medieval tabard surcoat brownIn the High and Late Middle Ages, monks from monastic orders wore a tabard over their tunic. The tabard was fastened with a belt. It was a humble piece of clothing that was worn by low classes in society, like farmers and foot soldiers. The tabard served to protect the tunic and other garments under the tabard from dirt during work. From the twelfth century onwards knights wore surcoats to wear over their plate armor. According to historians, wearing