Got a Real-World Weapon, Armour or Tactics Question? Mk. XXX

[Unoriginal]

In late 13th century and 14th century Europe we can very often see leg armor being prioritized over the arms.

Pretty much only for mounted fighters, obviously

I'll grant you that point, but even then torso and head were prioritized.

There are written sources mentioning sewing mail to plain ol' doublets.

"How man shall be armed" from around 1460 rather clearly describes mail being sewn to plain fustian, lined with satin. No mention of padding.

Cloth and strings must be all "strong", but there's no mention of being padded of made into any sort of cloth armor in general.



Nice period illustration of such garment too, and with source being translated into more modern English

"How man shall be armed" refers to a doublet, as in an armed doublet, or aketon, or arming coat, or gambeson:

A kind of arming coat worn during the 13th - 15th century both as a complete armour unto itself and as padding for additional armour worn over the top. They were generally quilted, either sewn or stuffed with linen, tow or even grass. Most of the illustrations from the 14th century show many buttons or laces up the front, and there are a few examples that feature a high collar to assist in the defense of the neck. 14th century Aketons were generally cut wide around the arm holes in a manner that followed the line of the breastplate or cuirass. These extra-large arm-holes served to grant complete mobility for a full range of arm motion while providing a last-ditch defense of the area under the arm. I can find no evidence of Aketons ever being open under the arm, though this is a common SCA style. See also the pourpoint, a garment worn under the arming coat useful for attaching the laces for the attachment of a leg harness.

"A doublet made of fustian lined with satin" is literally the description of a padded armor.

Generally the idea that mail MUST be padded is very prevaling trope, but it seems very far from truth.

All armor needs padding to be effective/wearable.

Obviously it's not the same level of padding if you're wearing mail above it than if the layers of cloth are the only thing between you and death.

If someone was wearing some kind of plate armor in particular, then mail voiders, sleeves and skirts would be obviously used to defend the places that cannot be defended with plate while providing good mobility at the same time.

Adding thick padding at and around the armpits in particular isn't very realistic.

First, the bits of mail used to protect the articulations of plate armor is not the same as when mail is the main form of armor.

Second, plate armor was worn above padding.

If we add the civilian context, where impact weapons are less likely to happen in general, and walking around in padding whole day is out of question, were' going to see even more mail sewn to normal clothing.

I think you're greatly overestimating the kind of padding that is discussed here.

Also, if it's in civilian context and day-to-day wear, then it's not armor, it's fashion.