plackart

Plackart is a term used in the study of historical armor to refer to the front plate of a cuirass, the main torso protection worn by armored knights and soldiers from the late Middle Ages into the early modern era. The plackart covers the chest and part of the upper abdomen, protecting vital organs while allowing the backplate to protect the posterior torso. It is typically a curved plate shaped to fit the torso, sometimes with a central ridge or medial boss for rigidity. In many examples it is the most visible part of the cuirass when worn, often elaborately finished or decorated.

In construction, the plackart could be a single plate or assembled from multiple lames that afforded some articulation. It was commonly attached to a backplate by hinges or laces at the sides or shoulders, and it could be integrated into a full cuirass or worn as a separate breastplate with a back piece. The lower edge often extended downward to overlap with the upper edge of the backplate and sometimes terminated with a fauld or tassets to protect the hips and abdomen.

Terminology varies by region. The term plackart is especially used in German and French armor literature; English sources more frequently use "breastplate" or "cuirass front". The concept persisted from the 14th through the 16th centuries and declined as armor designs evolved toward full, one-piece or highly integrated cuirasses.

See also: breastplate, cuirass, backplate, gorget.