plate armour
Quick Summary
Plate armor is a type of body armor made from metal plates. It evolved from earlier forms of armor, such as chain mail, which was made of interlaced metal rings.12
The development of plate armor began around 1200 CE with thin plates worn under other garments. By the mid-13th century, external plates for elbows and knees appeared, followed by the plate cuirass for the torso. Initially, plate armor was worn over mail for added protection, but it gradually replaced mail entirely by the late 14th century, except in areas requiring more flexibility.3
Full suits of plate armor became common in the early 15th century, representing a peak in personal armor protection. This type of armor offered significant protection but also increased weight, partly due to its use in jousting. By the 16th century, plate armor became largely ceremonial due to its impracticality in active service against firearms.3
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armourPremodern armourThus, plate armour of steel superseded mail during the 14th century, at first by local additions to knees, elbows, and shins, until eventually the complete covering of articulated plate was evolved. A complete suit of German armour from about 1510 shows a metal suit with flexible…
Read MoreThus, plate armour of steel superseded mail during the 14th century, at first by local additions to knees, elbows, and shins, until eventually the complete covering of articulated plate was evolved. A complete suit of German armour from about 1510 shows a metal suit with flexible…
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military technologyPlate-iron armourWhile some early forged bronze armour was technically plate, the introduction of the lorica segmentata heralded the production of practical plate armour on a large scale. In general, the term plate would imply a uniform thickness of metal, and only iron could provide…
Read MoreWhile some early forged bronze armour was technically plate, the introduction of the lorica segmentata heralded the production of practical plate armour on a large scale. In general, the term plate would imply a uniform thickness of metal, and only iron could provide…
Read More- military technologyPlate
The earliest knightly plate armour appeared shortly after 1200 in the form of thin plates worn beneath the gambeson. External plate armour began to appear around the middle of the century, at first for elbows, kneecaps, and shins. The true plate cuirass appeared about 1250, though it was…
Read MoreThe earliest knightly plate armour appeared shortly after 1200 in the form of thin plates worn beneath the gambeson. External plate armour began to appear around the middle of the century, at first for elbows, kneecaps, and shins. The true plate cuirass appeared about 1250, though it was…
Read More