The shield worn in this period was convex and ((kite° or cheater° shaped and was decorated often with the owner's heraldic bearings. See SHIELDS.
A species of armor called °banded mail° seems to have been worn occasionally as early as the end of the 12th century, to become popular by the 13th century. Doubt still sur rounds its composition, but illustrations of the period show defined bands (some say leather thongs) passing at intervals over the mail. Banded mail appears in engravings as late as the 14th century.
Reinforced Mail Period Called also Period,) because it, by stages, developed into the Plate Armor Period. Gradually the need for strengthening certain parts of mail seems to have arisen, and we find additions or reinforcements appearing.
"Splint armor° appears also early in this period. It consisted of splints of. metal cov ered with and attached to some fabric —as velvet, silk, etc. This was soon evolved into the brigandine, which was a corselet of textile with overlapping small metal plates fastened (usually rivetted) to it. The textile was usu ally worn on the outside, thus exposing the rivets to view.
By the end of the 13th century a cuir bouilli (boiled leather) cuirass was worn over the hauberk. At this time came the poleynes or genouillieres, caps of metal or boiled leather, to protect the knees; also began the practice of using ailettes or diminutive shields worn at the shoulders perpendicularly. Next came the
leg front plate protection termed beinbergs. Then appear disc-plates on the shoulders and elbows. A rerebrace plate protection for the upper-arm is strapped over the mail; the coude, or coudilre, plate is fastened to the elbow. The vambrace reinforced the mail protecting the front of the lower arm from elbow to wrist. A quilted upper-pourpoint is worn over the hauberk and over this again the surcoat.
The coif of mail had already become separate from the hauberk and then disappeared; and a camail (neck protector of chain mail) was attached by staples to a conical bassinet (see HELMETS) and overlapped the surcoat. A strap with buckle in the rear held the camail from up. The lower edge of the hauberk usually continues for about two inches in view lower than the jupon — the sleeveless surcoat. Gauntlets with gadlings (knuckle points or knobs) arrive in this so-termed "camail and jupon period' (See GAUNTLETS). By the 14th century we find the solleret (foot armor) the first laminated plate armor worn by the knights. See SoLLE.arrs.
By the first half of the 15th century we have come to a time when the knight is found wearing a full harness (panoply) of plate armor with chain mail hauberk beneath and chain camail over neck and shoulders.
The arbalest (cross-bow) was introduced in the 12th century to be used for sport as much as war. See CROSS-BOW. See also BARDS, Bows.