**Medieval Knights’ Weapons: What They Used, How They Worked…
Page Info
Writer Joshuaa
Hit 770 Hits
Date 25-12-29 18:39
Content
**Medieval Knights’ Weapons: What They Used, How They Worked, and Why They Changed Over Time**
**중세 기사들의 무기: 무엇을 썼고, 어떻게 쓰였으며, 왜 시대마다 달라졌나**
---
## English
### 1) The core idea: a knight’s “weapon set,” not a single weapon
A medieval knight did not rely on one iconic weapon. He typically carried or had access to a **system of weapons** chosen for:
* the **phase of combat** (charge, melee, pursuit, siege),
* the **opponent’s armor** (mail, gambeson, partial plate, full plate),
* the **terrain and formation** (open field vs tight press vs walls).
A realistic knightly loadout often included:
* **primary**: lance (mounted) or sword (sidearm)
* **secondary**: mace/war hammer/axe for armored targets
* **close backup**: dagger (especially for grappling or finishing)
* plus **shield** (early to high Middle Ages), later reduced as plate armor improved
---
### 2) The lance: the “signature” battlefield weapon of the mounted knight
**What it was**
* A long wooden spear optimized for cavalry impact.
* Usually ash or similar tough wood, with an iron/steel head.
**How it worked**
* The decisive technique was **the couched lance**: tucking the lance under the arm so the horse’s speed and the rider’s mass deliver the shock.
* With proper formation, this was not “one hero,” but a **system effect**: multiple riders striking in coordination.
**Why it mattered**
* In open-field warfare, the lance was often the highest “first-contact” payoff weapon for a heavy cavalryman.
**Limits**
* Lances break frequently (by design, or due to impact).
* After the initial hit, combat becomes a messy melee where other weapons dominate.
---
### 3) The sword: symbol, sidearm, and versatile tool—often not the best vs heavy armor
**Types and evolution**
* Early/high Middle Ages: **single-handed arming sword** used with shield.
* High to late Middle Ages: **longsword** (often two-handed) grows in importance as shields decline in some contexts.
* Specialized forms appear: **estoc/tuck** (more thrust-oriented) to target armor gaps.
**How it was used**
* Against lightly armored foes: cutting is effective.
* Against mail+padding: cuts can still work but require precision and power.
* Against plate armor: the sword becomes more about:
* **thrusting into gaps** (armpit, visor, joints),
* **half-swording** (gripping the blade with a gauntleted hand to control point placement),
* **grappling and throws** (weapon + wrestling).
**Reality check**
* Plate armor is extraordinarily resistant to casual cuts. Knights did not “slice through plate.” They aimed for **openings, leverage, and control**.
---
### 4) Mace, war hammer, and “anti-armor” logic
When armor improved, knights leaned on weapons designed to **transmit force** or **concentrate it**.
**Mace**
* A weighted head (flanged or knobbed) that crushes through padding and can deform armor.
* Advantage: reliable in tight melee; less likely to get stuck than a blade.
**War hammer**
* Often with a hammer face and sometimes a spike.
* The spike or beak concentrates force into a small area, useful for denting or penetrating weak points.
**Why these worked**
* You do not need to cut through plate; you can:
* cause blunt trauma through the armor,
* deform plates, break bones, or compromise joints/straps.
---
### 5) Axes and polearms: powerful, common, and not “peasant-only”
Axes were widely used across social ranks because they are:
* mechanically efficient (good force delivery),
* adaptable (hooking, pulling, chopping),
* easier to manufacture than high-end swords.
**Knightly axe variants**
* One-handed fighting axe (with shield or on foot).
* Two-handed axes for foot combat.
**Polearms (on foot)**
Many elite fighters used polearms in dismounted combat and sieges:
* **poleaxe**: the classic late-medieval knightly foot weapon (axe blade + hammer/beak + top spike).
* **glaive, halberd-like forms**: mix of cutting, hooking, thrusting.
* **spear**: deceptively “simple,” but extremely effective in formations and for reach control.
Polearms dominate many late-medieval melee contexts because **reach + leverage** beats shorter weapons when armor and discipline are high.
