Huge southeast european battle axe

AHorsa · 25th December 2020, 11:12 AM

Merry Christmas to you all!!

this axe was described as southeast european 10th-14th century (as well as similar examples with half moon shaped blade). It is a pretty huge piece, measuring 33 x 25,5 cm. I like its archaic shape. The perforated cross could have been important for the people in that region at a time where the area was (and still is) the borderregion between Christian and Muslim world.
Sadly I can find only little information on that part of the world in the medieval time.
Does anyone of you have more information on this sort of weapons? Are there contemporary images / paintings showing soldiers/warriors wearing such a weapon?

Would be great if someone can give more information!

Best regards
Andreas

fernando · 25th December 2020, 11:27 AM

Impressive piece, Andreas.
Hope you get some substantial info on this axe.

Victrix · 25th December 2020, 12:19 PM

That axe head looks fearsome!

Merry Christmas to you, and hope this is something Santa gave you.

I saw a sword with a perforated cross on the crossguard and polearms with trefoil perforations in the history museum in Ljubljana, Slovenia on a visit. Slovenia used to be known as Carniola, a Duchy of the Austrian part of Austro-Hungary. I think this axe may have come from the region of South Eastern Europe or possibly Poland that formed the line of defence against Ottoman expansion into Europe. The stakes were very high so arms and armour took very functional proportions in what was an existential struggle to people in the region. Not only were there regular invasion threats, but there were also constant slave raids by Ottoman irregular forces who abducted thousands of farmers and dwellers in the region and sold their captives for profit in the slave markets in Sarajevo and elsewhere.

kronckew · 25th December 2020, 12:28 PM

SE Europe? -Byzantine Emperor's Varangian Guard favoured large two handed axes. They lasted till the end of the eastern Roman Empire in Constantinople in 1453.

AHorsa · 26th December 2020, 10:54 AM

Thanks a lot for your replies gentlemen!

Thanks for the image from the museum in Ljubljana, Victrix. Can you tell how the sword with the crosses on the crossguard is dated on the information-plate?

The link to the Byzantine empire is very interesting. If ound this image of the Varangian Guard, showing indeed a similar shape of the axes blade.

Is it possible that those half-moon shaped axe heads stem originally from the Indo-persian and Ottoman region (like the Tabar), then was adopted in the border regions (like Byzanz) and later in central europe (like you can see on this image: https://www.pinterest.de/pin/345580971384969527/ )?

Best regards
Andreas

Victrix · 26th December 2020, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AHorsa

Thanks a lot for your replies gentlemen!

Thanks for the image from the museum in Ljubljana, Victrix. Can you tell how the sword with the crosses on the crossguard is dated on the information-plate?

The link to the Byzantine empire is very interesting. If ound this image of the Varangian Guard, showing indeed a similar shape of the axes blade.

Is it possible that those half-moon shaped axe heads stem originally from the Indo-persian and Ottoman region (like the Tabar), then was adopted in the border regions (like Byzanz) and later in central europe (like you can see on this image: https://www.pinterest.de/pin/345580971384969527/ )?

Best regards
Andreas

The National History Museum of Slovenia sword in Ljubljana is 15thC Gothic. I also found a picture of halberds with perforated crosses in the Armoury in Graz, Austria. I would argue that the axe looks Central/East European. The perforated Latin cross and trefoil perforations look Gothic, and the beak looks Indo-Persian which you can sometimes find on Hungarian/Polish war hammers (Ottoman influence).

I’m not sure what arms the Varangian guards used, but they were Vikings (from my part of the world) and presumably used viking axes. At the later stages many Anglo-Saxons were recruited to the Varangian guard. The cross on the axe looks Latin to me, but perhaps there were used in Byzance also.

kronckew · 26th December 2020, 11:36 PM

Many Húskarls from the British Saxons relocated post 1066 to the Varangian Guard, they paid well. And took their large Dane axes with them. The bayaux tapestry shows them decapitating horses with them. The drawing above shows a variety of axes, including what i think may be Swedish style Viking axes, the ones with the heads on a sharp bend at the business end of the haft. The others look like a mix of styles. I found another Varagian guard illustrated with s crescent bladed axe and rear spike, but no crosses cut in it... Might have picked it up in his travels from Hastings. Maybe a son or grandson had the cross cut in or ordered a new axe...also showing is a double bladed Byzantine axe wit two crosses... And a single bladed one with a sq. hammer poll...

