bump, a turnip, a Cross, a metal bar, and sometimes there was no pronounced top. Sometimes a bright flag was attached to the spire or rod - Yalovets. So, in the Tale of the Mamayev Massacre , it is said:

the armor of the Russian sons, like water all the winds swaying, helmets worn on their heads, like the dawn of the morning bucket glowing, and Ialovtsi their helmets, like a fire of fire, plows.

However, in Russia and Asia, Yalovtsi were used surprisingly rarely. In addition, their appearance is attributed to the XV - beginning of the XVI century. Apparently, they played a subordinate function and were used by the commanders of small detachments. Previously, it was mistakenly believed that helmets were often worn on top of half the lower shishaks , as well as tinsels . In particular, it is described in the Moscow viewing books; even foreigners noted that “Russians sometimes put on double bumps” ^[11] . However, recent studies show the illegality of such conclusions. ^[12]

Helmets protected from any blow from above, and much better than any other helmet. But the disadvantage was a pretty poor side impact protection. The height of the helmet in this case played the role of a lever, and a powerful side impact could take the helmet off its head (the presence of such a detail as chin straps on Russian helmets is unknown). Therefore, in Russia in the second half of the 16th century they were replaced by cones and iron caps , devoid of such a lack. By the beginning of the XVII century, they are almost completely obsolete. ^[13]

The most famous Russian shells are the shell of Ivan the Terrible , as well as the shell of Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich. The helm of Ivan the Terrible, forged until 1547. This steel helmet, richly decorated with a gold notch, is executed very high quality. It differs in form from standard Russian shelomes - it is closer to cylindrical, which was more common in the 15th century. The conical part is divided into narrow sectors, decorated with ornaments in the Turkish style. On the crown there is an inscription: “Helmet of Prince Ivan Vasilyevich the Great Prince from (to) Vasily Ivanovich thanks to the autocracy of all Russia”. Now stored in the Royal Arsenal in Stockholm , where it was first mentioned in 1663. According to one legend, the shell was captured by the Poles in the Time of Troubles , and during the Polish-Swedish war it was taken to Sweden. According to another version, the shell was captured by the Swedes as a result of the battle near the castle of Lode . ^[14]

The helmet of the son of Grozny - Ivan Ivanovich - was forged until 1557, and is stored in the Armory . It is made of iron, decorated with coinage, notched gold (but less richly than his father's helmet). The spherical conical shape of the helmet is the same as that of the helmets of ordinary Russian soldiers of that time, but it is small in size. There are holes for attaching chain mail. Along the crown is an inscription in gold: “By the command of the Blessed and Christ-loving Tsar of Great Prince John Vasilyevich of All Russia Autocrat, this helmet was made to his noble son Tsarevich Ivan Ioannovich, in the fourth summer from his birth, in the predominant and reigning city of Moscow, in the summer of 70 (65) ), June is the 8th day. ” ^[eleven]

It is also interesting that Fedor Ioannovich from the King of Poland Sigismund III in 1591 was presented with a helmet of Austrian work, excessively decorated with reliefs. This helmet is riveted from two halves and equipped with fields. ^[eleven]

The royal helmet was used during ceremonies, it was held by the main squire - the gunsmith . ^[15]

• Norman helmet
• Princely shelom
• Shishak
• Budenovka - the headdress of a soldier of the Red Army stylized as Old Russian shelter in the first time of its existence.