Swords
Arming Sword
This was a light-weight and versatile weapon. Its blade can reach from 27 to 32 inches. It was commonly used from the 11th to 16th century. It is described as a cruciform shaped sword. It is double edged and single handed. This weapon appears in lots of art work from the time. Many of the surviving paintings are in museums today.
This was a light-weight and versatile weapon. Its blade can reach from 27 to 32 inches. It was commonly used from the 11th to 16th century. It is described as a cruciform shaped sword. It is double edged and single handed. This weapon appears in lots of art work from the time. Many of the surviving paintings are in museums today.
Broadsword
This is a sword with a 35 to 43 inch blade. It is commonly mistaken as an arming sword but is a bit longer and wider. It is still in the cruciform shape.
This is a sword with a 35 to 43 inch blade. It is commonly mistaken as an arming sword but is a bit longer and wider. It is still in the cruciform shape.
Falchion
This sword has a single edged blade that ranges from 12 to 24 inches. It is distinguished by the sharp curve at the end of the blade. It is unlike the most European swords because it has single edged blade. Many people associate it it with machete. Many people assume it is of less quality because it is not as expensive or as long as the other swords. Like the arming sword it is also found in many paintings from the middle ages.
This sword has a single edged blade that ranges from 12 to 24 inches. It is distinguished by the sharp curve at the end of the blade. It is unlike the most European swords because it has single edged blade. Many people associate it it with machete. Many people assume it is of less quality because it is not as expensive or as long as the other swords. Like the arming sword it is also found in many paintings from the middle ages.
Longswords
This was a popular European sword in the later Middle Ages. The double edged 40 to 50 inch long blade was extremely effective at cutting, slicing and thrusting. These blades may differ in length. When in battle longswords are normally held with two hands. This weapon is very versatile,quick and effective. Fighting with this sword is not as barbaric as it is portrayed. This was one of the best weapons of the Middle ages.
This was a popular European sword in the later Middle Ages. The double edged 40 to 50 inch long blade was extremely effective at cutting, slicing and thrusting. These blades may differ in length. When in battle longswords are normally held with two hands. This weapon is very versatile,quick and effective. Fighting with this sword is not as barbaric as it is portrayed. This was one of the best weapons of the Middle ages.
Daggers and Knives
Anelace
The Anelace dagger is remarkably sharp on both sides. It is normally paired with another dagger or sword.
The Anelace dagger is remarkably sharp on both sides. It is normally paired with another dagger or sword.
Stiletto
A stiletto is normally short and slender dagger. It blade ends in a rigid point. It is primarily used for stabbing in combat. A great way they used this dagger in by shoving in through holes and chinks in the armor. The weapon gained popularity in the High Middle Ages when it became the secondary weapon for knights.
A stiletto is normally short and slender dagger. It blade ends in a rigid point. It is primarily used for stabbing in combat. A great way they used this dagger in by shoving in through holes and chinks in the armor. The weapon gained popularity in the High Middle Ages when it became the secondary weapon for knights.
Poignards
This is a light weight dagger that is very versatile. It is mainly used for stabbing in close quarters.
This is a light weight dagger that is very versatile. It is mainly used for stabbing in close quarters.
Rondels
This is a stiff bladed dagger that many people used. From merchants to knights. The whole dagger is normally 20 inches long. The blade was made out of steel. Although the sides were rounded the end was sharpened to a point. That is why they were primarily used for stabbing. These daggers can be found in some paintings being worn at the waist in fight scene. These weapons were normally a knights last line of defense.
This is a stiff bladed dagger that many people used. From merchants to knights. The whole dagger is normally 20 inches long. The blade was made out of steel. Although the sides were rounded the end was sharpened to a point. That is why they were primarily used for stabbing. These daggers can be found in some paintings being worn at the waist in fight scene. These weapons were normally a knights last line of defense.
Blunt Hand Weapons
Maces
A mace is a weapon that is very heavy on end that is used to give powerful blows. The most popular type is the flanged mace(shown to the left). The top of a mace must be symmetrical so that it delivers equal blows. The head can be made out of stone, steel, iron, copper, or bronze. The head is about as thick as the armor knights wear. The maces foot soldiers carried were normally short(two or three feet).
A mace is a weapon that is very heavy on end that is used to give powerful blows. The most popular type is the flanged mace(shown to the left). The top of a mace must be symmetrical so that it delivers equal blows. The head can be made out of stone, steel, iron, copper, or bronze. The head is about as thick as the armor knights wear. The maces foot soldiers carried were normally short(two or three feet).
Morning Stars
The Morning star is a spiked club that reminds many people of a mace. The main difference is that it has spikes. Normally it has one tall spike coming out of the top and others surrounding it. Some Morning stars were over 6 feet long. The assumption that Morning stars were an obscene peasants weapon is not entirely true. There are two main types of this weapon. The first is used by many soldiers. The second is made by peasant militiamen.
The Morning star is a spiked club that reminds many people of a mace. The main difference is that it has spikes. Normally it has one tall spike coming out of the top and others surrounding it. Some Morning stars were over 6 feet long. The assumption that Morning stars were an obscene peasants weapon is not entirely true. There are two main types of this weapon. The first is used by many soldiers. The second is made by peasant militiamen.
