''Tear Drop'' Shield

By Crusader1307

The standard War Shield of use, The Tear Drop Shield was based on The Kite Shield. Developed around the 11th Century, The Tear Drop was not as defined (at the bottom), as was The Kite Shield. This allowed for a more stable ground placement when deploying as a “Shield Wall”. Roughly 5 to 6.5 feet in length and 3.5 feet in width, The Tear Drop was a common component for Infantry and Cavalry, alike. They were first constructed from wooden frames (often with treated animal hide). This would give way to light iron shielding. In some cases “heavy shields” could weigh up to 10 to 15-pounds! The often featured religious iconography or bore Imperial symbolism (if a Royal or Noble Unit).