Broigne

The broigne ( brogne in French of the Early middle ages) is a body defense protecting the Thorax. It is constituted of a clothing on which are fixed called rigid reinforcements meshs or macles. The difference between a broigne and a Coat of mail, it is that in a coat of mail, the meshs (macles) are connected between them without support.

Clothing being used as support can be made up of fabric, Cuir, felt, etc

The macles can be fixed on clothing, below, or between two layers of clothing. Their form is variable (plate, ring, nail…) just like their matter.
Elles is generally made up of iron, steel, patent leather (the Middle East and Orient). The scale of tortoise, the wood or of the plates of bone were also used more rarely.
Les macles of the broignes by definition is fixed on a clothing. They can however be also fixed between them.

The Lorica squamata , or armor of scale, was the model of broigne more running in the Roman Empire. In this type of defense, the top of the metal plates was bent on a cord, itself bent on a shirt. The plates recovered the ones the others (with the manner of tiles) and offered a continuous surface of protection. The macles not being maintained by bottom, this system was very sensitive to the blow of point. On the other hand it was light, easy to repair and very flexible (comfort of the combatant).

The Brigandine was a type of broigne used in XVIe and 18th centuries. It consisted of plates of iron rivetted between them, taken between two layers of fabric. The rivets crossed also fabric (or leather) of clothing. They was in general rivets gay (decentred and often a little too long).

The fact of using rivets gay made it possible the macles to play between them in order to give a little flexibility to the unit. The macles was often blackened or galvanized to increase their resistance to the rust. Clothing being used as support was generally a kind of waistcoat without handles. This system was relatively inexpensive compared to a corselet (rigid protection of the made thorax from 2 to 6 or 7 punts). It was practically also resistant, and more impermeable. However, it was as uncomfortable as a corselet (rigidity) and heavier (to be able to be rivetted between them, the macles overlapped, involving heavy additional thicknesses). The macles not being accessible directly (between the two layers of fabric), maintenance could also pose problem. On the other hand emergency repairs were relatively easy.

Particular models

  • the cataphractaires and the Clibanari (or clinbabarii) were bodies of “heavy cavalry” of origin Sarmato/Alains protected by a broigne quasi supplements named cataphracte.

  • the Linothorax appeared in Greece towards the end of the 5th century before J. - C. They consisted of entrecollées layers of flax. They also existed as a Jaque S. It derives from the cataphracte S.
  • the Lorica squamata S are the Roman version of the Linothorax.
  • at the 9th century, celebrates it play of failure of Charlemagne watch a rider and a infantryman (pawn) vêtus of broigne.

See too

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