---
### 6) Daggers: the close-range “finisher” and grappling companion
Common forms include:
* **rondel dagger**: stiff point for thrusting
* **ballock dagger** and other regional shapes
**Why knights carried daggers**
* In a clinch, long weapons are awkward.
* If an opponent is down, a dagger can be driven into **gaps** (visor, armpit, groin, joints).
* Daggers are also practical tools (cutting straps, utility use), though “utility” is not why they were famous.
---
### 7) Missile weapons: knights vs bows and crossbows
Knights were primarily shock/mêlée fighters, but missile weapons shaped their world.
**Crossbow**
* High penetration potential, easier to train than longbow in many contexts.
* Slow reload; requires cover or support troops.
**Longbow (regional emphasis)**
* High rate of fire with trained archers; devastating against horses and lightly armored troops, and dangerous even to armored men through:
* wounds to unarmored areas,
* blunt trauma,
* disruption and fatigue.
**Knightly response**
* Better armor, tactical adjustments, dismounting, using terrain, combined arms, and emphasizing disciplined formations.
---
### 8) Shields: from central tool to reduced battlefield role
**Early/high Middle Ages**
* Shield + arming sword is a dominant pairing (kite → heater shapes).
* Shields provide mobile cover against missiles and in melee.
**Late Middle Ages**
* With improved plate and two-handed weapons, many knights reduce shield use in some contexts.
* Shields persist in various forms (especially with certain tactics), and in tournaments specialized shields are common.
---
### 9) Where these weapons were used: battlefield vs siege vs tournament
**Battlefield**
* Lance first, then sword/mace/axe/polearm depending on whether mounted or dismounted.
* Grappling is frequent in tight formations.
**Siege**
* Polearms, axes, short weapons, and crossbows become crucial.
* Practical tasks (breaking doors, close quarters, climbing) shape weapon choice.
**Tournament**
* Weapons are often **purpose-built** for sport: blunted lances, specialized armor, rules that change “what works.”
---
### 10) Maintenance, cost, and what a “real kit” implies
**Economics**
* Swords can be expensive status items.
* Polearms/axes are cost-effective.
* Armor maintenance can exceed weapon costs over time.
**Maintenance realities**
* Edges need sharpening; wood needs inspection for cracks; metal needs rust prevention.
* Knights relied on armorers, servants, and local workshops—“adventure” required logistics.
---
### 11) Useful “applications” (for writing, games, education)
* For realism: depict knights switching weapons as the fight evolves—**lance breaks, then mace/poleaxe, then dagger in the clinch**.
* Tie weapon choice to armor: **more plate → more thrusting, half-swording, blunt weapons, and grappling**.
* Show logistics: spare lances, servants holding backup weapons, repairs after battle, and the constant friction of travel.
---
## 한국어
### 1) 핵심: 기사는 ‘한 자루’가 아니라 ‘무기 세트’를 썼다
중세 기사 무기는 검 하나로 끝나는 게 아니라, 상황에 따라 바꾸는 **체계(세트)**였습니다. 선택 기준은:
* 전투 단계(돌격 → 난전 → 추격/퇴각),
* 상대의 방어구(사슬갑옷, 두꺼운 패딩, 부분/전신 판금),
* 지형·진형(평지, 좁은 밀집, 성벽/공성전).
현실적인 기사 구성은 보통:
* 주력: 기마 돌격용 **랜스(창)** 또는 측면 무기 **검**
* 보조: 판금 대응 **철퇴/전쟁망치/도끼**
* 최후의 근접: **단검**
* 초기~중기에는 **방패**가 큰 비중, 후기에는 맥락에 따라 비중이 줄어듦
---
### 2) 랜스(기병창): 기사 전장의 ‘대표 무기’
* 긴 목재 자루에 금속 촉을 단 기병용 창.
* 핵심 기술은 **겨드랑이에 고정해 찌르는 ‘카우치드 랜스’**로, 말의 속도와 체중이 충격을 극대화합니다.
* 단, 랜스는 충돌로 잘 부러지고(혹은 부러질 정도의 충격을 전제로), 첫 접촉 이후에는 **난전 무기**가 주역이 됩니다.
