Name: Scottish Highland targe with Celtic cross
Brand: Windlass Steelcrafts
SKU: 805182
Price: 207.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Scottish Highland targe with Celtic cross

Leather belt strip brown 4 x 180-190 cm
$ 34 Excl. VAT

Product description

A Scottish shield by Windlass Steelcrafts featuring a Celtic cross, designed for Scottish reenactment and enthusiasts of Scottish history. Scottish targes were the primary means of protection for the Jacobites in battle until the Battle of Culloden. After the Jacobites' defeat, Scotland banned the use of targes.

The targe didn't develop in isolation. Understand the Jacobite Wars in a broader European context — part of the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714) and the wider conflicts between Catholic and Protestant Europe. The House of Stewart was Catholic and held deep alliances with France, Spain, and Italy. The targe evolved from Spanish and Italian rotella shields, which were very popular during the Renaissance. Some of these shields also featured the characteristic central bosses. But the targe was far cheaper and more durable, making it ideal for the wet climate of the Scottish Highlands. After the Disarming Act following the Battle of Culloden in 1746, many targes were destroyed. The targes we know today were mainly owned by aristocrats or captured by the English.

Wealthier Scots decorated their targes lavishly. Charles Edward Stuart's targe, for example, featured a Medusa head and military trophies. This Windlass replica is beautifully decorated with a Celtic cross and brass fittings in circular patterns, reminiscent of Pictish art. Leather covers the shield, and leather straps on the back provide a secure grip.

This shield is perfect for Scottish reenactment, Jacobite reenactment, and battles like Culloden. It also works great for cosplay or a Scottish costume, and makes a beautiful decorative piece for your home.