Resources: www.nps.gov/cabr/historyculture/conquistador-clothing.htm www.loc.gov/exhib
Resources: http://www.nps.gov/cabr/historyculture/conquistador-clothing.htm http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/exploring-the-early-americas/interactives/conquest-of-mexico-paintings/painting2/enlarge.html Much of our view on what the conquistadors of Spain looked like come from Romantic paintings done after the conquests of Mexico and Peru. The reality is that many conquistadors did not look like the glitzy armored heroes as their European counterparts depicted them. Many of them could not afford expensive armor, horses, and other aspects of the gilded image of a Conquistador. Though these military men were part of a national army, there was no standard in dress and uniform. Thus, whatever these men could put together, they used. When Cortes marched into Mexico most of his men lacked suits of armor, and so he had suits of quilted cotton armor made for them. Along with leather jackets, this became the common dress. When it could be found and afforded chain-mail shirts and vests were common. Though obsolete in the 16th century this armor was inexpensive and could be traded readily to eager adventurers. List of equipment for Cavalry unit. CORONADOMUSTER LIST, 1540 CAVALRY EQUIPMENT (225 horsemen) Armor: 5 full plate harnesses (including helmets) four of them Coronado’s 4 full sets of plate horse armor, all Coronado’s 7 corselets or ¾ plate (breast & back plates, collar, armor for arms, armor for upper legs, and an open helmet; the Borgonata was most popular) 8 cuirasses (breast & back plates) 55 Cota de Mala (long chainmail shirt, all but one sleeveless) 2 Jacqueta de Mala (sleeveless chainmail vest) 3 sets of chainmail for the legs. 207 Gambeson/Esquipil quilted cotton jackets 65 leather jackets 20 morrion style helmets 7 borgonata style helmets 23 buffe (plate or chainmail protection for face and neck) 2 gorgets (plate collar) 2 metal gauntlets (not a pair) 19 “armor for the head” (just what this refers to is not stated, but it is differentiated from helmets) 4 quilted cotton armor for the head Weapons: Every man had a lance and a sword 4 “arms of Castile” 3 crossbows 3 matchlock muskets 1 two handed sword 1 dagger 2 lances (Since these two were specifically noted, they presumably are the heavier impact type weapon not normally carried in the field in Nueva España.) INFANTRY EQUIPMENT (62 men, 5 of whom also had horses) Armor: 1 corselet/ ¾ plate 6 leather jackets 43 Gambeson/Esquipil quilted cotton jackets 1 set of chainmail sleeves. 21 metal knee plates (no man had two, usually worn on leading leg.) 2 borgonata type helmets Weapons: 49 swords 1 two handed sword 12 daggers 21 matchlock muskets 16 crossbows -- source link