German vs. Italian Sallets: Styles of Late Medieval Helmets

The sallet helmet became the most popular form of late medieval head protection, with distinct variations between German and Italian styles. German sallets often featured long tail flanges and extended neck guards, while Italian sallets had rounded shapes and more open face designs. Both were worn by knights and infantry, showing how regional armor trends influenced helmet evolution. These differences reflect the dynamic nature of 15th-century European warfare and the diversity within medieval helmets.

There were many variations of the Sallet Helmet – various designs of the ‘sallet helmet’ could be seen in the different regions and countries of Europe.

Sallet Helmet Fast Facts

• Sallet Helmet – was also known as the Celata, Salade, and Schaller.
• Origins of the Sallet Helmet – Italy – variant of the popular Bascinet helmet.
• The Sallet was a combat Helmet worn by Medieval Soldiers.
• The Sallet was also popular in most of Europe during the 15th Century and even replaced the popular Bascinet helmet in Medieval Italy.
• The Sallet also became the Medieval Helmet of choice in Medieval Germany.
• Sallet Helmets were manufactured in both Italy and Germany.
• English Sallets – known as the ‘English-Burgundian’ style took elements from both the Italian and German Designs of the Sallet helmet.

Italian Sallet Helmet *Infantry

There were many variants of the sallet helmet throughout Europe due to the different countries’ take on the design and there were also local variants. Different time periods also produced different designs although usually, the differences were small.

For example in the year 1460 historians describe how the Italian version of the Sallet became open-faced and more curved, this development helped provide all-around better visibility for medieval archers and this style became the helmet of choice for this type of foot soldier.

However, these changes were not perfect as the helmet was opened up which made the soldier’s face more visible and open to a strike, for this reason, more front line troops who needed more protection preferred a more re-enforced Sallet helmet with re-enforced plate and a deep visor – this type of visor had many small holes for ventilation and was known as a ‘Bellows’ type Sallet helmet.

German Sallet Helmet

Around the middle of the 15th Century, a new German-style of Sallet helmet appeared that was also rounded in its appearance but less so than the Sallet helmet produced in Italy.

Later German Sallets also had a longer tail with more lames that protected the back of the neck. There were several versions produced that covered the face and that also had visors.

The decline of the Sallet Helmet

The popularity of the Sallet helmet began to decline and at the start of the 16th Century, in favor of the Burgonet and Close Helm helmet. Although the popularity of the Sallet helmet declined a heavily reinforced version of the helmet was still used at medieval tournaments.

Sallet helmets could be worn with or without an aventail or visor. In its various forms, the Sallet was one of the most important and popular medieval helmets produced during the Middle Ages.