---
### 3) 검: 상징이자 다용도, 그러나 판금 앞에서는 ‘전술’이 바뀐다
* 초기/중기: 방패와 함께 쓰는 **한손검(arming sword)** 중심.
* 후기: **롱소드(양손검 운용)**가 중요해지고, 찌르기 특화형(예: 에스토크)도 등장.
판금이 두꺼워질수록 검은 “베기”보다:
* 관절/틈새를 노리는 **찌르기**
* 장갑 낀 손으로 칼날을 잡아 끝을 통제하는 **하프 소딩(half-swording)**
* 레슬링·넘어뜨리기 같은 **그랩플링**
이 핵심이 됩니다.
중요한 현실:
* 판금을 “썰어버리는” 장면은 대부분 과장입니다. 실제는 **틈새·레버리지·제압**이 포인트입니다.
---
### 4) 철퇴·전쟁망치: ‘반(反)판금’ 사고방식
방어구가 강해질수록 기사들은 **충격 전달** 또는 **힘 집중**에 유리한 무기를 많이 썼습니다.
* **철퇴(메이스)**: 날 대신 무게로 눌러 부수고, 틈새가 아니어도 타격으로 손상을 유도.
* **전쟁망치(워 해머)**: 면 타격 + 부리/스파이크로 힘을 좁은 면적에 집중.
목표는 “자르는 것”이 아니라:
* 충격으로 뼈·장기를 손상시키거나,
* 판금을 찌그러뜨려 기능을 저하시키거나,
* 관절/끈/연결부의 약점을 공략하는 것입니다.
---
### 5) 도끼와 폴암: ‘서민 무기’가 아니라 ‘효율 무기’
도끼는 제작·정비가 비교적 용이하고 힘 전달이 좋아 상하를 막론하고 많이 쓰였습니다.
**폴암(장병기)**
후기로 갈수록 갑옷이 강해지고 전투가 조직화되면서, 도보 난전에서는 **거리(리치)와 지렛대**가 강력해졌습니다.
* **폴액스(poleaxe)**: 후기 기사 도보전의 대표(도끼날+망치/부리+상단 스파이크)
* **글레이브/할버드 계열**: 베기·찔러내기·걸어 당기기
* **스피어(창)**: 단순해 보여도 진형과 거리 통제에서 매우 강력
---
### 6) 단검: 레슬링 이후의 ‘마무리 무기’
* **론델 대거**처럼 단단한 찌르기형이 유명합니다.
* 밀집 난전이나 넘어뜨린 뒤에는 단검으로 **투구 틈, 겨드랑이, 관절부** 같은 약점을 노립니다.
* 또한 장비 끈을 자르거나 수리 등 실용성도 있지만, 전투에서의 위상은 “근접 제압 이후 결정타”에 있습니다.
---
### 7) 원거리 무기(활·석궁)와 기사의 대응
기사 개인은 보통 돌격·근접의 주체였지만, 활·석궁은 전장의 규칙을 바꿨습니다.
* **석궁**: 관통력이 강하고 훈련 진입장벽이 낮은 편. 대신 재장전이 느림.
* **장궁(롱보우)**: 숙련이 필요하지만 연사력이 뛰어나 전장을 뒤흔듭니다.
기사들은 더 좋은 갑옷, 전술 변화(지형 활용, 하차, 보병과의 결합)로 대응했습니다.
---
### 8) 방패: 필수 도구에서 ‘맥락적 도구’로
초기~중기에는 방패가 대단히 중요합니다(카이트 → 히터).
후기로 갈수록 판금과 양손 무기 운용이 늘면서 전장 맥락에 따라 방패 비중이 줄지만, 완전히 사라진 것은 아니고 특히 대회·특수 상황에서는 다양한 형태로 남습니다.
