The Transition of Maile

[Dan Howard]

Modern reenactors forget how much maintenanance is required for any kind of armour when it was worn in the field. Underpadding of all kinds was regularly repaired/replaced as it wore out. Removing armour lining was a regular part of maintenance. It is just as easy to replace an ill fitting liner as it is to replace one that has worn out. We know for a fact that some mail from other cultures and time periods had integrated padded liners; why was it practical for these people and not Romans? Other armours contemporary with the Romans were likely to have had integrated liners such as scale corselets and bronze cuirasses. These armours have had integrated padded liners since the Bronze Age. Padded liners were not unusual - they may have been the norm, which could explain why a lot of armour illustrations seem to show it being worn over regular clothing.