1media/DP108809_thumb.jpg2024-02-25T14:56:10-08:00Zachary Barneyf5cc51c4ef7458536b9f67e6f461f73621becb95444042"Blind" Shaffron (Horse's Head Defense) for the Joust, 1490, Germany, Metropolitan Museum of Artplain2024-02-29T11:52:43-08:00Zachary Barneyf5cc51c4ef7458536b9f67e6f461f73621becb95
The WAM's Jousting Armor was created in Nuremberg, Germany, in the late 15th century. At the time, Germany was a loose collection of principalities and territories known as the Holy Roman Empire. Despite its fragmented nature, the Holy Roman Empire had been a central player in European politics for centuries. Its leader, the Holy Roman Emperor, was selected by a group of influential princes and nobles within the Empire, and then anointed by the Pope, legitimizing his claim as chosen by the people of the Empire and by God. The Holy Roman Emperor at the time when this armor was made was probably Emperor Maximilian I. When Maximillian was crowned as the Holy Roman Emperor in 1493, he was already the archduke of Austria. Maximilian was a member of the Habsburg family, which continued to dominate European politics for centuries after he became emperor.