---
### 9) 전장·공성전·토너먼트에서 무기 선택은 달랐다
* 전장: 랜스 돌격 후 난전(검/철퇴/도끼/폴암/그랩플링)
* 공성전: 좁은 공간과 작업성 때문에 폴암·도끼·석궁·단검 비중 상승
* 토너먼트: 경기용 둔화 무기·전용 갑옷·규칙이 “효과적인 무기” 자체를 바꿈
---
### 10) 추가 팁·응용(콘텐츠 제작/게임/교육)
* “기사 = 검” 고정관념 대신, **상대 갑옷과 거리**에 따라 무기가 바뀌는 흐름을 보여주면 사실성이 급상승합니다.
* 후기 기사 도보전의 핵심은 **폴액스 + 하프 소딩 + 그랩플링 + 단검** 같은 “제압 후 약점 공략”입니다.
* 무기만이 아니라 **예비 랜스, 보급, 수리, 수행원** 같은 운영 요소까지 넣으면 중세 전쟁의 현실이 살아납니다.
---
## 日本語
### 1) 騎士は「一本の武器」ではなく「武器セット」を使った
状況（突撃→乱戦→追撃、戦場→攻城、相手の鎧）に応じて武器を替えるのが現実的です。
### 2) 主要武器
* **ランス**：騎乗突撃の主役。衝突後は折れやすく、乱戦武器へ移行。
* **剣**：万能の副武器だが、板金鎧相手では切断よりも刺突・ハーフソーディング・組み討ちが重要。
* **メイス／ウォーハンマー**：対鎧。切るのではなく、衝撃・集中荷重で損傷を狙う。
* **斧／ポールアーム（特にポールアックス）**：後期の徒歩戦で強い。リーチとレバレッジが決定的。
* **ダガー**：組み討ちの後、隙間（関節・脇・バイザー）を狙う近接の決め手。
* **盾**：初期～中期に重要。後期は文脈により比重が下がるが用途は残る。
### 3) 応用の観点
リアリズムを出すなら「ランス→乱戦→組み討ち→ダガー」の流れ、鎧に応じた武器選択、攻城戦の狭所戦を強調すると説得力が増します。
---
## Español
### 1) Idea central
Un caballero no dependía de “una espada legendaria”, sino de un **conjunto de armas** que cambiaba según fase de combate, tipo de armadura y escenario.
### 2) Armas principales
* **Lanza (lance)**: arma emblemática de la carga a caballo; suele romperse y luego domina el cuerpo a cuerpo.
* **Espada**: versátil y simbólica; contra armadura de placas se usa más para **estocar en huecos**, controlar la punta (media espada) y luchar con agarres.
* **Maza y martillo de guerra**: diseñados para **trauma y concentración de fuerza** contra armadura.
* **Hachas y armas de asta (poleaxe, etc.)**: muy fuertes a pie por alcance, palanca, golpe y enganche.
* **Dagas**: decisivas en distancia corta y remate por huecos de la armadura.
* **Escudos**: clave en etapas tempranas; su papel cambia con la expansión de la placa y armas a dos manos.
### 3) Aplicación práctica
Para realismo, muestra el cambio de armas con la evolución del combate y la armadura, y no solo “duelos limpios”: la lucha real incluye empujones, agarres, derribos y remates.
---
## Français
### 1) Principe
Le chevalier médiéval combat avec un **ensemble d’armes**, adapté à la phase (charge, mêlée, siège), à l’armure adverse (maille, gambison, plates) et au terrain.
### 2) Armes majeures
* **Lance** : arme de la charge montée; souvent brisée à l’impact, puis transition vers la mêlée.
* **Épée** : symbole et arme polyvalente; face à la plate, elle sert surtout au **coup d’estoc dans les ouvertures**, au contrôle (demi-épée) et au corps à corps avec lutte.
* **Masse / marteau d’armes** : pensée “anti-armure”, privilégiant choc et concentration de force.
* **Hache et armes d’hast (notamment la pollaxe)** : redoutables à pied, grâce à la portée et au levier, combinant frappe, crochet, estoc.
* **Dague** : essentielle en clinch et pour viser les interstices (articulations, visière, aisselles).
* **Bouclier** : central au début/milieu; rôle plus contextuel ensuite avec l’armure de plates et les armes à deux mains.
