Polearm

Joachim Meyer's treatises are recognized as one of the most well-known sources for the study of the Staff. It is accompanied by detailed illustrations that showcase all the listed techniques being performed simultaneously. The Staff material constitutes a significant portion of his work, commencing with the use of a Staff, which serves as a training tool for various pole weapons, potentially including the greatsword. He then progresses to the Halberd before concluding with the Pike.

A Pike is a long thrusting spear, typically ranging from 3 to 7 meters in length, that was widely used in European warfare from ancient times through Ancient Greek (Macedonian), the Late Middle Ages and into the early modern period. Foot soldiers deployed in a formation known as a pike square wielded these weapons. However, the Pike gradually fell out of use as it was largely replaced by muskets equipped with bayonets.

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The Pike square formation, when maintained properly, could easily overwhelm enemy infantry. However, it had its weaknesses. The soldiers in the formation were all facing forward in a single direction, making it difficult to quickly or efficiently respond to threats from the flanks or rear.

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To address this vulnerability, supporting troops were often deployed to protect the flanks or execute maneuvers to preemptively attack the enemy before being outflanked themselves. In addition to pike-wielding soldiers, formations such as the Swiss and Landsknecht phalanxes also included individuals armed with two-handed Greatswords, known as Zweihänders, and Halberdiers who engaged in close combat against both infantry and cavalry.

In the Late Middle Ages, a particular type of flail appeared in several artworks as a weapon. It consisted of a very long shaft with a hinged striking end. In most cases, these were two-handed agricultural flails that were sometimes used as improvised weapons by peasant armies or during popular uprisings. For example, between 1420 and 1497, the Hussites deployed a large number of peasant foot soldiers armed with this type of flail.

These modified flails were also used during the German Peasants' War in the early 16th century. Paulus Hector Mair's martial arts manual includes illustrations and instructions on how to use the peasant flail (with or without spikes) and how to defend against it when attacked.

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Some of these weapons featured a spherical striking end with metal spikes, and they were depicted as being used by armoured knights. This suggests that they were specifically manufactured as one-handed weapons.

The Halberd was a two-handed polearm widely used from the 13th to the 16th century. It consisted of a long handle with a sharp axe blade mounted on it. The length of a halberd typically ranged from 1.5 to 1.8 meters.

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The halberd first appeared in the 13th century and became the primary weapon of Swiss warriors. Its design was refined to incorporate a hook or spike on the back of the axe blade, allowing for close combat against mounted knights.

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During the 14th and early 15th centuries, The halberd was primarily used by Swiss warriors and later incorporated by German Landsknechte and other armies. Later, they incorporated the use of Pike to better counter cavalry attacks. By the 17th century, the use of halberds as infantry weapons gradually declined.

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Halberds are still used in some official infantry units of certain countries, such as the Swiss Guard in Vatican City. However, by the 18th century, the halberd had become more of a symbolic representation of rank rather than a practical weapon.

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While its usage declined as firearms became prominent, it still found occasional use in the 17th century, particularly during the Thirty Years' War. The halberd served various purposes, it was a tool to ensure that the infantrymen in the formation were properly aligned with each other and that their rifles were aimed at the correct height.

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We will soon be launching a Joachim Meyer's Halberd course.

The term "Poleaxe" was commonly used in medieval England to refer to a long-handled warhammer used by foot soldiers, regardless of whether it had an axe head or not. During the 15th and 16th centuries, many Poleaxes featured a spike on the top, making them effective thrusting weapons. They could be used for attacks in both directions, with an axe or hammer on one side and a hammer or spike on the other. The combination of spikes, hammerheads, and axe heads on these weapons makes their classification challenging. A single Poleaxe could combine the crushing power of a warhammer, the cutting power of a long-handled axe, and the thrusting capability of a spear.

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The Poleaxe was widely considered the weapon of choice for knights in dismounted combat. Surviving examples of poleaxes often exhibit high-quality craftsmanship and decoration, suggesting that they were primarily used by well-to-do soldiers.

Artwork from the 14th to 16th centuries frequently depicts knights wielding Poleaxes in large-scale battles, indicating that their use was more widespread than commonly believed. The German name for poleaxes, "Fussstreihammer," can be roughly translated as "infantry warhammer," implying their use by infantry and dismounted forces.

Some Poleaxes even had a spike on the butt of the haft, as depicted in the works of renowned fencing master Hans Talhoffer. In essence, the Poleaxe combined the best features of several different weapons. It is worth noting that the Poleaxe was particularly effective against heavily armoured opponents, which became more prevalent after the 14th century. It is no surprise, then, that Poleaxes were used in both duelling bouts and pitched battles.

In popular culture, the Scythe, symbolizing the Grim Reaper, has always been portrayed as a powerful weapon. However, in reality, a Scythe is an agricultural hand tool used for mowing grass or harvesting crops. It has been historically used to cut down or reap edible grains before the process of threshing with a flail. Farming tools like Scythes, Pitchforks, and Flails were often used as weapons by those who couldn't afford or didn't have access to more expensive weapons such as long spears, swords, or later firearms. Scythes were commonly carried by angry peasant uprisings. The typical practice involved modifying the blade of a Scythe to a 90-degree angle, reinforcing the joint between the blade and the handle with additional metal pipes or bolts, and strengthening the handle to better protect against cuts from enemy blades.

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In history, the War Scythe was a common weapon in many peasant uprisings. After the German Peasants' War (1524-1525), a manuscript edited by Paulus Hector Mair described some techniques for combat using a scythe (note: not a war scythe). Although it is not the most practical polearm, the beauty of HEMA is that nobody will stop you from researching how to fight with a Scythe.