Sallet Helmets were very popular in the nations of Europe in the middle ages, especially in medieval cities such as Milan where the large armour manufacturers were based.
There were a large number of variations of the Sallet helmet which could vary from region to region or between countries.
The English style of the Sallet was inspired by both the Italian and German Sallet helmet designs, by around the 15th century a clear English style had become popular and became known as the ‘English-Burgundian’ Sallet – this style was also adopted in the Netherlands.
The style was more closely matched to the German Sallet and offered much front facial protection, but it had more curvature in its design than the Italian Sallet.
These types of Sallet helmets offered less protection to the back of the head and neck areas and were classed as ‘short-tailed Sallets’.
The popularity of the Sallet helmet began to fade and during the early part of the 16th Century was replaced by the ‘Burgonet‘ and Close Helm helmet, however, a re-enforced version of the Sallet was still popular in Jousting competitions in Tournaments of that time.
The protection to the neck and back areas of the sallet could be improved by the addition of an aventail and additional lames.
In its various regional and national styles the Sallet would be one of the most popular helmets used by soldiers of the medieval period.