Renaissance Weaponry
Part 4
The Pike:
One of the best loved Renaissance weapons. The Pike had a simple design, as it was just a long, narrow, lance type head made of steel, and reinforced on the pole by long strips of metal. These long strips of metal down the length of the pole made the Pike almost invincible against slashes from a sword during battle. The Pike was extremely long. The average length was anywhere from 10-20 feet, with the shorter length the norm. The Pike was especially useful in meeting a cavalry charge by the enemy, as the base could be planted into the ground.
The Glaive:
The term glaive may actually be used for any simple shaft weapon that bears a resemblance to a knife blade. It had a broad and convex blade, with hooks, spurs or other projections on the base of the blade itself. Used more in Germany and France than England, it became completely obsolete around the first part of the 17th century.
The Mace:
One of the best known Renaissance weapons, the Mace was in use during the Battle of Hastings by the Normans and the Saxons in 1066, and was still in popular use on up until the 16th century. The Mace underwent a lot of changes through the years, but the basic generalized from was always radiating flanges that surrounded a central head. In the 16th Century, the Mace was the typical weapon of the sergeant-at-arms, and was embellished with the royal arms.
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