Annular coat of mail

A annular coat of mail is an assembly of rings (of iron or steel of bronze or another metal) being interlaced to form a defensive clothing. Such a defense is relatively effective against the blows edges (cuts), but it does not distribute the pressures (sensitive to the shocks) and is sensitive to the blows of tuck (perforation). One often reinforced the coats of mail while carrying them on a jaque light (Gambison, Subarmalis, etc) which protected from the shocks, and by adding protections to protect from the shocks and perforations (macles (meshs punts), punts (large macles), armor, etc). According to the forms and the times the coats of mail took various names:

Lorica hamata
haubert of meshs
Haubergeron
Jaseran

The defenses dedicated to quite particular parts of the body bore specific names:

Camail
Fit
Mitons

between XIIe and the medium of XIIIe centuries the objects in annular mesh were also known as like jaseran (jazeran). As from this period, the word jaseran, gradually, indicated objects makes in mesh punts connected by annular meshs. The qualifier of tresli (braided, intermingled) and of haubergery (constituting the hauberts, in opposition to the meshs punts of the broignes) were also used to name the annular meshs. The annular term is in fact a qualifier " moderne".

European history

Of Celtic origin, the coats of mail (Lorica hamata) were adopted by the armies of the Latin league (which became the Roman armies) after the catch of Rome by troops Celte S (approximately 350 before J. - C.). It will be the harnois more used by the armies of the Latin league, then of the republic then Roman empire. It will start to disappear at the 6th century following the reforms from the fabricae (manufacture of the weapons in factory and either by the legions in order to reduce the production costs within the framework of a very serious monetary crisis).

They thus were gradually forsaken with the profit of the Broigne S, all at least in' Western' Europe `''' (not in the Byzantine empire). As from the 11th century, (after the 1st Crusade) the coats of mail again were very much used in Western Europe. However, they had never again their preeminence like time of the Romans. At the 15th century, body defenses disappeared gradually. Only survived of the light cuireries (the simplest form of the Jaque S), of the coats of mail light (until the 16th century included) and oddly armor or more simply the drill plate of armor (what gave the regiment of battleships).

Manufacture

The size of the rings generally lay between 5 and 10 millimetres diameter. More the size was small, better was the resistance of the coat. The Fer will become obviously the base metal for the manufacture of the coats of mail. The Bronze was less solid, the Acier expensive and other metals (at the times considered) inapt.

Various manners of closing an annular mesh:

1 and 2: Rivet. The rivet can be placed in the plan of the ring (2) or perpendicular to this plan (1). The method (2) is more complex to realize, but is more solid. She is also said to barley grain.
3: The mesh is closed only by its elasticity (exactly like certain rings of current key-rings).
4: Certain meshs of strong diameter were sometimes closed by a binding achieved by means of a needle. This system poses 2 problems. The closing of the ring is fragile. The ring is broad thus the coat of mail is less solid.
Of other systems even less current existed (for example the welding or, worse still, the absence of femeture).

The system with barley grain (2) was most usually used (solidity report/ratio, difficulty and price advantageous).
The assembly of the rings also varied according to the times. They could be hammered or riveted. There exist also various reasons for assembly of the mesh. Most current known as 4 into 1 is the reasons (this means that each ring passes in four other rings) or 6 in 1 but they is far from being only. Of course, more the ring passes in other rings, more the coat of mail sees its resistance increased like its weight, while becoming more rigid.

Assembly 6 in 1: Each ring passes in 3 rings on its line and 3 rings on its left. The rings are not connected vertically.

Assembly 4 in 1: Each ring passes in 2 rings on its line and 2 rings on its left. The rings are not connected vertically.

Assembly 4 in 1 known as " Net normande" The Japanese name of this mesh would be so gusari, or seiro gusari when each mesh is doubled. This type of mesh puts up particularly well with an assembly including/understanding 2 types of different meshs. Meshs flat posed being able to be circular, and the meshs vertical connecting them being able to be oval and smaller. Such a mixture in the types of meshs makes it possible to limit the obstruction of fabric of mesh (less thickness).

