The great successes of Philip II’s son, Alexander the Great, are due in large part to the use of the xyston.
After Alexander the Great’s death, his cavalry were given a new name to honor their xystons.
From the middle of the fourth century BC forward, the Companion elite cavalry (hetairoi) and the prodromoi light cavalry (scouts) of the Macedonian army made extensive use of the xyston spear which was a long cavalry lance. “Xyston” or a “spiked stick” comes from the verb / xuô, which means “to shave.” The advantage of the Xyston over heavier lances was its light weight. This allowed it to be used one-handed, which was a great advantage for the mounted units.
Male cornel wood (also known as cornus mas or wild cornel).
The xyston probably descended from the Greek akon and palton spears. A thick and less brittle wood than the reed was formerly used in Greece to produce a spear. However, the male cornel wood (also known as cornus mas or wild cornel) may have been brought to Athens by the military leader Xenophon following his return from Asia according to his book Anabasis.
Then, this material made its way to Macedonia. Besides the forested highlands of Macedonia, Phthia (a city in ancient Thessaly), Aetolia, Arcadia, and Laconia were all good places to look for cornel wood to produce spears with it. In fact, the widespread usage of cornel wood in the fourth and third centuries BC led to the phrase being used poetically for the word “spear.”
The xyston was used as the standard weapon of the hoplites in ancient Greece. Before the general adoption of the sarissa, the xyston was in use among the Macedonian phalanxes after the military reforms made by Philip II in the middle of the fourth century BC. After the military reforms, the xyston and later the sarissa could be used against the enemies in the phalanx battle formation.
This order of battle and the discipline that went with it changed the way warfare was conducted at the time. The great successes of Philip II’s son, Alexander the Great, are due in large part to the use of the phalanx and, thus, of the xyston and sarissa. At the time of this army reform, the xyston was replaced by the longer sarissa, which reached a length of up to 20–21 feet.
Similar Spears
The Roman-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus from the 1st century AD calls the Roman pilum (javelin) a “xyston” in the First Jewish-Roman War (66–74 AD). A Sarmatian Roman heavy lance employed by Iranian cataphracts called kontos (which literally means “oar”) may have been inspired by the xyston. Around 200 BC, the xyston evolved into a very light spear, the dory.
Things That Made Xyston Special
An Ancient Greek rider likely with xyston spears. Rider, Attic red-figured cup, middle of 5th century BC.
Size and Material
The xyston, measuring about 11.5 to 14 feet (3.5–4.25 m) in length, was longer and more robust than the simpler dory spear used by the hoplites and hypaspists. However, it was also shorter than the sarissa spear (13–21 ft) which came into use later.
The male cornel wood from which it was constructed gave it elasticity, hardness, and durability, just like the sarissa.
There was no need to increase the wood’s thickness to accommodate the spear’s length for balance.
Cornel wood was also used for ancient bows due to its effectiveness compared to other woods.
Use
The xyston could be handled with either hand, or both, depending on the circumstances. It was also versatile enough to be held under or over the arm, depending on the user. The xyston was worn by Greek hoplites alongside the aspis shield and the kopis sword.
The xyston was used most extensively by the cavalry; however, it was also used by the foot soldiers. It was part of the armament of lightly armed Greek foot soldiers, such as the Evzones or the Psiloi.
One-handed use for frontal attacks is implied by depictions of Alexander the Great‘s xyston on the famous Alexander Mosaic (below) and the fresco from the Niausta tomb portraying a prodromoi or light cavalry.
Alexander’s xyston in Alexander Mosaic.
Design
Both ends, like the sarissa, were tipped with iron in a xyston. If the primary point breaks, the secondary one could be used as a backup or counterbalance. The iron spear tips needed the wood to be tapered at both ends. The lance’s profile was concave because its midsection was narrower than its ends.
Effectiveness
On the battlefield, effective charges could be made against the upper body and head of the enemy by using a xyston. This weapon was so functional that the ancient sources occasionally referred to the Companions as xystophoroi (“spear-bearers“) after Alexander the Great’s conquests because of their usage of the xyston.
When necessary, the Companions would also equip themselves with the sarissa, muchlike the prodromoi or sarissophoroi, since it was lighter, cheaper, and easier to handle.
Sarissa: The Macedonian phalanx spear was pivotal in Alexander’s victories.
Evolution: Its length increased as it adapted to changing combat strategies.
Decline: The Romans’ adaptability in warfare brought the sarissa’s eventual end.
The sarissa is a spear that was in use in the early third century BC and was between 180 and 300 inches in length (4.5–7.5 m). During Alexander the Great‘s conquests and the Wars of the Diadochi, this weapon, which had its origins in Macedonia during the reign of Philip II in the middle of the fourth century BC, was employed by the sarissa phalanxes (or “sarissa bearers”). Its proportions increased as it was utilized by the soldiers of the Hellenistic nations.
Sarissa’s Origin
Homer mentions long spears in his account of Hector and Ajax, while Xenophon mentions them in his account of the Chalybes.
The sarissa spear first emerged in the Macedonian phalanx in the years 338–336 BC. It’s conceivable that Philip II adopted the name from the Triballi, whom he fought in 339 BC; Demosthenes reports that the Triballi hit Philip II in the thigh with a sarissa, but this may be an anachronism. Plutarch first mentions Macedonians using sarissas during the Battle of Chaeronea (338 BC), although they were only carried by mounted troops. Iron sarissa points, the earliest artifacts from which precise dates can be derived, have also been linked to the Battle of Chaeronea.
In 334 BC, during the Battle of Granicus, Alexander the Great defeated the Persian army with the help of his sarissas for the first time. The length of the sarissas helped the Macedonians fend off Persian attacks while being outnumbered by their foes on higher ground.
Detail of the fresco of a tomb of Agios Athanasios showing Macedonian warriors wearing sarissa.
At one end of the sarissa is a leaf-shaped or elongated diamond-shaped iron point, while at the other end is a shorter point. Iron tips were used on Alexander’s sarissas during his war in India, as mentioned by Diodorus and seen in the Alexander mosaic. Manolis Andronikos, who discovered the tomb of Philip II in Vergina, believes that the 18-inch iron spike found there belonged to a sarissa.
However, it’s possible that this is only a ceremonial weapon and not one intended for combat. Some scholars argue that this means the focal point should be smaller (between 4 and 6 inches), with particular reference to the Alexander mosaic.
The Material Used to Make the Sarissa
The original sarissa shaft was likely made of a controversial kind of wood. The male cornel tree (also called cornus mas) is said to be the source material for the sarissa, since it is thick and flexible and was brought to Athens by Xenophon following the expedition of the Ten Thousand (a Greek mercenary unit) from Asia. Then, the material would have been widely adopted across Macedonia. Because of its widespread usage, the Greek poets of the third and fourth centuries BC often used the phrase “cornel wood” to mean “spear.” The shaft of the xyston, a long lance of the Companion cavalry, is made from cornel wood.
However, another legend has it that ash wood was used instead, which is just as malleable and durable as male cornel wood. The Latin poet Stace from the first century AD is cited as the source for this belief about the Macedonians’ use of ash spears. Even if you don’t trust Stace when it comes to military hardware, this is the only ancient source that specifically mentions the kind of wood used to make the sarissa. In antiquity, ash wood was often used, and Macedonia had a plentiful supply. Theophrastus suggests that the length of the longest sarissa is equal to the height of a male cornel, which might lead to the mistaken belief that sarissas were fashioned of cornel wood.
The sarissa was originally 15 pounds (7 kg) in weight and ranged in length from 15 to 18 feet (4.6–5.3 m) (according to Theophrastus, Arrian, and Asclepiodotus). Polybius and Livy state that in the first part of the third century BC, this spear was lengthened to 25 feet (7.6 m). When considering the sarissa’s construction, it’s unclear whether this spear is a single piece or two halves connected together. The second explanation is more feasible given the difficulty of sourcing a straight and robust shaft of such length. Instead, it is more likely that the two halves were joined by a metal ring, an example of which was discovered in Philip II’s tomb.
The sarissa spear was three times longer than the regular 7-foot Dory spear used by other Greek warriors.
Phalanx formation with long sarissa spears, marching in close formation.
When sarissa bearers were arrayed in a phalanx, the sarissas of the first five ranks protruded beyond the first rank to create a wall of pikes (out of a total of 16 ranks). In order to deflect incoming projectiles, the first five ranks held their sarissas horizontally, while the last two held theirs vertically. The sarissa’s length made it effective in stopping cavalry attacks and keeping infantry at bay by presenting the adversary with an impenetrable and virtually impregnable hedge of pikes.
