Huge southeast european battle axe

[Victrix]

The Franks used battle axes as well. Charlemagne expanded Christianity in the Pannonian region. Hence the Germanic/Gothic influence in that part of the world. Byzance through Constantinople exerted influence further South in South-Eastern Europe.

It would be interesting to learn more about Byzantic arms and armour, and how this is different (if it is) from Western European items. An obvious differentiating factor would be religious symbols (Greek Orthodox vs Catholic Latin) and linguistic inscriptions (Greek of East Rome vs Latin of West Rome). A complicating factor could be that I understand that Constantinople used foreign mercenaries extensively, and these may have used their own personal arms and armour.

[AHorsa]

Nice find Victrix!
Do you know more about this statue? Looks somehow romanticizing?

Cheers
Andreas

Originally Posted by Victrix

The Franks used battle axes as well. Charlemagne expanded Christianity in the Pannonian region. Hence the Germanic/Gothic influence in that part of the world. Byzance through Constantinople exerted influence further South in South-Eastern Europe.

It would be interesting to learn more about Byzantic arms and armour, and how this is different (if it is) from Western European items. An obvious differentiating factor would be religious symbols (Greek Orthodox vs Catholic Latin) and linguistic inscriptions (Greek of East Rome vs Latin of West Rome). A complicating factor could be that I understand that Constantinople used foreign mercenaries extensively, and these may have used their own personal arms and armour.

[Victrix]

Originally Posted by AHorsa

Nice find Victrix!
Do you know more about this statue? Looks somehow romanticizing?

Cheers
Andreas

Statue of Charles Martel at château de Versailles in France, 19thC.

Read an article about Charles Martel, saw the illustration, spotted the axe.

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Victrix

Statue of Charles Martel at château de Versailles in France, 19thC.

Read an article about Charles Martel, saw the illustration, spotted the axe.

Karl der Hammer was essentially 'German'

[AHorsa]

I just found this piece with very similar decoration:

https://www.fricker-historische-waff...objekt-nr-6042

The description says "foot battle axe, German around 1600" but I guess it is a halberd.

Kind regards
Andreas

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by AHorsa

I just found this piece with very similar decoration:

https://www.fricker-historische-waff...objekt-nr-6042

The description says "foot battle axe, German around 1600" but I guess it is a halberd.

Kind regards
Andreas

The Fricker axe looks more like a late knightly spike Poll-axe, with it's longer languettes on all 4 sides and side spikes. which were around 2 metres, halberds were usually a LOT longer. And heavier and thus had shorter languettes on 2 sides...Halberd heads Usually forged in one piece, Poll axes normally had the axe blade, top spike, rear spike or hammer separately welded to a central socket.

Aside from one being longer, they look fairly similar, but the use was much different. pollaxes (or poleaxes) were a knightly weapon used in one-on-one duels, used much like a quarterstaff with sharp bits. Halberds were a less noble arm used in pike formations by large men who guarded the flanks of pike formations, where a cavalry charge or attack by sword/axe weielding infabtry could devastate a pile formation. The Swiss used them to great effect against mounted Austrian knights in their own formations where the extra length and back hook pulled the shocked knight off his horse at which point the axe or spear put him out of his misery.

p.s. My 199cm. Pollaxe: poll in lieu of a back spike, languettes inlayed on all 4 sides of the haft. weighs in a bit under 2 kilos.

[AHorsa]

Thanks for the remarks Kronckew! I think you are totally right, also taking into account the side spikes I didn´t recognise) and that would also fit Fricker´s description. Thanks for showing your nice example!