Brigandines & lamellar armor

Viking armors of scale and lamellar armor

The Germanic ancestors of the Vikings, from the Vendel period, used steel and leather scale and lamellar armor. It can be assumed that the Vikings continued to wear these types of armor. Often scale armour was worn over the chainmail shirt as a second layer of protection against hard blows from, for example, the dane axe or the shield wall. Steel scale armour remained in use until the Middle Ages, although around that time, people mainly chose the coat of plates or brigandine.

The history of brigandines & coat of plates

The coat of plates is among the most distinctive types of armor from the Middle Ages. This body armor consisted of multiple metal plates attached to the inside of a leather or fabric jacket. The plates overlapped each other so that the wearer maintained both flexibility and a high degree of protection. This construction made the coat of plates particularly effective against lance thrusts and sword blows, two of the greatest threats on the medieval battlefield.

From the late 12th to the 14th century, this armor was widely worn by knights, men-at-arms, and even by urban militias. Early versions consisted of a few large plates, but archaeological finds – such as the famous ones from the Battle of Visby (1361) – show models with dozens to hundreds of smaller plates. Such finds clearly show how diverse the construction could be. The coat of plates represents an important transition in the development of armor, from chainmail shirt to full plate armor.

A later development of this principle is the brigandine, recognizable by the many rivets visible on the outside. These rivets hold small steel plates between layers of fabric or leather. Brigandines were cheaper to produce than large breastplates and could also be repaired by the wearer. Therefore, they became popular among both archers and knights. Luxury variants were richly decorated with colored fabrics and gilded nails and were worn by nobles, not by brigands – a common misconception.

For soldiers of lower rank, there was also the jack of plates, in which the metal plates were sewn rather than riveted. These jacks remained in use well into the 16th century and were even taken to the New World because they provided excellent protection against arrow attacks.

The history of leather scale and lamellar armor

Even in antiquity, warriors used leather armors and helmets to protect the body. The ancient Greeks often combined linen and leather to make armor such as the Linothorax. The Roman Auxilia also used leather armor. These were often Germans. The later Franks and Byzantines also wore leather armor. Therefore, we can expect that the Vikings also used leather armor, although there are no archaeological sources for this.

Leather Larp armour

Leather brigandines, scale armour, and lamellar armor are excellent for LARP events. Whether historical or in fantasy style, you can beautifully shape your LARP character with them.

How do I care for leather armor and scale armour

Just like with steel armor, we recommend regularly applying ballistol to leather armor such as scale armour and lamellar armor. Ballistol maintains wood, steel, and leather, making ballistol the ideal care, especially for armour components where leather and steel are combined. Leather can dry out if not sufficiently maintained. This can cause straps and laces to break. Many separate straps and laces are therefore also available individually. This way, you can easily replace them.