Mongolian Armor

By Crusader1307

9th through 14th Century Mongolian armor was noted to two factors. It's strength and lightness – and it's almost “form fitting” style. Both of these components were critical to the effectiveness of The Mongol Warrior (regardless if he was mounted or not). Mostly made from heavy layer of leather, reinforced by plate (often wired or riveted in place). Each component was made specifically for each warrior to ensure proper fit. This was critical to movement in battle. It also greatly assisted in wounds received (tight enough to help stem the flow of blood in some cases). Designed to be long (as in a Base Skirt), they were often augmented with various types of linked Chain Mail for additional protection. Smaller shields (similar to Bucklers) were also used (with a skilled horseman, he could carry and shoot with ease). The form fitting armor style was also adopted for the fronts of some of their Units of cavalry (similar to The Byzantine Cataphracts). Helmets were normally of the “Turban” or conical style, also incorporating a Mail Skirt to give protection to the sides and back of the head. Some models also incorporated Facial Mail to protect the front (leaving only the eyes exposed).