Plate armour
Plate armour is the epitome of the medieval knight – a masterpiece of craftsmanship that has evolved over centuries and continues to fascinate to this day. Whether you’re putting together a full set, looking for individual pieces of armour for LARP or re-enactment, or simply want to learn more about historical plate armour: here you’ll find the necessary background information and the right components.
What is plate armour? Basics and construction
Plate armour – also known as plate armour or plate armour – refers to protective armour made from metal plates shaped to fit the body. It differs fundamentally from chainmail: whilst the chain mail consists of interlinked rings and is flexible but susceptible to piercing, plate armour offers significantly greater protection against cuts, stabs and blows thanks to its moulded steel plates.
A full set comprises a variety of individual parts: helmet, gorget or collar, breastplate and backplate, shoulder plates, arm guards, leg guards, plate gloves and sabatons (armoured boots). All parts are connected by leather straps, rivets and hinges – this fastening technique allows for remarkable mobility despite the rigid material.
Historically, a full set weighed between 15 and 25 kg. Contrary to popular belief, a knight in armour was by no means immobile: the weight is distributed evenly across the entire body, making it significantly less strenuous to wear than it appears at first glance. Historical sources and modern experiments show that experienced wearers could run, climb and fight whilst wearing full armour.
Development of plate armour: from the 12th to the 16th century
Early phase: Chainmail dominates
The chainmail (hauberk) is the predominant form of protective clothing. The first plate elements – such as knee guards and forearm guards – are used as supplements to cover the weak points of the chain mail.
Transitional phase: combination of chainmail and plate
An increasing amount of plate armour is worn over the chainmail. Beneath this, the gambeson serves as padding. The armour gradually becomes more complete – breast, back, arm and leg plates complement the chainmail.
Classic full suits of armour: Gothic and Italian
The 15th century is regarded as the heyday of plate armour. Gothic plate armour (German-speaking regions) is characterised by slender lines and upward-pointing ribs designed to deflect blades. Italian plate armour – known, for example, in the Milanese style – features rounder, smoother shapes and wide underarm sections.
Maximilian armour and change
The so-called Maximilian armour, with its fluted (ribbed) surfaces, characterised the early 16th century. Armour became more decorative and elaborately adorned. The increasing prevalence of firearms fundamentally altered the military use of plate armour.
Legal and practical matters: wearing and caring for plate armour
Wearing plate armour is generally legal in Germany. At public events – such as a medieval market or re-enactment events – however, the rules of the respective organiser apply. Some markets restrict the carrying of sharp blades; the armour itself is usually not affected by this. If you are unsure, it is best to check with the organiser in advance.
Care of steel armour: Bare steel requires regular maintenance. After wearing, wipe the surfaces dry to remove sweat and moisture. Then rub in weapon oil or an acid-free oil – this protects against corrosion. Burnished surfaces are easier to care for, as the oxide layer provides a certain degree of basic protection; bare steel requires more frequent after-treatment.
Leather straps connecting the plate sections should be treated regularly with leather grease or leather oil to keep them supple and prevent them from tearing. For storage, it is recommended to stand the armour upright on an armour stand – do not stack the pieces on top of one another, as the material may suffer under its own weight. Rust spots can be removed with fine steel wool or fine emery paper; oil the surface immediately afterwards to prevent further corrosion.
Plate armour by body part: individual components and their function
Chest plate & breastplate
Protects the torso and internal organs. The breastplate and backplate together form the armour – the central unit around which all other parts are grouped.
Shoulder plates (pauldrons)
Thanks to layered lamellae, shoulder plates allow for a wide range of arm movement despite providing full protection. They connect the arm and chest armour.
Armour
Protect the upper arm, forearm and elbow. Adjustable leather straps allow for adaptation to different arm circumferences – also available for women.
Leg armour
Thigh guards, kneecaps and lower leg guards provide full protection for the legs. Sabatons (armoured shoes) from the 14th century complete the set at the bottom.
Neck guards & collars
Often made from chainmail or plate segments, the neck guard protects the exposed area between the helmet and the breastplate.
Plate gloves & sabatons
Hands and feet are among the most vulnerable parts of the body in combat. Sabatons made from 1.5 mm steel, modelled on 14th-century designs, are an example from our current range.
Buying plate armour: What to look out for
Individual armour pieces such as rondelles or small protective plates are ideal as a first addition to an existing outfit. Material thickness of around 1.0–1.2 mm, sufficient for decorative purposes and light LARP.
