byrnie
armor
Quick Summary
A byrnie is a coat of mail, also known as a hauberk. This type of armor was a significant part of military technology during the age of cavalry, roughly from 400 CE to 1350 CE.12
During the 11th century, the byrnie, a knee-length mail shirt, evolved. Its sleeves became longer and more fitted, extending to the wrist, and the hem dropped to just below the kneecap. Knights wore a padded garment called a gambeson underneath for extra protection and to cushion blows. The byrnie was split to allow the wearer to sit astride a horse.2
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