15th century Milanese armor

Around mid 15th century, development of plate harness reached the stage to make it possible to cover the entire body of the wearer in steel plates, increasing protective value of armor significantly compared to armor in previous centuries. The two main styles of armor in this century were Milanese and Gothic. Milnese armor was characterised by assymetric pauldrons and rounded surfaces, and Gothic armor was characterised by fluted surface. Milanese armor was produced by Northern Italian armorers, and Southern German armorers produced Gothic armor.

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16th century lobster tail cuisse armor

 

The development of armor continued in the 16th century. Due to the increased use of firearms in warfare as a result of advancement in firearms technology, armor became more protective, but at the same time, more decorative as well to express the status and aesthetic sense of the wearer, which was made easier by the invention of methods like acid etching of metal. In this century, due to increased centralization of European nations, creating mass armies began, and for protection of common members of armed forces, production of munition grade armor  increased.

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