Leg Armour

[Ripley58]

I watched a programme about Alexander the Great recently and noticed some of the warriors wore armour on their legs as well as their chests. I know the chest armour is called a breast plate, but I've completely forgotten what the leg armour is called? Can anyone jog my forgetful noodle?

[dundurn]

greaves from ankle to knee (Greek/ Roman)
cuisses on thigh (later full plate armour)

[Ripley58]

Many thanks. Greaves is the one I was thinking of. I have to admit I've never heard of cuisses.

[dundurn]

Cuisses came in much later than greaves and there was also a piece to protect the kneecap called the poleyn. Once firearms came in, armour started to disappear but the breastplate and cuisses stayed around for a while. You can see so called threequarter suits of armour that were worn in the English Civil War. The place of the greaves had been taken by heavy riding boots, but the cuisses were still useful in protecting a rider from a downward sword blow from another rider.