Heavy armor was unnecessary while using this weapon since the phalanx’s opponents were continually driven back by the formidable mass of iron and wood. Because the sarissa fighters just required a spear and light armor, a large number of troops could be recruited at a cheaper cost. Phalanx warriors only employed the sarissa in close-quarters combat; in open fields, they relied on the customary lance, the xyston.
Fighting Using the Sarissa Spear
Phalanx warriors were able to cross great distances quickly and undetected by the adversary since their sarissas protected them from melee assaults and hostile missiles. Their efficacy in charging was further improved by their enhanced velocity. Furthermore, the masses of the sarissa carriers united during the charge, allowing them to totally break through the enemy’s formation because of how closely they were packed together. The sarissa could be fastened to the ground with the help of the short point at its base, which could also be used to replace the top point if the latter ever broke.
Advantages
It was almost hard to remove the sarissophoroi, or sarissa-bearing infantry, from their defensive positions. This was due to the fact that their sarissa wall was too thick, lengthy, and compact for the attackers to break through. When deployed, the phalanx could form two columns of five rows of lances, which was twice as dense as a unit of Roman legionnaires, for example. If an enemy soldier made it between the first rank’s two sarissas, he would be met with fierce blows from the second, third, fourth, and fifth ranks, making their mission almost impossible as they were repeatedly driven back.
By substituting sarissas for the xyston, the Macedonian cavalry (Companions or prodromoi, also known as sarissophoroi) gained an edge in frontal attacks even against hoplites. The lance was held in the center, and the attack could come from above or below, as seen on Alexander’s tomb and the Alexander mosaic.
Alexander’s xyston spear.
Weak Sides
Attacking the sarissophoroi’s weak sides was the only option to defeat them, since a head-on assault would have been disastrous against their pike-studded phalanx. It seems that no frontal attack on a Macedonian phalanx was ever successful. Its main downfalls came from being surrounded, as in the battles of Cynoscephalae (197 BC), the Nile, and Corinth, or from a lack of phalanx cohesiveness, as at Magnesia (190 BC) and Pydna (168 BC).
Polyaenus recounts a ruse used during the campaign of the Spartan general Cleonymus and the Epirus king Pyrrhus in Macedonia in the 270s BC:
2.29 – At the siege of Edessa, when a breach was made in the walls, the spear-men, whose spears were sixteen cubits long, sallied out against the assailants. Cleonymus deepened his phalanx, and ordered the front line not to use their weapons, but with both hands to seize the enemy’s spears, and hold them fast; while the next rank immediately advanced, and closed upon them. When their spears were seized in this way, the men retreated; but the second rank, pressing upon them, either took them prisoner, or killed them. By this manoeuvre of Cleonymus, the long and formidable sarissa was rendered useless, and became rather an encumbrance, than a dangerous weapon.
However, the Spartans were not dealing with the Macedonian phalanx here. The strength of the phalanx in the battle of the Romans against the Macedonian army in 168 BC is described by Plutarch:
The Macedonians in the first lines had time to thrust the points of their sarissas into the shields of the Romans and thus became unreachable for their swords. The Romans tried to sword away from the sarissa, or bend them to the ground with shields, or push them aside, grabbing them with their bare hands, and the Macedonians, clenching their spears even tighter, pierced through the attackers, – neither shields nor armor could protect from the blow of the sarissa.
The Reason Why Later Sarissas Were Made Even Longer
Following Alexander the Great’s conquests, armies from India to Sicily adopted phalanx formations modeled after those of the Macedonians. Battles between Alexander’s successors, the Diadochi, occurred in Paraitakene (317 BC), Gabiene (316 BC), Gaza (312 BC), and Ipsus (301 BC), were the scenes of the first Macedonian-style phalanx fights.
However, the phalanxes were rendered mostly ineffectual in these “fratricidal” fights, with comparable and extremely light equipment causing mutual destruction upon collision. When two soldiers with identical sarissas collided, they could no longer avoid each other’s hits, lowering the spear’s effectiveness.
The sarissas of phalanxes in various Hellenistic kingdoms became steadily longer to outdistance the enemy’s shorter pikes and counteract this trend. By 274 BC, during the early years of the reign of Antigonus II Gonatas, sarissas had grown in length from 16.5 to 25 feet (5–7.5 m). Even with extensive training, subsequent sarissas were too heavy and unwieldy to handle, despite their appearance being quite light and controllable.
Because of this, these soldiers were eventually relegated to defensive roles on the battlefield. To be more effective against other phalanxes, they gave up mobility and flexibility. In addition, shields and armor were fortified greatly to compensate for the phalangites’ vulnerability to strikes from opponents using equally long sarissas. In addition to their very long pikes, phalangites in wars like Pydna (168 BC) and even earlier at Cynoscephalae (197 BC) were almost as well armed as Roman legionnaires.
A Decrease in the Use of Sarissa
The Romans finally triumphed over these phalanxes because they had become too large and cumbersome to be effectively used (in stark contrast to Alexander’s phalanxes).
The Roman legions were far more adaptable, allowing them to surround the phalanxes and assault their flanks. Seleucid phalanxes played a crucial defensive role in both Magnesia (190 BC) and Thermopylae (191 BC), when they stood immobile behind their barrier of points. At Pydna (168 BC), the Macedonian infantry was hampered by its own disordered bulk, rendering it unable to respond as quickly as it had against the Persians and Greek hoplites.
Alexander’s phalanxes never appeared to be hampered by such challenges, as they were able to successfully traverse the East despite its harsh geographical conditions, fight in forest-covered Macedonia, cross rivers in the midst of battle (Granicus and Hydaspes), and face a much larger enemy (battles of Ipsus and Gaugamela) without experiencing cohesion problems, and were consequently undefeated for the first two centuries of their history. Despite his unreliability, Livy said that the late phalanxes were “unable to make a half-turn.”
While the Roman armies emphasized movement and adaptability, the Hellenistic rulers’ never-ending armament competition only reduced the phalangites’ durability, mobility, and the sarissa’s tenacity. The phalanxes envisioned by Philip II had died out by the end of the third century BC. Even after the Kingdom of Commagene was dissolved in 72 AD, the sarissa was still in use in certain areas. This was true even after the acquisition of the Kingdom of Egypt by Rome in 30 BC.
The sarissa had a major impact on the Swiss pikemen of the Middle Ages. Through their victories against greater European forces, they helped hasten the end of the chivalric period. Swiss pikemen, widely regarded as the best infantry of their day, broke away from the Holy Roman Empire and fought as mercenaries throughout Europe.
The rohatyn was a hefty Slavic spear used in close-quarters warfare and big-game hunting. This cold weapon had a big, double-edged blade, and it was characterized by its long shaft. When it came to hunting bears, a crossguard was attached beneath the rohatyn’s blade, preventing the bear from climbing on the weapon by grabbing onto this part. A Ukrainian town shares the same name as this edged weapon. The above picture features various rohatyn spearheads (the first three) along with a sovnya spear at the bottom.
Rohatyn
Type of weapon:
Polearm
Other names:
Bear spear, bärenspieß
Origin:
Slavs in Eastern Europe
Utilization
Mainly hunting, less often for military
Length:
Total: 80″ (2 m), blade: 12″ (30 cm)
Weight:
2–3 lbs (1–1.5 kg)
The Rohatyn Used for Hunting
Since a rohatyn was meant to cause a broad and deep wound, it was only used on huge and potentially dangerous animals such as brown bears, aurochs, and wild boars. Two hands were used to hold it while striking.
A crossguard was often placed underneath the point of the blade to prevent it from entering the wound too deeply, thereby keeping the beast at bay while not allowing the weapon to get stuck inside the animal and paving the way for a quick renewal of the blow.
Either the pointed end or the whole structure was known as a “rampage” in Russian. In fact, this piece gave birth to the Slavic idiom, “climbing the rampage”.
The rohatyn’s wooden shaft was roughly as tall as an average man and was constructed to withstand the weight of the attacking beast while the other end of the shaft was planted firmly in the ground thanks to its pointed tip.
According to the historian Pavel Vinkler, above and below the rohatyn’s blade were two decorative knobs that also served to counterbalance the weapon.
To make it easier for the warrior to handle the weapon, two or three metal branches were attached to the shaft. And for the wealthy, this part was adorned with golden or silver braid, silk ribbons, belts, and more.
