Burgonet helmets

Burgonet helmet

It came into popularity towards the end of the 16th century. Commonplace throughout Europe, the burgonet was accompanied by plate armour and worn by cuirassiers, demi-lancers and hussars. It was a light helmet, open-faced and decorated with one or more metal fins on top. Though typically open faced, a falling buffe, a sort of visor that was drawn up rather than down, could be used. Burgonets were also a popular helmet type among the Polish winged hussars, where they took many different forms, often featuring a nasal bar or facial guard.

The burgonet helmet was common among the mercenary Swiss infantry. These were pikemen who could defend themselves against cavalry (and perhaps took helmets of this form as trophies). Following the appearance of the Adrian and Brodie helmets, and the Stahlhelm, in the First World War, the Swiss experimented with a "streamlined" form of the burgonet for their own national helmet, but both designs were rejected.