Medieval Weaponry By Evan Brust and Jacob Lam

Weapons were important in the middle ages because of chivalry. Weapons were important in the middle ages because of chivalry. Knights needed weapons to defend their lord's manor and to take over land. Knights needed weapons to defend their lord's manor and to take over land. Weapons of the middle ages can be divided into categories: Weapons of the middle ages can be divided into categories: Siege weapons Siege weapons Polearms Polearms Bludgeoning/Cutting Weapons Bludgeoning/Cutting Weapons

Siege Weapons Battering ram Battering ram Used to knock down castle walls. When war was going on, it was a big deal to be able to bypass a castle’s walls. Battering rams helped to do that. Used to knock down castle walls. When war was going on, it was a big deal to be able to bypass a castle’s walls. Battering rams helped to do that. Ballista Ballista An early version of a crossbow working with tension An early version of a crossbow working with tension

Siege Weapons Magonel Magonel A type of catapult. Had a giant arm with a bowl-shaped bucket at the end which launched objects over the castle walls. A type of catapult. Had a giant arm with a bowl-shaped bucket at the end which launched objects over the castle walls.

Siege Weapons Trebuchet Trebuchet Another type of catapult with a lever and sling. Could throw stones weighing up to 200 pounds up to 300 yards. Another type of catapult with a lever and sling. Could throw stones weighing up to 200 pounds up to 300 yards.

Siege Weapons The siege tower The siege tower A cover to protect an attacker scaling the castle walls on a ladder. A cover to protect an attacker scaling the castle walls on a ladder.

Polearms Polearm Polearm Blade mounted on a pole four to fourteen feet long. The heads could vary between hammers, spears, or axes. Blade mounted on a pole four to fourteen feet long. The heads could vary between hammers, spears, or axes. Bec de Corbin Bec de Corbin A small polehammer used in the 1400’s. A small polehammer used in the 1400’s.

Polearms Bec de Faucon Bec de Faucon A polearm with a hammer head and a spike. Between 5 and 7 feet long. A polearm with a hammer head and a spike. Between 5 and 7 feet long. Hache Hache A cutting blade with a spike or hammer head on the back. A cutting blade with a spike or hammer head on the back. Halberd Halberd A pike with an axe head. A pike with an axe head.

Polearms Glaive Glaive An 18” butcher knife on a pole. An 18” butcher knife on a pole. Pike Pike Sharp blade on a pole Sharp blade on a pole Poleaxe Poleaxe Short axe blade on a pole. Short axe blade on a pole. Spear Spear A staff with a sharpened head. A staff with a sharpened head.

Bludgeoning/Cutting Weapons Battle axe Battle axe Had a crescent shaped blade. Could cut off limbs with a single blow. Had a crescent shaped blade. Could cut off limbs with a single blow. Mace Mace Made of wood or metal shaft with a head of stone, iron, bronze, or steel. Reduced effectivness of shield. Made of wood or metal shaft with a head of stone, iron, bronze, or steel. Reduced effectivness of shield.

Bludgeoning/Cutting Weapons Billhook Billhook Axe with a broad curved knife. Axe with a broad curved knife. Flail Flail Steel ball on a wooded handle Steel ball on a wooded handle Quarterstaff Quarterstaff Long shaft of hardwood used to strike Long shaft of hardwood used to strike

Bludgeoning/Cutting Weapons Warhammer Warhammer Had a hammer on one side and spike on the other. Had a hammer on one side and spike on the other. Club/Baton Club/Baton Sword mad of wood or whalebone Sword mad of wood or whalebone Scimitar Scimitar Sword that had a curved blade ending in a sharp point Sword that had a curved blade ending in a sharp point

Bludgeoning/Cutting Weapons Broadsword Broadsword Had a two-edged blade inches. Had a two-edged blade inches. Falchion Sword Falchion Sword Had a short, heavy blade with a single edge Had a short, heavy blade with a single edge Greatsword Greatsword Two handed sword with a blade of inches Two handed sword with a blade of inches

Bludgeoning/Cutting Weapons Longsword Longsword “hand and a half sword” “hand and a half sword” inches inches

As you can see, the middle ages had many different weapons. The most important weapon, however, wasn’t any one of these. Most important was the knight that handled these weapons. If there had been no trained knights, weapons would not have mattered because there would have been nobody to use them. Weapons were essential to conquests and defense against them. As you can see, the middle ages had many different weapons. The most important weapon, however, wasn’t any one of these. Most important was the knight that handled these weapons. If there had been no trained knights, weapons would not have mattered because there would have been nobody to use them. Weapons were essential to conquests and defense against them.