The maximum length of a rohatyn was five cubits, or about 120 inches (3 m). The spear was often grooved to lighten it, but this rendered it unusable for cuts and limited it to thrusts instead.
The Rich History of the Hunting Rohatyn
The rohatyn spear of the Grand Prince Boris of Tver, 1400–1461.
The exact origins of the rohatyn are uncertain, but this weapon boasts a rich and ancient history. From the Middle Ages to the early 18th century, both cavalry and infantry used this weapon. The people of Ruthenia (Kievan Rus’) and Poland used it often in battle and to hunt enormous games.
According to one source, Daniel of Galicia, the first King of Ruthenia (Rus’), personally killed three wild boars with the weapon in 1255.
The most well-known example is Prince Boris of Tver’s weapon, who was the Grand Prince of Tver until 1461. This rohatyn was forged in the first part of the 15th century.
The images on its ferrule (spear-butt or socket) have been linked to Christian symbolism or to historical events in the life of Boris of Tver, although their precise significance is unclear. The weapon is specifically mentioned in the 1678 Kremlin Armoury:
“The rohatyn is made of red damask, the ferrule is covered with intricately gilded silver — the engravings depict plants, people, and birds; on the edge of the ferrule, there are two lines with the inscription: ‘Rohatyn of Grand Duke Boris Alexandrovich’. The value of the weapon was estimated at 400 rubles“
According to one estimation, 400 rubles in the 1600s would be equal to 2,000,000–3,500,000 USD today.
Until the turn of the 20th century, bears were still often hunted using rohatyn. Although relatively uncommon, “bear spears” were also present in Western Europe.
The Battle Rohatyn
Compared to the hunting species, the battle Rohatyns especially had enormous piercing strength because of their significant weight and could be used to slash or pierce anything, such as plate armor.
The spear’s steel tip varied greatly in size, and it was often in the form of a laurel leaf.
The whole length of the blade (including the ferrule or spear-butt) could be anywhere from 8 to 24 inches (20 to 60 cm), with a breadth that could approach 3 inches (7 cm). The width of the ferrule ranged from 1 to 2 inches (3 to 5 cm).
The regular rohatyn spearheads weighed between 0.45 and 0.90 lb (0.2 and 0.4 kg), whereas the whole spear weighed closer to 2.2 lb (1 kg). The rohatyn had the heaviest, most powerful, and widest spearhead of any Russian spear in history.
Rohatyn’s Historical Origin
Similar to the boar spears, the rohatyn has its origins within the Eastern European populations. However, in contrast to the boar spear (a.k.a. “saufeder“) developed by the Germans during the Roman Empire era, the rohatyn emerged at a later time after the Slavic communities had firmly established themselves in the regions of Russia, Ukraine, and Poland.
According to historical records, the first sighting of the rohatyn occurred in the 12th century. In 1149, it was first mentioned as a weapon of war according to the Laurentian Codex.
In the 1444 campaign of Vasily II of Moscow against the Tatars, chroniclers recalled the combat usage of the rohatyn in the failed fight of 1377 between the Russians and the Tatar Khan Arapsha (Arab-Shah Muzaffar).
Beginning in the 16th century, the “feudal cavalry” (i.e., Landed Army) also used rohatyns. More than ninety percent (93%) of the over 200 analyzed spearheads from the 15th through 17th centuries in Russia were found to be made of rohatyn.
In the 15th and 16th centuries, this weapon closely resembled pre-Mongolian spears. And it wasn’t until the 17th century that new varieties started to emerge.
Both foot soldiers and mounted knights made effective use of battle rohatyns. The soldiers were able to halt battle horses and deal with troops wearing various types of armor.
The Russian army continued to utilize them until the late 17th century. Finally phased out of military service and replaced by firearms, they were popular hunting tools at the turn of the 18th century.
Description of the Rohatyn
This is an etching of a scene from a bronze plate from the time of Vendel (c. 540–790 AD) that was found in Öland, Sweden. On the right is a berserker, while on the left is Oden or Odin.
The details about this spear’s construction and various features can be gleaned from historical descriptions.
Most rohatyn spears were made of high-quality steel and had intricate engravings and embellishments. In some species, the spearhead was adorned with gold, and below it, there were decorative markings.
The central part of the spear could be decorated with gilded patterns, and some shafts were made of white bone with a scaly texture. Above the shaft, there could be more decorative elements, such as silver-gilded branches (decorative protrusions).
Some spears had intricately woven handles made of gold and silver thread, adorned with crimson accents. The mouthpiece (at the end of the spearhead) could be made of silver, and some examples were wrapped with a green silk strap. In terms of value, a decorative rohatyn spear could be worth 60 rubles.
Etymology of the Rohatyn
In the “Hypatian Codex” under the year 1256, it is stated: “He, the warrior, wielded his sword, taking the rohatyn from his belt, swung it far and struck the Yatvyazhsky Prince from his horse.” At first glance, the term “rohatyn” appears to refer to a lightweight throwing weapon, similar to a javelin carried in a belt sheath.
However, based on the same Hypatian Codex, this weapon could be a blunt and crushing type, similar to a mace or club: In the 11th to 13th centuries, objects of this kind used for military purposes were called ‘rogvitsa,’ ‘rogovitsa,’ ‘rogditsa,’ or ‘rohatyn.’ In battle, the ‘rohatyn’ (worn at the belt) was aimed at striking the head and even thrown at the enemy.
Some historians also mention that the word may have Greek origins. Additionally, in the Polish language, the word “rohatyna” (meaning “spear”) is borrowed from Russian, while “rogacina” refers to the arrowhead.
In the Russian city of Veliky Novgorod, there is a street called “Rogatitsa,” and in Bosnia and Ukraine there are towns named Rogatica and Rohatyn, respectively.
Rohatyn in Scandinavia
The ancient Scandinavians had spears that were similar in design. In contrast to the shorter blade (8 in; 20 cm), the spear-butt could be up to 20 inches (50 cm) in length. Hand-to-hand combat was the primary means of using what the Scandinavians referred to as “spike in armor” spears.
It is easy to tell Western-made Viking spears apart from Slavic ones because of the decorative silver notches the latter added to the spear-butts.
The Scandinavian rohatyn in Egil’s Saga (c. 850–1000):
The spear’s head was two cubits (36 in; 90 cm) long and had a four-sided blade at the top. The upper part of the spearhead was wide, and the socket [spear-butt] was long and thick. The shaft was of such length that one could reach the socket with a hand while standing. It [socket] was very thick and reinforced with iron. An iron spike fastened the socket to the shaft.
Egil’s Saga (c. 850–1000)
Thorolf Kveldulfsson is a hero of the early part of Egil’s Saga who uses a rohatyn:
Thorolf became so enraged that he threw his shield behind his back and gripped the spear with both hands. He charged forward, slashing and thrusting at the enemies to his right and left. People scattered in different directions, but he managed to kill many of them.
Since a sword’s tip could easily crack upon impact with the thick socket of the rohatyn, wearing this spear conferred an edge over a sword-wielding fighter. The last battle in the 1995 film “The Viking Sagas” features such a spear.
Such spears saw service on both land and sea for the Vikings. By throwing a rohatyn-like spear into the enemy ship, the hövding (tribal leader among Scandinavians) would begin the boarding attack.
The later Swedish spears were also similar in design and they also served as support (or stabilizer) for musket shooting.
Rohatyn at a Glance
What were the main uses of the Rohatyn spear?
The Rohatyn spear was primarily used for hunting, particularly to target large and dangerous animals such as brown bears, aurochs, and wild boars. It was also utilized for military purposes, both by cavalry and infantry, during the Middle Ages and the early 18th century.
How did the crossguard contribute to hunting with the Rohatyn?
The crossguard, placed beneath the blade of the spear, played a crucial role in hunting. It prevented the targeted animal, especially bears, from climbing up the spear by grabbing onto this part. This feature ensured the hunter’s safety and allowed for a swift renewal of the attack.
What was the significance of the decorative knobs on the Rohatyn?
According to historian Pavel Vinkler, the decorative knobs above and below the blade of this spear served two purposes. They not only enhanced the aesthetic appeal of the weapon but also acted as counterweights, ensuring better balance during combat or hunting.
How did the Rohatyn spear evolve over time?
This spear has a rich and ancient history, with variations emerging over different periods. In the 15th and 16th centuries, it closely resembled pre-Mongolian spears. New varieties began to emerge in the 17th century, with battle versions being developed specifically for piercing and slashing, capable of dealing with various types of armor. Eventually, firearms replaced the spear in military service by the late 17th century, but it remained in use as a hunting tool until the turn of the 18th century.
