Halbharnisch

This half-armour was first recorded in the 1593 inventory of the Armoury of Heroes assembled by Archduke Ferdinand II as an armour made for Stephan Báthory, Voivode of Transylvania and King of Poland. In the inventory of Ferdinand’s estate, compiled in 1596, it is listed as ‘Stephan, King of Poland. One half blued armour, with decorative bands and gold inlays, together with a burgonet in the same manner’ (Steffan, künig in Polln. Ain halb plau angeloffne rüstung, mit strichen und gold eingeschlagen, darbei ain sturmhauben von gleicher arbeit). In the illustrated inventory of the Armoury of Heroes, the Armamentarium Heroicum published in 1601–03, Báthory is depicted wearing this armour.

Stephan Báthory was elected Voivode of Transylvania in 1571; in 1576 he became King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. Around 1580 he fought against Czar Ivan the Terrible in the Livonian War, which ended following the protracted but ultimately unsuccessful siege of Pskov.

This half-armour was produced in a central European workshop, possibly one located in Prague. Note on the breastplate a crucifix set before the skyline of a city, complete with a multi-spired steeple. The wide ornamental bands are damascened in gold with arabesques.

The burgonet is a slightly earlier Turkish work (probably executed around 1550). It, too, is lavishly damascened in gold with plant motifs. The helmet’s red silk lining and two damaged and faded chin straps, originally made of red and green silk, also survive. Báthory may have received the burgonet during his tenure as Voivode of Transylvania, perhaps as a gift of honour from the Sultan, either Selim II or Murad III.