Coat of Plates

Transitional armor with iron plates riveted inside fabric

The coat of plates was a transitional armor of the 13th-14th centuries, consisting of iron plates riveted inside a cloth or leather garment. Worn over a mail hauberk, it provided an additional layer of protection that bridged the gap between the age of chainmail and full plate armor. Mass grave finds from the Battle of Visby (1361) provided invaluable archaeological evidence of its construction and evolution. It was the direct ancestor of the brigandine and marked a critical step in European armor development.