A rondel is a circular piece of metal used for protection, as part of a harness of plate armour

Plate armour

Plate armour is a historical type of personal armour made from iron or steel plates.While there are early predecessors such the Roman-era lorica segmentata, full plate armour developed in Europe during the Late Middle Ages, especially in the context of the Hundred Years' War, from the coat of...

, or attached to a helmet

Helmet

A helmet is a form of protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries.Ceremonial or symbolic helmets without protective function are sometimes used. The oldest known use of helmets was by Assyrian soldiers in 900BC, who wore thick leather or bronze helmets to protect the head from...

, breastplate

Breastplate

A breastplate is a device worn over the torso to protect it from injury, as an item of religious significance, or as an item of status. A breastplate is sometimes worn by mythological beings as a distinctive item of clothing.- Armour :...

, couter

Couter

The couter is the defense for the elbow in a piece of plate armour. Initially just a curved piece of metal, as plate armor progressed the couter became an articulated joint.-External links:*...

 or on a gauntlet

Gauntlet (gloves)

Gauntlet is a name for several different styles of glove, particularly those with an extended cuff covering part of the forearm. Gauntlets exist in many forms, ranging from flexible fabric and leather gloves, to mail and fully articulated plate armour....

.

Rondels most commonly hang off breastplates and cover the armpit, which is a vulnerable point. In this instance they are commonly known as besagews

Besagews

Besagues are circular defences designed to protect the armpits, as part of a harness of plate armour. Armour without besagues might employ larger shoulder defenses, such as winged pauldrons or simply leave the mail beneath exposed.-References:...

. They also appear on the back of a type of late medieval helmet known as the armet

Armet

Armet is the name of a type of helmet developed in the 15th century, most likely in Italy, France, Spain and Hungary. It was distinguished by being the first helmet of its era to completely enclose the head while being compact and light enough to move with the wearer...

. Their purpose for this is unknown, though it has been surmised that they may protect strapping, or just be some sort of added protection. Rondels also appear uncommonly on the metacarpal part of some historical gauntlet designs, and appear in some period illustrations protecting the side of the head, and the point of the elbow (where a fan may normally be).

See also

• Besagews
  Besagews
  Besagues are circular defences designed to protect the armpits, as part of a harness of plate armour. Armour without besagues might employ larger shoulder defenses, such as winged pauldrons or simply leave the mail beneath exposed.-References:...
  
   — a kind of rondel for armpit protection
• Mirror armour
  Mirror armour
  Mirror armour , sometimes referred to as disc armour or Chahar-Ainé , was a type of armour used in Asia and...
  
  — oriental armour developed from local type of polished rondels, called as "mirrors"

External links

• http://www.armouronline.com/encyclopedia_of_historical_weapons/19/besagew.html
• Leg Harness (1400 - 1620) description of historic developments in leg armour