Schynbalds

King Sigismund of Poland wearing armor with schynbalds, from a period engraving.

Schynbalds were an early experiment in plate armour for the lower leg. Schynbalds were metal plates strapped over chausses. Each schynbald was a single piece of steel that covered the front and outside of the shin. Schynbalds did not enclose the lower leg: hence, they were not true greaves. Schynbalds first appeared during the late thirteenth century and remained in use during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.

Complete suits of armor survive only from the latter part of the schynbald era. In fifteenth century gothic armour they were strapped not to mail but to fastenings on a padded undergarment. By the early fifteenth century greaves had supplanted schynbalds in white armour. Schynbalds were essentially obsolete by the sixteenth century.

v t e Components of medieval armour Head Armet Barbute Bascinet Burgonet Cervelliere Enclosed helmet Close helmet Great helm Frog mouth Hounskull Lobster tail pot Mail coif Morion Nasal helmet Sallet Spangenhelm Kettle hat Face Visor Falling buffe Nossel Neck Aventail Bevor Gorget Pixane Torso Brigandine Cuirass Culet Plackart Fauld Hauberk Codpiece Lance rest Loin-guard Coat of plates Jack of plate Arms Ailette Besagew Couter Gardbrace Gauntlet Pauldron Rerebrace Spaulder Vambrace Legs Chausses Cuisses Greave Poleyn Sabaton Schynbald Tasset In tournaments Tonnlets Bases Pieces Gousset Lame Rondel