| A great portion of a knight's life was | | | | early centuries of medieval warfare and was |
| devoted to the mastery of a variety of | | | | very similar to today's modern claw hammer |
| weapons. Here is a look at some of the more | | | | having one end that was flat and used for |
| common weapons that were wielded throughout | | | | striking, and the other end having a piercing |
| the Middle Ages. | | | | beak that could penetrate armor. |
| | | | |
| Knights had a reign that lasted several | | | | Polearms were long handled weapons that |
| hundred years and in this time period the | | | | knights often used in combat -particularly |
| weapons they used varied and changed | | | | when mounted on horses. They ranged in length |
| significantly. Some of the factors that | | | | from six feet to as much as twelve or sixteen |
| caused this change were improvements in | | | | feet. The basic advantage of a polearm was |
| metalworking and improvements in weapon | | | | its reach from atop a horse. It could be used |
| design. Armor also improved over this period | | | | to attack an enemy before he could get close |
| of time and it mandated improvements in | | | | enough to use his own weapon. They came in |
| weapons. One of the most significant changes | | | | many variations and the most common type of |
| came with the advent of plated armor. This | | | | polearm is the lance, which is still used |
| new type of armor caused changes in many of | | | | today in jousting competitions. The lance was |
| the knight's standard weapons. Slicing and | | | | also a capable, and feared, weapon used for |
| bladed weapons were often accentuated or | | | | breaking up the foot ranks of enemy |
| replaced by weapons that could pierce or | | | | formations. Other types of polearms were |
| apply a hammer-like blow. This development of | | | | often variations of hand-held weapons mounted |
| hand weapons continued to change for | | | | on the end of a long pole. And two good |
| centuries and reached its apex in the | | | | examples of this are the poleaxe and the |
| fourteenth and fifteenth century with the | | | | halberd, which were forms of axes, often with |
| advent of gunpowder. This articles looks at | | | | a hammer, or axe blade along one side and a |
| some of the more common weapons from this | | | | point at the very tip for penetrating armor. |
| time period. | | | | |
| | | | While there were many weapons that knights |
| Before gunpowder rendered them obsolete there | | | | used there also were a few weapons that they |
| were basically two different types of weapons | | | | refused to use for various reasons. |
| that knights used: single-handed, and polearm | | | | Knighthood came with a complete code of |
| (two-handed). Of the single-handed weapons | | | | conduct and a rule of chivalry and these had |
| the sword is of course the most popular and | | | | an effect on the weapons they could use. The |
| best known. And it was the beneficiary of | | | | three most popular weapons that they didn't |
| technology improvements. Over the centuries | | | | use were the bow, the crossbow, and the |
| they got longer, sharper, lighter, and | | | | dagger. The bow and crossbow were considered |
| stronger. They were central part of a | | | | to be unknightly because you did not face |
| knight's armory and even as hand weapons | | | | your foe when fighting. And the dagger was |
| became obsolete swords remained part of a | | | | considered to be a dishonorable weapon |
| knights arsenal as a symbol of power and | | | | because it was used stealthily and hidden; |
| chivalry. | | | | although, the dagger did start to become a |
| | | | sometimes-used weapon toward the end of the |
| Another common one-handed weapon of knights | | | | middle ages but it predominantly for |
| was the mace, which was a short handled | | | | ceremonial purposes only. |
| striking weapon with a ball on the far end. | | | | |
| The ball often had spikes or flanges on it, | | | | The use of weapons by knights over the course |
| which would penetrate a foes armor. The flail | | | | of the Middle Ages changed and evolved |
| was another standard weapon and it was short | | | | significantly based on many factors such as |
| handled with a length of chain then a ball or | | | | blacksmithing skills, engineering skills, |
| flail head. This ball on a chain, when swung | | | | improvements in armor, improvement in combat |
| could generate enormous force, and just as | | | | techniques, and even the code of chivalry. |
| importantly, it could be used to swing up and | | | | While many variations of weapons came and |
| over an enemy's shield. The warhammer was | | | | went there were only about a dozen trusted |
| another common weapon and it was a direct | | | | weapons that had proven their worth through |
| modification of the blacksmith's hammer. It | | | | centuries of use on the battlefield. |
| was a very common weapon particularly in the | | | | |