A spectacular collection of edged weapons and armor shows the (technical) evolution of armament.
The Royal Museum of Army and Military History (French: Musée royal de l'armée et de l'histoire militaire, Dutch: Koninklijk Museum van het Leger en de Krijgsgeschiedenis) is a war and military history museum in Brussels, in Belgium, located in the Cinquantenaire park. It is located opposite the other two museums in the park: the Cinquantenaire museum and the Autoworld museum.
The gallery illustrates a period from the Middle Ages to the end of the 18th century. The core of the collection comes from the Dukes of Burgundy and the Spanish Habsburg family, who lived their heyday under the Emperor Charles (1500-1558). Charles V was at the head of an empire "in which the sun never set". He managed his business from his palace in Brussels, among others.
The exhibition presents the defensive armament of the medieval knight. Protection was initially limited to simple chain mail and slowly evolved into full armor, on partial equipment that covered the upper body or thighs. In the 17th century, leather coats appear worn with gloves, arm and leg protectors, a cuirass and a burgundy.
Weapons have always been examples of cutting edge technology. The old weapons (artillery, firearms, or edged weapons) are no different in this respect.
Weapons are not only related to war, but are also used in moments of leisure. A beautiful child's armor, tournament weapons, hunting weapons and powder horns testify to this.
The Museum's collections illustrate ten centuries of military history and skill, from medieval armor to current airplanes and armored vehicles, passing through precious firearms and finely engraved edges. The military uniforms and headdress reflect the evolution of military techniques, as well as the influence of civilian fashion on Belgian and foreign armies.
The history of our country is never far away: the Austrian, French and Dutch periods, the independence of Belgium and the military policy of the new kingdom, the history of our sovereigns, the major world conflicts, ... Paintings, sculptures, awards honoraries and medals tell their stories and make us travel through time.
During the 1910 Brussels Universal Exhibition, a young officer named Louis Leconte decided to collect various military objects and artifacts and display them to the public (intending to give visitors an idea of ​​the history of the Belgian army in the 19th century), collecting quite a success.
The museum is constantly expanding: in 1972 an aeronautical-aerospace department was inaugurated and in 1980 the department of armed vehicles. In 1986 a large collection of weapons and armor was imported from the Porte de Hal and in 1996 the naval department was opened.
Royal Museum of the Army and Military History
Address: Parc du Cinquantenaire, 1000
Phone: +32 2 737 7 811
Site:
http://www.klm-mra.be/D7t/Location inserted by
giulia