A brigandine is a form of body armour from the late Middle Ages and up to the early Modern Era. It is a garment typically made of heavy cloth, canvas, or leather, lined internally with small oblong steel plates riveted to the fabric, sometimes with a second layer of fabric on the inside.
Brigandine from Handbuch der Waffenkunde (Handbook of Weaponry), Wendelin Boeheim, 1890.
Depiction of lamellar armour on the right and brigandine armour on the left, Ming dynasty - 1368 to 1644
Saint Michael and the Dragon with sword & buckler, wearing brigandine with plate armour for hand and legs
Inside view of an Italian brigandine (c. 1470).
Body armor, personal armor, armored suit (armoured) or coat of armor, among others, is protective clothing designed to absorb or deflect physical attacks. Historically used to protect military personnel, today it is also used by various types of police, private security guards, or bodyguards, and occasionally ordinary citizens. Today there are two main types: regular non-plated body armor for moderate to substantial protection, and hard-plate reinforced body armor for maximum protection, such as used by combatants.
United States Marines in July 2010 assist a Sri Lanka Navy sailor in trying on a Modular Tactical Vest
Japanese warrior in armor
Greek Mycenaean armor, c. 1400 BC
Turkish plated mail