The ranseur, a large polearm with three blades, was employed as a backup to the pike in infantry squares in the 15th century. The ranseur’s center blade was usually rather long and occasionally huge in the form of the ox tongue spear, while the two flanking blades were variable in length and shape as they branched out from the central blade’s conical gorge. The ranseur is most often confused with the brandistock, a short pole weapon with three blades. Typically, a ranseur was taller than six feet.
Ranseur
Type of weapon:
Polearm
Other names:
Roncone
Origin:
Corsica Island, Middle Ages weaponry
Utilization
Infantry and ceremonial
Length:
70–120″ (1.8–3 m)
Weight:
3.3–4.8 lbs (2–2.2 kg)
The Purpose of Its Crescent Crossguard
In military history, this edged weapon is believed to have originated in Italy, just like many other medieval weapons. And it became widespread in the 16th and 17th centuries. The crossguard of this polearm generally lacked blades, as its purpose was to block enemy weapons.
On occasion, the crossguard could be folded back—like a corseque—allowing its ends to function as hooks for grappling with opponents, such as dismounting riders from their horses. Most ranseurs produced for battle typically measured 70 inches (1.8 m) in length or longer.
The word “ranseur” comes from French, which in turn originated from Corsica, the Romance language spoken on the Mediterranean island of Corsica. This weapon is sometimes confused with the corseque in terminology.
The central blade of this weapon was often longer and sharper than that of its “cousin” pole weapons, the partisan and corseque. The ranseur is mistakenly known as “roncone,” which looks more like a guisarme than anything else.
The ranseur’s head is a spear’s tip with a cross hilt attached to its base, and it is widely believed that this design is a direct descendant of the older spetum. This hilt is often crescent-shaped, making the weapon seem like a trident.
The ranseur is sometimes lumped in with other poled weapons by the most simplistically placed in the ranks of “spears” without any differentiation of excellence, unlike weapons with better-known histories like the halberd or the partisan.
The crescent hilt of the ranseur makes it look like a trident.
Italian linguists like to take a very straightforward approach to categorizing weaponry. The entry for the ranseur weapon in the fourth edition of the Vocabulary of the Academicians of the Crusca is a good example of this:
“Spices of arms, in a rod similar to the pike. Lat. pilum [a Roman javelin].”
The ranseur was a polearm weapon used for thrusting attacks. It developed from the estoc sword, which infantry armies used in the 14th and 15th centuries to pierce the heavy armor of enemy knights.
During the evolution from one-handed thrusting weapons to two-handed polearms, a notable transformation occurred with the introduction of the spetum—a variant of the ranseur featuring a shorter handle, roughly equivalent in length to the metal part.
Most ranseurs were typically 6 feet (1.8 m) or longer.
The triple tines (prongs or teeth) on a ranseur are ideal for warding off an armored foe at a safe distance. They are a unique characteristic that connects this melee weapon to the specialized hunting spears (Lat. venabulum) that have been employed since the Carolingian Dynasty (7th century) to kill large animals (see boar spear).
8 feet (244 cm) in length, c. 1540, Italian. (Image: Metmuseum)
So, the ranseur is a cross between a spetum and a pike, a deadly weapon meant to kill the most formidable “prey” of all: the heavily armored horse-riding European knights.
Ranseur’s History
During the early 16th century, the ranseur rose in prominence among the Life Guards, and by the latter half of the century, it had become widely adopted as a ceremonial weapon. This cold weapon was particularly popular among Italian, Spanish, Swiss, and German infantry troops throughout its history.
The European infantrymen clearly used the ranseur to attack from a distance and keep the enemy at bay. The pike, on the other hand, was designed to either impale the opponent or to form a wall of metal spikes that drove the adversary away.
A 16th-century Italian creation, 97 in (246 cm) in length.
The ranseur was used to strike repeatedly at the enemy in order to move it or weaken it. With this trident-like spear in hand, the infantryman was able to perform a kind of fencing:
“RANSEUR. Polearms that resemble pikes but have a shorter handle and a longer shaft, looking somewhat like a long sword [see spadone] perched on a staff.”
Already in the 17th century, the ranseur had become a ceremonial weapon, or at least one destined for specialized training in guardhouses, despite having been used in the field as early as the 15th century.
A 16th-century Italian creation.
In a battlefield dominated by the “Pike and Shot” battle tactics (which involved using firearms alongside long pikes or spears) of the Spanish tercios (military units), which was destined to develop into the “regimental” system introduced by the Swedes at the close of the Thirty Years War, the stationed fencing tactic of the ranseur was eventually pushed aside.
The weapon was particularly popular among Italian, Spanish, Swiss, and German infantry troops.
On the other hand, the ranseur saw extensive use during the Republic of Venice’s Cretan War (1645–1669) with the Ottoman Empire. The conflict ended after a very long siege by the Turks against the whole Venetian defenses on the island of Crete.
Elaborate ceremonial variants with gilded blades and handles adorned with silk can be found in the collections of Vienna and Madrid. Notably, these ceremonial ranseurs feature a design that allows not only the shaft but also the lateral blades to be folded.
The Use of the Ranseur
Various attacks can be executed with this polearm, such as:
Using it like a conventional spear for straightforward thrusts.
Employing lateral strikes with the side blades of the main spear to deliver cutting blows.
Diverting or disarming enemy weapons by employing the side branches (slats).
Hooking and unbalancing adversaries, leading to their overthrow and potential dismounting from horseback, using the side branches.
In contrast to the double-edged partisan, most ranseur hilts did not include a cutting edge. But the weapon could still be used to trap an opponent’s weapon below the main blade, where pressure could be applied from a distance with a simple twist of the shaft, or to dismount a mounted opponent.
This polearm had a number of benefits as an infantry weapon. Thanks to the weapon’s long shaft, the foot troops could attack from a distance while still keeping control. In order to grab and disable an opponent’s weapon, or possibly disarm them entirely, the three-bladed head was often useful.
The weapon could be used both for trusting and slashing.
Infantrymen armed with this weapon could use its sharp blades to slash through armor and thrust their opponents where they were weak. The weapon’s prongs were useful for thrusting strikes, either because they could break through armor joints or because they expanded the weapon’s hitting surface.
The weapon could be used for either slicing or thrusting because of its design and balance. The prongs of this weapon could be used to seize and grip an opponent’s weapon or armor, rendering them helpless and making them easier to disarm. When fighting on a horse, this could be a huge advantage.
The weapon was particularly useful against foot soldiers since the rider could utilize the horse’s motion as leverage to throw off the target’s balance or seize control of them.
The weapon remained a popular choice especially among the Swiss weapons and the German polearms in Renaissance warfare.
The Construction of the Ranseur
Among the historical polearms, the ranseur is an offshoot of the spetum and consists of the following:
A head made of metal, gorged like a pyramid, tapers to a long, sharp middle blade (which is sometimes called an “ox tongue”).
Two metal projections emerge from this gorge; one resembles a fork, while the other may have been interpreted as a blade.
Some examples have lateral prongs so thin and projecting parallel to the center tooth that the weapon can be considered a true battle trident.
All ranseurs have a large wooden shaft, on par with that of a halberd or glaive.
The spontoon (or “half-pike”) was a pole weapon that often exceeded 80 inches (2 m) in length and sported a sharp tip with an inverted crossguard. In certain variations, the spontoon looks just like a partisan, which is an entirely different type of weapon in terms of its shape and design. The second part of the 17th century saw the introduction of spontoons and newer infantry combat tactics. This cold weapon gained popularity and widespread use throughout Europe in the subsequent centuries, remaining in use until the 19th century as one of the most commonly used pike weapons.
The name comes from the French word esponton, which in the Middle Ages meant dagger.
Spontoon
Type of weapon:
Polearm
Other names:
Half-pike, Ceremonial spear
Origin:
Italy, Middle Ages
Utilization
Infantry and ceremonial
Total length:
80–100 inches (2–2.5 m)
Weight:
2.2–2.65 lb (1–1.2 kg)
Initially, this weapon was always less than a cubit (18 inches) from the height of its user, although when it entered the official position, its measurement changed to 7 feet (2.10 m).
There are specimens from 72 to 95 inches (184 to 240 cm). The military spontoons were often 85 inches (215 cm) long and weighed 2.65 lb (1.2 kg), with a blade length of 15 inches (37 cm).
