Fitted plate armour, layered protection, and breathing

The argument for historically fitted breastplates draws on the Polish ruler later identified as Jadwiga. In the protective arrangement described here, a strike would have to pass through plate, padding, mail, and another padded layer before reaching the wearer. A blow strong enough to exploit the valley between the breasts is argued to cause catastrophic trauma regardless. A panelist with experience wearing plate adds that a flat chest can compress the breasts against the ribs and obstruct breathing. This personal account connects armour shape with fit and respiration as well as penetration.