Hussar armour breastplate

A three-fauld hussar armour breastplate, ornamented under the arms with a brass border containing decorative rivet heads, and punched circles; faulds with decorative rivet heads and brass rosettes.

Poland, 17th century

The hussars were a Polish cavalry of the national contingent, an exclusive form of cavalry of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. They were present on the battlefields from the beginning of the 16th century, until the mid-18th century. Hussars were used for crushing the enemy lines, and delivering the decisive blows with their charge.