the.com/tasset
armor for your thighs, because medieval knights also feared the low blow.
means A tasset is a piece of plate armor, usually hanging from the breastplate or waist, that protects the upper thighs and hips.
from From the French 'tassette,' a diminutive meaning roughly 'little pocket' or 'little pouch' — related to the old French 'tasse' (pouch). The image is fitting: these were the small overlapping plates that hung at the hips like protective flaps, dangling where a less guarded knight might prefer not to be struck.
- location
- hangs from waist to guard upper legs
- design
- overlapping plates flex so knights can still walk
- name origin
- from Old French for small pouch
- era peak
- flourished in 15th-16th century plate armor
- comes in pairs
- one tasset per hip, naturally
henry viii's tassets — armor pieces worn by english king, housed in royal collections at the tower of london
suit of armor tassets — plate armor leg protection used by european knights from 15th-17th centuries, examples in the metropolitan museum
jousting tassets — reinforced hip and thigh armor worn by tournament knights, particularly popular in 16th century holy roman empire