All of the elements used in the defense of the arm. Under the armour might be an
aketon or gambeson. Prior to the 14th century, the arm was defended by a
mail sleeve over an aketon. The early 14th century saw the enhancement of a
couter added to protect the elbow point. During the middle of the 14th century this couter was attached by
rivets and
lames to the
vambrace which defended the lower arm and the
rerebrace that defended the upper arm. Generally the resulting "arm harness," in one piece, was laced to the gambeson by a point from the top edge of the rerebrace at the outside of the arm. Over the rerebrace was then laid the
spaulder , a defense that covered the shoulder and uppermost arm. This piece was also laced to the gambeson by a point along the top edge. This defense remained more or less constant during the 15th century, except that the
wing was expanded in size to cover more of the inside of the elbow and the spaulder was sometimes expanded to become more cumbersome but more protective
pauldron . During this period reinforces were sometimes fitted to the couter to enhance the protection for the joust. The 16th century saw an explosion of this kind of defense, but it was used only in the joust. Also during the 16th century, the size on the couter wing was reduced again and there was a brief flirtation with articulation on the inside of the elbow joint. Major Developments during the 14th century- 1300 three-piece
vambrace ,
couter , and
rerebrace dominate early experimentation with arm defenses. German and Italians use
splinted defenses frequently, and examples in both countries often retain the three piece model even after the splinted defenses have been supplanted by plate. Italian, English and French development followed the following points, though there too the simpler three-piece model is sometimes found for the duration of the period.- 1320 Earliest known defense known from the effigy of Don Alvéro de Cabrera in the Monastery of Santa Maria de Belpuig, Bellaguer, Spain. A splinted defense, three part construction.- 1325-1330
Vambrace begins to be constructed in two parts, hinged and secured with
buckles .- 1330s on small plates defended the shoulder points, as found at Wisby and shown on contemporary effigies. These were often attached to the
brigandine defenses or to the
gambeson itself.- 1330s Laminated spaulder shown on Ifield, Sussex (England), reinforced with disks bearing a lion mask, the same being attached to the
couters .- 1335
Lames and
couter articulated in English examples - 1340 Fully articulated arm harness in plate appears in England (see Clehonger, Herefordshire) -
Rerebrace fully enclosed-
Vambrace fully enclosed -
Spaulder formed in lames extends down the arm, permanently attached to the
rerebrace - Couter often formed of smaller plates, rather than the pointed variety. Often rounded in shape. - 1350
besagews disappear completely (
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