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c. 1575

Armor for Tournament Use (Saxon Rennzeuge)

Artist/maker unknown

Image 1 of 51 / 5

This armor illustrates the prolonged use of armor for mock combat at a few German courts when these contests were no longer popular in most parts of Europe. The name painted on the interior of the armor identifies it as re-worn by Lieutenant Colonel Christian Vitzthum von Eckstädt, who took part in the jousts held in 1719 to celebrate the marriage of Prince Frederick Augustus II of Saxony (1696-1763, ruled as prince elector of Saxony and king of Poland 1733 to 1763) to Archduchess Marie Josephe of Austria (1699-1757).

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