Medieval Arms and Armor in the Military-Historical Collections of Leading Museums of the World and Ukraine: Studies, Catalogues and Digitalizazion

The article explores the representation of medieval arms and armor in the military-historical collections of leading museums of the world and Ukraine. Special attention is given to the thematic scope, typology, and chronology of artifacts, with a distinction between the Early Middle Ages (5th – 11th centuries) and the High and Late Middle Ages (12th – 15th centuries). The study demonstrates how museum holdings reflect the development of medieval warfare, from early weapon complexes to the specialized knightly arms and protective equipment of later centuries. The analysis draws on historiographical research, museum catalogues, and case studies of individual collections. Significant emphasis is placed on the works of scholars who have examined medieval weaponry and its preservation in European and Ukrainian museums, as well as on cataloguing practices that enable systematic classification, documentation, and scholarly interpretation of arms and armor. A separate section addresses the digitalization of military-historical collections. While Western institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the British Museum, and the Royal Armouries offer extensive online catalogues and visual databases, Ukrainian museums are only beginning this process. Nevertheless, recent initiatives toward expanding digital archives and open access demonstrate positive trends. The study concludes that the richest and most comprehensive collections are concentrated in Western Europe (Musée de l’Armée, Royal Armouries, Kunsthistorisches Museum) and the United States (Metropolitan Museum of Art), covering the full span of the 5th – 15th centuries. Ukrainian institutions, including the Arsenal Museum in Lviv and the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, preserve valuable but smaller collections, primarily from Kyivan Rus’ and the Late Middle Ages. Digitized resources of these collections can become an important tool for teaching Medieval History in Ukrainian universities and schools, broadening access to rare artifacts, fostering research, and promoting historical knowledge among students.