### 3) Application
Pour une représentation crédible, montrer la dynamique “lance → mêlée → lutte → dague”, l’importance de l’armure dans le choix d’arme, et la différence nette entre bataille ouverte, siège et tournoi.
**중세 기사들의 무기: 무엇을 썼고, 어떻게 쓰였으며, 왜 시대마다 달라졌나**
---
## English
### 1) The core idea: a knight’s “weapon set,” not a single weapon
A medieval knight did not rely on one iconic weapon. He typically carried or had access to a **system of weapons** chosen for:
* the **phase of combat** (charge, melee, pursuit, siege),
* the **opponent’s armor** (mail, gambeson, partial plate, full plate),
* the **terrain and formation** (open field vs tight press vs walls).
A realistic knightly loadout often included:
* **primary**: lance (mounted) or sword (sidearm)
* **secondary**: mace/war hammer/axe for armored targets
* **close backup**: dagger (especially for grappling or finishing)
* plus **shield** (early to high Middle Ages), later reduced as plate armor improved
---
### 2) The lance: the “signature” battlefield weapon of the mounted knight
**What it was**
* A long wooden spear optimized for cavalry impact.
* Usually ash or similar tough wood, with an iron/steel head.
**How it worked**
* The decisive technique was **the couched lance**: tucking the lance under the arm so the horse’s speed and the rider’s mass deliver the shock.
* With proper formation, this was not “one hero,” but a **system effect**: multiple riders striking in coordination.
**Why it mattered**
* In open-field warfare, the lance was often the highest “first-contact” payoff weapon for a heavy cavalryman.
**Limits**
* Lances break frequently (by design, or due to impact).
* After the initial hit, combat becomes a messy melee where other weapons dominate.
---
### 3) The sword: symbol, sidearm, and versatile tool—often not the best vs heavy armor
**Types and evolution**
* Early/high Middle Ages: **single-handed arming sword** used with shield.
* High to late Middle Ages: **longsword** (often two-handed) grows in importance as shields decline in some contexts.
* Specialized forms appear: **estoc/tuck** (more thrust-oriented) to target armor gaps.
**How it was used**
* Against lightly armored foes: cutting is effective.
* Against mail+padding: cuts can still work but require precision and power.
* Against plate armor: the sword becomes more about:
* **thrusting into gaps** (armpit, visor, joints),
* **half-swording** (gripping the blade with a gauntleted hand to control point placement),
* **grappling and throws** (weapon + wrestling).
**Reality check**
* Plate armor is extraordinarily resistant to casual cuts. Knights did not “slice through plate.” They aimed for **openings, leverage, and control**.
---
### 4) Mace, war hammer, and “anti-armor” logic
When armor improved, knights leaned on weapons designed to **transmit force** or **concentrate it**.
**Mace**
* A weighted head (flanged or knobbed) that crushes through padding and can deform armor.
* Advantage: reliable in tight melee; less likely to get stuck than a blade.
**War hammer**
* Often with a hammer face and sometimes a spike.
* The spike or beak concentrates force into a small area, useful for denting or penetrating weak points.
**Why these worked**
* You do not need to cut through plate; you can:
* cause blunt trauma through the armor,
* deform plates, break bones, or compromise joints/straps.
---
### 5) Axes and polearms: powerful, common, and not “peasant-only”
Axes were widely used across social ranks because they are:
* mechanically efficient (good force delivery),
* adaptable (hooking, pulling, chopping),
* easier to manufacture than high-end swords.
**Knightly axe variants**
* One-handed fighting axe (with shield or on foot).
* Two-handed axes for foot combat.
**Polearms (on foot)**
Many elite fighters used polearms in dismounted combat and sieges:
* **poleaxe**: the classic late-medieval knightly foot weapon (axe blade + hammer/beak + top spike).
* **glaive, halberd-like forms**: mix of cutting, hooking, thrusting.
* **spear**: deceptively “simple,” but extremely effective in formations and for reach control.
Polearms dominate many late-medieval melee contexts because **reach + leverage** beats shorter weapons when armor and discipline are high.
