Armor Type:  Neck armor

Brief Description:  A gorget is a piece of medieval plate armor designed to protect the throat, collarbones, and upper spine. Ranging from hardened leather to steel plates, it wraps around the neck to fill the gap between the breastplate and the helmet, while also serving as an anchor to attach pauldrons. A well-fitted gorget usually consists of two main sections—a front plate and a back plate—that are joined together by a hinge on one shoulder and fastened by a pin, stud, or leather strap on the other. This design allowed warriors to maintain mobility without exposing the neck.

Throughout the late medieval period and Renaissance, the gorget evolved in several ways:

Construction: Made of 16-gauge to 18-gauge mild steel, early versions were often worn under the breastplate, while later Renaissance variants were worn externally.

Integration: They were frequently paired with a bevor (a plate that defended the lower face and chin) to create a continuous defensive system for a knight's head and neck.

Symbol of Rank: By the 1700s, it evolved from full battlefield protection into a smaller, symbolic piece worn on a chain as a badge of office by military officers.