Assembly 6 in 1 known as " In quinconce" also named Japanese mesh: the Japanese names of the mesh in quincunx would be asa No ha gusari or hana gusari. as for the mesh Norman, the assemblies using of 2 types of meshs are most current. This type of mesh does not seem to be used in Europe (Eastern or Western) in the close East or in Magrhebe. It seems very known in Asia (China, Japan, India, etc). More complex than the mesh Norman, it however would have been used less.

Construction of " coat of mailles" Japanese woman
Japan, just like China, to use much more type of mesh than Europe or the close East. Certain characteristic are surprising with the eyes of Europeans. The rings were not closed (welding, riveting), the edges were right " aboutés" and held in place only by the rigidity of the mesh. The meshs were systematically protected from oxidation (lacquer, patina of surface, other?). Simpler and light structures that the meshs European, or near Asian, were almost systematic. Many types of fabrics of meshs, as well annular as jaseran, was openwork. These " troues" in the structure of fabric made it inapt to support itself. In fact, the coats of mail, with the clean direction, seem to have been very rare. The everyday usage was to sew a " fabric of maille" on a clothing under jasant. Of such protections was connected more with broignes than with coats of mail. This type of defense privileged the flexibility, freedom of movement, the simplicity of repairs, but made the dead end on a solidity larger, and a defense " continu" 'presence of broad " troues" in fabric of mesh).

However, the meshs 4:1 " classique" (nanban gusari) seem to be become current as from the period Azuchi Momoyama (1573 to 1603).
Some types of meshs used in Japons

India
India is interesting from the point of view of the armaments. This whole of states is the bond between the close relation and Far East. blow it profits from the traditions and knowledge to make of 2 traditions.

This unusual mesh is the example. It seems to be built starting from one only bar twisted in the form of eight then welded. For more details you can consult the site Royal armories (Turn of Londre, strong Nelson etc), science section. It is the extreme limit of the annular mesh and the mesh punt.

Construction, and riveting, of an annular mesh in Western Europe starting from the XII° century.

Starting from a ring (1) of wire of iron (or steel), to superimpose the edges by deforming the ring (2).
To flatten the edges one on the other (3) (hammering on an anvil? grip?)
To bore the flattened edges (punching). attention the hole having to be rectangular, the punch must have the fine shape (4).
To add the " rivet". In fact the rivet is a kind of cal triangular, and not a rivet as in the Middle East, in Europe Eastern or in the Maghreb. (5)
To force the " rivet" through the holes of the ring, and MATER the " small côté" rivet (6) (hammering on an anvil? grip?).
The pseudo rivet was often made out of ferrous metal rather than out of bronze, or another metal " tendre".

The coats of mail annular European rather seems mainly to be made out of iron than out of steel. However, of the steel parts dating from XIVe Siècle still exist. In addition to fabrics of mesh realized directly out of steel, it seems that fabrics of meshs have could be face-hardened after manufacture. The book “Magiae naturalis” (“Natural magick” in English) dating from XVIe century gives a " recette" to cement an iron coat. However, the method with could be knew since good longer considering than the cementing of iron parts is practiced since Roman antiquity. (The swords " of argent" , such Tizona of Cid (XIe century) celebrates it are Cémenté swords after forging. The treatment of cementing used gave them reflections silver plated.)

Construction, and riveting, of an annular mesh in Eastern Europe, near orien (and the Maghreb?).

The great difference with Western Europe, with the same periods, and the use of rivets (often out of bronze) rather than of triangular cal holding place of rivet.

See too

External bonds

professional Site on the coats of mail
Cottesdemailles.com: Site on the manufacture and the assembly of coats of mail
Year illustrated list off mesh weaves: Describing English site how to carry out various meshs

Illustrations