Historical Analysis on the “Full Plate legs” design

By Jean Muksen

Abstract

The purpose of this article is, through a succinct recapitulation of sources,  back up historically and according to sports regulations the design seen in the “Advanced full plate armor legs protection” produced by “Medieval Extreme”. To better conduct this study, the armor will first be annualized by its individual elements first (greaves, poleyn and cuisse), and only after that it will be discussed about its entirety.

Advanced full legs
Figure 1 –  Reproduction in question

1.0 Contextualization about full plate armor legs

Through the military history, since ancient times leg protection has been one of major preoccupations, together with torso and head protection. The reason to that is clear, as the combatant mobility in field or out of it depends on its legs.  It’s as an old issue as is the technology to mitigate it, with examples of leg protection being present in all the cultures around the ages. During Middle ages, in earlier periods they appeared early as simple metal bands riveted together, as seen in the Valsgärde objects from the 7th century.

Figure 2 -  Valsgärde splint armor examples.
Figure 2 –  Valsgärde splint armor examples.

Later on, following the metallurgy evolution, this simple metal bands evolved, becoming extremely complex and protective technological assets. However, for a better understanding of this process its important to separate the leg armor in parts: the shin armor (greaves), the knee armor (poleyn) and the tie armor (cuisse) and just them evolve to the analysis of the possible combinations.

1.1 The Greaves

Since Greek antiquity, greaves (κνημίδες) were mentioned in many texts, which denotates it’s importance and place as status symbol, what is verifiable  in the Illiad, where the Greek forces are commonly referred to as “well-greaved Acheans” (euknēmidas Achaioi, ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ) to highlight how well equipped they were. This persisted in Roman Era, as various historians, from Polybius (200 BC – 118 BC)  up to Vegetius (writer of Epitoma rei militaris, ca 500 BC), in fact mention the usage of this defence implement by the roman armies. Later on, in the early Middle Ages, greaves again appear in graves like Valsgärde (Fig. 2) and by the 13th century the form of the “schynbalds is well consolidate, consisting of a metal band, in the shape of the shin, protecting the front part of the leg, as it is seen in the Trinity College Apocalypse manuscript (ca 1250 AC ): 

Figure 4 – Folio 023r, Cambridge R.16.2 Trinity Apocalypse

At the beginning of 14th century, the early form of greave evolved into a more anatomical shape, and diverges into single plate greaves (which later on turned into fully encased greaves) and “splint armor” greaves (which will not be covered in this essay) . 

The single plate greaves from early 14th century can be seen in a variety of depictions, notably in the English effigy of  Sir John d’Abernoun III, Dating to 1327 (Fig. 5; St Mary’s Church, Stoke d’Abernon, Surrey, England), the French funerary effigy of Robert of Artois (Fig. 6), from 1320, and in Italy, specifically in the Salerno Cathedral, ( Located in Campania) the same design appears in the effigy known as “Salerno Knight” (Fig. 7), dating from ca.1325.

Figure 5 - St Mary's Church, Stoke d'Abernon, Surrey, England (1327).
Figure 5 – St Mary’s Church, Stoke d’Abernon, Surrey, England (1327).

Figure 6 - Cathedral Basilica of St Denis, Paris, Île-de-France, France (1320).
Figure 6 – Cathedral Basilica of St Denis, Paris, Île-de-France, France (1320).

Figure 7 - Cathedral, Salerno, Campania, Italy (1325).
Figure 7 – Cathedral, Salerno, Campania, Italy (1325).


As can be verified in this sources, this form of shin protection, the “demi-greave” was  a style of armor used in congruence with the “floating articulation” method, that is the articulation between the different parts of the leg is achieved with straps and , cords or strings, being possible also the direct attachment to the undergarment or to the mail.  This persists through all the 1330 decade, and that is portrait extensively, for example, in the St Martin’s Church, Champeaux, Île-de-France, France:

Figure 8 - St Martin's Church, Champeaux, Île-de-France, France (1333).
Figure 8 – St Martin’s Church, Champeaux, Île-de-France, France (1333).

Starting from the 1340’s, this form of greave begins to be supplanted by the more advanced “close greave”, which encases completely the lower leg of the user ( the same “close” design appears also in splint/brigandine armor). The  more advanced encased design becomes more common than his simpler demi greave counterpart, as can be seen in the effigy of Sir Hugh Hastings (ca 1340) which yet shows a “floating” design:

Figure 9 - Priory Church of St Mary, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales (1340)
Figure 9 – Priory Church of St Mary, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales (1340)

However, yet in 1444, Henri Briart’s tomb relief already shows what seems to be the more advanced “articulated” design, which uses rivets to articulate a series of smaller plates:

Figure 10 - Church of St Mary Madeleine, Fouju, Île-de-France, France (1344).
Figure 10 – Church of St Mary Madeleine, Fouju, Île-de-France, France (1344).