Flail
A flail is a weapon that has been attributed to the Middle Ages many times but there is barely any historical evidence that the flail existed in that time period. A flail can have one or more spiked weights attached to it with a chain or hinge.
A flail is a weapon that has been attributed to the Middle Ages many times but there is barely any historical evidence that the flail existed in that time period. A flail can have one or more spiked weights attached to it with a chain or hinge.
War Hammers
A war hammer is a weapon from the late medieval times. It is most commonly used in close combat. Soldiers would bang on thick helmets and give the opponent a concussion without penetrating the armor. When facing mounted opponents they could throw the hammer at the horses legs, making the rider fall off and become more vulnerable.
A war hammer is a weapon from the late medieval times. It is most commonly used in close combat. Soldiers would bang on thick helmets and give the opponent a concussion without penetrating the armor. When facing mounted opponents they could throw the hammer at the horses legs, making the rider fall off and become more vulnerable.
Pole Arms
Spears
A spear is a pole (normally hardwood) attached to a sharpened head. Spears were the most common personal weapons from the Stone Ages to the invention of fire arms. Spears were best used in thrusting motions. Some were made for throwing (javelins). These were lighter than normal spears. After the Roman Empire fell almost all of the western cultures used spears. As the Middle Ages went on throwing spears became less popular. This weapon was one of the most popular in the Middle Ages.
A spear is a pole (normally hardwood) attached to a sharpened head. Spears were the most common personal weapons from the Stone Ages to the invention of fire arms. Spears were best used in thrusting motions. Some were made for throwing (javelins). These were lighter than normal spears. After the Roman Empire fell almost all of the western cultures used spears. As the Middle Ages went on throwing spears became less popular. This weapon was one of the most popular in the Middle Ages.
Corseque
A Corseque is a triple-bladed head attached to a six to eight foot pole. There is historical evidence that many different Corseque heads existed. The two side blades normally are at a 45 degree angle.
A Corseque is a triple-bladed head attached to a six to eight foot pole. There is historical evidence that many different Corseque heads existed. The two side blades normally are at a 45 degree angle.
Danish Axe
A Danish Axe has a heavy crescent shaped head mounted to a six to eight foot long pole. It started as a Viking weapon but the Anglo-Saxons and Normans adopted the weapon in the 11th century. It spread across Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries.
A Danish Axe has a heavy crescent shaped head mounted to a six to eight foot long pole. It started as a Viking weapon but the Anglo-Saxons and Normans adopted the weapon in the 11th century. It spread across Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Halberd
A Halberd is a mix between a spear and an axe. It also always has a spike or thorn coming out of the back side. This weapon came into prominent use in the 14th and 15th centuries.
A Halberd is a mix between a spear and an axe. It also always has a spike or thorn coming out of the back side. This weapon came into prominent use in the 14th and 15th centuries.
Ranged Weapons
Long Bows
Bows are weapons that project arrows powered by its elasticity. The Long Bow is about as tall as the person using it. Flat bows can be just as long but the difference is that in the cross section the flat bows have almost rectangular limbs. Traditional long bows were made out of one piece of wood. These weapons have been used for thousands of years.
Bows are weapons that project arrows powered by its elasticity. The Long Bow is about as tall as the person using it. Flat bows can be just as long but the difference is that in the cross section the flat bows have almost rectangular limbs. Traditional long bows were made out of one piece of wood. These weapons have been used for thousands of years.
Crossbows
Crossbows played a big part in Europe's warfare history. Light crossbows can be drawn by hand but heavy ones must be drawn with mechanical devices. The arrow like projectiles of crossbows are called bolts. These are much shorter than arrows but are much more heavier. Crossbows can also be adapted to shoot lead bullets or stones.
Crossbows played a big part in Europe's warfare history. Light crossbows can be drawn by hand but heavy ones must be drawn with mechanical devices. The arrow like projectiles of crossbows are called bolts. These are much shorter than arrows but are much more heavier. Crossbows can also be adapted to shoot lead bullets or stones.
Counterweight Trebuchet
Counterweight trebuchets can fling up to three hundred pounds at high speeds. This is what was used to throw dead bodies infected with the black plague that killed most of Europe. Trebuchets required large amounts of timber. The lever had to be as light as possible if you wanted maximum acceleration but it had to be strong enough not to break under the pressure. Even though it took a while to fire (since they had to pull the lever) it was one of the most powerful weapons.
Counterweight trebuchets can fling up to three hundred pounds at high speeds. This is what was used to throw dead bodies infected with the black plague that killed most of Europe. Trebuchets required large amounts of timber. The lever had to be as light as possible if you wanted maximum acceleration but it had to be strong enough not to break under the pressure. Even though it took a while to fire (since they had to pull the lever) it was one of the most powerful weapons.
-Riley Pennington
Mrs. Baum
Honors Humanities 6
15 December 2014
Mrs. Baum
Honors Humanities 6
15 December 2014