Sword
Dagger
Lance
Mace
War hammer
Axe
Bow and Crossbow
Swords had been used all over Europe since 3000 years. However the Vinkings invented the first blades made of steel that were
harder and thus superior in combat. During the Viking´s raids these swords were dispersed all over Europe. Due to its wide
blade it can be concluded that the Viking´s sword was used to slam predominately. The blade was about 80 cm long, two edged and had
a chamfer in the middle that served to reduce weight. Of course it had a cone end as well so the sword could be used to batch.
The handhold was cross shaped and had a short parry bar that was arranged perpendicular to the blade. To balance the sword it
a heavy ball shaped knob was attached to the handhold. Sometimes as decoration the Viking´s sword was aplicated by gold or silver.
While these swords were similar all over Europe, the design could deviate regionally. On the carpet of Bayeux you can find swords
that had a longer parry bar for example. This form dominated until the mid of the 13th century.
From the beginning of the twelfth century the blade started to become longer and narrower, the knobs discoidal and the parry
bar was bended towards the blade. The knob changed its shape by the attachment of bumps to the discoidal piece. Sometimes the knob was
made of jasper or rock crystal. This design remained popular throughout the rest of the medieval.
The change in the design of swords were influenced both by changing fight techniques and fashion. The latter can be observed
by religious inscriptions that were applicated in brass. Sometimes the blacksmith´s brand was stamped in.
Fortunately there are some fencing instructions that survived the centuries. From these old books conclusions can be drawn
about the development of fighting technics. Improvements in attacking equipments had always led to the improvement of defense
weapons. This way the consequence of the invention of the plate armour was the development of swords that became thinner since
the beginning of the fourteenth century. These swords were used predominately for lancing, so the sword could penetrate the armour
through the space between the metal plates. Another consequence was the development of the two handed sword. This weapon
could be used for heavy flourishes. To parry the attacker the knight did not use any shield any more but only the two handed sword.
In the following technical development of the sword further innovations were introduced. Since 1360 the first three centimeters above the
parry bar were not sharp anymore as new fencing techniques were invented. From now on the forefinger was held at this place so
it became easier to control the blade. Of course doing this the knight was endangered to lose his finger when the enemy led his
blade towards the parry bar. Therefore since about 1400 a little bail was introduced to protect the forefinger. Soon there followed
a second bail on the opposite site to protect the thumb that was put above the parry bar from now on as well.
As it had happened many times before again it was Italy where another important step took place. The light infantry started to dismiss the use of plate gloves
from the second half of the 15th century on. To protect the hand a completely new handhold was devoloped. The parry bar was folded towards the top a fist protector
attached and the finger bails connected. On the side of the parry bar a parry ring was attached - the eppee had been found. After 1500 when the duel was popular
and people were the epee together with civil cloths, very complex handholds were invented. Nevertheless knights fighting in full plate armours prefered to use
ordinary swords.
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As an amendment to the sword the knight often wore a dagger. This was to be able to continue fighting when his sword got lost or broke. A dagger was also used
to kill an opponent that lay on the ground. From the beginning of the sixteenth century a new fighting technique was developed. Now a dagger was used together
with a sword and worked to parry the enemy´s sword. While the dagger was used with the forefront down during medieval it was now hold forefront up.
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The kissem is one of the oldest weapons of humanity. In the tenth and eleventh century a kissem with a long blade and two toggles was used. Also at pig hunting
people employed a kissem. The wild pig is quite an aggressive animal that does not hesitate to attack. Especially when the sow had to protect its hatchlings
it was easy to provoke it. Than the kissem was hold towards the attacking sow. Two bars circumvented the blade to avoid penetrating the animal too deep as the pig could
not be hold adistance in such a case. Hunting sows this way was very dangerous and sometimes people got heavily injured or killed.
Regarding this weapon many varieties appeared. For example the Runka was such a quaint kissem. It looked like a trident and thus was a very daunting item.
