Cretan guardsman in The Varangian Guard 988-1453 (Men-at-Arms 459) by Raffaele D'Amato

H4: Cretan guardsman. The warrior is copied from an icon of the Cretan school, in the church of Megali Panaghia, Patmos; details are supplied by two other icons showing similar armour. Note the cuir-bouilli upper arm defences and decorated leather corselet worn over a long-sleeved mail hauberk; although it is akin to the Eastern Roman tradition, Prof Babuin has interpreted this as of Italian origin. These items of equipment are therefore an accurate representation of the appearance of mercenary troops in service during the last decades of the Empire – and especially of those Cretans who, notwithstanding Venetian rule, felt it their duty to loyally serve the holy Emperor of Constantinople.
Source: The Varangian Guard 988-1453 (Men-at-Arms) by Raffaele D’Amato (Author), Giuseppe Rava (Illustrator)

Icon of Saint Phanourios from Megali Panagia on Patmos island, painted by Angelos Akotantos, Venetian Crete, 2nd Quarter of the 15th Century.

Source: Protostrator: The Cretan Guard - Real or not?