When did full plate armor start being used?

Full plate steel armour developed in Europe during the Late Middle Ages, especially in the context of the Hundred Years’ War, from the coat of plates worn over mail suits during the 14th century. In Europe, plate armour reached its peak in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

When did knights wear full plate?

Steel plates were added around the 14th century and the move was made to full plate armor in the 15th century which led to the iconic and instantly recognizable cult figures of Medieval Knights.

When was the first plate armor made?

Its origins go back all the way to the 2st millennia BC, when advances in metallurgy enabled for the first time creation of Bronze tools, weapons and of course armor pieces. The oldest plate armor ever made comes from ancient Mycenean-era Greece from around 1400 BC.

Why did people wear full plate armor in the Middle Ages?

Full plate armor in Europe developed in parallel with weapons technology. Armor has always been most effective when used in melee combat. The Middle Ages marked a time when hand-to-hand combat was the dominant tactic in warfare. The weaponry created a desire for increased body protection.

Could plate armor have evolved into something more like heavy armor?

Otherwise, plate armor would never have evolved into the great heavy suits that we all know from legend. Medieval full plate armor at its height was a complex piece of technology. There was a protective plate for just about every part of the body, and each of these plates had its own name.

What is full plate armor?

Full plate armor was a complex piece of equipment. There are too many distinct individual plates to describe here. Each plate was fitted to the dimensions of the warrior who would wear the suit. A full suit of plate armor in the sixteenth century covered every square inch of a soldier’s body with iron plate.