| The wearing of chain mail and body armor has | | | | effective type of body armament. Maile weighed |
| been an effective means of protection in combat | | | | about the same as full body plate style. The |
| and war for centuries. Its use dates back to the | | | | average weight was about 45 - 55 pounds. |
| Greeks and early roman empire where warriors | | | | However, a well made suit of plate armour was |
| and legionnaires donned metal plate and mail | | | | more comfortable to the wearer because it could |
| armour. The medieval era knights are most | | | | be more evenly distributed over their body. It |
| remembered for their elaborate and battle shields | | | | was always worn with padding and protective |
| in brilliant colors. But a knight's armour was more | | | | clothing to further protect and insulate from the |
| that protection. It reflected his status and lifestyle. | | | | heat and cold. The mid fourteen century was the |
| The quality of the armour was as important and | | | | period wear knights wore both type of body |
| the overall look and the battle efficiency. Indeed it | | | | armour. During this time period, it was difficult for |
| was a fashion statement also. | | | | the warrior to get back up on if knocked down |
| The evolution of chain maile and armour through | | | | due the combined weight of the plate and the |
| the Maximilian era was a direct response to | | | | maille. By the early fifteenth century, most all |
| improvement in weaponry of the time. As | | | | body armament was plate as the designs and |
| weapons became more sophisticated, so did the | | | | flexibility improved. A mid sixteenth century knight |
| thickness of the battle shields and the armour of | | | | in full plate armour was surprisingly agile due to |
| the knight. Most had to not only be effective | | | | proper fit on the wearer. |
| against attack but also flexible and agile. | | | | The onset of the modern gun spelled the swan |
| The period of plate armour runs from about the | | | | song for full body armament although body |
| early 1300's to about the mid to late 1500's. | | | | armour is worn even today in a more modern |
| During this medieval time period the evolution | | | | form such as kevlar (tm) vests and such. Even |
| went from a few pieces of plate to entire suits | | | | still we romanticize this period of European history. |
| of highly crafted works of art in metal. Prior to | | | | The medieval knight is well engrained in our minds |
| this time, chain mail was the most prevalent and | | | | and impressions of the medieval period. |