Spontoon vs. Ranseur vs. Partisan
SpontoonRanseurPartisan
Some alleged spontoons with their thick, triangular spearheads bear a striking resemblance to partisans. It seems that throughout history, there has been a perplexing mix-up in the nomenclature of these weapons.
The actual spontoons (the first one in the above image) sported a quadrangular or spherical spearhead with no lateral blades, and they look nothing like that aforementioned variant.
The aforementioned spontoons also look similar to the ranseur because of the blade’s tricuspid leaf. However, the distinctive feature of the ranseur’s three teeth coming from a single point makes it simple to distinguish between them.
According to the Italian Military Dictionary (1833) by Giuseppe Grassi:
Spontoon, derived from the French term “Esponton,” refers to rod weapons featuring a long quadrangular or round iron head that is relatively small but sharp at the tip. While it had some usage during chivalrous times [11th–15th centuries], it was not primarily employed as a battlefield weapon. However, modern armies reintroduced it in the 17th century, where it served as the weapon of choice for infantry officers until the late 18th century. Known as a half-pike in French, it measured eight feet in length. The spontoon gradually fell out of favor during the French Revolution. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that the spontoon, along with other polearm weapons, occasionally played a role in the defensive tactics employed during sieges.
Italian Military Dictionary, Volumes 1–2 by Giuseppe Grassi, 1833.
Spontoon’s Design
Shaft
A spontoon with an elaborately etched broad blade and a crossbar at its base. (Image: Metropolitan Museum of Art)
A blade of iron or steel was fastened to a sturdy wooden shaft (pikestaff) to create the spontoon. All spontoons were built from durable and sturdy hardwoods.
This double-edged infantry weapon was pointed at one end with a thin but long iron blade that could be either square or rounded.
Almost all spontoons adorned a crossguard that was inverted at its tip. While the other variant with lateral blades usually had no crossguards and therefore looked more like a partisan.
In contrast to the pike, the spontoon was a weapon of more manageable proportions. At its longest, this polearm still measured less than 100 inches (250 cm).
Blade
Spontoon, 1756-1762.
Confusion with the partisan weapon: Throughout history, there have been two distinct variations of the spontoon.
One variation resembles a partisan weapon (seen in the center of the above image), characterized by its elongated blade with lateral projections, while the actual spontoon (seen in the below image) bears a closer resemblance to a traditional spear.
The real spontoon (above) has a broad and spherical spearhead with a crossguard inverted at the tips. The other “alleged” spontoon with lateral blades does not have a crossguard.
In this lateral-bladed version, the blade begins as a metal cone and gradually flattens into a half-disc shape. The blade’s central, thick portion and its two lateral blades emerge from this disc.
The lateral blades, which may take the form of arched prongs, are noticeably shorter than the central blade. The main blade is pointed and lanceolate in cross-section and tapered on both sides.
In certain variations, the central flat portion of the blade is ingeniously designed to incorporate an axe blade, creating a hybrid structure that combines the functionalities of both a spontoon and an axe, making this weapon ideal for chopping (see: Bec de Corbin).
Spontoon’s History
Infantry officer with spontoon, 1756–1761.
During the Middle Ages, the spontoon was invented in Italy, just like many infantry spears and staff weapons. It was used to describe a type of spear in Italy during the 16th century and later referred to as a “half-pike” in France in the 17th century. These weapons, often adorned with coats of arms or monograms, were used as symbols of military prestige.
Swords with lances, spikes, or halberds were standard issues for officers, noncommissioned officers, and corporals in the 17th century. This gave rise to the spontoon, a weapon that was originally more for show than defense.
The linear tactics of the period necessitated that the infantry be kept in a straight line, and this polearm was used primarily to enforce this. Soldiers of the banner guard were commonly armed with such weapons because of their utility in repelling enemy cavalry.
A short history and the demonstration of the weapon.
During the time of Louis XIV (1638–1715), it was exclusively reserved for officers, serving as a military-grade weapon until the French Revolution in 1789. In Spain, the spontoon, along with other polearms, was utilized by infantry in the 16th century. Eventually, it became the exclusive weapon of officers, following the fashion set by Philip IV of Spain. The halberd was used by sergeants, while higher-ranking officers wielded the spontoon.
It was early American military equipment that belonged to 18th-century weaponry.
In most armies, noncommissioned officers and corporals no longer carried lances, spikes, or halberds by the end of the 18th century. After the Napoleonic Wars, the majority of armies only carried swords and sabers, with some commanders also carrying pistols if necessary or desired.
In Poland, it was used in the military under Saxon rule until the army reform by the Great Sejm in the late 18th century. In England, officers used it until 1786, and sergeants used it from 1792 to 1830. Sergeants in several different armies kept their spontoons around 1850, long after they had been phased out elsewhere.
The Functionality of the Spontoon
Spontoon, 1701 – 1750.
It served first as a defensive weapon during sieges to defend city walls and then as a ceremonial object. Infantry troops used it as a half-pike in the pikemen formations (“Pike and Shot”) that were the standard battlefield model at the time in the 17th century.
Pikemen with spontoons in square formations became the standard for city defense in this century, expanding the capabilities of infantry units. While their fellow soldiers transitioned from a column formation to a line formation, it was crucial that the men holding their posts did it successfully.
The weapon fell into disuse during the Napoleonic Wars.
In situations when forces had to change formations while under attack from the enemy, the spontoon proved vital, as its carriers in the rear lines were able to shield the troops in the front from the oncoming attacks.
The spontoon also gained popularity as a weapon for use on the high seas while approaching ships. Similar to the halberd and its variants in the British Army, this polearm remained in use as a weapon for infantry company commanders until almost the end of the 18th century.
Officers with spontoons ahead of the grenadiers. Carl Röchling’s Battle of Hohenfriedeberg painting, Attack of Prussian Infantry, June 4th, 1745, shows the Potsdam Giants Grenadier Guards Batallion.
This weapon was a characteristic weapon of noncommissioned officers that persisted until the 18th century, even as the bayonet superseded other bladed weapons on European battlefields.
The spontoon was first used in Prussia by King Frederick I (r. 1701–1713). However, its usage had been outlawed in some European countries, including Prussia, since 1806.
They were outlawed during the reign of Catherine the Great in Russia, reinstated under the reign of Paul I, then outlawed once again in 1807. The elimination of all polearms in the Prussian army marked the end of their usage. However, it actually fell into disuse during the Napoleonic Wars.
Several English noncommissioned officers utilized the spontoons at the Battle of Culloden (16 April 1746). Even during the Napoleonic Wars, sergeants relied primarily on this weapon to protect the battalion or regimental insignia against assaults by horsemen.
Spontoon in American History
The spontoon lasted in use long enough to make it into American history and join the Revolutionary War arms. During the Revolutionary War and the early years of the United States, this weapon was an important ceremonial and symbolic weapon. In the 1890s, active American troops were still using this polearm.
Commissioned officers were required to carry a spontoon, per the American Militia Acts of 1792. Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery voyage included the use of this weapon. The polearm served the Corps throughout their travels into bear territory.
The American officers in infantry units in the 18th century made extensive use of this two-handed spear. Officers carried these symbols of power to lead their men on the battlefield. Despite their lack of regular employment in battle, they were sometimes put to use in intense hand-to-hand combat.
This weapon had great symbolic and ceremonial significance in the American armed forces. On the battlefield, it served as a visible marker for troops to identify their superiors and as a symbol of the officer’s power and leadership.
The European military traditions, especially those of the British Army, affected the development of the American spontoon’s design. The American military later adopted and modified the weapon after first using it by British commanders stationed in the American colonies.
The polearm rose to prominence in history as a weapon used by commanders on both sides of the American Revolutionary War. Early American military forces like the Continental Army and state militias also made extensive use of it.
Today, the US Army’s Fife and Drum Corps use spontoons, one of the colonial military weapons, as a ceremonial weapon (also known as an espontoon).
Later, as warfare strategies and technology advanced, the weapon became obsolete in Europe and the United States. Its role on the battlefield shifted from that of a primary weapon to a more ceremonial one when guns (like muskets) and other innovations were introduced.
It was no longer issued to officers as a matter of course by the late 18th century, having given way to newer firearms.
Conclusion
Historical polearms like this hold great appeal for militaria collectors and military history enthusiasts alike, who find intrigue in acquiring and studying polearm replicas, gaining a deeper understanding of the weaponry used in historical conflicts.
