Chainmail

Chainmail (also chain mail, chain maille, or just mail or maille) is a type of armour or jewelry that consists of small metal rings linked together in a pattern to form a mesh. Mail can generally be punctured by a spear or shorn by the blow from a heavy axe or sword (although riveted chainmail is much stronger), and its flexibility means that its wearer is still vulnerable to blunt weapons. Nevertheless, it was an effective and popular defense for its ability to stop cutting weapons from piercing the skin. Medieval physicians could usually set broken bones, but when it came to preventing infection they were woefully inadequate. Thus the mail was weak in defending against wounds which could be more easily mended but strong against those to which the soldier was most vulnerable. The word chainmail is of relatively recent coinage, having been in use only since the 1700s, prior to this it was refered to simply as mail http://www.regia.org/warfare/Mail.htm.

History

Mail was invented some time in the mid 1st millennium BC, but it is unknown where and by whom it was first used. It may have been invented independently in Japan and in Europe. The earliest finds altogether are from 5th century BC Scythian graves. Etruscan or Celtic examples date to ca. the 3rd century BC. The Greek term, cataphract, came to be associated with heavy cavalry (as opposed to light mounted archers). The Roman Empire first came into contact with mail when it invaded Gaul, and the Roman army soon adopted the technology for their secondary troops in the form of the Lorica hamata.

Related Topics:
1st millennium BC - Japan - Europe - 5th century BC - Scythia - Etruscan - Celt - 3rd century BC - Greek - Cataphract - Cavalry - Mounted archer - Roman Empire - Gaul - Lorica hamata

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The use of mail was prominent throughout the High Middle Ages, and reached its apex in the 13th century, when full body suits of mail armour were developed.

Related Topics:
High Middle Ages - 13th century

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In the 14th century, plate armour began to replace mail. It could still be seen after this point being worn by those who could not afford plate, however, and it was also common to wear a shirt of mail beneath plate armour to protect the joints and the groin.

Related Topics:
14th century - Plate armour - Joint - Groin

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