Maurice Dutch armor
10. 莫里斯荷兰盔甲（Maurice of Nassau Dutch Armor） - 45万美元
Maurice of Nassau Dutch Armor, priced at $450,000, is an extremely valuable piece of complete armor.
This armor once belonged to Prince Maurice of the Orange-Nassau dynasty of the Netherlands and was made in the late 16th century. As the ruler of the Dutch Republic, Prince Maurice was regarded as a national hero for his outstanding achievements in the Eighty Years' War.
The armor is in typical northern Italian style and was handcrafted by Hieronymus Bissone, one of Milan's finest armor craftsmen. It is made from more than two thousand and five hundred pieces of stainless steel, which are then polished and gilded.
The armor is composed of helmets, neck armor, breastplate, abdominal armor, gloves, knee pads and other parts, and the joints are movable chain mail, which not only ensures mobility, but also makes the protection comprehensive. The visor can be opened and lined with silk for a high level of comfort. The cuirass is adorned with the crest of the orange tree on the front and is intricately carved on the back and knee pads.
This armor is often seen in museums and auction houses. At Sotheby's 2015, it was sold by an anonymous buyer for a whopping $450,000, making it one of the highest-priced European armors ever sold at auction. It is regarded as a masterpiece of European armor craftsmanship in the 16th century, and a symbol of Dutch celebrities and history, making it highly collectible and on display.
Christian IV Danish armor
9. 克里斯蒂安四世丹麦盔甲（Christian IV Danish Armor） - 50万美元
Christian IV Danish Armor, priced at $500,000, is an extremely valuable set of Danish royal armor.
This set of armor was made for King Christian IV of Denmark. During the reign of Christian IV (1588-1648), the last king of the Oldenburg dynasty, Denmark was at the height of its Nordic hegemony. This suit of armor is tailor-made for the wearer and symbolizes the supremacy of the Danish monarch.
This set of armor was created by the German armor master von Knott and was very well made. Made of steel and sheet metal, it is forged, polished and gilded for both protection and artistry. The visor is pyramid-shaped, with slender eye holes and a silk lining that fits snugly around the face. The color palette is dominated by black and gold, decorated with carved patterns, and embellished with pearls and precious stones.
The suit is currently in the collection of the Friedrichsborg Museum in Denmark and is on display in a special exhibition of royal artifacts by Christian IV. It is of high historical and artistic value, not only witnessing the changes of the Danish royal family, but also presenting the most superb armor-making skills in Europe in the 16th century, bringing together the high preciousness of materials, craftsmanship and craftsmanship, which is why its reputation is sky-high at $500,000.
Sebastian I armor
8. 塞巴斯蒂安一世盔甲（Sebastian I Spanish Armor） - 55万美元
Sebastian I Spanish Armor, priced at $550,000, is a piece of armor art in the style of a Spanish king.
The armor originally belonged to Prince Sebastian, son of King Philip II of Spain in the mid-16th century. Sebastian was not originally the heir to the throne, but after the sudden death of his brother, he inherited the crown and became Sebastian I. This armor witnessed his transformation from prince to king.
Blending Italian and Spanish craftsmanship, this armor features a typical Spanish "two-thirds" design that guarantees both protection and space for movement. It is composed of breastplate, shoulder pads, arm guards, leg armor and other parts, and the neck and joints are connected by chain mail, and the posture is vigorous. The surface is riveted with thousands of small nails, carved with intricate patterns, and finally plated with gold, which is exquisite and magnificent.
Today, this King Sebastian armor is on display in the Madrid Military Museum. It is a typical example of armor making in the heyday of Spain, and it also bears witness to how a prince wore heavy armor and walked to the highest throne of the King of God. This deep historical significance has led to its sky-high price of half a million dollars.
Dutch William armor
7. 荷兰威廉盔甲（William the Silent Dutch Armor） - 60万美元
William the Silent Dutch Armor for $600,000. It is a piece of armor that belonged to the 16th-century founder of the Netherlands, William I, "William the Silent".
This armor bears witness to how William went from Marquis of Norage to the founding pioneer of the Dutch Republic. In 1568, William launched the Eighty Years' War against the Spanish throne and finally declared independence in 1579 by uniting the seven northern provinces.
This black armor is in the typical German style of the Wilhelm era and was made by Rudolf Herm, one of Reims's top armor craftsmen. It is forged from steel and has a polished surface and is plated with black lacquer. A full set of armor consists of a helmet, neck armor, chest guards, shoulder pads, arm guards, leg armor and other parts. The surface of the armor is riveted with rows of round nails, which is not only beautiful and generous, but also increases protection.
Today, the armor is on display in the Rijksmuseum and is of historical value as it is closely related to the Dutch independence movement and Wilhelm himself. It also represents the highest level of armor production in Europe in the 16th century, and the sky-high price of $600,000 is well deserved.
Philip II armor
6. 菲利普二世盔甲（Philip II Italian Armor） - 65万美元
The Philip II Italian Armor, priced at $650,000, is an artistic piece of 16th-century Italian royal armor.
The first owner of this armor was King Philip II of Spain in the mid-16th century. Philip II was the most powerful monarch of Spain's heyday, and his armor embodied the glory of an imperial ruler.
