Armor Type:  Torso armor

Brief Description:  Brigandine is made of overlapping metal plates riveted between an outer fabric layer (like canvas, wool, or velvet) and an inner lining. It offered medieval soldiers a highly flexible, relatively affordable, and easily repaired alternative to rigid plate armor.

Core Characteristics and Design:

Construction: Small, overlapping iron or steel plates (roughly oblong or rectangular) were attached to the inside of the garment using visible metal rivets.

Flexibility: Because the defense was divided into many small pieces, the armor bent with the wearer. This granted much more mobility than a solid steel breastplate.

Exterior Finish: While common foot soldiers wore functional, canvas-covered brigandines, wealthy nobles wore luxurious versions covered in fine velvet, silk, or dyed leathers with gilded rivets.

Wearability: Unlike heavy plate harnesses, which often required a squire to help strap the wearer in, brigandines fastened at the front with straps and buckles, allowing them to be put on without assistance.