Armor Type:  Groin Armor

Brief Description:  A codpiece in medieval armor is a rigid steel plate designed to protect and conceal the groin. Evolving from civilian fashion trends, armored codpieces were worn over the breech in full plate harnesses during the 15th and 16th centuries. Though functional, they were frequently molded into exaggerated, assertive shapes that showcased masculinity and virility.

Historically, codpieces in fashion originated as a simple triangle of fabric to cover the gap left by split hose, but quickly transformed into an extravagant and padded status symbol. When integrated into a knight's suit of armor, the codpiece was forged from the same metal (such as 18-gauge steel) as the rest of the harness.

The armored codpiece attached to the bottom edge of the breastplate or the fauld (the series of horizontal steel plates protecting the lower torso). It was secured by leather straps, buckles, or laces, allowing it to articulate and shift with the knight's movement on the battlefield.

Some of the most famous examples of armored codpieces belong to King Henry VIII. His surviving combat armor at the Tower of London features a particularly prominent, bulbous steel codpiece that highlighted martial power and the king's physical prowess.