Viking Mace

The Viking mace may be a small weapon but it is a very useful piece that is also very handy and deadly. It was most likely introduced by the horse riding individuals coming from the Eastern side of Europe and was specifically claimed as an ancient weapon.

During the medieval period, the mace was known as a weapon of war which a lot of warriors utilized for close combat; its heavy head was excellent for breaking an enemy’s chain mail or armor, plus it could also cause a lot of damage during fights. It was also during this time in England when the King’s guards were turned into Sergeants-at-Arms and these individuals carried maces.

The Mace is a popular weapon and it was utilized mainly during the medieval period. This weapon specifically features a heavy head and at times, it also had knobbed or flanged additions on its handle’s ends.

It gets its name from the masse d-armes a French word and the mateola which is a Latin word; the mace was also originally referred to as an agricultural tool.

This weapon has a relatively simple design yet it is said to have evolved from a club which is known to be one of the simplest and maybe even the very first weaponry that appeared in time.

 

The mace, however, is different from the club: a club is merely a huge and sturdy stick used for striking enemies whereas the mace is a large stick that features a heavy material that is fixed to its top. This feature of the mace allows the wielder to execute more striking blows that can be extremely deadly against their enemies.

The maces heads are usually made from stone or another form of metal just like copper, iron, bronze, or steel; these can also feature protrusions that allow the maces to easily penetrate heavier armor.

Frequent utilization of the mace led to the development of armor that could better protect a warrior, and this has occurred right at the end of the Middle Ages. Furthermore, the mace also featured other variants such as the morning star flail and the regular flail.

There are two different types of flails: one is a long, double-handed infantry weapon that featured a cylindrical head, and a much shorter one that has a rounded striking head made of metal.

The defining element of both the mace and club is that these had separate striking heads that were fixed to handle by a rope, flexible strap, or a chain.

The main tactical advantage of the flail is its ability to easily strike around an enemy shield or parry, yet its main liability would be the lack of accuracy and precision, as well as the challenge of actually utilizing the weapon in close combat.

The Vikings

It is claimed that the Vikings were history’s most excellent traders, travelers, as well as mercenaries since their travels extended so far that they are also credited as the individuals who have found Greenland and North America; aside from this, their names also instilled fear into the hearts and minds of many European individuals.

Some wonder just how far the Vikings have reached, but in reality, their culture has extended to as far as Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine, culminating their culture and influence on the development of the Rus, the Kievan state.

These individuals were also known to be great Norse seafarers who spoke the Old Norse language; they also traded and raided from North European lands just across the northern, eastern, and central areas of Europe around the late eighth to the late eleventh century.

These warriors were greatly feared across European countries due to their brutal ways of war and eccentricity. Aside from this, the Vikings were also known for their close-ranged style of fighting and their use of various weapons such as the Viking mace; although they wielded this type of weapon with ease and excellence, the Viking mace was not a weapon that was widely utilized during that period.

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Viking Mace

Although the Viking mace was not really that popular among other warriors, there were numerous types of maces available such as the Viking flail and the Viking morning star both weapons having been found in Gotland graves during the Viking period.

The Viking mace was also known to be more prevalent during the Byzantine period; furthermore, during the said period, the Viking mace was also utilized by heavy cavalry soldiers who wielded the mace in a special sheath that was fixed to their saddle.

The warrior’s utilized other weapons but the Viking mace was the last weapon that warriors would utilize during the battle the time when spears were broken and the edges of the sword have turned blunt.

Also, there was no evidence stating that the Viking morning star, the Viking flail, and the Viking mace were considered as symbols of rank and status in Byzantium.

Advantages of the Viking Flail and Maces

The cavalrymen could easily wield the Viking mace in hand or these could be hung firmly on his belt; also, the mace’s shaft could also be utilized as a riding crop.

The fact that a Viking mace does not feature a sharp edge makes it safe and easy for the wielder to utilize on horseback; also, because of its non-existent sharpened edges, one should not worry much about its edge causing any damage to the wielder or his horse.

Despite the size of these weapons, the Viking mace and Viking flail are highly efficient during the battle, especially during close-range combat.

Unlike most bladed weapons, these maces also caused damage but by executing a lot of blunt force, causing trauma; these did not cleave parts nor poke huge holes into the body, tissues, or bones of the enemy but the maces shattered bones and even pulverized their organs.

This weapon was highly advantageous since the increased force could reach through rigid armor; however, these blows were not really effective against padded armor.

Yet when comparing the flail to the mace, these are considered to be more advantageous for many reasons; it has a chain that allows for better reach when hitting opponents, unlike the mace which is only highly effective for close-range combat.

Another advantage is that the flail can wrap around an enemy’s weapon, disarming and leaving them vulnerable to lethal attacks.

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