The Chainmail Shirt Saved Countless Lives: What Do We Know About It?

The Earliest Historical Development of Chainmail Shirts

The origin of the chainmail shirt is still a bit of a mystery. For a long time, experts thought it was invented by Celtic blacksmiths around the 3rd century BC. Some of the oldest remnants of chainmail armour were actually found in Celtic graves from that time.

However, other findings suggest that chainmail appeared even earlier. Apparently, the ancient Persians were using it around the 4th century BC, but the evidence isn’t super solid. One thing’s for sure: the chainmail shirt proved its worth over the years, and other civilizations gradually started using chainmail as well. For example, the Romans.

Chainmail Shirts in the Middle Ages

While the once-glorious Roman Empire eventually fell apart due to invasions from foreign tribes and other internal issues, chainmail shirts did not fall into oblivion. In the early Middle Ages, they were the primary defensive gear, as they provided excellent protection, especially against cutting weapons.

Thanks to their lighter weight - especially in the case of short-sleeved shirts - they didn’t restrict movement as much as the heavier plate armour that appeared later. This allowed warriors to remain fairly agile in battle.

However, the chainmail shirt had a weakness: it wasn’t very effective against piercing attacks. Long, slender tips of spears or arrows were designed to go through the rings of the chainmail armour. That’s why warriors wore gambesons under their chainmail shirts - these layers combined had a better chance of protecting them against fatal injuries.

With the rapid advancement of weapons towards the end of the Middle Ages, however, chainmail became less and less effective, and it was gradually replaced by plate armour. Chainmail shirt continued to be part of plate armour: valiant knights wore chainmail to protect vulnerable areas, like the armpits, that were hard to protect with inflexible plates.

In the early modern period, the chainmail shirt was still used as parts of European armour, despite the fact that it was no longer very effective against firearms.

Not for the Poor

Another disadvantage of chainmail was its price – only the wealthy could afford chainmail shirts in the Middle Ages, such as nobles and other well-off individuals.

The cost of a chainmail shirt was reportedly comparable to that of several pieces of livestock. This means that an ordinary peasant or townsman would typically not be able to get one. And this is why chainmail shirts, along with other types of armour and costly items, also served as indicators of the wearer's wealth and social standing.

The Secrets of the Master Armourer: How Chainmail Shirts Were Made

Creating chainmail armour was a financially and time-consuming endeavour. Armourers, the craftsmen who produced armour, including chainmail, were regarded as masters of their craft.

A chainmail shirt was made up of a large number of metal rings - more than 30,000 rings could be used for a single shirt. The diameter of the rings typically ranged from 6 to 8 millimetres.

When crafting the chainmail shirt, the armorer would first forge a metal wire, and then wind the wire around a rod and cut the wire into metal rings.

The rings had two ends, which had to be closed by riveting, or squeezing every ring to create overlap. Riveted chainmail shirts could withstand stronger impacts. A non-riveted shirt would easily break under heavier blows.

Types of Chainmail Shirts

There are several types of chainmail shirts that differ in production method and length. One of the basic distinguishing features is the sleeve length:

• Short-Sleeved Chainmail Shirt: The sleeves typically extend to about halfway down the upper arm. This shirt mainly protects the torso and often extends to mid-thigh. This type is known as a haubergeon, or the “little hauberk”. It is lighter than a long-sleeved chainmail shirt and allows for more agility and arm movement.
• Long-Sleeved Chainmail Shirt: This shirt covers the arms up to the wrists and sometimes reaches down to the knees. It has slits at the bottom to allow the warrior to sit more comfortably on a horse. This type is called a 

Some warriors also used additional armour pieces, such as:

• Chainmail gloves protecting the hands and fingers.
• Chainmail aventails protecting the area all around the neck.
• Chainmail coifs were often worn under the helmet and protected the uncovered parts of the head and neck.
• Chainmail voiders protected the armpits and other sensitive areas and weak spots of the plate armour.

Materials Used for Chainmail Shirts

Historical chainmail armour was made from an iron wire, which was not resistant to corrosion.

Today, there is a wide range of corrosion-resistant materials to choose from:

• Structural (carbon) steel: Also known as “mild steel” - this material is quite close to the historical materials that chainmail shirts were made of. Steel rings are strong and relatively resistant to deformation but can corrode in the air. Therefore, chainmail shirts made of “mild steel” need to be stored in a dry place and occasionally coated with special oil or wax.
• Stainless steel: A modern corrosion-resistant material that makes maintenance much easier. Chainmail shirts made of stainless steel often have a silvery shine, which some historical armour enthusiasts consider unnatural and prefer shirts made from original materials.
• Aluminium: Compared to steel chainmail, aluminium chainmail weighs significantly less. However, it is also less durable. Aluminium chainmail shirts are a great option for costume events or for filming historical movies, because actors usually do not enjoy wearing 15 kg of gear on set. Sometimes, aluminium rings are combined with rubber rings for even better wearability.
• Titanium – this very expensive material combines the advantages of structural and stainless steels. It looks very similar to steel, but is much lighter and also very strong. If this material weren’t so costly, it would probably be the first choice for everyone!

Chainmail Shirts are Still Popular

A chainmail shirt is certainly not just a  relic of the past! You can see it displayed in museums, featured in films, or showcased at events organized by enthusiasts of historical fencing and LARP events.

If you have a passion for medieval events but do not have a convincing replica of a chainmail shirt, check out our wide range! We've got a fantastic selection of products to match your needs and preferences!

Gone are the days when only nobility could afford chainmail. Now, you can get a high-quality chainmail shirt at a price that won't empty your wallet! In our Outlet section, you can occasionally find very good deals on various items!

Slipping into a chainmail shirt lets you step into the shoes of ancient warriors, giving you a taste of the excitement they felt as they prepared for battle - just like the legendary tales we learn in history class!