Armor Type:  Metal plate armor

Brief Description:  A rondel (or besagew) is a small, circular steel disk attached to medieval plate armor to cover structural gaps, joints, or vulnerable strapping. Measuring about 4 to 8 inches in diameter, these plates provided crucial, targeted defense for delicate areas—like the armpits and elbows—without restricting mobility. Rondels were especially prominent during the 14th and 15th centuries as plate armor evolved to protect the fully articulated joints of mounted knights and men-at-arms.

Key design features and historical uses include:

Armpit Protection: Often called besagews, rondels were hung by leathers or straps from the shoulders to guard the exposed armpit (a vulnerable spot where the front and back pieces of a cuirass met).

Helmet Defense: Late-medieval helmets, such as the 15th-century Italian armet, often featured a rondel at the base of the skull to absorb heavy blows and protect the throat or neck straps from being targeted.

Elbow and Hand Guards: Rondels were frequently integrated directly into spaulders (shoulder protection) and gauntlets, acting as deflectors to stop thrusts or strikes from sliding into the softer layers of mail beneath.

Replaceability: Because rondels were lightweight and often hung on posts or simple straps, they acted as sacrificial, ablative armor; they could easily be replaced if damaged in battle without having to repair the primary suit of armor.