However, at the same time, it could serve its owner throughout life. Such defense had considerable weight and its manufacture took several months. That method made mail armour very endurable. Metal washers were sewn on the firm fabric base and had being linked together with double rings of heavy-gauge wire. In the XIV century, the Japanese developed their unique type of chainmail, which differed essentially from European analogue by its construction. Mail armour got common usage in the Orient. Old manuscripts mentioned it as “coat of mail” (name “chain armour” had appeared not earlier than in the XIII century). Mailed armour was in wide use in Ancient Rus as well.
Besides, chainmail was continuing to be actual one on the west of Europe until the early XVII century, and in the Asian countries - up to the middle of the XIX century. When fire weapon had been invented, general popularity of mail armour decreased.
Mail metal sheet was used as aventail for back of head and neck protection and worn under the helmet. Sometimes, chainmail could be reinforced with solid breast and shoulder plates, which were attached with leather belts. In the XI-XII centuries, almost all knights of Western and Central Europe were using such type of body defense. Hauberk had a form of mail knee-length shirt with long sleeves, often completed with mail stockings, gauntlets and coif (hood). Body armour “hauberk” (“hauber” in France) was invented approximately those times. Excavations confirm that Romans were using such protective gear throughout Roman Empire, up to its breakdown.įragments of ancient Roman chainmail, National museum of Scotland, EdinburghĬhainmail (or mail armour) got peculiar widespread in Europe, starting from the X century. At the same time, it protected of sword blows and darts at the highest level. It was comfortable in wearing due to its short sleeves and wide body part. Chain mail, which was popular among Roman soldiers, was called «Lorika hamata”. Roman legionaries “borrowed” an idea of such body protection from the Gallic tribes. The Etrurian, Celtic and Gallic tribes were using similar armature in the III century B.C. As Sarmathians’ armour became very massive and heavy. Probably, the Sarmathians derived the usage of such armature from the Scythians. They looked like leather shirts, on which bronze or iron scales were sewn. Later, crafters began to reinforce protective quality of armour by attaching of small wooden or metal boards, plates or rings to the base.įirst chainmails, preserved in the Scythian grave-mounds, are dated by this period. It is reliably known, that this armour had being made of tannage or strong rope.
Research workers mention VI-V BC as approximate time of its appearance. Up to now, historians cannot specify, when exactly warriors began to use body protection, because primal examples had not been extended. on the territory of European and Asian lands. Invention and implementation of new types of weapon demand parallel step almost instantly - invention of the efficient and forceful protection from it.ĭevelopment of such interesting and important part of defense equipment as chainmail is closely related to the progress and spreading of spikes, swords, sabers, arrowheads, etc. If we retrace process of plate armour developing through all human history, we will notice, that modification and mastering of defense equipment align with development of attack weapon.
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