Persian Kulah Khud Helmet

By Crusader1307

The Kulah Khud was a highly embellished type of War Helmet used by Armies of Central Asia and The Persian Empire, from the 16th thru 19th Century. By definition, ''Kulah Khud'' is translated to mean ''Devil Mask''. The design incorporated several well known Armor protective methods. The Conical shape of The Khud (which was very common for Centuries), was designed to allow a downward sword stroke to cleave off the helmet and downward. The Khud incorporated ''decorative'' Horns on the top – which could also snare or otherwise fowl a sword. The Khud also employed a Nasal Strip or piece of elongated metal attached to the front of the helmet. This protected the face to a degree from slashes directly made to the face. To support The Nasal Strip, it was a common Central Asain practice to attack a sheet of light chain mail to the face front, as a ''veil''. Finally, much like the European Cerevelle, a further sheet of chain mail was attacked to the entire perimeter of the lower portion of the Helmet. This mail extended downwards loosely – to fall over the shoulders. Seen in use from The Late Middle Ages and well into the 19th Century, The Kulah Khud's ''Devil'' design was seen as a type of visualization of a Demon's Head. It was adopted by many Countries and due to the often high expense of making them, were regulated to Persian Nobility. Later, such Helmets were ''passed down'' as a generational piece within a Family. Even as late as the 1880s, whole Regiments of so armored Fighters were fielded, as seen by The British during The Mahdist and Sudanese Wars.