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Stop Hand Weapons
Chainmail armor couldn't stop every weapon, such as many blunt weapons and arrows, but it was effective in preventing injury from swords, axes and spears, for example, by making it harder for aggressors to penetrate a soldier's flesh. A warrior in chainmail could thus withstand attacks by other soldiers and was less likely to die in battle. Chainmail didn't have the effect of stopping the full force of a sword blow, however, so a soldier wearing such armor could still be knocked down in battle.
Prevent Infection
Chainmail helped to prevent soldiers from being injured, and while the armor's first job was to prevent instantly fatal wounds from weapons, it also served an equally useful function by reducing the risk of blades piercing a soldier's skin. Even minor wounds could become infected if left untended, and could eventually become fatal.
Conjunction with Plate Armor
Chainmail was useful in itself, but as years passed, other types of armor, such as plate armor, began to replace chainmail as the armor of choice for knights. Chainmail continued to have an effect however, since it was used in conjunction with plate armor. While plate armor covered most of a soldier's body, chainmail was used to cover areas like the knee joints and the neck that the plate couldn't protect as effectively. Chainmail could also be worn alongside items such as gauntlets, which exposed the elbows.
Ease of Use
Before chainmail came into popular use by soldiers, many warriors carried shields for protection. Shields were useful, but the problem with the shield was that it prevented the individual from using one arm, as a hand was needed to carry the shield. Chainmail armor allowed increased mobility, since it protected the wearer while leaving both arms free.
Allowed Mass Protection
An effect of chainmail armor was that it presented a way for lords and other leaders of medieval armies to equip many men with a form of reliable protection. Chainmail wasn't overly expensive to create, and it was relatively easy to manufacture chainmail to fit scores of men of various sizes.