14th Century German Armour

In the 14th century, European armour evolved significantly, transitioning from primarily mail-based protection to the introduction of plate armour. This period saw improvements in both defensive capabilities and the craftsmanship of armorers, leading to better protection against increasingly powerful weapons. Here’s an overview of the major armour types used during the 14th century, particularly in German-speaking regions.

1. Mail (Chainmail) Armor

Mail armour was still widely used in the 14th century, though it began to be supplemented by plate armour as the century progressed.

Material: Interlocking rings of iron or steel formed chainmail. Each ring was usually riveted or welded shut to increase durability.
Coverage: Knights and soldiers wore a mail shirt, or hauberk, which covered the torso, arms, and sometimes extended to the knees. Beneath it, they typically wore a padded garment, known as a gambeson, to absorb blows.
Advantages: Mail offered excellent flexibility and protection against slashing attacks.
Disadvantages: It was less effective against blunt force trauma, such as from maces or hammers, and vulnerable to piercing weapons like arrows or early gunpowder projectiles.

2. Plate Armor

The 14th century saw the rise of plate armour, especially in the second half of the century. Plate armour would eventually replace mail as the dominant form of body protection.

Coat of Plates

One of the first forms of plate armour, developed in the early 14th century, the coat of plates was a transitional armour type between mail and full plate armour.

Construction: The coat of plates consisted of metal plates riveted to a leather or fabric garment. The plates were worn underneath the tunic and covered the torso, offering better protection than mail alone.
Use: This type of armour became common for knights and men-at-arms, offering good protection without compromising too much mobility.

Cuirass

A cuirass was a solid metal breastplate that protected the chest and abdomen. In the early 14th century, it was often worn over a mail shirt, but by the century’s end, the cuirass became a central component of full plate armour.

Front and Back Protection: A full cuirass consisted of both a breastplate and a backplate. Initially, only the breastplate was common, but the backplate became more widely used later in the century.
Evolution: As armour-making techniques advanced, the cuirass became more anatomically shaped, conforming to the body’s natural lines for better fit and mobility.

3. Helmets

Helmets were essential for protecting the head, and during the 14th century, their design evolved from the older, less sophisticated great helms to more advanced styles with visors.

Great Helm (Helm)

Design: The great helm was a cylindrical helmet that covered the entire head, with a flat or slightly pointed top. It had narrow eye slits and breathing holes.
Use: It provided excellent protection in melee combat but restricted vision and breathing, making it impractical for prolonged wear. It was often worn over a mail coif.
Decline: By the late 14th century, the great helm began to be replaced by more practical designs.

Basinet

Design: The basinet was a more streamlined, conical helmet that offered better vision and ventilation than the great helm. It often came with a hinged visor, allowing the wearer to lift it up for better visibility or when not in immediate danger.
Hounskull Visor: A variant of the basinet, known as the hounskull, featured a pointed “dog-faced” visor, providing better deflection against sword strikes and arrows.
Mail Aventail: Many basinets were equipped with an aventail, a mail curtain that hung from the lower edges of the helmet, protecting the neck and shoulders.

4. Leg and Arm Protection

Greaves

Greaves were metal plates that protected the shins and calves, commonly worn by mounted knights.
Materials: Early in the century, greaves were often made of hardened leather, but by the century’s end, steel became the material of choice.

Poleyns

Poleyns were knee protectors made of metal, which became an essential part of leg armour. The knee was a vulnerable joint, so adding poleyns gave knights better defense against attacks aimed at their legs.

Cuisses

Cuisses were armour pieces that protected the thighs. Early on, they were made from layers of quilted fabric or leather, but later they were made of steel to match the evolving use of plate armour.

Vambraces and Gauntlets

Vambraces protected the forearms, often made of metal or hardened leather. Like other pieces of armour, they evolved from mail to plate over the course of the century.
Gauntlets were metal gloves that protected the hands and fingers. Articulated gauntlets allowed for better movement of the fingers, while early gauntlets were more rigid, resembling mittens.

5. Neck and Shoulder Protection

Gorget

The gorget protected the throat and neck area. Early versions were made of mail, but later ones were metal plates that either wrapped around the neck or were integrated into the armour.
By the late 14th century, the gorget was an essential part of full plate armour, particularly for mounted knights who were vulnerable to strikes aimed at the neck.

Spaulders and Pauldrons

Spaulders were metal plates that covered the shoulders. They were relatively small and lightweight, allowing for mobility in the arms.
Pauldrons were larger and offered more coverage, extending over the upper arm and providing extra protection. They became more popular in the late 14th century as plate armour became more comprehensive.

6. Armored Surcoats and Tabards

Surcoat: Knights often wore a surcoat over their armour, a long cloth tunic bearing their coat of arms or heraldic symbols. While it offered no additional protection, it helped distinguish individuals on the battlefield.
Jupon: By the mid-14th century, the surcoat was often replaced by the jupon, a padded and fitted garment worn over armour. The jupon was more form-fitting and provided an additional layer of defense.

7. Padding and Undergarments

Gambeson: Beneath the armour, warriors wore a padded jacket called a gambeson, which absorbed impacts and made wearing metal armour more comfortable.
Arming Doublet: An arming doublet was a padded garment worn underneath plate armour. It had points (straps) to attach individual pieces of armour securely.

Full Plate Armor by the End of the 14th Century

By the late 14th century, full plate armour started to appear, especially for knights and elite soldiers. This comprehensive armour included:

Breastplate and backplate for torso protection.
Faulds (overlapping metal bands) for the hips and lower torso.
Fully articulated gauntlets and sabatons for foot protection.
Full coverage of the limbs, with cuisses, poleyns, vambraces, and greaves.

This form of armour provided unparalleled protection and became the hallmark of the heavily armoured knight, leading into the 15th century.

Conclusion

Armor in the 14th century marked a critical transition from mail-based protection to the full plate armour that would define the heavily armoured knights of later medieval warfare. The period saw a significant evolution in defensive technology, from the relatively flexible but vulnerable chainmail to more rigid and protective plate armour. As weapons became more powerful, particularly with the advent of longbows and early firearms, armorers responded by improving armour to meet the demands of the battlefield.