Poleyn

The poleyn or genouillere was a component of

The specifics of poleyn design varied considerably over that period. The earliest poleyns were strapped over mail chausses.^[1] Fourteenth century and early fifteenth century poleyns usually attached to padded leggings or plate cuisses. During the fifteenth century poleyns developed an articulated construction that attached to the cuisses and schynbalds or greaves. A characteristic of late fifteenth century Gothic plate armor was a projection that guarded the side of the knee.

Gallery

• 
  An early example of poleyns worn over chausses, from an illustration by Villard de Honnecourt (1230).
• 
  Ludwig III wearing Gothic plate armor with prominent poleyns, from a fifteenth-century manuscript.
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  A late example of poleyns in a three-quarter suit of armor. Zwinger-Museum, Dresden.

Citations

References

• Gaiters
• Knee pad

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to poleyns.

• The Poleyn instructions for creating reproduction sixteenth century poleyns
• Leg Harness (1400 - 1620) description of historic developments in leg armor