The Introduction and Development of Plate Armour in Medieval Western Europe c. 1250-1350

Keith  Dowen

doi:10.23858/FAH30.2017.002

Published: 2017-11-28

Vol. 30 (2017)

The Introduction and Development of Plate Armour in Medieval Western Europe c. 1250-1350

Keith Dowen

Fasciculi Archaeologiae Historicae

Section: Articles

https://doi.org/10.23858/FAH30.2017.002

Abstract

European underwent a period of rapid development and experimentation in the century after c. 1250. Whilst very little physical material has survived from this time, artistic depictions, wills, inventories and contemporary accounts attest to the use of metal plate defences much earlier than has commonly been assumed. By the turn of the 14th century, all the major elements of plate armour had been developed; with the subsequent half century seeing an increase in the quantity of plate worn on the battlefield. However, the development of plate armour was extremely erratic, and did not follow a simple linear progression. The stimuli for its development is still not fully understood. However, improvements to crossbow technology may have had a significant impact.

Keywords:

iron plate, baleen, leather, mail, cuir bouilli, crossbow, goat’s-foot leaver

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Dowen, K. (2017). The Introduction and Development of Plate Armour in Medieval Western Europe c. 1250-1350. Fasciculi Archaeologiae Historicae, 30, 19–28. https://doi.org/10.23858/FAH30.2017.002

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