In the thirteenth century it occurred that swiss soldiers used the kissem very successfully against the cavalry. The infantry used a lance that measured between
4,5 and 6,5 meters. The blade was elongated with metal strips that covered the wooden pole. Therefore it was impossible for the cavalier to flourish it off
with his sword. The infantry held up these long lances and formed big groups that looked like a hedgehog. This way they were insuperable for the cavalry. By reason
of this success these technique spread over whole Europe and was the most important weapon in the fifteenth century. For some years thrust aside by firearms it
was heavily used in the seventeenth century. In the thirty year war people combined block of infantry carriing lances with groups firing muskets, to protect
the ladder from the cavalry. It was in the early seventeenth century when lances became unpopular. Its function was now assumed by the bayonet.
It was not only infantry who used the lance. Also the cavalry used it. While both the infantry and cavalry used similar lances in early days, around 1300
the knights lance became longer and was equipped with thinner heads. Soon "sporting lances" were invented for the Gestech. These special weapon had three blunt
heads. At the handhold a coneshaped protector was attached and an arrest allowed the lance to be connected to a hook at the breast plate of the armour.
Especially in Spain besides to the lance a javelin was used. The combatant threw this weapon off his horse.
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The club was a weapon from the very early days of humanity. It developed to become the mace in medieval ages. Since the twelfth century this weapon had a
diversified metal head and became more and more popular with the appearance of the plate armour. While it was difficult to penetrate a plate armour with
a sword the mace fit this purpose better. Due to its simplicity the mace was a typical weapon of the infantry until the seventeenth century. Equipped with
a short pole this weapon could also be used by the chivalry. A variety of the mace is the morning star. Instead of a diversified metal head with several blades
it had a round head with pricks. If a chain was attached to the head instead of a pole it was called flail. Although the mace was a very simple weapon even
esplendid maces were produced that were ornamented with very detailed scenes. Esplendid maces were produced because of their symbolic meaning.
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Also the war hammer is a very simple weapon which origin probably lies in the crusades when farmes got armed with any item available. Similar to the mace the
war hammer was used both by infantry and cavalry to fight against plate armoured combatants. The design of warhammers changed little over time and also
esplendid war hammers had been produced.
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Since the days of the vikings till the sixteenth century axes were used in combat. In the fifteenth century particularly combatants on foot employed axes.
The backside of the battle axe was equipped with a hammer or several pricks, both top and bottom with pricks. Sometimes the axe was carried as a supplement to
the sword. In this case it had a short pole and a small head. A special form of the axe was the halbert.
This weapon was introduced in the thirteenth century in swizzerland. Characteristic for the halbert is its pole of 2,50 meters and the cleaver-shaped blade that
tapers off to the top. Later the blade became rectangular shaped and a prick was attached to the top. People soon appended another prick on the backside.
The advantage of the halbert lied in the big power of its flourishs. Its head was very well suited to penetrate plate armours.
The frankonians carried a special kind of axe that could be thrown as an addition to the sword.
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The firearms of the medieval were bow and crossbow. Since the beginning of medieval the bow was spread all over Europe and fell into desuetude in
in the sixteenth century when firearms became better and more popular. Especially the English long bow shooter was redoubtable and secured Englands superior
position in its battles on the continent for a long time.
The long bow measured about 1,50 meters and had a maximum range of 350 meters. Like other military
equipment the arrow heads were constantly improved and changed over time. Early arrow heads were iron smithed and relatively wide.
With the appearance of the plate armour the arrow heads became thinner and needle shaped. This manner they could search a groove between the plates of an armour
when they impinged. In contrast the arrow heads for hunting were wide to wound the animal deadly and often had barbs.
Unlike the bow the crossbow was far more compact and had a smaller bow. However regarding power it was comparable to the longbow as it was far more inflexible.
Whereas the early crossbow was clamped by hand lateron people searched for help in simple mechanics. To clamp the crossbow the shooter put his foot into a
bail that was mounted on the top. Then he winded up the chord with the winch that was assembled on the backend of the crossbow. Many times the mechanic had
loose reels so it worked like a tackle. In contrast to the bow the shooter could realise a purchase effect clamping the crossbow. Thus it was not that important
for the shooter to have muscle power. Another advantage was that the crossbow could be held ready to shoot for a long time without wasting power. Also the
education of shooters was less sumptuous compared to the bow. The arrows used by the cross bow were short and thick and could be shot in a range that was as
good as that of a bow.
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