Rondel (armour)

A rondel is a type of plate armour component, typically circular or occasionally shaped into other geometric forms like lozenges or polygons, used to protect vulnerable points on the body. It was most commonly employed during the late medieval and Renaissance periods.

Functionally, rondels were attached to other pieces of armour, such as couters (elbow protection), poleyns (knee protection), and especially the armpits (besagews or armpit rondels) and sometimes the back of the head (as a small, supplementary defense). Their purpose was to provide additional coverage and protection to areas where full articulation required gaps in the primary armour plating, or where direct blows were more likely.

Rondels were usually made of hardened steel, and their size and thickness varied depending on their placement and the overall style of the armour. They could be riveted, screwed, or otherwise fastened to the underlying armour component, often with a small degree of articulation allowed for movement. Some rondels were purely decorative, while others were intended for serious combat and were accordingly robust. The design and ornamentation of rondels could match the overall aesthetic of the armour to which they were attached.