I just want some input on this type of body armour - otherwise know as a corrazina. I've been researching it alot lately, but haven't come up with a definitive (if there is such a thing) answer, so I'll put the question to the good folks here.

For the late 14th century (c. 1380-85), would the segmented globose have been made up of simply a breast and back plate, covered in cloth w/faulds, split up the middle and back à la brigandine, or made up of many different plates (particularly the back plates)? I'll attach images to show what I'm talking about.

The full back and breast would be easiest, of course, to make (I'm lazy, if you didnt already know), but I want to remain as close to historically accurate as possible, within budgetary and safety constraints. Keep in mind I'm already fairly certain that the plate faulds (more like tassets, actually) aren't correct - correct me if I'm wrong - so I'd go with the horizontal lames.

Cheers!

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full front with backplate

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split front and back

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Many back plates

Shown here is an example found at The Bayerisches Nationalmuseum.

[ Linked Image ]

[ Linked Image ]

I think this would be the more common type of armour among Men at arms but have no way to prove it besides the fact that the Coat of Plates or Pair of Plates seems to have been more common into the 2nd hald of the 14th. AS the Last picture posted by Nathan shows the full on globoses get fabric covers as well as the seperated plates.

As far as what form they would have. TO me this is the development to the brigandine and coat of plates or breastplate from the coat of plates. You are usually going from larger plates of various numbers to smaller ones of more number for brigandines or larger even plates of less to one in number.

THe backplate is a hotly argued ticket. I think that likely by the late 14th one was in existance as Blair states in his great book on armour. Some people deeply disagree and push it to 1410 or even later which I find highly problematic. By 1402 backplates pop into inventories but if they developed from the parts of a coat of plate they never had to mention backplates before and that evolution would take time as well. There were solid breastplates bu the 1360's used without backplates as the Pistoia Alterpiece shows (one man's back is clearly shown). The Lincoln Choir has a carving of the fall of a knight (pride I believe) who shows multiple pieces backplates overlapping as well and is second half od the 14th.

Hugh,

Corraza or one of its close spelling variants certainly is accurate a term. It is usually only used in italy and somewhat in Frane but certainly is historic.

From the Getty MS of Fiore on poleaxe armoured, verse 35.

'Io son posta breve la Serpentina che megliore d'le altre me tegno. A chi darò mia punta ben gli parerà lo segno. Questa punta si è forte per passare coraze e panceroni, deffendeti che voglio far la prova.

Posta breve serpentina.'

I enboldened it with some reassuring words :D

RPM

Hugh,

That is true. It seems to almost always refer to a multi piece cuirass. My guess is anything from a more tubular Coat of Plates to a very well fit one like these.

RPM

Hugh,

No it is good. :D I have to read the same book a few times to get it right at times. Getting it right on the first try is always good. :lol:

There is danger is applying any medieval term too specifically unless you can be sure it was not in broader use or the opposite. I agree that this term has become synonymous with the globose like coat of plates harness over them in general which is incorrect. Part is reenactors not wanting to call them coat of plates.It is sad as coraza and many of its other spellings sound so cool. To be honest I really like latin and the latin based languages so I am partial to them.

RPM

Jason,

I do think the backplate was developing toward a complete one by the end of the 14th. If would seem odd if the breastplate developed by 1340 went 60 years with the backplate remaining static. Now it makes sense for the frontal armour to evolve faster or before the rear... that usually is where the attacks come from.

The fabric covering is hard to tell. Sometimes you luck out with very detailed depictions with rivit heads. Nothing really changed from before as the surcoat the jupon becomes common so torso armour can sometimes be challenging until the 1420's for this...

Corrazzina is just a diminutive of coraza just as the words in french you have listed. coraza seems to depict the multiplated versions as well so not sure if the terms can be used so. WHile it possibly could be used for other torso armours it does not seem to be, at least from the accounts that I have seen. I think there is a medieval italian dictionary about that would explain it better.

Cheers

RPM

Hugh,

Yep I have seen a number of them like that as well. My point was that I'd be suprised in a one piece one did not exist before 1400. I am sure it would not be universal for some time. My main point was that it would be odd for it to be so far behind the breastplate but as the breastplate it had to develope and pass through different stages so did the backplate, likely with various systems and designs until the one or two main styles of solid back plate, a solid one piece and solid multiple plate one won out.

There are actually very few depictions I have seen where the man can clearly be shown wearing a breastplate without a backplate so I think the pistoia depiction while showing it used is likely one of a few not may. It is just recently that the idea has been put out it was common, likely along the same lines as why everyone wears the churburg 13 breastplate instead of the 14...

RPM

The dip shows quite nicely how the crotch was protected. I wondered always why the crotch was so open, while leg harness and hosen gave protection to the legs and upper armour to the rest of the body, this area only had braies and little padding with maille. On the other hand while sitting on the horse the saddle would be enough to fulfill that task. Bat while fighting on foot? :eek:

But is this uncovered groin more or less mostly associated with horsemens armour?