Armour Accessories

From the Middle Ages to the Early Modern Period, various types of body armour were worn throughout the Western world. Such armour accessories were one of the most important parts of a soldier's equipment; without them, they couldn't fight.

What is the Meaning of Armour Accessories?

The literal meaning of armour is - the metal coverings formerly worn to protect the body in battle. So, the armour is arranged by the body part it protects and roughly by date. It doesn’t mention the fastening elements, other attachments like lance rests or plume holders, or garments like tabards or surcoats, which were frequently worn over a harness.

Mail Coif

It is frequently worn with a hauberk. Sometimes it is created as a single unit with the haburk, and other times it is created as a separate component.

Spangenhelm

It is a metal frame, typically made of iron, with plates (made of metal, leather, or horn) riveted to the interior; some models had hinged or laced cheekguards. From late antiquity until the early Middle Ages, the typical helmet

Nasal Helmet

It is the nose guard, or “nasal,” of the nasal helmet was a single metal strip that extended from the skull or browband over the nose to give some facial protection. Until the enclosed helmet and great helmet were introduced in the late 12^th and early 13^th centuries, this helmet, which first emerged in Western Europe in the late 9^th century, was the main type of head protection.

Great Helm

Began as a straightforward cylinder with a flat top, but as it evolved, it gained a pointed top with a curved “sugar loaf” shape to fend against crushing strikes. Has tiny openings for ventilation, breathing, and vision that may also be attractive. Usually worn beneath another helm. A classic example of a crusader knight’s helmet

Enclosed Helmet

It is precursor to the magnificent helm. The enclosed helmet protected the entire head, offering full face protection as well as slightly more extensive side and back covering than was the case with earlier styles of helmets. It was created at the end of the 12^th century and mostly replaced by the real Great Helm by the year 1240.

Bascinet

There had been no visor when it was first worn underneath a great helm, but it later developed nasals to shield the nose. By the middle of the fourteenth century, it was completely visored, frequently “dog-faced” (the conical hounskull visor), but was frequently worn without the visor for better ventilation and visibility. It also took the place of the Great Helm.

Sallet

A sallet covers the full head when worn with a bevor, as was customary outside of Italy. The Italian variant was a curved helmet with a short tail that occasionally had a “bellows visor” attached.

Armet

It is a bowl helmet that completely encloses the head using cheek plates that are hinged and fold backward. A gorget was fastened, and there might be a comb here. Possibly has a rondel at the back. The modern armet has a visor. A traditional knight’s helmet. Popular in Italy.

Burgonet

It is a helmet with an open face and a bowl form, a neck collar, a peak, a distinctive comb, and occasionally cheek parts. Has a buff (a visor that is lowered rather than raised) on occasion.

Bevor

It is worn along with a sallet to protect the throat and jaw (extending somewhat down the sternum). When used with a bassinet rather than a sallet, it may additionally cover the back of the neck. May be constructed of lames or solids. Worn occasionally with a gorget.

Bishop’s Mantle

It is a leather or mail collar. It has nothing in common with a current shirt collar but is rather a gorget. Instead, it is circular with a gap for the neck. It provides coverage for the shoulders, breast, and upper back, resembling perhaps a very little poncho.

Gorget

It is a full cuirass covering the neck opening and a steel collar to protect the neck. Unlike a modern shirt collar, which only covers the front and rear of the neck as well as a similar area on the back and a portion of the clavicles and sternum,

Cuirass

Although the word is occasionally used to designate the chest and back plates together, it only covers the chest. Developed in antiquity but popularised in the 14th century with the return of plate armor; later, two sections would occasionally overlap at the top and bottom.

Hauberk

These are mail shirts with sleeves that fall to mid-thigh. The majority of early mail-order shirts were rather lengthy. Hauberks shrank over the 14^th and 15^th centuries, reaching the thigh. The knee is reached with a haubergeon. Due to the adoption of the plate, the haubergeon was replaced by the hauberk.

Vambrace

It is as known as forearm guard. It might be made of solid metal or metal splints with a leather backing. Archers wore leather bracers most frequently to guard against snapping bowstrings. Anciently created but given a name in the 14^th century, the term “vambrace” may also occasionally apply to armour pieces that cover both the upper and lower arms.

Rebrace

It is a plate that protects the upper arm between the elbow and the armoured area of the shoulder.

Gardbrace

Worn over a pauldron, it is an additional plate that covers the front of the shoulder and the armpit.

Schynbald

Ancient times were lost and then brought back. Only the shins of the plate, not the entire lower leg. Schynbald are basically parts of lower leg.

Chausses

These are gloves with numerous different materials that cover the fingers and forearms.

Poleyn

Early in the change from mail to plate, a plate that covers the knee first appeared. It was later articulated to connect with the cuisses, schynbald, or greave. This is used close gaps using fins or a rondel. There are used for protection of knees.

Lame

These are seel plates are strung together numerous times to create a band that can articulate on various body parts, such as the thighs, shoulders, and waist. Such compositions are given names based on the number of bands, such as a four-lam fauld.

Rondel

It is any circular plate. Rodels defending different regions may go by specific names, such as a besagew defending the shoulder joint.

Conclusion

There are numerous armors to choose from. There are many other armour accessories, too. The armour accessories listed above are just a few examples. All the accessories of armour together make a whole, complete armour. All armour accessories can be divided into four categories: head, torso, shoulders, and limbs. All the accessories of an armour have their own special meaning.