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