Originally intended for close-range combat, the spontoon became primarily a rank badge for infantry officers. It was prominently used during battles to guide soldiers in maintaining lines, distances, and formations. Additionally, it served ceremonial purposes during parades and salutes, and even some palace guards wielded this polearm.
The Spontoon at a Glance
What is a spontoon?
The spontoon is a pole weapon that was commonly used in Europe from the 17th to the 19th centuries. It was a long polearm, often exceeding 80 inches in length, with a sharp tip and an inverted crossguard. Originally derived from the French term “Esponton,” it was primarily utilized by infantry officers and had both ceremonial and battlefield applications.
How did the spontoon differ from other weapons like the ranseur and partisan?
This weapon had some similarities to the ranseur and partisan, leading to confusion in the nomenclature. However, the distinct features of the real spontoon included a quadrangular or spherical spearhead with no lateral blades and an inverted crossguard at the tip. In contrast, the ranseur had three teeth coming from a single point, while the partisan had an elongated blade with lateral projections.
What was the role of the spontoon in military history?
This polearm served as a defensive weapon during sieges and was used in infantry formations during battles. It played a crucial role in maintaining straight lines and enforcing formations, particularly during the linear tactics of the 17th century. Additionally, the weapon had ceremonial significance and symbolized military prestige. Over time, its usage declined with the advent of newer firearms and changes in warfare strategies.
How did the spontoon find its place in American history?
The weapon made its way into American history during the Revolutionary War and the early years of the United States. Commissioned officers were required to carry a spontoon, and it became a symbol of power and leadership on the battlefield. It was also utilized ceremonially and had significance within the American armed forces. Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery expedition even included the use of these polearms during their travels.
What is the status of the spontoon today?
This weapon is now considered obsolete in modern warfare and is primarily of interest to militaria collectors and military history enthusiasts. However, it still holds ceremonial value in certain contexts. For example, the US Army’s Fife and Drum Corps use these spears as ceremonial weapons. Its historical significance and unique design continue to captivate those interested in studying and preserving military weaponry from the past.
The Germanic barbarians of the Roman era created and popularized a new sort of spear known as the boar spear. The boar spear has a diamond-shaped metal tip mounted on a short, heavy shaft with lugs (sometimes called “wings”) at the gorge to prevent the boar from charging the hunter while s/he is impaling the animal. Its basic design is similar to that of the winged lance, a medieval weapon popular at the time, as well as the Bohemian earspoon of the 14th century.
Boar Spear
Type of weapon:
Polearm
Other names:
Saufeder in German
Origin:
Germanic barbarians
Utilization
Hunting and infantry
Total length:
90 inches (2.3 m)
Weight:
4 lb (1.8 kg)
The wings on the boar spear also made it useful in battle, as they could be snagged on an opponent’s shield and torn off, or they could be forced forward to deflect an oncoming spear. In the 16th century, the boar spear was a prestige symbol for the leaders of the foot army as well as a weapon of combat.
Boar spears can sometimes be confused with bear spears or rogatinas.
During the High Middle Ages (1000–1300), these edged weapons were still in use, although they eventually died out due to the popularity of the jousting lance. A version with a longer tip was employed for combat in Italy in the 15th century.
Boar spear, French, dated 1576.
Some modern-day boar hunters still use hounds and boar spears, much like their medieval ancestors. A mature wild boar has impressive strength. When it protects itself, it poses a major threat because of the severity of the damage it can inflict.
The Origins of the Boar Spear
In the civilizations of the Indo-Europeans, hunting wild boars has always played a significant role, frequently serving as a test of bravery and manliness as well as a means of providing for basic survival needs. Initiation into maturity was marked by the first wild boar hunt among the ancient Romans.
Similarly, in the amphitheaters of minor rural villages remote from the big gladiatorial circuit in Rome and Capua, the slaughter of wild pigs was a highly admired sight. The boar spear was born as a new cold weapon out of this need.
Although the Latin-Italic peoples did not invent the boar spear used for hunting wild boar, its origins can be traced back to the period of the Roman Empire.
The Germanic barbarians invented the wild boar spear because their civilization centered on hunting and wild animals (such as boars, bears, and wolves) had an essential symbolic role in their society.
After the wild boar had been captured and debilitated by the hounds, it was killed using the boar spear (“saufeder” in German). It was a big and heavy weapon fitted with lug wings to keep the beast at a safe distance from the hunter.
History of the Boar Spear
The Germans, for their part, resorted to using the boar spear in combat as well. The weapon’s durability ensured that it could easily break through hostile shields and armor. The “wings” on the spear made it more versatile, allowing it to catch an enemy shield or deflect a strike from another spear or sword, such as the partisan, guisarme, or flamberge.
The Roman Empire began systematically recruiting Germans as mercenaries in the 2nd century AD, and it was at this time that this massively tipped boar spear with stopping “wings” spread across Germany.
Evidence of the weapon and its employment may be seen in numerous mosaics, thanks to the widespread Germanization of the Empire that ensured its inclusion in Roman art by the 4th century AD.
Changes to the Boar Spear in the Middle Ages
16th-century German boar spear.
Roman-barbarian fighters (Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals, Burgundians, Lombards, Franks, etc.) and later troops of the Holy Roman Empire utilized the same sort of spear for both wild boar hunting and fighting during the High Middle Ages (1000–1300).
An explicit mention is made of a boar hunting episode featuring Emperor Charlemagne in the book Karolus Magnus et Leo papa. Charlemagne successfully hunts a wild boar with the weapon. The book is preserved at the Abbey of St. Gall and attributed (likely erroneously) to the poet Angilbert (740–814).
Odin, the ultimate warrior-god, was often shown by the Vikings in Northern Europe, who lived outside the cultural basin of Carolingian Europe, with a holy Gungnir spear with the usual lugs of a boar’s spear.
It is interesting to note that the Germanic wedge formation, which was favored in combat and was said to have been created by the deity Odin, was also known as the “formation with the boar’s head” (Svinfylking in Old Norse or caput porcinum in Latin). Saxo Grammaticus’s Gesta Danorum gives a detailed account of the Germans’ strategic usage of the wedge.
The Holy Lance, an icon of the Holy Roman Empire (the lance that is said to have pierced the side of Jesus while he was crucified on the cross), is a modified boar spear with two mock blades running the length of the weapon from its lugs to its tip.
After the jousting spear developed as the preferred weapon of the Franco-Norman heavy cavalry in the Late Middle Ages (1300–1500), the boar spear was consigned to the ranks of infantry armies.
Long-bladed swords (see spadone) also began to proliferate in the hunting field as the tactical and symbolic significance of the sword increased along with advancements in European metallurgy as a result of contact with the eastern Mediterranean basin through the Crusades (such as Damascus steel).
After the wild boar had been crippled and trapped by the hounds and by the servants armed with spears, the high-ranking European hunters started to use their swords to exterminate the beast.
Even among the Carolingian emperors, who saw wild boar hunting as a good way to practice their martial arts, the trend persisted and even grew during the Late Middle Ages (1300–1500), eventually giving rise to the Renaissance-era invention of the “hunting sword”.
In the 15th century, foot soldiers were still using the boar spear. This included not just the common infantryman but also the knight, who had been forced to fight on the ground instead of on horseback.
The master of fencing, Fiore dei Liberi (1350–1410) details the precise use of the boar spear against an opponent on horseback in his work Flos Duellatorum (around 1409–1410). This involves striking the enemy in the head with both the spear’s tip and its handle.
The Boar Spear’s Design
When a boar spear was inserted into a chamber or rib cage, it was claimed to cause instantaneous death by severing the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels. Thus, a boar spear had to be very sturdy because of its intended use:
The length of the metal head varied between 8 and 16 inches (20 and 40 cm). The “wings” (lugs) of the spear’s lozenge-shaped blade were attached to the shaft by a conical or pyramidal gorge. This metal point was heavy enough to ensure the weapon could penetrate the boar’s thick rib cage and deliver a lethal blow to the boar’s heart.
The 80-inch (2 m) long rod was fashioned from a single piece of specially selected wood (such as the ash wood) to prevent breaking. It was sometimes wrapped in leather for a better grip and was designed to withstand the impact of the blow as well as the pressure exerted by the enraged animal. The hunters intended on keeping the animal blocked with the lugs.
The boar spear’s harsh edges were rounded down during the Renaissance to reflect the prevailing aesthetic and military trends of the period. For this reason, later versions of the weapon, notably those made in Italy, include a “leaf” blade similar to the pike’s and long, curved “wings” that resemble the corseque spear’s prongs.
