Essay On Chainmail

Chainmail throughout the Ages

Eric Luk

Devised in a simpler age when swords and arrows ruled warfare, and horses galloped over the battlefield, chainmail has been around for millennia. Whether used for protecting from a greatsword, or for a wetsuit against shark bites, it has been used in a variety of ways, spanning from ancient times to modernity. In this essay, I will be examining the history of mail, its effectiveness in combat, the geography of where mail has spread, and my own experience crafting this unique invention.

The history of chainmail armor is rooted deep within the conflict between the Roman Empire and Gauls. Its invention is often credited to the Celts, an Indo-European people that lived during the Iron Age and

It was typically made of bronze or iron. It was made by punching out rings from sheets, and also forming them from a coil of metal, much like the method used in our class. This type of armor was preferred by the legendary centurions, for its relatively easy maintenance, due to friction between the rings that prevent corrosion. However, this effectiveness comes at a cost; each individual lorica hamata takes upwards of 30,000 rings to make, over the course of 2 months. After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, mail was used as a cheap alternative to “plate armour”, which covered the entire body of the wearer. With the eventual development of high powered weapons like crossbows and tactics like cavalry charges, mail became an accompaniment for plate armor. Having been utilized by the Romans, chainmail was destined to spread to far away nations. It was first adopted in Asia by the Sasanian Empire and later used by Mongols. From there it spread gradually to countries such as India and China. It was used in India all the way until the arrival of the British colonists. China was met with chainmail during the Tang dynasty when it was gifted to the Emperor. The Chinese, despite being very practical warriors, did not craft mail,