Besagew

Armour displaying besagues (full image)

Besagues are circular defences designed to protect the armpits, as part of a harness of plate armour. The armpits are the location of the axillary arteries, and protecting them was therefore vital. Armour without besagues might employ larger shoulder defenses, such as winged pauldrons or simply leave the mail beneath exposed.

References

Edge, David and Paddock, John (1988). Arms & Armor of the Medieval Knight, New York: Crescent Books. ISBN 0-517-10319-2

Components of medieval armour

Head	Armet Barbute Bascinet Burgonet Cervelliere Enclosed helmet Close helmet Great helm Frog mouth Hounskull Lobster tail pot Mail coif Morion Nasal helmet Sallet Spangenhelm Kettle hat

Face	Visor Falling buffe

Neck	Aventail Bevor Gorget Pixane

Torso	Breastplate Brigandine Cuirass Culet Pauncer Plackart Fauld Hauberk Codpiece Lance rest Coat of plates Jack of plate

Arms	Ailette Besagew Couter Gauntlet Pauldron Rerebrace Spaulder Vambrace

Legs	Bases Chausses Cuisses Greave Poleyn Sabaton Schynbald Tasset

Pieces	Gousset Lame Rondel

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