The burgonet is the open helmet of the Renaissance soldier. With a peak over the eyes, a crest along the top, and hinged cheek pieces, it protected the head well while leaving the face free to see, breathe, and fight in close quarters. It was worn by cavalry, officers, and mercenaries across 16th-century Europe, and parade versions were some of the most spectacular works of the armorer's art.
In this article, we look at how the burgonet developed, how it was built, and how to use it for your character. For an overview of all medieval helmet types, see our guide to Types of Medieval Helmets.
What Is a Burgonet?
The burgonet, sometimes called a Burgundian sallet, is a Renaissance and early modern combat helmet and the successor of the sallet. It came into use early in the 16th century, reached its classic form by about 1550, and was common throughout Europe.
Typical features of a burgonet are:
- a rounded skull with a large fixed or hinged peak above the face opening;
- usually a keel-like crest, or comb, from front to back;
- hinged cheek pieces that usually do not meet at the chin;
- a flange at the back of the skull and cheek pieces to protect the neck;
- optionally, a falling buffe: a face defense that is raised to close rather than lowered like a visor.
History of the Burgonet
In the first quarter of the 16th century, the sallet was gradually abandoned for field use and replaced by the close helmet and the burgonet. Compared with the close helmet, the burgonet was much cheaper to make, because it needed fewer hinges and locks. It was also lighter and easier to see and breathe in, and its open face was an advantage in close-quarters fighting. A typical 16th-century burgonet with cheek pieces weighed about 1.6 to 2.3 kg / 3.5 to 5 lbs.
The burgonet was worn with plate armor by cavalry such as demi-lancers and cuirassiers, by Swiss mercenary pikemen, and by the Border Reivers of the English-Scottish borderlands, who favored burgonets and morions in Elizabethan times. By the mid-17th century, the morion and cabasset had largely replaced the burgonet for infantry, while more protective closed burgonets continued to serve heavy cavalry.
Types of Burgonets
| Type | Face | Typical wearers | Look |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open burgonet | Open, with cheek pieces | Light cavalry, officers, pikemen | Practical, soldierly |
| Burgonet with falling buffe | Lower face covered by a buffe | Cavalry | Closed in battle, open in camp |
| Closed burgonet | Hinged bevor like a close helmet | Heavy cavalry | Full Renaissance knight |
| Parade burgonet | Usually open | Princes and nobles | Embossed, gilded, sculpted |
Parade burgonets show what Renaissance armorers could do. A famous example from the workshop of Filippo Negroli, dated 1543, is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and a parade burgonet of King Henry II of France is in the Army Museum in Paris.
Pros and Cons of a Burgonet for LARP
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very good balance of protection and visibility | The open face is not protected without a buffe |
| Free speech and breathing for roleplay | Renaissance style, not for early medieval characters |
| Peak and crest give a strong silhouette | Cheek pieces need adjusting for a good fit |
| Great base for ornament and parade looks | A falling buffe adds weight and complexity |
Which Characters Fit a Burgonet?
- Officers and captains: an open burgonet keeps the face visible for command.
- Cavalry and dragoons: a burgonet with a falling buffe or a closed burgonet.
- Mercenaries and landsknechts: a plain burgonet with a breastplate. See our Landsknecht collection.
- Nobles and princes: a decorated parade-style burgonet.
- Witch hunters and inquisitors: a dark burgonet suits a stern Renaissance look. See our Witch Hunter collection.
Order a Custom Burgonet
We do not have a burgonet in our shop yet, but we can make one to order: open, with a falling buffe, or closed, plain or richly decorated, in your colors. A polyurethane helmet is much lighter than a steel one: our helmets weigh about 1 to 1.5 kg. We usually start with a 2D concept, then a 3D sculpt, and then make the mold and the helmet. Tell us your idea on our Custom LARP Armor page, or see our Group Orders. Our ready-made helmets are in the LARP Helmets collection.
Related reading: the burgonet grew out of the sallet and was worn alongside the morion and the close helmet.