Küriss
A cuirass , also called a kyriss , was a complete equestrian armor , whereas the cuirass only protects the chest and stomach area. The Küriss was only used by riders and belongs to the group of half armor, of which there were also versions for foot soldiers.
description
Just like the cuirass , the kuiriss is derived from the French cuirasse for "leather armor" ( cuir 'leather'). The soldiers who carried it called themselves "Kyrisser" until the beginning of the 16th century.
The term "Küriss" became common at the beginning of the 16th century and, in contrast to the "Cuirass", not only denoted the breast and back armor , but also a complete plate armor , as it was common in heavy riding . As a rule, a closed helmet was worn with a pumpkin. A pumpkin specially made for the tournament was called a "piercing pumpkin". A coat helmet or a closed balaclava was worn with a so-called field dress . In the late sixteenth century it became common in heavy cavalry to wear a knee-length pumpkin without a lower leg.
literature
- Auguste Demmin: The historical development of the weapons of war from the Stone Age to the invention of the needle gun - A handbook of weapon science. Verlag Seemann, 1869, page 342.