Read more about: Medieval History The greatest swords of the medieval periodĪ pike is a traditional pointed pole weapon. The head of a mace was often spiked or ridged but this was not always the case. Foot soldiers would carry a much shorter mace than a horseman for example and two-handed maces could be even bigger and heavier to allow for an even more impactful blow. The length of maces differed throughout the period.

This allows for blows to be delivered effectively from any side of the head.Īs it evolved a mace would combine a strong shaft or handle with a head made from stone, copper, iron or steel. The mace is an evolution from a standard club and differentiates from a hammer as the head of a mace is radially symmetric. It utilises a heavy head attached to a handle to deliver blunt, traumatising blows.

Here are three to examine more closely to explore their usage and popularity: MaceĪ mace is a simple blunt weapon that is highly effective. There are a wide range of melee weapons, many of which have a rich history. Read more about: Medieval History 6 bloodiest battles in medieval history >Other weapons, such as whips, don’t fit into any category. They’re most suitable for battling the least armoured opponents. Edged weapons are designed to cut, stab and even dismember. They are likely the most traditional type of weapon you imagine when thinking about medieval battle and amongst the most commonly used. Edged weapons include swords, daggers, axes and scythes. The final category of weapons is perhaps the most immediately recognisable to the contemporary eye. Common types of blunt weapons included war hammers, flails, staves and maces. They were useful as an alternative when pointed or edged weapons may have been less effective due to strong armour. Blunt weaponsīlunt weapons rely upon blunt force to cause trauma and damage. Pointed weapons are often suitable for horseback use as well and common types include spears, pikes and lances. Most pointed weapons are long, allowing the soldier to remain at a distance from their target. High quality pointed weapons will be able to cause damage even when the opponent is heavily armoured. Pointed weaponsĪs the name suggests, pointed weapons are designed with a thrusting action in mind and the aim of inflicting penetrating trauma and damage. Melee weapons come in a diverse range of shapes and sizes but usually fall into one of the three following categories: 1. Read more about: Medieval History The longest sieges in medieval history

All types of medieval weapons