Contenidos
The barbera, also known as barbote, is a fundamental piece of medieval armor that played an essential role in protecting the warrior. This device was attached to the helmet to safeguard the lower part of the face, including the mouth, chin, and jaws. Throughout history, the barbera has received multiple names, such as babera, baberol, barberol, babador, barbique, baberón, barbete, and guardapapo.
Its use dates back to the mid-14th century, and its initial design was conceived to provide support for the bacinete, a type of helmet that, due to its weight and structure, could move unstably during combat. Over time, innovations such as the gorguera or gorguerín, which was attached to the coselete and espaldar with straps, significantly improved its functionality and protection.
The main function of the barbote is to secure the protection of the following areas of the warrior on the battlefield:
- Mouth
- Chin
- Jaws
Barbotes were commonly made of steel and iron, ensuring their resistance during fights.
Barbotes adapted in various ways to different types of helmets and headpieces of the time, demonstrating impressive versatility:
- Bacinete: The barbote was attached with straps or hinges, allowing the warrior to lift and lower it as needed, thus providing additional protection without sacrificing mobility.
- Closed helmet: In this type, the barbote was an integral part of the helmet, extending from the bottom to protect the warrior's face and neck.
- Great helmet: Designed to be more robust, the barbote in these helmets extended up to the upper chest, especially in the Spanish models of the 15th and 16th centuries, known as
