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carrying warhammers both as weapons and symbols of rank. These hammers became known as "Rottmeister hammers" or "packmaster hammers." In landsknecht armies, a similar connotation existed, where hammers evolved into status symbols among the lower nobility in eastern parts of central Europe (Poland-Lithuania/Hungary), second only to sabers in prestige. According to Polish aristocrat
Andrzej Kitowicz, a nobleman would not leave his house without his saber and his warhammer, which could also serve as a walking stick. Late Central European hammers can be categorized into three subtypes: the Czekan, a warhammer with a flattened square or hexagonal surface and a bearded axe blade on the back; the Nadziak, a classic warhammer with a flattened square or hexagonal surface and a beak at the back; and the Ogbur, similar to the Nadziak but with an S-shaped or strictly curved beak on the back. All these types shared the characteristic of having staffs made from hard wood, often extending over the socket, and lacking a thrusting tip.
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at the rear for increased versatility. Some variants also incorporated additional hooks at the rear to facilitate binding enemy weapons and limbs. While earlier pole hammers had flat surfaces, by the 15th century, there was a trend towards dividing the hammerhead into three or four diamond-shaped tips to enhance penetration. According to
Austrian army officer and weapons expert Wendelin Boeheim, these modifications were primarily driven by aesthetic considerations rather than functional improvements. In some instances, the hammer surface featured the monogram of its owner, enabling the identification of victims on the battlefield.
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In the context of duels, the pole hammer was often categorized as a subtype of the pole-axe, commonly referred to as "axes" in period fencing manuals (German: (Mord)Axt, Italian: (Azza)). Pole hammers designed for duels frequently featured a rondel-shaped guard to protect the forward hand and a spike
244:, English longbowmen are recorded as using lead mauls, initially as a tool to drive in stakes but later as improvised weapons. Other references during the century (for example, in Charles the Bold's 1472 Ordinance) suggest continued use. They are recorded as a weapon of Tudor archers as late as 1562.
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The spike end could be used for grappling the target's armor, reins, or shield. If against mounted opponents, the weapon could be directed at the legs of a horse, toppling the armored foe to the ground where they could be more easily attacked. The blunt side of a war hammer was usually used first to
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Starting from the 15th century, shorter warhammers found use as cavalry weapons. Initially rejected by the nobility due to their commoner origins, practicality eventually compelled their adoption. This perception would later shift, with cavalry commanders, known as
Rottmeister (lit. packmaster),
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The war hammer was a popular weapon in the late medieval period. It became somewhat of a necessity in combat when armor became so strong that swords and axes were no longer able to pierce and ricocheted upon impact. The war hammer could inflict significant damage on the enemy through their heavy
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Full-fledged warhammers emerged in the mid-14th century as a direct response to the growing prevalence and effectiveness of plate armor on
European battlefields. By 1395, French infantry deployed sophisticated warhammers equipped with thrusting tips, side flanges, and a basic beak, known as
253:"Picoise." These initially single-handed warhammers would later evolve into longer two-handed pole hammers, becoming not only widespread on European battlefields but also prominent in duels, particularly those involving armored combatants in tournaments or judicial settings.
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knock down and stun an enemy and, once the opponent were immobilized on the ground, the hammer is rotated around to hit the target with the pointed side, which can punch a hole through the helmet and deliver the
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Indo-Persian war hammer, heavy iron head with a hammer in front, a 4.5-inch (11 cm) curved spike on the other side, cut channel decorations, hard wood shaft
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While the warhammer fell out of favor in most parts of Europe, it remained popular in Poland and
Hungary until the first half of the 18th century.
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A maul is a long-handled hammer with a heavy head, of wood, lead, iron, or steel. It is similar in appearance and function to a modern
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A war hammer consists of a handle and a head. The length of the handle may vary, the longest being roughly equivalent to that of a
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Indian war hammer, 19th century, hard wood shaft with full length metal strip for re-enforcement, silver koftgari decoration
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War hammers, especially when mounted on a pole, could in some cases transmit their impact through helmets and cause
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The use of the maul as a weapon seems to date from the later 14th century. During the
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A particular use of the maul was by archers in the 15th and 16th centuries. At the
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455:"Medieval Weapons: War Hammer. Types of War Hammers, Facts, History"
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meant for use on foot, whereas short ones were used from horseback.
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176:(two to three feet or 60 to 90 centimeters). Long war hammers were
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War hammer exhibited in the
Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin
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Weapons, a brief discourse on hand-weapons other than fire-arms
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Skull from Battle of Towton (1461) showing war hammer wound
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of 1382, rebellious citizens of Paris seized 3000 mauls (
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296:Knight with war hammer (painting by Paolo Uccello)
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282:Maurice, Elector of Saxony
76:Europe and the Middle East
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419:"Medieval WarHammer"
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18:Battlehammer
185:concussions
41:War hammer
597:Categories
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493:0140054073
465:2022-11-14
429:2022-11-14
390:References
308:War hammer
231:Maillotins
126:war hammer
115: type
128:(French:
618:Polearms
482:(1979).
338:See also
178:polearms
90:Medieval
603:Hammers
384:Totokia
379:Poleaxe
374:Ōtsuchi
268:Gallery
248:History
227:maillet
219:Harelle
170:halberd
138:cavalry
67:polearm
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359:Kanabō
223:French
200:bullet
156:Design
105:Hammer
197:rifle
561:ISBN
488:ISBN
206:Maul
174:mace
136:and
113:Haft
59:Type
65:or
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