---
### 6) Daggers: the close-range “finisher” and grappling companion
Common forms include:
* **rondel dagger**: stiff point for thrusting
* **ballock dagger** and other regional shapes
**Why knights carried daggers**
* In a clinch, long weapons are awkward.
* If an opponent is down, a dagger can be driven into **gaps** (visor, armpit, groin, joints).
* Daggers are also practical tools (cutting straps, utility use), though “utility” is not why they were famous.
---
### 7) Missile weapons: knights vs bows and crossbows
Knights were primarily shock/mêlée fighters, but missile weapons shaped their world.
**Crossbow**
* High penetration potential, easier to train than longbow in many contexts.
* Slow reload; requires cover or support troops.
**Longbow (regional emphasis)**
* High rate of fire with trained archers; devastating against horses and lightly armored troops, and dangerous even to armored men through:
* wounds to unarmored areas,
* blunt trauma,
* disruption and fatigue.
**Knightly response**
* Better armor, tactical adjustments, dismounting, using terrain, combined arms, and emphasizing disciplined formations.
---
### 8) Shields: from central tool to reduced battlefield role
**Early/high Middle Ages**
* Shield + arming sword is a dominant pairing (kite → heater shapes).
* Shields provide mobile cover against missiles and in melee.
**Late Middle Ages**
* With improved plate and two-handed weapons, many knights reduce shield use in some contexts.
* Shields persist in various forms (especially with certain tactics), and in tournaments specialized shields are common.
---
### 9) Where these weapons were used: battlefield vs siege vs tournament
**Battlefield**
* Lance first, then sword/mace/axe/polearm depending on whether mounted or dismounted.
* Grappling is frequent in tight formations.
**Siege**
* Polearms, axes, short weapons, and crossbows become crucial.
* Practical tasks (breaking doors, close quarters, climbing) shape weapon choice.
**Tournament**
* Weapons are often **purpose-built** for sport: blunted lances, specialized armor, rules that change “what works.”
---
### 10) Maintenance, cost, and what a “real kit” implies
**Economics**
* Swords can be expensive status items.
* Polearms/axes are cost-effective.
* Armor maintenance can exceed weapon costs over time.
**Maintenance realities**
* Edges need sharpening; wood needs inspection for cracks; metal needs rust prevention.
* Knights relied on armorers, servants, and local workshops—“adventure” required logistics.
---
### 11) Useful “applications” (for writing, games, education)
* For realism: depict knights switching weapons as the fight evolves—**lance breaks, then mace/poleaxe, then dagger in the clinch**.
* Tie weapon choice to armor: **more plate → more thrusting, half-swording, blunt weapons, and grappling**.
* Show logistics: spare lances, servants holding backup weapons, repairs after battle, and the constant friction of travel.
---
## 한국어
### 1) 핵심: 기사는 ‘한 자루’가 아니라 ‘무기 세트’를 썼다
중세 기사 무기는 검 하나로 끝나는 게 아니라, 상황에 따라 바꾸는 **체계(세트)**였습니다. 선택 기준은:
* 전투 단계(돌격 → 난전 → 추격/퇴각),
* 상대의 방어구(사슬갑옷, 두꺼운 패딩, 부분/전신 판금),
* 지형·진형(평지, 좁은 밀집, 성벽/공성전).
현실적인 기사 구성은 보통:
* 주력: 기마 돌격용 **랜스(창)** 또는 측면 무기 **검**
* 보조: 판금 대응 **철퇴/전쟁망치/도끼**
* 최후의 근접: **단검**
* 초기~중기에는 **방패**가 큰 비중, 후기에는 맥락에 따라 비중이 줄어듦
---
### 2) 랜스(기병창): 기사 전장의 ‘대표 무기’
* 긴 목재 자루에 금속 촉을 단 기병용 창.
* 핵심 기술은 **겨드랑이에 고정해 찌르는 ‘카우치드 랜스’**로, 말의 속도와 체중이 충격을 극대화합니다.
* 단, 랜스는 충돌로 잘 부러지고(혹은 부러질 정도의 충격을 전제로), 첫 접촉 이후에는 **난전 무기**가 주역이 됩니다.
