Armor Type:  Breastplate armor

Brief Description:  A fauld is a series of overlapping horizontal steel plates attached to the lower edge of a breastplate, forming an articulated skirt around the waist and hips. Emerging in Western Europe around 1370, these lames provide vital lower-torso protection while flexing for mobility, often paired with a rear plate called a culet.

Key Characteristics of Faulds:

Construction: They consist of two to six (or more) horizontal metal bands, known as lames, connected internally by sliding rivets or strips of leather.

Articulation: The overlapping design allows the plates to expand and contract. This was an essential engineering feature, allowing knights to bend, twist, and easily mount a horse.

Placement: Faulds are either riveted directly to the bottom of the breastplate or rest just beneath it so the breastplate can overlap the top plate.

Extension with Tassets: The bottom edge of the fauld often featured hinges or straps used to attach tassets, which are longer plates that protect the upper thighs.