10 Badass Medieval Weapons

Although there are many variations, the mace is a descendant from a simple club. A bludgeoning weapon with a wooden handle and an iron head, it was cheap and easy to make. Primarily used because of centrifugal force, a solider could swing it without much effort and tear through armor, generating more force than a sword. Footmen used shorter maces, while horsemen used longer ones to reach from their greater height. Can you imagine this against someone’s head? Today they are used for ceremonial purposes at universities and the British House of Commons.

Derived from an agricultural tool used in threshing, the flail is basically a two-handed mace with a metal chain attached. The chain allowed the user to wrap the weapon around an enemy’s shield. Like the name of the weapon, maybe people “flailed” after being hit.

Designed for use by a warrior on horseback to impale his enemies, a lance is a long pole or spear made of wood with a sharp metal tip. Horsemen also carried swords or maces, as the lance was too long and heavy for use on the ground. Over time, a lance was modified for jousting with a blunt tip and a hollow center meant to break on impact (and thus protect the jousters.)

No collection of medieval weapons would be complete without the infamous greatsword, a massive, two-handed weapon capable of cutting off limbs or the head of an enemy in one stroke. Can you imagine the hulking man necessary to even wield such a weapon?

Originally used as a farming tool for clearing undergrowth, it evolved into an infantry weapon. With many variations, the billhook’s handle could be short (preferred by the English) or long (for the Italians.) Used in a swinging motion, it had the stopping power of a spear, but because of the curved blade, it could also hook into the chinks in an enemy’s armor for grappling. Say hello to death.

Similar to today’s construction hammer, just longer, and with a point at the end, there is your basic medieval warhammer. As armor got better and harder to pierce or puncture, many weapons would ricochet, losing most of their force, such as swords. The warhammer, as a bludgeoning weapon, transferred all its force into the target. Makes guns seem civilized in comparison.

Today, the word “stiletto” seems decidedly feminine, thanks to the type of shoes that share its name. But in the Middle Ages, stilettos became the secondary weapon used by knights to finish off fallen enemies. The pointed blade could pass through most mail armor, as well as find the weak point between plate mail, such as under the arm. Some severely wounded enemies were given a mercy strike (coup de grace), which garnered the name “misericorde.” (Medieval Warfare) 

Though the designs of falchions vary depending on country and time, the falchion is a one-handed weapon that combines the power of an axe with the versatility of a sword. The weight is concentrated near the end, making it effective for chopping. Though it looks like it evolved from Persian scimitars, the falchion was most likely developed from butcher’s knives.