The crakows!
A popular late medieval type of shoe with extremely long toes. They reached the peak of popularity in 15th century.
Thought to have originated in KrakΓ³w, they were also called poulaines as in "souliers Γ la poulaine" (shoes in the Polish fashion)!
A popular late medieval type of shoe with extremely long toes. They reached the peak of popularity in 15th century.
Thought to have originated in KrakΓ³w, they were also called poulaines as in "souliers Γ la poulaine" (shoes in the Polish fashion)!
But not everyone liked them.
Catholic clergy consistently complained about them and described the long points on their shoes "more suitable as claws for demons than as ornaments for men!"
Of course the nobility didn't care about these complaints. They loved crakows!
Catholic clergy consistently complained about them and described the long points on their shoes "more suitable as claws for demons than as ornaments for men!"
Of course the nobility didn't care about these complaints. They loved crakows!
They were worn by both men and women.
Anne of Bohemia brought them to England in 1382 after her marriage with Richard II.
As expected an anonymous monk complained about these curious new shoes, "With this queen there came from Bohemia into England those accursed vices."
Anne of Bohemia brought them to England in 1382 after her marriage with Richard II.
As expected an anonymous monk complained about these curious new shoes, "With this queen there came from Bohemia into England those accursed vices."
In some cases knights even wore them to campaigns!
Before the battle of Sempach in 1386 the Austrian knights had to dismount and were forced to cut off the tips of their crakows for better movement.
After the battle a pile of shoe-tips was found by the Swiss as depicted here!
Before the battle of Sempach in 1386 the Austrian knights had to dismount and were forced to cut off the tips of their crakows for better movement.
After the battle a pile of shoe-tips was found by the Swiss as depicted here!
These are the special crakow-style sabatons of Emperor Maximilian from around 1485!
He could use these on horseback but the long points were also detachable in case he needed to fight dismounted. Very clever!
He could use these on horseback but the long points were also detachable in case he needed to fight dismounted. Very clever!
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