The same construction becomes very common, and in 1350’s, for example, to see floating designs in the legs or “demi greaves” becomes very rare. But they still do occurs, like in the tomb of Jacques Louchard, in 1350:

Figure 11 - Ourscamp Abbey, Chiry-Ourscamp, Oise, France (1350).
Figure 11 – Ourscamp Abbey, Chiry-Ourscamp, Oise, France (1350).

Soon after, this design falls out of fashion, and didn’t occur anymore. The fully encased greaves (being plate, splint, brigandine or composed of 3 or even more panels¹) in pair with full plated legs articulated with rivets (or even floating designs)  become “the norm” for western medieval armor, with little exceptions, persisting through the second half of 14th and the entirety of 15th century.

Figure 12 - Stained Glass from Stiftskirche, Klagenfurt, Carinthia, Austria (ca 1390)
Figure 12 – Stained Glass from Stiftskirche, Klagenfurt, Carinthia, Austria (ca 1390)

Figure 13 - Typical example of 15th century encased greave, hold in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Italy, ca. 1450)
Figure 13 – Typical example of 15th century encased greave, hold in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Italy, ca. 1450)

Figure 14 - Atypical example of greave made in more than one panel.     Osnabrück Altar; Wallraf-Richartz Museum. Osnabrück, Germany (ca.1370).
Figure 14 – Atypical example of greave made in more than one panel.     Osnabrück Altar; Wallraf-Richartz Museum. Osnabrück, Germany (ca.1370).


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1.2 the “poleyin” and cuisses

As state earlier in this essay, the leg armor which inspired this reproduction only appears in the middle to late 14th century, and it comprehends an universal design present in all of western Europe, specially Italy, United Kingdon and Germany. This specific shape and form are very similar to those of a set of poleyin and greaves found in Leeds (ca. 1380), except the cuisse does not include the extra plate for articulation at the top extremity:

Figure 15 -  Royal Armouries, item III.1285 (ca.1380-1400)
Figure 15 –  Royal Armouries, item III.1285 (ca.1380-1400)

The same design repeats itself around all of Europe, and in fact sometimes does include an extra plate for more articulation of the leg, specially from the 15th century onwards, as the one seen in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, originary  from Italy:

Figure 16 - Metropolitan Museum of Art. Item 29.158.275a-b (ca. 1450, with later restorations)
Figure 16 – Metropolitan Museum of Art. Item 29.158.275a-b (ca. 1450, with later restorations)


The same design is also convalidated by artwork representations of armor all around the western Europe, and even in some cases in eastern regions:

Figure 17 - Funerary effigy of Edward Prince of Wales. Canterbury Cathedral, Kent, England (ca. 1376).
Figure 17 – Funerary effigy of Edward Prince of Wales. Canterbury Cathedral, Kent, England (ca. 1376).

Figure 18 - Fresco from Unitarian Church, Dârjiu, Romania (c.a. 1400-1425)
Figure 18 – Fresco from Unitarian Church, Dârjiu, Romania (c.a. 1400-1425)

Figure 19 -  Encased greaves with rivet articulated poleynes and cuisses.  Relief from Doge's Palace, Venice, Italy (ca. 1350-1370).
Figure 19 –  Encased greaves with rivet articulated poleynes and cuisses.  Relief from Doge’s Palace, Venice, Italy (ca. 1350-1370).


2.0 Conclusion

Based on the expose made here, the armor set in question (the poleyn and cuisses) are historically valid and sufficiently accurate, in shape e function, to kits from 1340 onwards in western Europe.


The combination with greaves must be compatible with the time period chosen for the armor, being demi-greaves adequate to pre 1360 kits (specifically 1340-1360, as the configuration of articulations with rivets only appears from 1340 onwards), and fully encased greaves compatible with kits from 1340 onwards, including 15th century armors.


According to HMBIA authenticity requirements, the demi-greaves and the model with two extra small plates at the sides does not comply with the standards established by the A.C. in 2020. However, the model is acceptable for other leagues such as IMCF.

For HMB league it’s recommended to use model with closed greaves instead of 3/4 one.

The form of greaves constructed with multiple panels must be “anatomical”, with smoot transitions.

Bibliographic References

Boeheim, Wendelin. 1890. Handbuch der Waffenkunde. Leipzig: Verlag von E. A. Seemann.

Crossley, Frederick Herbert. 1921. English church monuments A. D. 1150-1550. London: B.T. Batsford.

Guilhermy, Ferdinand. 1848. Monographie de l’église royale de Saint-Denis. Paris: Didron

Guilhermy, Ferdinand and Robert de Lasteyrie. 1873. “Inscriptions de la France du Ve siècle au XVIII” . Vol. 5. Imprimerie nationale

Hewitt, John. 1860. Ancient Armour and Weapons in Europe. J. Henry and J. Parker.

Nicolle, David. 1999. Arms and Armour of the Crusading Era 1050-1350. Volume 1. Greenhill Books.

Nicolle, David. 1983. Italian Medieval Armies: 1300-1500. Osprey Publishing.

Oakeshott, R. Ewart. 1960. The Archaeology of Weapons: Arms and Armour from Prehistory to the Age of Chivalry. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications.


Trinity College Cambridge homepage, accessed 26 October 2020


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