Chain mail is a type of armor that has been widespread in Europe and Asia and known since ancient times. The peoples of the Caucasus, Central Asia and India used chain mail up until the 19th century, and the earliest fragment of mail dates back to the 3rd century BC. The reason this type of armor was so popular can be easily explained — the manufacturing process was relatively easy. To create mail armor, the only things needed were just a few kilograms of iron and a device for pulling wire. However, chain mail was expensive since it required a huge amount of laborious work: it took an artisan over 100 hours to draw the wire, cut it, and join the rings together.

At different times, different peoples had their own ways of linking the rings together. The latest versions were incredibly durable. In Europe, chain mail was eventually replaced by plate armor, which, nevertheless, had chain mail elements. However, chain mail continued to be widely used in the Caucasus. Among other things, this was due to the terrain characteristics — chain mail armor provided more freedom of motion.

Circassian chain mail was often shorter than its counterparts in Western Europe. It was a short-sleeved shirt woven from rings with a small V-shaped neck hole and slit collar with a typical hook-and-eye fastener. This chain mail differed from the ones made in Europe through its lightness and durability. The rings were welded — this provided tear resistance. Circassian noblemen wore chain mail as a vital part of protection. Underneath, they put on a padded garment, which softened the blow, protected against the cold and prevented the armor from rubbing the skin. These arming doublets were sewn from various fabrics and stuffed with cotton wool.

In the Caucasus, warriors continued to wear chain mail even after firearms became widely used. The technique of weaving and soldering rings made the chain mail quite capable of stopping a bullet from smoothbores. Warriors used this type of armor until the end of the Caucasian War. This type of protective equipment finally went out of use only when rifles appeared in the second half of the 19th century.

Наименование: Circassian chain mail
Дата создания: the mid-16th — 17th century
Техника: iron, handmade, forging, forge welding
Размеры: 80×65 cm; sleeve length — 36 cm

The name of this helmet comes from the Arabic name for Egypt — Misr. It was from Egypt that this very original helmet began its journey around the world. In Western Asia, similar helmets had been known since about the 14th century. Later they became most popular with the warriors in that region. They were especially common in Turkey. A little later, this type of helmet was brought to the Caucasus, Russia, Hungary, and India. In the Caucasus, they were used the longest.

The light, simple and inexpensive helmet was perfect for mounted and foot soldiers. It protected the head from the light sabers so common in the regions. Along with the chain mail, the misyurka helmet was part of the protective armament of the Adyghe warriors until the middle of the 19th century. In different periods, this helmet had undergone changes, but the basic design remained the same.

The helmet presented in the exhibition belongs to the type of misurka-napleshnik. In 1962, it entered the collection of the Historical Museum. The head of the helmet is a round, slightly convex steel plate, to which a chain mail bar is attached. In the middle there is a mount for a hackle — an ornament made of feathers or a hair bundle attached to a military headdress. An aventail — a chain mail mesh attached to the head — was a necessary element of this type of helmet. It was often long and extended to cover the warrior’s head, neck and shoulders. The misyurka also has an aventail on the front. At first, it seems that it should have covered the warrior’s eyes. Below there is an open rectangular area which looks surprising: it seems that the aventail would be at the level of the mouth. The fact is that such misyurkas were necessarily worn on top of a rather high shock-absorbing balaclava, so the aventail did not close the eyes, leaving an excellent overview in the battle. In general, all types of helmets were worn with a balaclava, and in the case of such a lightweight helmet design, the balaclava simply had to be made thick and durable. Misyurkas were intended to protect mainly from cutting blows. Such a helmet could not protect its owner from a piercing or crushing blow with heavy weapons.

Наименование: Misyurka helmet
Дата создания: the 19th century
Техника: iron, handmade, forging, furnace welding
Размеры: 14,5×15,6 cm