Created in 1544 by Zeno Negrodi, Milan's top armor caster, this armor features the most popular Milanese design of the time, with a delicate relief on the surface of the armor that depicts the lines of human muscles. It is composed of a cuirass, abdominal armor, a cap, a handguard, a knee pad and other parts, and weighs about 30 kilograms. The neck and joints are connected by soft chain mail, which is flexible.
Today, the armor of Philip II is housed in the Royal Arsenal Museum in Madrid. This armor bears witness to the illustrious history of the Spanish Empire and represents the pinnacle of Renaissance Italian armor making, and is worth a lot of $650,000. It was one of the favorite symbols of wealth and power among European monarchs.
Ferdinand I armor
5. 费迪南德一世盔甲（Ferdinand I German Armor） - 75万美元
The Ferdinand I German Armor, priced at $750,000, is a royal 16th-century German heavy armor.
Originally owned by Ferdinand I of the Holy Roman Empire, the armor was made to be made on Ferdinand's behalf by Augsburg's top craftsmen. Ferdinand I was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1556, and this armor bears witness to his prime.
This armor adopted the most popular German "two-thirds" design at that time, and consisted of a helmet, neck armor, face armor, cuirass, leg armor and other parts. It uses thousands of steel sheets of different sizes, polished, blued, gilded and finally hinged by rivets and chains. The hue is striking and luxurious, yet sturdy.
Today, the armor is on display in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Not only does it showcase the high level of metalworking, but it is also full of fairytale romanticism, and it is an outstanding industrial product with both function and art, and the price tag of $750,000 is reasonable.
Charles V armor
4. 查理五世盔甲（Charles V German Armor） - 80万美元
Charles V German Armor, priced at $800,000, is a royal 16th-century German heavy armor.
This armor was originally made for Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire. As a central figure of the Habsburg dynasty, Charles V ruled the most powerful empire in Europe at the time. This armor bears witness to the pomp and circumstance of his glorious life.
This armor was created by the famous Nuremberg armorer Neo Nim Coleman. It adopts a "two-thirds" design, which is composed of a helmet, neck armor, face armor, cuirass, leg armor and other parts. The color palette is black and gold, with a polished and gilded surface and luxurious ornamentation, which is very imperial.
Today, this piece of Charles V royal armor is on display in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. It bears witness to the heyday of the Habsburg Empire and represents the finest armor-making in Europe in the 16th century, with a well-deserved value of $800,000. This royal armor is rich in historical and cultural value.
Massimilian German armor
3. 马西米利安德国盔甲（Maximilian I German Armor） - 90万美元
Maximilian I German Armor, priced at $900,000, is an imperial piece of early 16th-century German heavy armor.
This armor originally belonged to Massimilian I of the Holy Roman Empire. Massimilian I was crowned emperor in 1508, inaugurating the famous Habsburg dynasty in European history. This armor bears witness to the golden age of his reign.
This armor was designed in the most advanced "two-thirds" style at the time, consisting of a helmet, visor, neckplate, breastplate, arm guards, knee pads and other parts. It uses more than 2,000 pieces of steel of different sizes, which are polished, coated, forged, and carved, with gorgeous colors and elegant decoration.
Today, the royal armor of Massimilian I is on display at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. This armor is a testament to the prowess of European armor-making in the early 16th century, as well as its profound Habsburg and European cultural and historical value, and is worth $900,000.
Francis I armor
2. 弗朗西斯一世盔甲（Francis I Italian Armor） - 100万美元
Francis I Italian Armor, priced at $1 million, is a 16th-century Italian royal armor with a French aristocratic romantic temperament.
This armor was originally custom-made for King Francis I of France in the early 16th century. Francis I was a Renaissance literati ruler and art collector, and this armor exemplifies his literati temperament.
This armor was created by Filippo Negroli, one of the top armor craftsmen in Milan, Italy. It has a typical Milanese design in black and white, and is composed of a cuirass, shoulder pads, face armor, leg armor and other parts. The surface is polished and smooth, the carvings are delicate, the lines are soft and smooth, and the beauty of the Renaissance is rich.
Today, this piece of Francis I royal armor is on display in the Musée National de la Militaire in Paris. It bears witness to the artistic tastes and pursuits of the French monarchs of the Renaissance, and also represents the exquisite craftsmanship of 16th-century Italian armor making, and the sky-high price of $1 million is well deserved.
1. 亨利八世皇帝盔甲（Henry VIII Imperial Armor） - 150万美元
The Henry VIII Imperial Armor, priced at $1.5 million, is arguably the most expensive armor in the world and bears witness to the illustrious history of the Tudor dynasty in England.
This armor was custom-made for King Henry VIII of England. As the founding monarch of the Tudor dynasty, Henry VIII was very imperial. This armor is a fusion of British and German design styles, reflecting his supremacy.
This armor is in black and white, and is composed of a helmet, visor, neck armor, breastplate, shoulder armor, gloves, knee pads and other parts, and the joints are flexible and mobile. It uses a variety of materials such as steel and soft leather, and the surface is polished and smooth, and the carvings are exquisite and ornate, reflecting the extremely high craftsmanship of the production.
Today, this piece of Henry VIII royal armor is in the Tower Bridge Museum in London and is closely related to British history. Not only is it a testament to the glory of the Tudor dynasty, but it also represents the pinnacle of 16th-century European armor making, and its price tag is a whopping $1.5 million.