Today they are used for ceremonials at American universities and in the House of Commons. Footmen used shorter maces, while horsemen used longer ones to reach from their greater height. Because of the heavy top, a soldier could swing it without much effort, generating more force than a sword – enough to severely damage his opponent’s armour. Although there were many variations, in essence the mace was a bludgeoning weapon with a wooden handle and an iron head. MACEįAVOURED BY: footmen facing an enemy clad in plate armour The mace is descended from a simple wooden club. ![]() ![]() Lances were still in use by the British, French, Russian, Belgian, Turkish, Italian, and German armies at the outbreak of WWI. Although best known as a military and sporting weapon carried by European knights, the use of lances was widespread throughout Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, wherever suitable mounts were available. Horsemen also carried swords or maces, as the lance was too long and heavy for use at close-quarters or when dismounted. LANCEįAVOURED BY: mounted warriors Designed for use by a warrior on horseback, a lance is a long pole or spear made of wood with a sharp metal tip. From the late 15th century, however, it is also attested as being worn and used by unarmoured soldiers or mercenaries.īy the 16th century, the longsword’s military use was limited, though it remained a weapon of choice among the German Landsknechts a while longer, and it continued to be used thereafter as a sports weapon and possibly also for duels. It remained in use as a weapon of war intended for wielders wearing full plate armour, either on foot or on horseback, throughout the Late Medieval period. ![]() LONGSWORDįAVOURED BY: European knights The longsword first emerged as a distinctive type of Late Medieval sword in the 14th century, in the earlier phases of the Hundred Years War. MHM looks at five of the most fearsome hand-to-hand weapons of the Medieval era.
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