---
### 3) 검: 상징이자 다용도, 그러나 판금 앞에서는 ‘전술’이 바뀐다
* 초기/중기: 방패와 함께 쓰는 **한손검(arming sword)** 중심.
* 후기: **롱소드(양손검 운용)**가 중요해지고, 찌르기 특화형(예: 에스토크)도 등장.
판금이 두꺼워질수록 검은 “베기”보다:
* 관절/틈새를 노리는 **찌르기**
* 장갑 낀 손으로 칼날을 잡아 끝을 통제하는 **하프 소딩(half-swording)**
* 레슬링·넘어뜨리기 같은 **그랩플링**
이 핵심이 됩니다.
중요한 현실:
* 판금을 “썰어버리는” 장면은 대부분 과장입니다. 실제는 **틈새·레버리지·제압**이 포인트입니다.
---
### 4) 철퇴·전쟁망치: ‘반(反)판금’ 사고방식
방어구가 강해질수록 기사들은 **충격 전달** 또는 **힘 집중**에 유리한 무기를 많이 썼습니다.
* **철퇴(메이스)**: 날 대신 무게로 눌러 부수고, 틈새가 아니어도 타격으로 손상을 유도.
* **전쟁망치(워 해머)**: 면 타격 + 부리/스파이크로 힘을 좁은 면적에 집중.
목표는 “자르는 것”이 아니라:
* 충격으로 뼈·장기를 손상시키거나,
* 판금을 찌그러뜨려 기능을 저하시키거나,
* 관절/끈/연결부의 약점을 공략하는 것입니다.
---
### 5) 도끼와 폴암: ‘서민 무기’가 아니라 ‘효율 무기’
도끼는 제작·정비가 비교적 용이하고 힘 전달이 좋아 상하를 막론하고 많이 쓰였습니다.
**폴암(장병기)**
후기로 갈수록 갑옷이 강해지고 전투가 조직화되면서, 도보 난전에서는 **거리(리치)와 지렛대**가 강력해졌습니다.
* **폴액스(poleaxe)**: 후기 기사 도보전의 대표(도끼날+망치/부리+상단 스파이크)
* **글레이브/할버드 계열**: 베기·찔러내기·걸어 당기기
* **스피어(창)**: 단순해 보여도 진형과 거리 통제에서 매우 강력
---
### 6) 단검: 레슬링 이후의 ‘마무리 무기’
* **론델 대거**처럼 단단한 찌르기형이 유명합니다.
* 밀집 난전이나 넘어뜨린 뒤에는 단검으로 **투구 틈, 겨드랑이, 관절부** 같은 약점을 노립니다.
* 또한 장비 끈을 자르거나 수리 등 실용성도 있지만, 전투에서의 위상은 “근접 제압 이후 결정타”에 있습니다.
---
### 7) 원거리 무기(활·석궁)와 기사의 대응
기사 개인은 보통 돌격·근접의 주체였지만, 활·석궁은 전장의 규칙을 바꿨습니다.
* **석궁**: 관통력이 강하고 훈련 진입장벽이 낮은 편. 대신 재장전이 느림.
* **장궁(롱보우)**: 숙련이 필요하지만 연사력이 뛰어나 전장을 뒤흔듭니다.
기사들은 더 좋은 갑옷, 전술 변화(지형 활용, 하차, 보병과의 결합)로 대응했습니다.
---
### 8) 방패: 필수 도구에서 ‘맥락적 도구’로
초기~중기에는 방패가 대단히 중요합니다(카이트 → 히터).
후기로 갈수록 판금과 양손 무기 운용이 늘면서 전장 맥락에 따라 방패 비중이 줄지만, 완전히 사라진 것은 아니고 특히 대회·특수 상황에서는 다양한 형태로 남습니다.
---
### 9) 전장·공성전·토너먼트에서 무기 선택은 달랐다
* 전장: 랜스 돌격 후 난전(검/철퇴/도끼/폴암/그랩플링)
* 공성전: 좁은 공간과 작업성 때문에 폴암·도끼·석궁·단검 비중 상승
* 토너먼트: 경기용 둔화 무기·전용 갑옷·규칙이 “효과적인 무기” 자체를 바꿈
---
### 10) 추가 팁·응용(콘텐츠 제작/게임/교육)
* “기사 = 검” 고정관념 대신, **상대 갑옷과 거리**에 따라 무기가 바뀌는 흐름을 보여주면 사실성이 급상승합니다.
