Medieval Weapons

Ah, weapons. I am very keen on weapons (see articles on The Sword Maker, and Swords and Such). I like to use them and I like to see them in action. Don’t get to see all that many castle sieges these days, though.

Some of the following is lifted from my favorite out-of-print book The Dictionary of Chivalry by Grant Uden, 1968, and some I’ve written myself. It is a rich book full of really great illustrations by the talented Pauline Baynes (some of which are featured here).

Here’s a taste of some items.

Balista—mistaken for a catapult but works more like a giant crossbow, hurling large missiles, bolts, and burning objects. Sounds like fun.

Baselard or basilard—"popular in the 13th and 14th centuries, this was a dagger whose blade was double-edged, sharply tapering to a deadly point and with no or little quillons or hand guard. Popular amongst the ladies to ward off unwelcome attention. Other daggers: Sometimes the blades were so long that there was a fine distinction between them and swords. Kidney Dagger—so called not for its intended target, but for the kidney shapes at the base of the handle. Main-Gauche—held in the left hand (gauche) while crossing swords with your opponent as an extra defensive and offensive weapon. Misericorde—meaning “mercy”. A straight, thin-bladed dagger used for the mercy stroke on a fallen adversary. Rondel—hilts trimmed with discs of various sizes."

Belfry—"a wooden tower on wheels whereupon men-at-arms could besiege a castle. They would be tall enough to breach a wall--if those in the tower were not killed by a hail of arrows or boiling oil or tar first. The Belfry was often covered with animal hides to ward off the above."

Falchion—a sword for archers and foot soldiers. Usually, the blade was a shorter length than broad swords and with one convex cutting side.

Firepot—a burning pot to hurl at one’s enemies filled with sulpher, nitre, and naphtha, a mixture called Greek Fire.

  Flail—Sometimes confused with a Mace. A mace is a club with a steel or iron head used to clobber soldiers but good. Sometimes it was a spiked ball. The flail, on the other hand, is a handle with a hinged head attached to a chain and a very nasty bit attached to that; spiked ball, spiked rods, etc. The original heavy metal band, to be sure. Also called “holy water sprinklers”. (I have a cool set of earrings like that.) One of my favorite mace stories is about Bishop Odo, William the Conqueror’s brother. Since he was a bishop, a man of God, he wasn’t allowed a sword to shed blood. Instead—as a warrior—he used a mace! Bashing one’s enemies’ heads in was okay with the Church, I guess.

Glaive—a large blade fixed to the end of a pole whose blade has an outside curved cutting edge.

Guisarme—"a large pike, a cross between a spear and a scythe, used by foot soldiers. Sometimes it looks like a bayonet with an extra blade. Sometimes the blade has all sorts of projections." Wouldn’t be fun to be stabbed with it, I can tell you. A Partisan was similar.

Halberd—similar to the above but instead of a blade, it has an axe with all the extra accessories.  

Lance—"knightly weapon used in battle as well as tournaments. Sharpened for battle and for the Joust à l’Outrance, which was a joust to the bitter end when one’s opponent surrendered, was wounded, or killed. For the Joust à Plaisance, the lance was blunted (called “rebated”) and fitted with a Coronel, an iron head with several blunted projections to redistribute the shock of the lance. The lance was also made easily splintered, as the splintered lance proved a hit. The Vamplate was added to provide protection for the hand of the one holding the lance."

Mangonel—"another siege engine for hurling missiles. Working by torsion, the arm was forced back by winding a rope around a beam."

Mantlet—a rectangular shield made of wood and propped up, used to protect archers as they reloaded behind it.

Mine or Undermine—men-at-arms protected under “turtles” of hides stretched over a form, would mine out parts of the castle foundations. This would “undermine”, hence, bringing down the walls. You can well see where the present-day term got it’s roots.

Petard—a hand bomb filled with Greek Fire used to break down gates explosively. If you were “hoist with your own petard”, you were thrown into the air by how poorly you managed your bomb, so it was your own fault.

Pole axe—a knightly weapon that was—strangely—an axe mounted on a pole. The axe had an added pointed blade for all kinds of devilry.

Trebuchet—"siege engine using a counterweight to launch heavy objects at castles" (seen at the bottom of the picture to the left).

War Hammer—just as you’d think: a big ole’ hammer used to smack your enemies. Nasty pick at the back.

But of course, when we are talking Crispin Guest, there is no better weapon, none sharper, than one’s wits since that's the only weapon left to him.

Are we more civilized today simply because (for the most part) we aren't armed? I don't think we are masters of our emotions any more today than yesterday. One has only to look at police records to see that men still get into brawls, and sometimes weapons are involved. But battling for entertainment? Well, boxing is big, in all its current incarnations. Paintball players are out there battling to a colorful and bitter end, and then there are the jousts staged by various organizations, from re-enactors to Medieval Times to the Royal Armouries in Leeds, England. We fight and watch the mock battles for the thrill of it, just as they did. We still get into tussles; we still draw our weapons when our honor is impuned; we still kill and we still die.

So let's be careful out there. A little chivalry is a good thing. Take the gracious side of it. Bow as you beg their pardon. And mean it.

Next time, we'll talk a little about chivalry and what it really means.

Notes: The picture of the blades is from European Arms & Armor by Charles Henry Ashdown, 1995. The picture at the top of the article is an actual medieval sword from the British Musuem.    

Comments

[Jarod]

Very cool post. Don't see these too often!

[Josh]

I love this site I was hoping you would alow me to use it for a research paper your info is very reliable

[Jeri Westerson]

Go for it, Josh.

[sarah morgan]

i am looking for a ready battle hand and half sword, if you could let me know where you leave, and if you have a catologue i can look at, and if possible come over and have a look what you do.

many thanks
from sarah

[daniel]

i am looking for a 15th senty two sided batel axe

[lily]

nice swords! I'm doing this for my middle ages project and this is cool

[TedRo]

This is a really cool article! I'm using it to help research information for a D&D campaign I'm making, and I noticed one thing about the information you've provided...

In the topic of flails, you digress for a moment into the subject of maces, where you state that "A mace is a club with a steel or iron head...". Now, I am not a weapons expert, but it is to my understanding that a mace was forged from metal as a whole, including the haft. I believe that the club with a metal head is reffered to as a "morningstar", and the ball of the morningstar is usually spiked or studded with metal bits and/or (coincidentally) spikes.

Sorry if this offends you, I just wished to provide (what I believe to be) a clarification to avoid misinformation.

Besides that, I find this article very helpful!

-TedRo

[Jeri Westerson]

Hi TedRo,

I think you will find a plethora of information on these weapons and I have yet to find any absolutes in the terms utilized. A mace head can be shaped in any number of ways. I have seen "morning star" refered to the type of head with spikes. As to the haft having to be made of the same piece as the head, I have not found that to be an absolute.

[Craig Gelbard]

Hey, very informative post! I've been fascinated with medieval weapons for a while now, and your delineation was very thorough and thoughtful. I can tell you really know a lot about the subject, and the pictures you've provided are also informative. Thanks!

P.S. Check out my blog at http://www.medievaldaggers.com if you get a chance. I'd love to have your comments!