Halberd is a type of medieval edged weapon. In the period from XIV to XVI, it was very popular among foot soldiers. The halberd was of rather great importance in the fight against heavily armed horse knights.
For several centuries, weapons have been improved. Halberd is a chopping ax blade that was able to cut through even the most durable armor. In addition, the creators equipped the weapon with a spear point, which made it possible to apply not only chopping, but also stabbing attacks.
The popularity of halberds went with the advent of firearms. This is due to the fact that the role of heavy armor decreased in battles, since they could not protect the soldiers from bullets. Gradually, heavy armor simply ceased to be used, and therefore the need for a halberd, invented specifically to combat heavily armed soldiers, disappeared. In this article we will look at photos of halberds, plunge into the history of its appearance and talk about ways to use it in battle.
Halberd History
The exact time of appearance of these edged weapons is not known for certain. However, at the beginning of the XIV century, soldiers used halberds in battle - this was a mandatory attribute of any Swiss army. At the same time, the earliest versions were axes on two-meter poles.
The popularity of weapons came because of the relatively cheap production. In the fourteenth century, Switzerland was the largest supplier of well-trained mercenary warriors throughout Europe. These soldiers were famous not only for serious discipline and training, but also for unique weapons, thanks to which they could very successfully withstand heavy cavalry.
The combination of low-cost production and very high efficiency in battle resulted in huge popularity. By the middle of the 15th century, everyone knew that halberd was a mandatory attribute of any European army. Almost every country had at its disposal detachments of soldiers armed with these formidable weapons.
General description of weapons
Halberd is a weapon with a two-meter shaft, which housed a massive ax. One end of it was blunt, an ax blade was attached to the other. Over time, weapons improved, equipped with additional elements. Often, the halberd was equipped with a hook, which was intended to pull the enemy soldiers from the horses.
There were halberds for fighting at sea, they were called boarding. The weapon was equipped with a huge hook, which hooked the sides of an enemy ship. Moreover, they had a longer, three-meter shaft.
Halberd Benefits
During the numerous battles taking place in medieval Europe, the halberd has established itself as a universal weapon. It allowed both to attack the enemy, inflicting stabbing and chopping blows to him, and to defend himself, successfully holding him at a distance. An ax having one blade, when used correctly, could be very effective against horsemen and enemy foot soldiers. In turn, the long shaft made it possible to inflict powerful blows of tremendous power on the halberd. The blade easily chopped metal, including strong armor of armed soldiers. Fighters, well trained in the use of these weapons, were considered one of the most powerful in the Middle Ages.