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This is a question that's been nagging me.

Why does Guy of Gisbourne wear horsehide armor?

In one version of the story I heard, he says, "it offers protection as good as any mail". Is this true? If so, why was horsehide armor not generally used? Or was using a horsehide in that way seen as morally incorrect? Or is the reason something else entirely?

I googled it but didn't find a good answer (and the Wikipedia answer isn't credible and the Talk page suggests as much)

Aestu of Bleeding Hollow...

Nihilism is a copout.

Horses are force multipliers.

Even if horsehide is as strong as chainmail - which I doubt - you don't have to kill your force multipliers to obtain chainmail. Even in a thick wooded areas (prevalent in Robin Hood England) where the horse wasn't as useful as a war machine, it still probably served better function as a work animal than armor.

I don't know of any English traditions that held horses sacred. Many Anglo-Saxons - who invaded and conquered many parts of England - did hold horses sacred, specifically white haired stallions. But I'm pretty certain that tradition was not observed in Robin Hood England.

As to why does Guy wear horsehide, you're guess is as good as mine. Maybe Guy represented the Anglo-Saxons (and Robin Hood's estate and lands represented England). Maybe the author making him the antagonist betrayed a sort of disdain the author had against the Anglo-Saxons that invaded, and resentment that they won.

Similar to how some Scandinavians have disdain for Christianity because a thousand years ago, Christianity won out against Paganism, and they still resent that fact.

Also, why was this directed at me?

I thought you had an interest in/knowledge of indigenous European mythology.

Fwiw I assumed that combat horses were discrete from workhorses.

That's an interesting theory though - that the common people resented Norman Christianity.

Aestu of Bleeding Hollow...

Nihilism is a copout.

Agricultural/work horses are discrete from war horses. You wouldn't ride a shire to war, and you certianly wouldn't hook an arabian to a plow.

Edit: edited to fix retard moment

Most of my knowledge falls into Scandinavian folklore.

So in other words, you only know about six-legged horses. Got it.

I'll remember you if I have any questions. =D

Aestu of Bleeding Hollow...

Nihilism is a copout.

Sleipnir has eight legs.

You can ask me about lesser known Finnish mythology too.

Perkele calls.

If destruction exists, we must destroy everything.
Shuruppak Yuratuhl
Slaad Shrpk Breizh

good leather armor=same slashing protection as mail without the added weight

most new recruits arent trained properly to use the point>edge so the tradeoff may be worth it

I am THE man.
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee15 ... 171424.jpg

there were several variations of leather armor that had low weight but not much of a trade off in defense. I dont know much about laquered leather or how it was made, but brigandine was very popular for a while, and it was mostly leather.