Cuirassier Armor

Almost synonymous with the word knight was armor.  Armor came in all shapes, sizes, and degrees of opulence, and different types of armor were developed for different fighting situations.  The particular example presented herein is of a type of armor designed for use on horseback when armed with pistols and swords, known as Cuirassier Armor.  A slender man would have worn this suit of armor, and as this is considered a deluxe form of cuirassier armor, it likely would have been purchased by someone of relative wealth.  Highlighted here, then, is the disparity in the elegance and quality of armor between those of differing socioeconomic classes.  Armor could be quite opulent or quite plain, depending on the purchaser of the armor.

            This particular type of suit of armor was used extensively during the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648).  Note the lack of defenses on the lower legs, as these would normally have been guarded by tall leather boots.  Moreover, details on the helmet suggest that it was developed in Milan, which would regularly export armor to the southern Netherlands during this period.