Boar Spear Today
Even in modern times, the boar spear is employed to dispatch of wounded wildlife. When compared to a gunfire, killing a wild boar with a boar spear is preferable since the dogs hunting the pig are not put in danger and their hearing is not damaged by the loud explosion. While hunting, the boar spear is sometimes used as a defense weapon in case of an attack. However, expertise and experience are necessary while tackling this issue.
Aside from the aforementioned exceptional circumstance, the boar spear is mostly employed as a decorative object in hunting halls and as a trophy for meritorious hunters.
In many jurisdictions, shooting wild boar with nothing more than a boar spear is not against the law. But when there is a possibility of animal cruelty from inexperience or lack of competence, hunting with a boar spear becomes troublesome on a daily basis. Engaging in hand-to-hand combat with an aggressive animal carries the inherent risk of endangering one’s own well-being and life.
The Boar Spear at a Glance
What is a boar spear, and how was it used in battle?
The boar spear was a spear-like weapon popularized by the Germanic barbarians during the Roman era. It featured a diamond-shaped metal tip mounted on a short, heavy shaft with lugs or wings at the gorge. These wings served multiple purposes, such as preventing a charging boar from reaching the hunter and providing versatility in battle. They could be used to snag an opponent’s shield, tear it off, or deflect incoming attacks. The boar spear proved durable and effective, capable of breaking through shields and armor.
What role did the boar spear play in hunting and warfare throughout history?
The boar spear had a significant historical role in both hunting and warfare. In hunting, it originated from the need to capture and kill wild boars, which were highly symbolic and held cultural significance among the Germanic tribes. The weapon allowed hunters to keep a safe distance from the boar while delivering a lethal blow. In warfare, the boar spear was utilized by Germanic and Roman-barbarian fighters during the High Middle Ages. It provided them with a versatile and effective weapon for combat, capable of breaching shields and deflecting strikes.
How did the decline of the boar spear come about?
The popularity of the boar spear declined over time due to several factors. The emergence of long-bladed swords in the hunting field, as well as advancements in European metallurgy through contact with the eastern Mediterranean, contributed to the trend. High-ranking European hunters began using swords to finish off boars after they had been trapped and weakened by hounds and spears. Additionally, the rise of the jousting lance as the preferred weapon for heavy cavalry in the Late Middle Ages relegated the boar spear to infantry armies.
What were the key design features of the boar spear?
The boar spear was designed with durability and effectiveness in mind. Its metal head varied in length between 8 and 16 inches and had a lozenge-shaped blade with lugs or wings attached to the shaft. The sturdy 80-inch long wooden shaft, often wrapped in leather for a better grip, could withstand the impact of a blow and the force exerted by a boar. The rounded edges of the spear’s blade were later refined during the Renaissance to align with the aesthetic and military trends of the time, resulting in versions with a leaf blade and long, curved wings.
References
Flos duellatorum – Fiore Dei Liberi, Giovanni Rapisardi – Google Books
During the Middle Ages, European armies utilized poled weapons such as the corseque, which had a shaft between 70 and 100 inches (1.8 and 2.5 m) in length and a metal head with a central blade (cusp) flanked by two prongs in the shape of curving wings. The convex edges in the corseque were more often used for cutting than the concave ones. The weapon appeared like a trident, the weapon of the sea god Poseidon. But this spear is actually a development of the 12th-century venabulum (hunting-spear) from the Middle Ages. It was in use until the early modern period (around the 17th century).
Corseque
Type of weapon:
Polearm
Other names:
Chauve-souris
Origin:
Corsica Island
Utilization
Infantry
Total length:
70 to 100 inches (1.8–2.5 m)
Weight:
6.5–9 lb (3–4 kg)
The Corseque’s Definition
The corseque is a cold weapon with two elongated blades, featuring large, strongly curved blade hooks on two sides. The hooks are used to grasp, pull closer, injure, unbalance, or overthrow the opponent.
Additionally, the hooks serve to drag down shields, hindering the opponent and depriving them of their cover.
The weapon was mainly used in Italy and France. Corsican mercenaries serving the Italian states and the French crown popularized this polearm throughout the 15th and 17th centuries.
The corseque was merely an intermediate development that mostly emerged in the 14th century and was eventually superseded by the glaive around the 16th century.
The History of the Corseque
Corseque, c. 1520, Italy, Venice, 106 in (270 cm) in length (along with the chauve-souris on the right which resembles a ranseur). (Image: The Cleveland Museum of Art)
The corseque weapon got its name because it was first created on the island of Corsica, near France and Italy. The weapon is widely believed to be one of the many military developments of the hunting-spear originally designed for hunting large, hazardous animals like wild boars, bears, etc. (such as the boar spear)
It is thought that this weapon, which can penetrate an object and then hook it by pulling it to the ground, is a cross between a hunting-spear and a pike. The French polearm also has similarities to the partisan weapon.
Other theories suggest the spetum and ranseur pole weapons as the origins of the corseque.
The curved prongs (also known as flukes or wing blades) of the infantryman’s corseque would hook onto the corners of the knight’s armor, enabling the wielder to forcefully pull the rider from his horse. The weapon with curved hooks or wings looking up, toward the blade, is known as a ranseur.
c. 1530, North Italy. Steel. 100 in. (254 cm); Blade: 10.2 in. (26 cm); Weight: 5.86 lb (2.66 kg).
Since the long and tapered metal tip of the corseque was sturdy, it could be sharpened several times and used to pierce plate armor. The central spike could either be used to attempt to pierce the breastplate of a cuirass or the visor of a helmet.
The Corseque’s Variants
There are ceremonial versions of this edged weapon that were never created for warfare. Originally, they attempted to represent the French monarchial symbol “fleur-de-lis” and served as a weapon for troops and guards of the aristocracy. This version was primarily used during the 16th century.
Two distinct varieties of this weapon existed:
The true corseque has a long central blade (cusp) that’s either rhomboidal or square in cross-section, and it’s tailed off at the base by two spread and arched wings that each finish in a spike. The concave sides are often not sharpened at all.
The chauve-souris, unlike the true corseque, has triangular side blades instead of the wings and longitudinal ribs that branch out from the gorge. The gorge is at a 45-degree angle from the two lateral webbed blades. The whole blade is razor sharp, making it ideal for thrusting rather than grappling. This variant of the corseque was usually ornate. Its name comes from the French word for “bat,” chauve, since the blades on the sides are sometimes compared to the wings of a bat.
There is also the “three-bladed staff” mentioned as part of Henry VIII’s (the former king of England, 1491–1547) arsenal. There are 80 rawcon spears in this arsenal, which suggests that the two weapons (rawcon and corseque) were not seen as interchangeable by 16th-century Englishmen.
A video by ThegnThrand, describing the main features of the corseque polearm.
Similar Weapons
The corseque is a polearm that has a core double-edged blade and two sharp, outstretched wings. The guard on the side blades protected the soldier’s hand as he stabbed with the main blade.
There are several closely related species of this European spear:
Trident – lateral thin wings, usually without an edged blade, pointed, and the same length as the main spike.
Ranseur – lateral branches are usually bent forward without an edged blade and are about twice as long as the main spike.
Spetum – lateral branches directed forward at an angle of 45°, they are bladed.
Corseca – the lateral branches, which are bladed, are directed forward and then bent backward. This version of corseque was popular in Spain.
Partisan – lateral branches that are perpendicular or slightly folded forward, with edged blades.
The Corseque at a Glance
What is the origin of the corseque weapon?
The weapon originated on the island of Corsica, near France and Italy.
How were the curved prongs used in combat?
The curved prongs, resembling wings, were used to hook onto the corners of a knight’s armor, allowing the wielder to forcefully pull the rider from their horse.
What are the variants of this weapon?
There are two distinct variants. The true corseque has a long central cusp with spread and arched wings, while the chauve-souris has triangular blades, longitudinal ribs, and razor-sharp edges.
What are some similar weapons?
Similar weapons include the trident, ranseur, spetum, corseca, and partisan, each with their own variations in blade shape and direction of lateral branches.
The partisan is a spear-like poled weapon with a long wooden handle and a metal spire that is made up of two symmetrical cutting edges that are straight and terminate in two curved fins (or wings) at the base. The Renaissance saw widespread usage of this edged weapon in Italian warfare, but by the end of the 16th century, it had mostly been abandoned on European battlefields. As a symbol of authority or a place to display a department insignia, the partisan (or partizan) remained in use far into the 19th century as a popular cold weapon.
History of the Partisan Weapon
Various types of partisan spears.
