Description
The reconstruction of the under armor padded chausses (legs), made especially for sport usage.
The word “chausses” comes from the old French “chaucier” through Latin calceare – “to put on foot”. Chausses were medieval protective clothing. In the early Middle Ages chausses were made of chain mail, later they began to be made in the form of quilted stockings. A set of such stockings reinforced with chainmail elements served as the only protection for the knight’s legs in Europe from the beginning of the XIth to the XVth centuries.
Protection for the knight’s legs
One of the first descriptions of chausses can be seen on the Bayeux tapestry of 1066–1083, where an image of William the Conqueror and several other Normans wearing them can be seen. The vast majority of Norman warriors are depicted without any protective ammunition that covers their legs. By the beginning of the XIIth century, chausses became more common and gradually acquired the status of an obligatory protective element of the military uniform of any knight, any man-at-arms, and even any servant.
From about 1150 onward, padded, quilted breeches would be worn under the upper leg mail chausse. This type of armor was known as the gamboised cuisse.
It is also worth noting the influence of the status of military clothing on the fashion of ordinary townies and the villagers. Gradually like gambeson, the chausses became an indispensable element of the costume of the citizens.
Usually, they were sewn in the form of high stockings tightly fitting a leg from foot to your hip.
Padded chausses were worn by both men and women
Padded chausses were worn by both men and women but the female and male chausses were slightly different from each other. Male chausses in the XIIth-XVth centuries, separate chausses usually reached the middle or upper thigh and were fastened with laces to a belt passed through the upper part of linen male pants or braies that were part of the underwear. Braies, in turn, were tucked inside the chausses. Around the middle of the XIVth century, tall chausses began to be made. They were sewn together and initially only sewn together at the back. But the sewn chausses did not supplant separate ones. Throughout the second half of the XIVth century and throughout the XVth century, stitched and separate chausses existed in parallel.
Female padded chausses
Female padded chausses, unlike male ones, were usually knee-length and tied over or under the knee with special garters in the form of a braided braid or braided cord. And unlike male, female chausses remained unchanged for a very long time.
Reinforcing plates for knees called poleyns began to supplement mail chausses after about 1230. Because most leg armor had to be pulled on from the foot, rather than snapped on such as a breastplate, a chausse might have been considered to be worn on the foot. Steel shin plates called schynbalds came into use during the middle of the XIIIth century. Chausses became obsolete in the XIVth century as plate armour developed.
Our padded legs are ideal for use as under armor, as well as costume clothes.
Extra layer of protection protects your knee zone to reduce damage after strikes. Shin part supplied with laces to make it more anatomical and comfortable. Comfort is one of the most important factors to tak into account when we made these chausses. Breathable fabric and design allow you to move quickly and deftly without restricting movement – run fast and keep your legs protected.