Name: Scottish Highland targe
Brand: Windlass Steelcrafts
SKU: 805181
Price: 158.50 EUR
Availability: InStock

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Product description

A Scottish shield by Windlass Steelcrafts, 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 defeat of the Jacobites, the use of targes was banned in Scotland.

The targe was not an isolated development. The Jacobite Wars should be seen in a broader European context, as part of the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714), or more broadly, the conflicts between Catholic and Protestant Europe. The House of Stewart was Catholic and had deep alliances with France, Spain, and Italy. The targe developed from Spanish and Italian rotella shields, which were very popular during the Renaissance. In some cases, these shields also featured the characteristic central bosses. However, the targe was significantly cheaper and more durable, ideal for use in 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 therefore mainly owned by aristocrats or captured by the English.

The targes of wealthier Scots were lavishly decorated. For example, the targe of Charles Edward Stuart featured a Medusa head and military trophies. This Windlass replica targe is also beautifully decorated with brass fittings, circles, and other geometric motifs, reminiscent of Pictish art. The shield is covered in leather, and the back features leather straps for a secure grip.

This shield is perfect for Scottish reenactment, Jacobite reenactment, and Scottish battles such as Culloden. It is also ideal for cosplay or a Scottish costume, and makes a beautiful decorative piece for the home.