Editing Shield (section)

=== Post-classical ===
[[File:Angkor_Wat.-_Battle_of_Devas_and_Asuras_(4).jpg|right|thumb|Soldiers of the [[Khmer Empire]] use round shields. Located at the [[Bayon]] temple(12th/13th century).]]
[[File:Sinjska alka - shield bearer and two squires.jpg|thumb|Shield bearer in the Croatian 18th century [[Tournament (medieval)|tournament]] [[Sinjska alka]]]]
Typical in the early European [[Middle Ages]] were [[Viking Age arms and armour#Round shields|round shields]] with light, non-splitting wood like [[Little-leaf Linden|linden]], [[fir]], [[alder]], or [[Populus|poplar]], usually reinforced with [[leather]] cover on one or both sides and occasionally metal rims, encircling a metal [[shield boss]]. These light shields suited a fighting style where each incoming blow is intercepted with the boss in order to deflect it. The bosses could also be used as a secondary weapon by punching with the shield.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dickinson |first=Tanya |last2=Harke |first2=Heinrich |date=1999 |title=Early Anglo-Saxon Shields |url=https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/36748448/Early_Anglo-Saxon_Shields_1992-libre.pdf?1424759909=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DEarly_Anglo_Saxon_shields_Archaeologia_M.pdf&Expires=1743046579&Signature=gOozrAIIY-zjPrTMDkRfPLNJK-GxT5G11V2Y3lTVVPaV3Ha6wXft0RZM7FoZJ15XJFjf7BNY-ob2VBvrxZvWZpzd8xYkBWB4-RljAAG6FkhnnAWZlSFMLKKi3upca7kwP5hLoewI594X1UMky2WegoVfeosvMEHeOHkgi3AcL42ipU~vfjehDxsJXEz-DBCIIkT3LjRobpF5xi1dIj2qofE3jdkG~Lm~bN9~x2TanuwiIrHocYO6tcau8cTdVUg5710Z3TGW0~-60zFboPrnB~ap~fSPEdE2s90925En1Dvy0Cp9jQ5cLNKh94E3Hur1ixLfbRf~g-D1e9DeLv-P7w__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA |journal=The Antiquaries Journal |volume=110 |pages=61 |isbn=0-85431-260-9 |issn=0261-3409}}</ref> These shields were often used in formation forming a [[Shield wall|wall of shields]]. The Normans later introduced the [[kite shield]] around the 10th century, which was rounded at the top and tapered at the bottom. This gave some protection to the user's legs, and was especially suited for horsemen, whose legs would otherwise be vulnerable.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Oakeshott |first=R. Ewart |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HLwnRGEaHfgC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q=kite&f=false |title=The Archaeology of Weapons: Arms and Armor from Prehistory to the Age of Chivalry |date=1996-01-01 |publisher=Courier Corporation |isbn=978-0-486-29288-5 |language=en}}</ref> The kite shield predominantly features [[enarmes]], leather straps used to grip the shield tight to the arm. Used by foot and mounted troops alike, it gradually came to replace the round shield as the common choice until the end of the 12th century, when more efficient limb armour allowed the shields to grow shorter, and be entirely replaced by the 14th century.

As body armour improved, [[knight]]'s shields became smaller, leading to the familiar [[heater shield]] style. Both kite and heater style shields were made of several layers of laminated wood,<ref>{{Cite book|last=SYED RAMSEY.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/971924562|title=Tools of war;history of weapons in ancient times.|date=12 May 2016 |publisher=ALPHA EDITIONS|isbn=978-93-86019-80-6|location=[Place of publication not identified]|oclc=971924562}}</ref> with a gentle curve in cross section. The heater style inspired the shape of the symbolic [[heraldic shield]] that is still used today. Eventually, specialised shapes were developed such as the ''bouche'', which had a [[lance]] rest cut into the upper corner of the lance side, to help guide it in combat or tournament. Free standing shields called [[pavise]]s, which were propped up on stands, were used by medieval [[crossbow]]men who needed protection while reloading.

In time, some armoured foot knights gave up shields entirely in favour of mobility and two-handed weapons. Other knights and common soldiers adopted the [[buckler]], giving rise to the term "[[swashbuckler]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hadesign.co.uk/SSA/html/buckler.htm |archive-date=2013-10-07 |title=The Sussex Rapier School |publisher=Hadesign.co.uk |access-date=2008-12-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007034310/http://www.hadesign.co.uk/SSA/html/buckler.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The buckler is a small round shield, typically between 8 and 16&nbsp;inches (20–40&nbsp;cm) in diameter. The buckler was one of very few types of shield that were usually made of metal. Small and light, the buckler was easily carried by being hung from a belt; it gave little protection from missiles and was reserved for hand-to-hand combat where it served both for protection and offence. The buckler's use began in the Middle Ages and continued well into the 16th century.

In Italy, the [[Targe|targa]], [[Parma (shield)|parma]], and [[Rodeleros|rotella]] were used by common people, fencers and even knights. The development of [[plate armour]] made shields less and less common as it eliminated the need for a shield. Lightly armoured troops continued to use shields after [[men-at-arms]] and knights ceased to use them. Shields continued in use even after [[gunpowder]] powered weapons made them essentially obsolete on the battlefield. In the 18th century, the [[Scottish clans]] used a small, round targe that was partially effective against the firearms of the time, although it was arguably more often used against British infantry bayonets and cavalry swords in close-in fighting.

During the 19th century, non-industrial cultures with little access to guns were still using war shields. [[Zulu Kingdom|Zulu]] warriors carried large lightweight shields called [[Nguni shield|Ishlangu]] made from a single ox hide supported by a wooden spine.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rrtraders.com/Shields/zuluw.htm |title=Zulu Shield (Longo) |publisher=Rrtraders.com |access-date=26 December 2008 |archive-date=24 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924223948/http://rrtraders.com/Shields/zuluw.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> This was used in combination with a short spear ([[assegai#Iklwa|iklwa]]) and/or [[club (weapon)|club]]. Other African shields include [[Glagwa]] from [[Cameroon]] or [[Nguba]] from [[Republic of the Congo|Congo]].