* 후기 기사 도보전의 핵심은 **폴액스 + 하프 소딩 + 그랩플링 + 단검** 같은 “제압 후 약점 공략”입니다.
* 무기만이 아니라 **예비 랜스, 보급, 수리, 수행원** 같은 운영 요소까지 넣으면 중세 전쟁의 현실이 살아납니다.
---
## 日本語
### 1) 騎士は「一本の武器」ではなく「武器セット」を使った
状況（突撃→乱戦→追撃、戦場→攻城、相手の鎧）に応じて武器を替えるのが現実的です。
### 2) 主要武器
* **ランス**：騎乗突撃の主役。衝突後は折れやすく、乱戦武器へ移行。
* **剣**：万能の副武器だが、板金鎧相手では切断よりも刺突・ハーフソーディング・組み討ちが重要。
* **メイス／ウォーハンマー**：対鎧。切るのではなく、衝撃・集中荷重で損傷を狙う。
* **斧／ポールアーム（特にポールアックス）**：後期の徒歩戦で強い。リーチとレバレッジが決定的。
* **ダガー**：組み討ちの後、隙間（関節・脇・バイザー）を狙う近接の決め手。
* **盾**：初期～中期に重要。後期は文脈により比重が下がるが用途は残る。
### 3) 応用の観点
リアリズムを出すなら「ランス→乱戦→組み討ち→ダガー」の流れ、鎧に応じた武器選択、攻城戦の狭所戦を強調すると説得力が増します。
---
## Español
### 1) Idea central
Un caballero no dependía de “una espada legendaria”, sino de un **conjunto de armas** que cambiaba según fase de combate, tipo de armadura y escenario.
### 2) Armas principales
* **Lanza (lance)**: arma emblemática de la carga a caballo; suele romperse y luego domina el cuerpo a cuerpo.
* **Espada**: versátil y simbólica; contra armadura de placas se usa más para **estocar en huecos**, controlar la punta (media espada) y luchar con agarres.
* **Maza y martillo de guerra**: diseñados para **trauma y concentración de fuerza** contra armadura.
* **Hachas y armas de asta (poleaxe, etc.)**: muy fuertes a pie por alcance, palanca, golpe y enganche.
* **Dagas**: decisivas en distancia corta y remate por huecos de la armadura.
* **Escudos**: clave en etapas tempranas; su papel cambia con la expansión de la placa y armas a dos manos.
### 3) Aplicación práctica
Para realismo, muestra el cambio de armas con la evolución del combate y la armadura, y no solo “duelos limpios”: la lucha real incluye empujones, agarres, derribos y remates.
---
## Français
### 1) Principe
Le chevalier médiéval combat avec un **ensemble d’armes**, adapté à la phase (charge, mêlée, siège), à l’armure adverse (maille, gambison, plates) et au terrain.
### 2) Armes majeures
* **Lance** : arme de la charge montée; souvent brisée à l’impact, puis transition vers la mêlée.
* **Épée** : symbole et arme polyvalente; face à la plate, elle sert surtout au **coup d’estoc dans les ouvertures**, au contrôle (demi-épée) et au corps à corps avec lutte.
* **Masse / marteau d’armes** : pensée “anti-armure”, privilégiant choc et concentration de force.
* **Hache et armes d’hast (notamment la pollaxe)** : redoutables à pied, grâce à la portée et au levier, combinant frappe, crochet, estoc.
* **Dague** : essentielle en clinch et pour viser les interstices (articulations, visière, aisselles).
* **Bouclier** : central au début/milieu; rôle plus contextuel ensuite avec l’armure de plates et les armes à deux mains.
### 3) Application
Pour une représentation crédible, montrer la dynamique “lance → mêlée → lutte → dague”, l’importance de l’armure dans le choix d’arme, et la différence nette entre bataille ouverte, siège et tournoi.