long gambeson with detachable sleevesThe first documented use of the gambeson dates to the late 11thearly 12th century AD, although it is likely that gambesons were already used in the early Middle Ages. The gambeson could be worn on its own or beneath a hauberk. Under a hauberk, it protected the body from the impact of blows. Hauberks were sometimes so thick and tough that they alone could provide protection against arrows shot with low draw weight. This type of gambeson is modeled