![]() ![]() This weapon also likely played a part in the death of Richard III at Bosworth Field. For example, when they weren’t firing arrows at the Battle of Agincourt, archers were plunging daggers into enemy knights, the narrow blades slipping easily into the chinks of their armour. Read more about: Medieval History Exploring medieval melee weaponsĭaggers may be traditionally associated with assassinations and other kinds of secretive skulduggery (hence ‘cloak and dagger’), but they were also a bona fide battlefield weapon for close combat. One of the most infamous uses of the battle axe came early in the Battle of Bannockburn, when Scottish king Robert the Bruce hacked an English knight’s head wide open during a one-on-one confrontation. English monarchs such as King Stephen and Richard the Lionheart were known to have personally used battle axes. A particularly brutal section of the Bayeux Tapestry, which chronicles the events around the Battle of Hastings, depicts an Anglo-Saxon soldier using his axe to smash in the head of a Norman horse. Popularly associated with Vikings, the deadly power of battle axes made them a popular medieval instrument of war far and wide. Besides, maces would most assuredly shed blood when used to cave in enemies’ skulls. But there’s no real evidence this was ever the case. There’s a popular misconception that maces were wielded by priests in battle, so as to avoid shedding blood. Even if the enemy’s armour remained intact, the force of the blow could cause serious internal damage. Some had protrusions to better penetrate armour (or bone). ![]() Perhaps the most crudely straightforward of all medieval weapons, the mace was quite simply a kind of club used for bludgeoning enemy combatants. Driven forwards by the surging momentum of the attacker’s horse, a lance could make short work of any infantrymen unlucky enough to be in the way. Byzantine armies, for example, would often deploy fearsome cavalry formations consisting of both mounted archers and lancers, the latter wielding their long weapons in underarm and overarm grips. They were a far cry from sharp, deadly battlefield lances that were essentially pikes used by soldiers on horseback. However, the lances used in such sporting events were blunt-ended and brittle, and designed to unseat rather than impale opponents. Think ‘lances’ and images of medieval jousts may come to mind. Schiltrons are particularly associated with Scots fighters during the Wars of Scottish Independence, and were deployed to devastating effect by Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn. Troops equipped with pikes and shields would form tight arrays known as schiltrons, which functioned to all intents and purposes like gigantic, lethal hedgehogs. While they weren’t as easy to wield as swords, the sheer length of pikes made them formidable and deadly weapons, ripe for plunging into knights attacking on horseback. Read more about: Medieval History The longest sieges in medieval historyĬheaper and easier to mass-produce than swords, pikes were long wooden shafts with sharp, metal tips, popularly used by infantrymen. Such was the prestige of swords that some became famous – including 'Colada', the sword of Spanish knight El Cid, and Joyeuse, the legendary sword of Charlemagne. More than a lethal instrument that could be used to slash and stab the enemy, the sword was also a status symbol, synonymous with knights and leaders. Among the main types used during the era were hefty longswords, designed for two-handed use, and smaller, lighter ‘arming swords’ to be wielded with one hand. If there’s one weapon that’s truly emblematic of the middle ages, it’s the sword. ![]() ![]() But what kinds of weapons were wielded by those caught up in the myriad conflicts? Let’s take a look at the ones that could be relied on to do the most damage… Swords The medieval era was a time of clashing empires, bloody crusades and savage civil wars. Manage provinces, gather armies, initiate diplomacy and dabble in espionage to become the true sovereign of your people and bring them glory. Will you rule over all? This article is sponsored by Knights of Honor II: Sovereign, a fresh take on medieval real-time grand strategy. ![]()
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