The partisan, which was smaller than most polearm weapons, resembled an axe blade and paired a spearhead with two razor-sharp fins to look like a cut-piercing weapon with no possibility for throwing.
The “partisan” melee spear, a sort of spear used primarily for impaling the adversary, entered late medieval European infantry armament in the 15th century as a more controllable and “powerful” form of the pike.
During the Middle Ages, the partisan was a common polearm in Europe. Claus von Ahlefeldt (1614–1674), a Danish commander, used this specific one in February 1659, when the Swedes attacked Copenhagen. (Knud Winckelmann and Nationalmuseet – CC-BY-SA-3.0)
The spontoon and the ranseur (a cross between a partisan and a spetum) probably took their cue from this polearm weapon. The Germans called it the winged spear.
The partisan, like the halberd and the ox-tongue spear, is a polearm weapon with its roots in Italy. It first emerged in the 15th century.
Infantrymen often made use of the partisan to fight off horse attacks. The spearhead’s protrusions had a second purpose: They could be used to snag and trap an opponent’s sword, enabling the user to disable them.
The partisan was mostly employed as an aesthetic weapon in ceremonial settings as time went on since it was ineffective on the battlefield. In fact, the partisans began to leave the battlefield in the second half of the 16th century.
The partisan and other polearms became obsolete when firearms became more widely available and usable. Despite this, the partisan weapon was utilized ceremonially for a long time. Guards protecting significant buildings or events may still be seen carrying ceremonial partisans today, such as the Yeomen of the Guard, the ceremonial bodyguards of the British monarch.
Ceremonial Moscow guard clothing with a partisan from the 17th century, Kremlin Museum. (Photo: Wikipedia / Shakko, CC BY-SA 4.0)
The guard corps in charge of protecting the sovereign’s person, such as the specialized Swiss guards present in almost all Western monarchies, had reduced the partisan to a purely ceremonial role by the late 16th century. To this day, the partisan is a staple of the equipment of the Pontifical Swiss Guard.
Beginning in 1700, all fusilier company chiefs and infantry regiment staff officers in Russia were required to wield a partisan. Infantry officers were not permitted to have partisans in the ranks during peacetime by the decision of Peter I in 1711.
Under the False Dmitry I in the 17th century, partisan was introduced to Russia for the first time.
There were strict rules in place by 1719–1720 about the colors of brushes used in the partisan’s handle. The brush that ornamented the top of the shaft indicated the officer’s rank by its color and substance. Only musketeer officers in 1730 had access to partisans. In 1731, the weapons were phased out in favor of spontoons for officers.
The rank of an officer of the Russian army, 1720s
The color of the silk brush on the partisan
Colonel
Golden
Lieutenant colonel
Silver
Major
Silver with gold threads
Captain
White
Lieutenant Captain
Blue
Lieutenant
Red
Second Lieutenant
Green
Origin of the Partisan
Russian partisan weapons by Fedor Solntsev, before 1853. (CC0)
The partisan, like the halberd and the ox-tongue spear, is a polearm weapon with its roots in Italy. The weapon first emerged in the 15th century.
According to the currently accepted theory, the partisan developed from the boar spear used by the milites (footsoldiers) and the laboratores (a social rank) in the High Middle Ages.
Dutch officers armed with partisans and halberds. Painter Frans Hals, 1633. (CC0)
However, artistic depictions from ancient Rome (bas-reliefs of the Consulate of Rome) that date back to the 1st century provide clues to the origin of this weapon or its earlier forms.
Partisans have several names. It is called pertuisane in French or partigiana and “spiedo alla Bolognese” in Italian. The latter name is the most common in the country since it attributes the Renaissance pole weapon’s genesis to Italian Bologna through the boar spear.
Between the latter half of the 15th century and the early 16th century, the partisan was widely considered a nobleman’s weapon.
The guards of King Louis XIV of France, armed with the partisans. Painter Jacques Lamonier, late 17th century. (CC0)
During its heyday (around 1450–1505), the partisan was seen as an essential element of any gentleman’s military training. It is one of the few polearms discussed in depth by traditional fencing experts of the 15th and 16th centuries, particularly in Italy.
In his great martial compilation Opera Nova (1536), the Bolognese fencing master Achille Marozzo discusses the usage of the partisan weapon, either on its own or in conjunction with a tiny shield of the Rotella type (a round shield).
Partisan is mentioned in many of Shakespeare’s plays as a typical weapon of the guards or townspeople.
Design of the Partisan Weapon
The partisan is a very sturdy spear; however, it can only be used in close combat and cannot be thrown.
The rod of a partisan often had a solid wooden handle anywhere from 63 to 110 inches (160 to 280 cm) in length. However, this varied by nation and time period.
All partisans were typically between 63 and 80 inches (160 and 200 cm) in height before they became decorative weapons.
More than 12 inches in length (30 cm), the partisan’s blade is triangular in cross-section and forged from one piece of metal.
When seen from the side, the two, pointed ears resemble a crescent, and they are thinner than the main blade.
An Italian partisan weapon, ca. 1690. (Metmuseum, CC0)
The blade of a partisan was longer than 12 inches (30 cm), and it was sharply triangular and rhomboidal in cross-section. A long, pyramidal gorge fastened it to the shaft. The spontoon, like the boar spear, corseque, and ranseur, had two fins at the point where the blade met the gorge.
These fins resembled the lugs (knobs) on an early medieval boar spear, but they grew outward from the blade rather than the gorge. A “flamber” form, similar to that of the flamberge-type two-handed broadsword, may be seen on the blade of certain examples.
Like the infantry spears of ancient times (see sauroter), the hardwood shaft (63–87 in; 160–220 cm in length) of this weapon featured a metal counterweight (wedge) at the opposite end of the blade.
Decorations on the gorge, inlays on the shaft, and other kinds of damascening on the blade of a partisan were commonplace in the examples used by the elite guardhouses.
The Etymology of the Partisan
The partisan was a common weapon in southern Europe, although it was less common in northern Europe. The partisan and the spontoon are quite similar types of weapons in the Germanic realm. The partisan, together with the corseque, is classified as a ranseur in the Anglo-Saxon cultural basin.
The partisan gained great literary success in Italy during the Renaissance, alongside the more developed period of Renaissance humanism. Writers in the 15th and 16th centuries started using the term “partisan” to refer to the melee spear, as opposed to the extremely long pike, and “lance” to refer to the cavalry spear (for instance, the word “lance” actually comes from Latin for spear).
Even better, the term “partisan” began to be used by the Renaissance humanists to refer to ancient infantry spears that could be used in combat but could be thrown if required (for example, the dory or hasta spear), unlike the extremely long pike.
As the partisan became more common among the infantry forces, some countries were able to fill a major void in their military lexicons, as the word “lance” could sometimes refer to both melee weapons and horse weapons, and even polearms thrown from a distance.
Types of the Partisan Spear
The tip of Lieutenant Ruytenburch’s partisan (part of Rembrandt’s painting The Night Watch). (CC0)
There are two most popular partisan variants, and one is smaller, lighter, and throwable with an iron blade between 9 and 12 inches (22 and 30 cm) in length. The other version of the partisan is a longer and heavier form of the ranseur that can have an iron blade as long as 24 inches (60 cm), and it is mostly not throwable.
Partisan Weapon at a Glance
What is a partisan weapon?
A partisan is a type of polearm weapon with a long wooden handle and a metal spire. It has two symmetrical cutting edges that are straight and terminate in two curved fins at the base.
What is the history of the partisan weapon?
The partisan emerged in the 15th century in Italy and was used as a more controllable and powerful form of the pike. During the Middle Ages, it was a common polearm in Europe. The Germans called it the winged spear. It was mostly employed as an aesthetic weapon in ceremonial settings as time went on since it was ineffective on the battlefield. The partisan weapon was utilized ceremonially for a long time, even after it became obsolete when firearms became more widely available and usable.
How was the partisan weapon used?
Infantrymen often used the partisan to fight off cavalry attacks. The spearhead’s protrusions had a second purpose: They could be used to catch and trap an opponent’s sword, enabling the user to disable them.
What is the origin of the partisan weapon?
The partisan, like the halberd and the ox-tongue spear, is a polearm weapon with its roots in Italy. The currently accepted theory is that the partisan developed from the boar spear used by the milites and the laboratores in the High Middle Ages. Artistic depictions from ancient Rome (bas-reliefs of the Consulate of Rome) that date back to the 1st century provide clues to the origin of this weapon or its earlier forms.
