The morion emerged in Spain in the early 16th century and quickly became one of the most recognizable helmets of the Renaissance. With its flat brim and central comb, it offered both protection and strength, while its open face allowed soldiers greater visibility. Though often associated with conquistadors, the helmet only came into wide use after the conquests of Mexico and Peru. By the mid-1500s it was worn not only by Spanish infantry but also by soldiers across Europe, valued for its relatively low cost and ease of production. Officers and guards sometimes carried ornate, engraved examples as marks of rank and prestige. The morion’s lineage traced back to the cabasset, a Spanish variant of the medieval kettle hat, adapted into a more refined form with its distinctive comb. Some models were fitted with cheek guards or detachable faceplates for additional protection. The name itself likely came from the Spanish “morrión” or Catalan “morrió,” both linked to words meaning head or rounded object. Its wide brim and sturdy design made it particularly suitable for pikemen standing in formation, where protection against downward blows was essential. In England, the morion was widely issued during the English Civil War, where it became associated with Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army. Pikemen wore it alongside breastplates and buff coats as they shielded musketeers in pike-and-shot formations. Both Parliamentarian “Roundheads” and Royalist Cavaliers used the morion, creating battlefield confusion that spurred the adoption of more distinct uniforms, first through colored sashes and later with the famous red coats. Examples of English morions, recovered from the 1648 Siege of Colchester, survive today in Colchester Castle. Beyond Europe, captured morions found new lives. In the Americas, some Native leaders wore salvaged Spanish armor centuries after the first conquests. The Comanche chief Iron Jacket famously donned conquistador armor into the 19th century, making the morion a symbol of status as well as defense. In the Philippines, the Moro peoples adopted and adapted Spanish morions and burgonets into elaborately decorated helmets of their own, often made of iron or brass with intricate silver arabesques and crowned with tall feather plumes. These versions blended European influence with local traditions and served during the long Spanish–Moro Wars. By the early 17th century, the morion faded as firearms grew more dominant and armor lighter, but its distinctive silhouette—etched into depictions of conquistadors, pikemen, and explorers—ensured its place as one of the most iconic helmets of the early modern world.

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Morion