Elephants played a role in warfare from the first millennium BC until the 19th century. They were used mainly in India and Southeast Asia but also occasionally in western Asia, north Africa, Spain and Italy.

During battles trained war elephants were able to trample men and horses or pick them up and throw them. They also performed an important function as intimidating vantage platforms from which rulers and high-ranking officials could direct their forces.

Elephants were prominent targets on the battlefield and their protections was important. From at least the 11th century AD until well into the Mughal period, sources from across the Indian subcontinent describe or illustrate war elephants equipped with different types of bargustavan-i-pil (elephant armour).

The reputation of war elephants was so fearsome that their true military value is difficult to assess. *

This example of elephant armour  (bargustavan-i-pil) is from India and probably dated late 16th – 17th century.

This is the only known surviving example of a near-complete mail and plate elephant armour in any public collection in the world. It was probably made in an Indian arsenal in the late 16th or 17th century, but it is difficult to be certain exactly where or for whom.

The mail and plate structure for body armour was used mostly in northern and central India during this time, and is often associated more with the equipment of Muslim states. Yet this armour is decorated with peacocks, lotus blooms and fish, perhaps suggesting it was produced in an area which retained elements of Hindu culture.

The armour would originally have been formed of eight panels, three at either side of the body and one each for the head and the throat. Two of the main sections from the right side of the elephant are missing. *

The armour also has a pair of tusk swords that attached to the sawn-off tusks of the elephant.

When wielded by a charging elephant, these tusk swords would have been fearsome weapons. They are extremely robust with massive reinforced points and rings which presumably allowed the sockets to be strapped firmly over the shortened tusks.

Accounts from the 15th and 16th centuries mention South Asian war elephants wearing tusk swords whilst ravaging enemies on the battlefield or battering fort defences. However, contemporary references to tusk swords become less frequent from the time of the Mughal era. This implies that they dropped out of frequent practical use. Surviving tusk swords are extremely rare.*

*from information boards next to the exhibit

We had a good night’s sleep in a comfortable bed, after which we were treated to an excellent breakfast; fruit juices, cereals, fruit and jams from the buffet and a choice of items from the full cooked breakfast menu that were all cooked to order.

The morning was crisp and misty. Our car needed demisting before we could set off on our journey for the day. The demisting caused a spectacular display of steam to rise from the car, an unusual sight. Whilst the car was being sorted out, I took the opportunity to take a few photos in the early morning sunshine.

We set off towards Leeds and the Royal Armouries. As we approached Leeds we could see a layer of mist above which was a brown foggy mug of pollution. I am so glad that I don’t live in a city!

The Royal Armouries has many interesting exhibits. I particularly enjoyed seeing the Mughal elephant armour dating around 1600. I found the armour fascinating. Another display, showing how guns and knives are used in street crime in the UK along with personal stories, left me feeling disturbed.

When we had finished our tour of the Royal Armouries we set of toward Halifax, intending to visit the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment Museum. The traffic was so bad we realised that once again we would be too late to visit the museum so we flexed the plan. We headed into Halifax to see the architecture of the Peace Hall. We walked around the Peace Hall and the nearby streets, stopping for an afternoon refreshment along the way and headed back to Shibden Mill Inn.

Whilst I was considering an indulgent soak in the bath, the fire alarm went off. Mr C and I exited through the nearest door (leading onto the room’s patio area). Mr C quipped, it is fortunate that you were not in the bath. Everywhere else seemed calm and the fire alarm stopped sounding so we returned to our room. Mr C went to collect some milk for a cup of tea and found out that the fire alarm had gone off when to a fire being lit in the grate caused more smoke than expected!

After the false alarm I had a nice relaxing bath before it was time for us to enjoy an aperitif in the bar. We enjoyed the Valentine’s Day special menu in the room above the bar. It goes without saying that we sampled an after dinner drink before retiring for the night.