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Product description
Poleyns appeared around the second half of the 13th century and were the earliest type of plate armor added to a knight's armor. Wear them over chainmail chausses to protect your vulnerable knees. For mounted warriors, the legs were always a weak spot. The development of poleyns coincided with the emergence of the shorter heater or knight's shield, which replaced the older, taller kite shields that extended to protect the rider's legs. Heavy shields were cumbersome in battle, making the introduction of poleyns together with the heater shield a major innovation. Poleyns remained in use even into the 16th century. These poleyns include leather flaps for attaching them to chainmail chausses or other garments.
These poleyns are modeled on various examples from the 13th and 14th centuries. Made from 1.6 mm thick steel, they come with a linen lining and a leather strap for securing them to the knee. A leather upper edge lets you fasten them to a hauberk, gambeson leg protection, or trousers.
