Armed with Hope

Manchester Lit & Phil presents a talk exploring the Royal Armouries’ history and its role in a world of modern weapons, conflict and political uncertainty.

How the world’s oldest arms and armour collection is finding new relevance and purpose in a fragmenting and fractious globe. The Royal Armouries has gone through numerous incarnations since John Fleet was first appointed to look after that part of the Privy Wardrobe moved to the Tower of London in 1323.

Over centuries, its star has risen and fallen with the fortunes of its various Masters, several of whom have been imprisoned, and at least one beheaded, in the same Tower that held their collections. At different times in the past, the Armouries have been central to both the projection and application of state power and at other times they have been relegated to an adjunct of the Office of Works. Today, firmly established as a fully-fledged national museum, the Royal Armouries is navigating a world where the relevance, legitimacy and sustainability of such organisations, particularly as free, universal institutions, is itself under challenge.

The 22nd Master will explore why we still need the assorted rapiers, bucklers, snaphances and arquebuses that began life in the belongings of fourteenth century kings in a world of 3D-printed firearms, AI-assisted drones and death rays from space.