The Middle Ages is a cruel period in the history of mankind. It lasted from the VI century to the XVI century, it began with the fall of the Roman Empire and ended by the Renaissance. Medieval weapons have evolved significantly during this time. The peoples constantly sought to improve their weapons in order to surpass their enemies. With the improvement of armor, the improvement of guns was also required. So, we present to your attention the rating of deadly medieval weapons:
1
Sword
Broadsword is a type of sword, on the handle of which there is protection for the hand. Among the broadsword variations are Schiavona, Haudegen, Sinclair, the Walloon sword and the Scottish broadsword. Broadsword, as a rule, was used by soldiers in hostilities, as well as by city guards to maintain order. The “civilian” sword at that time was a rapier, it looked like a broadsword, however, it was much inferior to it in strength. This gun was one of the strongest in the Middle Ages, the heavy cavalry entered the battle, using it. The earliest broadsword was found on the warship Mary Rose, it was 1545.
2
Peak
The pick was used by heavy cavalry in Western Europe. Cavalry attacked opponents while riding horses. Thanks to the power of horses, a knight could break even the most armored opponent with one blow. Pica was the leading weapon in cavalry attacks. These weapons were popular throughout Asia, Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Peaks were effective, but riders also carried swords or maces with them. This is due to the fact that the peak could be used only once per battle.
3
Katana
Katana is a sword around which there are many doubts. He had excellent cutting and stitching abilities. Katana was mainly used by samurai during feudal Japan. This is a edged weapon with a curved blade. In Japan, it was one of the most popular types of deadly weapons. This is due to its mobility, it gave a significant advantage in battles, where the reaction speed was important. The samurai was so skilled with the sword that he could cut the enemy, pulling the katana from its sheath. Katana was considered the most important weapon of a samurai.
4
A spear
The spear is one of the deadliest medieval weapons. It was distributed due to its simplicity and cheapness. A warrior with a spear could attack the enemy at a longer distance, which gave him an advantage in battle. As a rule, if two people are fighting: one with a spear, the other with a sword, the owner of the spear wins. This was a very common type of weapon, even many samurai preferred it.
5
Battle ax
The battle ax possessed incredible cutting power. The ax is not suitable for piercing attacks, and the small cutting surface requires more precision from the warrior than the sword required. The tool is convenient to use with one hand, while its strength is destructive. There were two-handed axes, which were mainly used by the Vikings. They used them to break through the enemy’s shield and allow another to deliver a crushing blow to the enemy. Axes were cheaper than swords and did not require such possession skills.
One famous example of using an ax: a one-on-one battle between the King of Scotland Robert I and Heinrich de Bohun. Robert won thanks to his battle ax.
6
War hammer
The war hammer was very effective in fighting armor. The problem with the swords was that they bounced off the plate defense, but the hammer acted differently: it did not bounce off and at the same time caused great damage to the enemy, regardless of whether the armor was broken.
With the proliferation of armor, swords and axes began to misfire: they inflicted sliding blows and could not break through the defense. To overcome this problem, hammers were invented. A war hammer could crush an adversary even through the heaviest armor. Warriors also used hammers to break horses' legs and attack riders.
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7
Sword
A long sword was common during the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It is fast and versatile, had good impact power, and could also be used for cutting and piercing attacks. This weapon has a long handle, which allows you to hold it with two hands. It could also be used with one hand. The second hand, as a rule, the soldiers also involved: in particular, for distracting maneuvers.
8
Crossbow
A crossbow is a bow with a mechanism that does all the difficult work, freeing this crossbow. This is a powerful weapon that almost anyone could use. Some believe that the usual bow in the hands of a good archer in me once will surpass the crossbow. However, a bow from a warrior requires much more skill than a crossbow. Archers were trained from early childhood, but few were able to raise skilled shooters. The crossbow could be used by a large number of people. His introduction revolutionized the war.
9
Halberd
The halberd has a tip that combines a spear point and a battle ax blade. It was used by foot soldiers, was effective against riders. The Burgundian wars ended with a halberd strike when a Swiss peasant killed Karl the Bold, the Duke of Burgundy. Halberds often carried a dagger with them for close range combat.
10
A gun
Guns began to appear in the XIII century and became widespread in the XIV. Not a single gun of that time could match the power of a gun. By the end of the 14th century, they had become an integral part of the protection of castles and forts. In the future, they began to be used on ships to shell enemy ships. The guns instilled fear, they were effective for the destruction of large structures: castles, ships, as well as crushing enemy formations.