Vambraces, shoulder plates and leg guards in 1.2 mm steel are the standard for active LARP use. Adjustable leather straps ensure a good fit – models for women are also available in the range.
High-quality individual pieces such as hand-forged sabatons made from 1.5 mm steel closely resemble historical models. Those building up a full set step by step can add pieces gradually – a modular design is intentionally possible.
When purchasing plate armour or individual parts, it is worth clearly defining the intended use: exhibition combat requires a different level of stability than pure reenactment or display in the living room. For active combat use, the material thickness should be at least 1.2 mm; for heavier loads, 1.5 mm is recommended. The fit depends heavily on adjustable leather straps – check the adjustment range on arm and leg guards before purchasing.
Gothic vs. Italian plate armour: the two major styles
- Originating in German-speaking regions, 15th century
- Characteristic curved edges, slender proportions
- Upward-pointing ribs deflect blades (deflection principle)
- More delicate appearance, heavily textured surfaces
- Well-known examples from South German and Austrian workshops
- Available in reproductions made from 1.2–1.5 mm steel
- Originating in northern Italy, particularly Milan (Milanese), c. 1450
- Rounded, smoother shapes with wider underarm sections
- Fewer decorative edges, protection provided by solid, curved surfaces
- Well-known surviving examples from Churburg (South Tyrol)
- Wider shoulder design, distinctive leg pockets
- Also common in 1.2–1.5 mm steel reproductions
For re-enactment, historical accuracy is important: those creating a 15th-century South German or Austrian portrayal opt for the Gothic style; those portraying a North Italian or Burgundian figure choose the Milanese armour. In LARP, both styles are equally represented – here, appearance and personal taste usually take precedence.
What did knights wear under their plate armour?
Plate armour was never worn directly against the skin. The entire system consisted of several layers, which together provided optimal protection and comfort.
The innermost layer was the gambeson – a padded doublet made of linen or wool. It absorbs impact energy, prevents chafing from the metal and insulates against the cold. Without a well-padded gambeson, even a blocked blow is transmitted painfully.
In many armour configurations, this was followed by a chainmail hauberk as a second layer of protection. The chain mail provides particular protection for the jointed areas not covered by plates – such as the armpits, the backs of the knees or the neck area. Additional leather padding was inserted between and beneath the plate sections, for example in the helmet lining or on the inner surfaces of the gauntlets.
The armour tunic served as a supplementary garment for fastening the plate sections via leather straps and provided a further layer of padding. A complete suit of armour was thus always a coordinated system comprising several layers – not a single garment, but a well-thought-out combination.
From your first arm guard to a complete set – building up a plate armour set is a process that’s well worth the effort. Browse through the subcategories, compare the individual pieces and put together a set that suits your intended use and budget.
Frequently asked questions
Plate armour is a protective suit consisting of metal plates shaped to fit the body, which reached its full development in the late Middle Ages (14th–16th centuries). Unlike chainmail, which consists of interlinked rings, plate armour offers significantly greater protection against cuts and stabs thanks to its moulded steel plates. The individual parts are connected to one another in a movable manner using leather straps, rivets and hinges.
The price depends heavily on whether you are buying individual parts or a complete set. Individual parts such as rondelles or smaller protective plates start at around €19, medium-sized parts such as arm guards are around €46, and high-quality hand-forged pieces such as sabatons can cost up to €118. A complete historically accurate full suit of armour from a specialist supplier can cost several thousand euros – for LARP and re-enactment, a modular setup using individual pieces is the most common and budget-friendly solution.
Beneath their plate armour, knights always wore several layers: closest to the skin was a gambeson – a padded tunic made of linen or wool that absorbed impact energy and prevented chafing. This was often followed by a chainmail shirt, which protected the joints not covered by plates. In addition, leather padding was used in the helmet lining and on the gloves. The armour was therefore always a system comprising several coordinated layers of protection.
Wearing plate armour is generally legal in Germany. However, at public events such as medieval markets or re-enactment events, the rules of the respective organiser apply. Some events restrict the carrying of sharp blades; the armour itself is usually not affected by this. If in doubt, it is worth checking with the organiser before the event.
Gothic plate armour originated in German-speaking regions and is recognisable by its slender proportions, curved edges and upward-pointing ribs, which are designed to deflect blades. Italian plate armour – particularly the Milanese style – features rounder, smoother shapes with broader shoulders and fewer decorative edges. Both styles were developed in the 15th century and are available as reproductions made from 1.2–1.5 mm steel for re-enactment and LARP.