Rob Herrick wrote:Dfogleman2 wrote:Just wondering, in which armies did cuirassiers wear the cuirass under the coat?
The French, maybe some British regiments, possibly some Dutch and Germans. I believe the Saxons did, but that may be later in the period.
French cavalrymen didn't wear any armour during the reign of Louis XIV apart from the
Cuirassiers du Roi. Officers were supposed to wear back and breast plates in the field from 1675 but they seem to have largely disregarded this obligation, to the extent that a new ordinance had to be passed in 1705 to remind them to wear their cuirasses.
Generally speaking, body armour went out of fashion in the French cavalry during the 1660's, the buff coat being thought sufficient to protect the men from most sword cuts. The breastplate - known as a
plastron - was not reintroduced until after the death of Louis XIV, possibly during the regency of Philippe d'Orléans and definitely in the early reign of Louis XV. A royal ordinance dated May 28 1733 made it compulsory for all
maîtres serving in the light cavalry regiments, although many troopers seem to have neglected to wear it on campaign as they found it needlessly heavy and cumbersome. During the 1730's, 40's and 50's, the breastplate could be worn indifferently under or over the coat.
In the English cavalry, the breastplate was worn under the coat and would appear to have been introduced sometime during the WSS, possibly around 1706 or 1707.
Not sure about the Dutch : I can't recall reading anything about United Provinces cavalry wearing breastplates but Mats and Motorway are more qualified than I am to answer that question anyway.
One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know.