A chain-link shirt made of iron rings was worn by knights for protection in combat. At the beginning of the 12th century it replaced the coat of mail which had been in use for over 2000 years.
In the late 14th century the chain-link shirt was itself superseded by coats of armor consisting of a flexible structure of iron plates.
From then on the chain-link shirt was worn only occasionally as a kind of waistcoat (undergarment).
See Also
Adapted from “"We do it straight" — Wire Straightening”, p. 45 (ISBN 3-00-005897-4).