The Turks ended them in 1453 when they finally made it thru the formidable walls - by treachery I hear - and the last eastern Roman Emperor put on his armour and at the head of his guard charged the incoming Turks slaughtering many before disappearing from history. They never found his body.

25th December 2020, 11:12 AM	#1
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 352	Huge southeast european battle axe Merry Christmas to you all!! this axe was described as southeast european 10th-14th century (as well as similar examples with half moon shaped blade). It is a pretty huge piece, measuring 33 x 25,5 cm. I like its archaic shape. The perforated cross could have been important for the people in that region at a time where the area was (and still is) the borderregion between Christian and Muslim world. Sadly I can find only little information on that part of the world in the medieval time. Does anyone of you have more information on this sort of weapons? Are there contemporary images / paintings showing soldiers/warriors wearing such a weapon? Would be great if someone can give more information! Best regards Andreas Attached Images

25th December 2020, 12:19 PM	#3
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 677	That axe head looks fearsome! Merry Christmas to you, and hope this is something Santa gave you. I saw a sword with a perforated cross on the crossguard and polearms with trefoil perforations in the history museum in Ljubljana, Slovenia on a visit. Slovenia used to be known as Carniola, a Duchy of the Austrian part of Austro-Hungary. I think this axe may have come from the region of South Eastern Europe or possibly Poland that formed the line of defence against Ottoman expansion into Europe. The stakes were very high so arms and armour took very functional proportions in what was an existential struggle to people in the region. Not only were there regular invasion threats, but there were also constant slave raids by Ottoman irregular forces who abducted thousands of farmers and dwellers in the region and sold their captives for profit in the slave markets in Sarajevo and elsewhere. Attached Images

26th December 2020, 10:54 AM	#5
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 352	Thanks a lot for your replies gentlemen! Thanks for the image from the museum in Ljubljana, Victrix. Can you tell how the sword with the crosses on the crossguard is dated on the information-plate? The link to the Byzantine empire is very interesting. If ound this image of the Varangian Guard, showing indeed a similar shape of the axes blade. Is it possible that those half-moon shaped axe heads stem originally from the Indo-persian and Ottoman region (like the Tabar), then was adopted in the border regions (like Byzanz) and later in central europe (like you can see on this image: https://www.pinterest.de/pin/345580971384969527/ )? Best regards Andreas Attached Images

26th December 2020, 11:36 PM	#7
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	Many Húskarls from the British Saxons relocated post 1066 to the Varangian Guard, they paid well. And took their large Dane axes with them. The bayaux tapestry shows them decapitating horses with them. The drawing above shows a variety of axes, including what i think may be Swedish style Viking axes, the ones with the heads on a sharp bend at the business end of the haft. The others look like a mix of styles. I found another Varagian guard illustrated with s crescent bladed axe and rear spike, but no crosses cut in it... Might have picked it up in his travels from Hastings. Maybe a son or grandson had the cross cut in or ordered a new axe...also showing is a double bladed Byzantine axe wit two crosses... And a single bladed one with a sq. hammer poll... The Turks ended them in 1453 when they finally made it thru the formidable walls - by treachery I hear - and the last eastern Roman Emperor put on his armour and at the head of his guard charged the incoming Turks slaughtering many before disappearing from history. They never found his body. Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 27th December 2020 at 12:32 AM.

25th December 2020, 11:27 AM	#2
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,639	Impressive piece, Andreas. Hope you get some substantial info on this axe.

25th December 2020, 12:28 PM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	SE Europe? -Byzantine Emperor's Varangian Guard favoured large two handed axes. They lasted till the end of the eastern Roman Empire in Constantinople in 1453.