It was favoured by common soldiers and officers alike for its rich, expensive look and protection. īumianjia were still used in China as late as the Ming and Qing periods. He also argues that Eastern European kuyaks and, supposedly, Western European brigandines originate from this armour. Russian orientalist and weapon expert Mikhail Gorelik states that it was invented in the 8th century as parade armour for the Emperor's guards by reinforcing a thick cloth robe with overlapping iron plates, but did not come into wide use until the 13th century, when it became widespread in the Mongol Empire under the name of hatangu degel ("robe which is as strong as iron"). It consisted of rectangular metal plates riveted between the fabric layers with the rivet heads visible on the outside. Qing military uniform, made to look like earlier Dingjia armourĪ type of armour very similar in design to brigandine, known as bumianjia ( Chinese:布面甲 Pinyin: Bù miàn jiǎ), or dingjia ( Chinese: 釘甲 Pinyin: Dīng jiǎ), was used in medieval China. In fact, brigandines were highly fashionable and were ostentatiously displayed by wealthy aristocrats both in European and in Asian courts. It had nothing to do with its alleged ability to be concealed by bandits. ![]() Originally the term "brigand" referred to a foot soldier, and a brigandine was simply a type of armour worn by a foot soldier. A brigandine was also simple enough in design for a soldier to make and repair his own armour without needing the services of an armourer.Ī common myth is that brigandines were so-named because they were a popular choice of protection for bandits and outlaws. Even with the gambeson and the mail shirt, a wearer was not as well-protected as when wearing a complete harness of plate armour, but the brigandine was less expensive and also gave the soldier a greater degree of mobility and flexibility. These wore brigandines, along with plate armour arm and leg protection, as well as a helmet. It was most commonly used by men-at-arms. 1470).Ī brigandine was commonly worn over a gambeson and mail shirt and it was not long before this form of protection was commonly used by soldiers ranging in rank from archers to knights. Modern flak jackets and ballistic vests are based on the same principle. The contrast between a richly dyed velvet cloth and gilded rivet heads must have been impressive and, unsurprisingly, such armour was popular with high-status individuals. In more expensive brigandines the outer layer of cloth was usually of velvet. The rivets were also often grouped to produce a repeating decorative pattern. The rivets attaching the plates to the fabric were often decorated, being gilt, or of latten, and sometimes embossed with a design. Many brigandines appear to have had larger, somewhat L-shaped plates over the central chest area. Unlike armour for the torso made from large plates, the brigandine was flexible, with a degree of movement between each of the overlapping plates. The small armour plates were sometimes riveted between two layers of stout cloth, or just to an outer layer. However, depictions of brigandines with sleeves are known. The form of the brigandine is essentially the same as the civilian doublet, though it is commonly sleeveless. The brigandine is sometimes confused with the haubergeon, while the name is often confused with the brigantine, a swift small sea vessel. ![]() 15th-century brigandines are generally front-opening garments with the rivets arranged in triangular groups of three, while 16th-century brigandines generally have smaller plates with the rivets arranged in rows. Later brigandines appeared towards the end of the 14th century, but survived beyond this transitional period between mail and plate, and came into even wider use in the 15th century, continuing into the 16th century. The new armour became very popular first in Eastern Europe, especially in Hungary, towards the end of the 13th century and was adopted in western Europe several decades later. ![]() This armour of Asian origin reached Europe after the Mongol invasion in 1240 that destroyed the Kievan Rus' and severely damaged the Kingdom of Hungary in 1241. Medieval brigandines were essentially a refinement of the earlier coat of plates, which developed in the late 12th century, typically of simpler construction with larger metal plates. Protective clothing and armour have been used by armies from earliest recorded history the King James Version of the Bible ( Jeremiah 46:4) translates the Hebrew סריון ÇiRYON or שריון SiRYoN "coat of mail" as "brigandine". Saint Michael and the Dragon with sword & buckler, wearing brigandine with plate armour for hand and legs
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