Medieval pauldrons: what they are and how they form the cuirass

October 5, 2026 5 min read

The backrest covers the back and joins the breastplate to form the breastplate.

The medieval backplate is the piece that covers the back in a cuirass. The breastplate protects the front part of the torso; the back, the posterior. Together they form the cuirass, which is only part of the complete armor.

This distinction helps interpret photographs, recognize exhibits, and understand a historical reproduction. It also avoids a common confusion: a bib and back protector set does not necessarily include a helmet, arm protection or leg guards.

Back, breastplate and cuirass: how to tell them apart

Back: rear defense of the torso, adapted to the contour of the back.
Breastplate or pectoral: front defense of the torso. Your construction can incorporate more than one plate.
Cuirass: set of chest and back defenses.
Complete armor: equipment that brings together different defenses of the body, in addition to the armor.

To recognize a backrest, look at the shape of the neck, arm openings, waist, and attachment points. A front view of an outfit can hide almost the entire back piece: it is a good idea to also look at the back and sides.

The two separate pieces allow you to compare the shape of the chest with that of the back.

What era are the plate backrests from?

The rigid plate cuirass must be placed in the evolution of European armor from the late Middle Ages. Not all previous defenses had the same structure, nor did all combatants wear full armor.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art explains that the breastplate was incorporated into the complete set of plates in the early 15th century. His record of a German breastplate from around 1480 also shows that the breast defense could be composed of two sections joined together to allow some movement. Therefore, speaking of breastplate and backrest as two parts of the armor does not mean that each one was always a single sheet.

During the 15th century, Italian gunsmiths perfected the full plate harness, with Milan as the prominent center. The evolution continued in the 16th century: a reproduction inspired by that century belongs to the Renaissance context, although it often appears grouped with medieval armor.

There were also other solutions to cover the back. The Met preserves a back plate from a 15th-century Italian brigandine that protected the area between the shoulder blades and the base of the neck, with remains of its textile covering. This example shows why it is not advisable to identify all rear protection with a large, visible backrest.

How it attaches to the breastplate and allows movement

The backrest works as part of a set. To understand it, examine the connections of the shoulders and sides, the relationship between the pieces, and the ending of the waist. In the photographed reproductions, straps and buckles can be seen; It should not be assumed that all historical originals used exactly those same closures.

Joining systems and articulated plates helped reconcile coverage and movement. According to Dirk H. Breiding of the Met's Department of Arms and Armor, a well-fitting harness did not turn its wearer into a motionless figure: its elements were linked together by moving rivets and straps. Some specialized tournament armor did impose greater restrictions.

The back view allows you to see the coverage of the torso and its relationship to the garment worn underneath.

What to look for on a reproduction backrest

The images in this article show modern reproductions and serve to recognize shapes and connections; They are not photographs of the museum pieces mentioned. A name such as "Milanese, 15th century" indicates the declared inspiration of the model and does not in itself demonstrate its fidelity to a specific original.

When examining a reproduction, these questions help you read the piece:

What part of the back does it cover? Identify the top edge and where the main board ends.
How does it connect to the bib? Locate the straps, buckles and meeting areas on the shoulders and sides.
Does it have separate lower elements? Distinguishes the back plate from the slats added next to the waist.
What is really seen in the photograph? A shot from the back does not allow checking all the components of the assembly.

In this reproduction you can see the back plate, its connections and the bottom sheets.

The backrest inside the shell, at a glance

Orientative diagram of the two defenses of the torso; Shapes and closures vary depending on the piece.

From historical identification to recreation

Understanding what a backrest is allows you to better describe armor and recognize what a set includes. If you want to see different reproductions, you can explore the collection of historical breastplates and backrests and compare their rear views with the front ones.

For a recreation or live role-playing activity, always check the manufacturer's intended use and the organizer's rules. The historical appearance or the declared thickness of the metal are not sufficient to prove the suitability of a reproduction for combat.