Poleyns were among the earliest plate elements adopted by medieval soldiers, initially just metal discs strapped over mail chausses to reinforce the knee against a specific, well-recognised weak point. Over roughly four centuries the poleyn evolved considerably in construction and integration, moving from a standalone reinforcement into a fully articulated component of a complete leg harness, connected to the cuisse and greave through lames that allowed the joint real freedom of movement. This reproduction recreates a 15th-century form of the poleyn, by which point the design had matured into a confident, well-articulated plate defence.
15th Century Poleyn, Knee Armour
The poleyn, or genouillere, protected the knee joint — among the earliest plate components to develop as European armour transitioned away from mail, first appearing around 1230. By the 14th and 15th centuries the poleyn had evolved from a simple strapped-on disc into an articulated plate integrated with the cuisse above and greave below, remaining standard equipment until firearms made plate leg armour obsolete around 1650. This reproduction recreates that 15th-century form, offering targeted protection to one of the most exposed and mobile joints in a full leg harness.
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