View source for Cuisse

'''Cuisses''' are defences for the upper leg. Sometimes refered to a ''thigh guards'' or ''thigh plates'' in modern parlance. 

They developed from [[gamboised cuisse]]s, which were sometimes worn over [[chausses]] at the beginning of the [[14th century]]. They became more common as the century progresed to be replaced with a [[coat of plates]] style defence for the thigh in approximately 1340, and then replaced again somewhere in the middle of the century with [[plate]]. By the last quarter of the [[14th century]] the cuisse had developed a single front plate with hinged back section and was articulated with a [[lame]] to the [[poleyn]].

The cuisse remained a part of a [[harness]] until such time as the leg [[armour]] was abandoned. At this time enlarged [[tassets]] performed formed a similar function, albeit in a less effective manner.

[[category:armour]][[category:full harness]][[category:14th century]][[Category:artefact (medieval)]]