Brigandines

A brigandine (sometimes spelled "brigantine"), also called a brigander,
is a form of body armour, in use from the late Middle Ages and up to the early modern era. It is a garment typically made of heavy cloth, canvas, or leather, featuring small oblong steel plates riveted to the fabric such that the fabric and rivets present on the outside, sometimes with a second layer of fabric on the inside.

Origins

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 , or , "coat of mail" as "brigandine". Medieval brigandines were essentially a refinement of the earlier coat of plates, which developed in the late 12th century. These were typically of simpler construction with larger metal plates. This new armour became very popular in Eastern Europe, especially in Hungary, towards the end of the 13th century and was adopted in western Europe several decades later.

Early 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. 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.

The brigandine is sometimes confused with the haubergeon, while the name is often confused with the brigantine, a swift small sea vessel.

Construction

The form of the brigandine is essentially the same as the civilian doublet