Armour from the Battle of Wisby 1361 by Bengt Thordeman

In 1361, outside the city of Wisby, 1,800 inhabitants tried to defend their town from the onslaught of King Waldemar of Denmark. They were slaughtered. Afterwards, the bodies were tossed in several large pits, fortuitously dug in a peat bog which preserved not only their bones, but also their armour.

Published originally in 1939 and out of print for decades, this work remains the most important record of the battle. There are many black and white photos, not only of the finds, but also of the assembled reconstructions. Numerous sketches add to the visual details. The text is clear and draws in references from all over the medieval world to show variations in amour construction. This is not a book for a beginner, but the serious student of armour will find it well worth the price.