Northern European cultures such as the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings used chainmail, albeit sparingly. Historical medieval armor of this type was used by virtually every single martial culture in all parts of the medieval period – however, due to the time and expense involved in its creation, it was often a marker of status and wealth. There is even a suggestion of Arabic influence on chainmail, since the words burnus (a hooded cloak) and barnaza (to bronze) appear to have influenced the Germanic name for a short mail-shirt, a byrnie.

Perhaps it is from the Latin macula, meaning a spot or opacity (as in ‘macular degeneration’), or from old French mailler, meaning to hammer. Even the word ‘chain mail’ can give us some clues as to its origin. It was easily the best – albeit certainly not the cheapest – medieval armor available before the widespread return of plate armor in the late-medieval period. Mail is much easier to make at a small-scale than plate armor, which requires a significantly more sophisticated production process, access to trade networks, and much higher quality of materials – hence, as the Roman Empire withdrew, the chainmail stayed behind. Armor Through The Ages Chainmail Chainmail, being a flexible material made from interlocking metal rings either closed or riveted shut, spread across much of Europe with the Romans, whose light troops were usually outfitted with a shirt of 4-in-1 mail. Similarly, leather grades are definitely worth keeping in mind: ‘genuine’ leather is actually one of the lowest grades of leather available, and whilst it is fine for a budget alternative, those seeking proper quality leather armor should opt for that made from ‘top-grain’ or ‘full-grain’ leather. Low-carbon reproductions are more than suitable for display purposes (as well being pleasantly affordable), but are not suitable for impact as they can be prone to shattering. Similar high-carbon steels are most faithful to medieval materials, but are generally less hard-wearing and need to be properly maintained. Most modern ‘battle-ready’ armor suitable for re-enactment use is made from spring steel, a resilient high-carbon steel-chromium alloy that ‘springs’ back into shape when bent or impacted. This doesn’t necessarily mean they will be ‘worse’ than traditionally made pieces, but it is worth keeping in mind when choosing how you want your medieval armor to have been made.

Techniques such as cold-rolling allow the same work-hardening to take place by putting cold steel (<500☌) through rollers to compress and deform its structure. For example, most medieval steel would have been hand-worked with hammers at a temperature above recrystallisation (around 500☌). Reproducing Medieval Armor: Modern Methods and Material Modern armor production methods tend to fairly closely mirror those of historical medieval armor manufacture, albeit using modern technology to speed up the process. Are they a noble, with access to materials and workmanship that would have required wealth, connections and access to international trade? Or are they a commoner, who would have had their arms issued to them by their lord, or scrounged from what they could prize off the defeated in battle? What was their armor for – protection from the elements and wild animals, or to turn aside a crushing blow from a war hammer? If you can keep these sorts of questions in your mind whilst reading about medieval armor and browsing the enormous range of medieval armor for sale, then you’ll make the best possible choice for you. When choosing armor to define your medieval impression or LARP roleplay outfit, keep in mind who your character was. Medieval armor also cannot be understood in isolation without reference to The armor used in historical medieval battles was driven by a see-sawing arms race between those designing the tins, and those designing the tin-openers. Medieval armor is as diverse as those who wore it: from chainmail byrnies and frightening grotesque helms in the Anglo-Saxon period, to transitional splint-mail and brigandines as plate armor began to be eclipsed by rapidly developing plate armor, to walking tanks clad head-to-foot in articulated steel from sallet to gorget to cuirasse to cuisse.

Medieval fur cape