12th century and under leg armor

[Crusaderfacerx]

Hey guys,

I'm currently looking for some information and pictures of types of leg armor from the 12th century and under. I would like something that has shin and knee protection. I added some pictures of ones I have found so far.

thanks!

[Ian]

Neither of those pictures are accurate for your period of interest.  The second one (the non-etched one) is pure fantasy. During the 1100's the standard for leg protection was maille, as it will be from then until about the mid 14th century.  The only plate on the legs we see is around the 2nd quarter of the 13th century when plate knee poleyns start to show up on effigies around 1227ish. 

Greaves (lower leg defense) don't really show up with any frequency until the first quarter of the 14th century.  If you're interested in splinted leg defenses you might want to look in to shifting your focus to the 14th century, or if you really prefer the crusading era of the 12th century, you want to be looking at a full harness of maille, and pretty much only maille (with the exception of the helmet).

[Sir Wolf]

ya, mail is your friend. sorry but thats it

[Sir Brian]

Hello and welcome to the forum! 

Ack! I’m too slow again!
Anyways, Sir Ian and Sir Wolf are absolutely correct! Although the first picture is a sweet knee cop and splinted greaves combination they wouldn’t be plausible for a 12th century or earlier harness as in that time frame the legs were protected entirely with maille. Even the link to a study of 600 English effigies starting at 1300 showed maille as the predominant leg armor.

http://talbotsfineaccessories.com/armour/effigy/English-Effigies.htm

[Crusaderfacerx]

Thanks for the quick replies guys .  Would padded chausses and a cop sewn in the knee be plausible (I added a picture to the main post)? Didn't the romans use plate leg protection, why did it take so long for others to start using plate armor other than helmets?

[Sir Wolf]

early bc romans and some 2nd ad romans did but not all of them. they fazed out. ther enot in drawings, paintings, effigies, or even grave finds untill later. 

the padded upper leg i believe comes in around 1250 and then the small knee cop then the "soupcan" style knee.

so for 12th century, 1100s, there is only evidence of mail

[Sir Wolf]

oh and WELCOME! to the modern chivalry group!

[Sir Gerard de Rodes]

Hi Crusaderfacerx,
Your choice of leg protection for your chosen period is mail,mail or mail.
Try picking a later crusade if you really want to wear padded chausses etc 

Welcome to the forum by the way, why not jump onto the "Great Hall" section, say Hi and introduce yourself. Maybe tell us a little about your interest in the period. 

G.

[Sir William]

As was said, maille's your route- good thing is, that's all you'll need cap a pie (head to foot).  A pair of short boots and a nasal or spangenhelm will round you out nicely.

[Sir James A]

Hi Crusaderfacerx,
Your choice of leg protection for your chosen period is mail,mail or mail.
Try picking a later crusade if you really want to wear padded chausses etc 

Welcome to the forum by the way, why not jump onto the "Great Hall" section, say Hi and introduce yourself. Maybe tell us a little about your interest in the period. 

G.

Summed it up quite nicely.

Thanks for the quick replies guys .  Would padded chausses and a cop sewn in the knee be plausible (I added a picture to the main post)? Didn't the romans use plate leg protection, why did it take so long for others to start using plate armor other than helmets?

You can get the padded chausses; but get the ones with leather, then take the leather cop off, and you're good.

[Thorsteinn]

Where & when? 12th & under means eventually you hit Rome & Greece. Can you give us a place & century?

BTW this is my 9th cen kit at the moment. I'm in the blue pants.

[MacDimm]

Maille chausses work for 12-13th century but that's about as early as they go it seems. William the Conqueror is the only person wearing mail leggings on the bayeux tapestry if I remember correctly, which covers the Battle of Hastings (1066). This would indicate that at that time, mail leggings would be a luxury that very few would be using. Pretty much everyone else on the tapestry goes without leg defense. They could have potentially relied on their long kite shields to cover this aspect.

[Sir Ulrich]

12th century all you have is maille mostly tie in the back ones too, late 13th you start to get plate on the knees and in a few examples schynbalds. Thats is currently what I am doing. I have a set of 12th century maille chausses however with the tie in the back. I was considering selling them to get full ones but my legs are too thin to fit in the off the rack ones so I am just gonna keep them. I do suggest getting padding under them though.

[B. Patricius]

my Templar persona is late 12th early 13th century.  Mail is indeed your friend.

For my kit, which to fight in the Adrian Empire requires more stringent armour than period, will have hidden knees, cuisses and greaves.  Basically I'm making my legs very similar to 14th century in that the greaves, cuisses and knees are all attached, but the splints are hidden underneath a layer of canvas that's channled to appear to be gamboised.  The "hinge" is my low profile DonJoy knee braces.  Over that goes my mail chausses.  My hope is that it looks as good as I can get it to period with the extra armour.  Worst case scenario, my sleeveless surcoat or habit.cappae will help to hide it all. 

[Crusaderfacerx]

Thanks for all the helpful info and tips guys I really appreciate it!