The use of individual body armor has saved the lives of those fighting wars for many centuries. The use of individual armor dates back as far as the Ancient Greeks and the early Roman times. During this time, warriors and legionnaires adorned metal plate and chain mail. During the Middle Ages, knights wore elaborate medieval body armor and adorned battle shields in an array of colors. Throughout the centuries, battle shields served as both protection and a symbol of one's status. Not only was it important that the chain mail was effective at preventing injuries to the body, it was also deemed a fashion statement.

As weapon technology improved throughout the Maximilian Era, so did the preventative measures such as personal protection. The increased sophistication shown by weapons at that time meant that armory had to develop in response. As a result, the thickness of protective plates increased. Not only did armory have to prove effective at preventing injuries to the body but it also had to have great flexibility.