Chain mail for protection against edged weapons was constructed from iron rings. In order to create such armor, an iron rod was required. The rod was drawn through a series of progressively smaller holes in a metal plate. The wire was then wound around a shaft and cut. From these blanks, riveted rings were created. Their edges were smoothed, punched, and a small rivet was inserted. Solid rings were punched from a sheet of iron.
Months of tedious and repetitive work followed all these preparations. Nevertheless, the outcome was worthwhile: chain mail could serve its owner for a long time, as it was easy to repair. This is often demonstrated by archaeological findings.
Chain mail varied in size, ring composition, weaving method, and cut. Some were composed solely of riveted rings, while others included riveted and sold rings. Later, chain mail were made of both types of rings.
The chain mail armor of the mounted Russian warrior, made of both riveted and solid rings, was simply known as the “shirt”. It had a slit in the center and additionally covered the hips of the warrior.
Chain mail provided protection against cutting blows and helped lessen the impact of bladed weaponry. These injuries were more serious than fractures, as open wounds were easily infected. However, without a special undergarment, chain mail could not withstand an arrow shot or a thrust from a spear.
The history of chain mail began in ancient times. The first fragments of chain mail were found in Celtic graves from the 3rd–2nd centuries BCE. The first reliable mention of this type of armor came from the Roman writer Marcus Terentius Varro in the 1st century BCE. He referred to it as the “Gallic iron tunic”. In the late Roman Republic era, the lorica hamata — the ancient Roman version of chain mail — was the standard armor for legionaries.
The oldest chain mail discovered on the territory of the Voronezh region dates back to the 8th century. It was found in a burial site near the Oskol River in the Voronezh Governorate. Researchers have determined that it belonged to a Khazar Khaganate warrior. The chain mail on display was created between the 13th and 15th centuries. It was discovered by accident in the 19th century. The exhibit weighs over 17 kilograms.
