Armor Type:  Leg Protection

Brief Description:  Chausses (pronounced shows) were fitted medieval leggings used both as everyday clothing and as leg armor. Worn extensively between the 11th and 14th centuries, metal versions protected the shins and thighs from infantry strikes. They were either worn alone or tied to a belt or undergarments.

The term encompasses several variations based on material and historical period:

Mail Chausses: Originating in the late Viking era, these were made of interlaced chainmail that covered the lower leg, sometimes extending to the foot like a stocking. Because mail is heavy and pinches the skin, knights wore them over thick padded stockings. They typically featured laces on the rear calf for a snug fit to keep the rings from bunching.

Padded (Arming) Chausses: Often called gamboised chausses, these were thick, quilted leggings made of linen, wool, or canvas. They were worn underneath chainmail or plate armor to absorb impact, prevent chafing, and stop the heavy metal from digging into the legs.

Plate Chausses & Demi-Chausses: As metalworking advanced, knights began wearing rigid knee cops and proto-greaves (shin guards) over their mail. These evolved into full plate leg guards that eventually rendered mail chausses obsolete.