The burgonet was a helmet used during the Renaissance and early modern period. It first appeared in the early 16th century, around 1500–1520, and reached its classical form around 1550.
The burgonet was developed as a successor to the sallet, a helmet from the late Middle Ages. The helmet was popular throughout Europe and continued to be used well into the 17th century. The burgonet was easily recognizable by its shape. The helmet had a rounded top with a large fixed or movable flap that protruded in front of the face opening.
Usually a high crest ran down the middle of the helmet from front to back. On the sides were hinged cheek pieces that provided protection but didn't completely close at the chin. At the bottom, the helmet often had a protruding rim that protected the neck and sides of the head. The burgonet was relatively lightweight and usually had an open front, allowing the wearer to see and breathe well.
Falling buffe
For extra protection, one could sometimes use a falling buffe, a type of visor developed from the bevor, which was pulled up to close the face. The burgonet was most worn by cavalry, such as demi-lancers and cuirassiers, who used light to medium armour. The helmet was also found among infantry.
The notorious Border Reivers, raiders and warriors on the English-Scottish border in the 16th century, often used burgonets and morions. This earned them the nickname "steel bonnets". In Poland, the famous winged hussars also wore burgonets, often mixed with elements of the Zischägge, a helmet with a neck plate and sometimes a nose guard.
In Swiss infantry, especially among pikemen, the helmet was also very common. Switzerland even tried to design a modern helmet during World War I (1914–1918) that resembled the burgonet, but these designs were never implemented.
The burgonet remained popular for three important reasons. First, it was cheaper than fully closed helmets because fewer hinges and closing mechanisms were needed. Second, it offered more freedom because it was lighter and had an open face opening, which greatly improved visibility and breathing.
Third, despite its open front, the helmet still provided good protection to the head, sides, and neck, and soldiers could add a falling buffe when they needed more protection.
The Sturmhaube
The Sturmhaube was a type of burgonet helmet that became very popular in the 16th and 17th centuries. It resembled other burgonets but had its own distinctive features. The helmet bowl was rounded and often had a high steel crest on top, inspired by classical art and representing the Roman helmet crest of old.
At the front was usually a small flap or visor opening. The cheek pieces were hinged so they could move. Many Sturmhauben were not made from a single piece but from multiple metal plates riveted together.
There were two main types: the open Sturmhaube, without a visor, and the closed Sturmhaube, with a full visor. With closed models, the visor could be secured with pins or a strap. Some open variants had a metal "falling buff" that protected the chin and face. The closed
Sturmhaube usually consisted of a helmet bowl with crest, a broad eye flap, and separate neck and cheek protection riveted to the helmet. The visor could be one piece or consist of several overlapping plates, called an absteck visor, which could be removed or secured with pins.
The Sturmhaube quickly became one of the most worn types of burgonets in Europe. Only the morion was equally popular. The helmet was first used by infantry, especially soldiers who fought with pikes, such as the German Landsknechten, who were active from the late 15th century to the 17th century.
Later, the Sturmhaube was also widely worn by light cavalry because it offered a good combination of protection and a clear field of vision, both on horseback and on foot. There was also a special variant: the Sturmhaube with three crests. In this version, three sturdy steel crests sat on top of the helmet: one large one in the middle and two smaller ones on the sides.
The crests were often serrated along the top edge and provided extra protection against blows. Apart from this difference, the construction was similar to standard Sturmhauben.
Al antiqua burgonets
Around the time the burgonet developed, the Al antiqua armour style emerged in northern Italy. It was heavily inspired by weaponry from classical antiquity that was documented through early forms of historical research.
Alongside the practical burgonet, there were also showpieces, especially in Italy. These were intended for ceremonies, parades, or as status symbols. Some specimens were very artistically decorated. The renowned armour maker Filippo Negroli from Milan (ca. 1510–1579) created such works of art, which can be seen today in museums such as the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
Tatar burgonet
Finally, there was also the Tatar burgonet, used by the cavalry peoples of the Tatars. This helmet was made of iron or steel, made from two pieces that were riveted together after shaping. The shape came to a point at the top, often slightly bent backward. The helmet had a small forward-facing eye flap and a short neck plate, but no visor. These helmets were mainly designed for fast cavalry attacks.
Internal links
- Sallet: 15th-century helmet with long neck protection
- Armet: 15th-century helmet that completely enclosed the head
- The cuirass: medieval breastplate and back plate
- The Rapier: Elegance, Status and the Art of the Thrust
Sources:
- Academic Literature: Sir Guy Francis Laking, A Record of European Armour and Arms Through Seven Centuries.
- Museum collection: The Landeszeughaus in Graz (Austria).
