The most people associate chainmail armor only with European medieval ages. Not everybody knows that chainmail armor was invented much sooner in antiquity and not only in Europe. It is assumed that chainmail armor was invented sometimes in half of first millennium BC in Europe and it may have been independently invented in Eastern Asia. Chainmail was probable invented by Germans or Celts. The oldest finds are from Germany and from Celtic chieftain's burial in Romania. Chainmail armor was also used by Gauls in Cisalpine Gaul (Northern Italy). However, it was used mainly by chieftains. The Roman army adopted this type of armor. In the beginning, only richer soldiers could afford it. Later, it became available to every Roman soldier. Chainmail was replaced by newer type of armor in first century AD. However, in the middle of third century, it was established as main roman armor once again and it was used after fall of Roman Empire throughout the medieval ages.
In thirteenth century chainmail armor covered the whole body of a warrior (even legs). However, the flexibility of chainmail armor was also its weakness. It wasn't ideal for protecting head of a soldier. Stronger slash could kill a soldier even without breaking through chainmail hood. That's why warriors wore separate helmet over (or sometimes under) their chainmail hood. When plate armor came in fourteenth century, it replaced chainmail armor. However, it didn't replace it completely. Many warriors still used chainmail armor, even though it was often more expensive than plate armor.
The chainmail was also known in Japan. It was known under the name kusari. However, it was used only in short period of time (app. 1336-1392). Also, there have been many differences between European chainmail armor and the Japanese one. Japanese didn't make complete chainmail sets. They were using it only to connect plates together and to cover vulnerable areas. Chainmail was always stitched onto cloth or leather backing. Also, the rings have been different. They consisted or two or more turns so they looked like something similar to rings on today's key chains. Sometimes the Japanese chainmail was entirely concealed between layers of cloth or leather.
The chainmail armor was also used during the First World War. Some people thought that it could be used to make bullet proof vests. However, this has been proven as a bad idea. The rings would fragment and do even more harm than good.
Chainmail armor still has its uses. Today it serves mostly divers as protection from sharks, butchers and animal control officers. It is also widely used by re-enactors of medieval battles and living history.
