Tassets are a part of plate armour that protects the upper thighs. They hang from the lower edge of the breastplate or from the faulds and form a transition between the cuirass and leg protection. Depending on the type, tassets could consist of a single solid plate or multiple overlapping segments for extra freedom of movement.
Origins and development
Tassets appeared in Western Europe in the late 14th century, coinciding with the rise of full plate armour. As harnesses became more complex, the need arose to better protect the upper thighs without limiting mobility.
In the 15th century, tassets were usually combined with faulds, hanging as loose plates beneath the cuirass. This construction allowed a knight on horseback to move freely without the armour getting in the way.
Structure and variants
Tassets could be made in different ways. Simple variants consisted of a single curved plate covering the upper thigh. More complex versions were made up of multiple horizontal lamellae, which slid over each other to form a flexible whole.
In the 16th century, a recognizable style emerged where tassets were made with fixed rivets. This technique is known as "almain rivets" and was widely used in munition armour, intended for larger numbers of soldiers.
Integration with leg armour
From the 16th century onwards, tassets were increasingly combined with other parts of leg armour. They could be directly connected to the cuisses (thigh protection), creating continuous protection from the torso to the knees.
This development ensured that the armour fit better to the body and left fewer gaps. In some cases, the protection even extended to the poleyn (knee plate), creating an almost completely closed leg armour.
Function in armour
The primary function of tassets was to protect a vulnerable area: the upper thighs, where major arteries run and where an attack could quickly be fatal. At the same time, they had to provide sufficient freedom of movement for walking, fighting and riding.
Therefore, tassets are a typical example of the balance within medieval armour: maximum protection without completely limiting the wearer's mobility.
Use and disappearance
Tassets remained in use throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, both among knights and infantry. In wealthier armours, they were often finely finished and fully articulated, while simpler variants were primarily functional.
In the 17th century, tassets gradually disappeared from battlefield armour, along with many other components of full plate armour. However, they continued to exist in modified forms within cavalry equipment for some time.
