Name: Scottish Highland targe with Celtic cross
Brand: Windlass Steelcrafts
SKU: 805182
Price: 194.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Scottish Highland targe with Celtic cross

Leather belt strip brown 4 x 180-190 cm
£ 32 Incl. 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. Following the Jacobites' defeat, the use of targes was banned in Scotland.

The targe was not an isolated development. The Jacobite Wars should be understood within 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 maintained deep alliances with France, Spain, and Italy. The targe developed from Spanish and Italian rotella shields, which were highly popular during the Renaissance. In some cases, these shields also featured the characteristic central bosses. However, the targe was considerably cheaper and more durable, making it well-suited to use in the wet climate of the Scottish Highlands. Following the Disarming Act after the Battle of Culloden in 1746, many targes were destroyed. The targes known today were therefore mainly owned by aristocrats or captured by the English.

The targes of wealthier Scots were lavishly decorated. The targe of Charles Edward Stuart, for instance, featured a Medusa head and military trophies. This Windlass replica targe is beautifully decorated with a Celtic cross and brass fittings in circular patterns, reminiscent of Pictish art. The shield is covered in leather, and the reverse features leather straps for a secure grip.

The shield is well-suited to Scottish reenactment, Jacobite reenactment, and Scottish battles such as Culloden. It is also well-suited to cosplay or a Scottish costume, and makes a fine decorative piece for the home.