War hammers reached their peak popularity in the 14th and 15th centuries as a response to armor advancement. Some war hammers could be as long as a halberd, but many were closer in size to a mace. Medieval war hammers closely resembled the everyday tool, but featured a long handle and spike for stabbing. Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Variations of the weapon were crafted for professional soldiers, peasant militias, and ceremonial uses.ģ) War Hammer Medieval war hammers were made for damaging plate armor. Both cavalry and foot soldiers carried morning stars. This weapon became widespread in Europe by the 14th century. Morning stars usually had wooden handles and could measure up to 6 feet in length. It resembled a spiked club and featured a long spike at its end with many smaller spikes radiating from a central ball. The morning star is one of the most menacing-looking medieval weapons. Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons These weapons are characterized by their many points. Both foot and cavalry soldiers wielded maces.Ģ) Morning Star A knight holding a morning star. They were widely used in peasant rebellions and major conflicts. Maces were common due to their simple design. Regardless of the shape, maces could damage plate armor and cause major injuries without puncturing the armor. The sizes and shapes of maces varied widely, as shown in the illustration above. While most mace heads were crafted from iron, other materials like copper, bronze, and stone were also used. Maces featured radial symmetry to allow for deadly blows from any angle. Developed from the club, a medieval mace was made up of a handle with a heavy head. The mace is one of the simplest weapons on the list. Charles Henry Ashdown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 1) Mace Illustrations showing the variation in maces throughout the Middle Ages. The following are blunt and close range weapons that would have done serious damage to a soldier’s body, armor, and horse. Swords were highly effective in close combat, but many other options existed for medieval soldiers. They are categorized according to their construction and use on the battlefield. The following list does not contain swords, knives, and daggers, but instead focuses on other forged medieval weapons. While swords proved highly effective in close combat, they could not be used in other types of fighting. Close combat weapons, siege weapons, and ranged weapons developed to meet the needs of soldiers in different fighting scenarios. Weapon usage also varied depending on the type of warfare required. As armor technology improved, the types of weapons altered to be more effective in battle. The advancement of plate armor is an important factor to consider when studying forged weapons of the medieval period. However, dozens of other weapons were used by soldiers during the Middle Ages for various purposes. Books, movies, video games, and historical reenactments have convinced most of us that the sword was the most common and important weapon of this time period. The medieval sword is arguably the most famous weapon in history.
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