Referring to all of the armour pieces defending the knight's leg, including the
cuisse (thigh),
poleyn (knee),
lames (connecting plates), and
greave or shynbald. During the 14th century the transition was made from the
mail defenses called chausses to the fully articulated leg harness, although the development was not even from place to place. By 1400 the fully leg harness had developed in the form that would survive until the 16th century.
Major Developments during the 14th century:- 1300-1350 Chausses still used to
defend the leg , with the addition of plate or
leather shynbalds to protect the calf. - 1320-1360
Poleyns are laced directly to the chausse, defending the knee. These poleyns appear to have extended around the knee and to have provided a
flared lower edge to ease the transition to the
shynbald or chausses for the calf. - 1320-1340
Poleyns are occasionally reinforced with the addition of a small
rondel to the side, additional protection for the back of the knee. - 1330-1375 The chausse is eliminated in some harnesses in place of a plate
cuisse that defends the thigh. By 1375 this plate was made in a single piece and articulated with the
poleyn through the use of two or three
lames (only one lame is used to
articulate the cuisse to the poleyn; two lames are sometimes used for the demi-
greave attachment). - 1340-1400 Instead of a
rondel attached by a central
rivet , the
poleyn itself is extended to form a
"wing" on the side of the knee cop, usually some variant on the heart shape. As the century progresses the poleyn is reduced in size and the wing
flared in the beginnings of the very broad flair seen on 15th century
leg harnesses . - 1340-1400 Plate
greaves become increasingly popular, being made in two pieces front and back, hinged on the outer edge and latching by snaps or
buckles on the inside. - 1375-1400 The full
leg harnesses is complete and becomes fullyadopted throughout Europe.
