The Development of Armor Over Time Part 2

During the 13th and 14th centuries, armor began to transition from mail to plate armor. Initially, plates were added to reinforce mail and used as spot protection for knees, elbows, and shoulders. Also, small plates were added to the tunic or surcoat that was worn over mail. This was called a coat-of-plates (by the 16th century called brigandine armor). The image above is a fragment of brigandine with overlapping plates riveted to fabric and was part of an armored jacket.

The primary purpose of armor was to protect soldiers in battle. Plate armor was like wearing a shield or helmet all over the body. The knight was covered in a smooth, curved surface. The plates were jointed so they would move freely with the soldier’s joints. This combination of flexibility and protection made an armored knight very difficult to hit directly with a weapon.

Plate armor suits weighed an average of 55 pounds, similar to mail suits, but the weight of the plates was more evenly distributed over the body. A trained man-at-arms could do cart wheels in his armor! The biggest drawbacks of plate armor were that it was expensive and hot to wear.

Not all armor was practical. Some suits were purely decorative and made to be worn for show on parade. The armor above was heavily decorated with fancy etchings and engravings on its metal plates. Softer and thinner metal was easier to decorate. This created armor that had virtually no protective value. This armor, weighing only 30 to 45 pounds, was light enough to dance in!

In the 14th century primitive firearms were introduced, which became more common in the 1500s. Some armor could be reinforced to protect against firearms. By 1660, as firearms such as muskets and pistols dominated the battlefield, armor no longer provided protection and was not worn. Slowly, new types of armor developed to keep soldiers protected. Think of some modern types of armor and protection used by soldiers.