What is the name of the battle axe? Types of battle axes: modern and ancient weapons. Viking battle axes

An ax is one of the first human-made tools. A sharpened stone tied to a stick helped primitive man dig root crops from the ground, cut down trees, hunt and defend himself from enemies. Later, axes were made of copper, bronze, and steel. Their form was improved, various variations of this instrument appeared, both combat and peaceful. Axes were widely used for combat in Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Persia. Since those ancient times, the design and methods of using these weapons have remained almost the same as they were conceived by our ancestors.

Weapons that don't change

Simplicity and perfection are exactly the words that can be used to describe battle axes. Photos of samples found in ancient mounds ancient weapons confirm this fact.

Their basic forms have not changed much over the past thousands of years. Scythian sagaris, Greek labrys - their recognizable outlines are repeated in medieval Romanesque axes, and in Viking battle axes, and in the weapons of the Russians. It's not a lack of imagination. There are simply things that no longer need to be improved, because they are already perfect. This doesn't mean they are necessarily difficult. There is nothing simpler than a wheel, but no one has improved it. Not a single inventor contributed anything fundamentally new to its design. Whether made of wood or stone, with or without hubs, a wheel is always a wheel.

The same is true with an axe. It can be stone, bronze or made of the best steel. It may be German, Chinese or African. But it is impossible to confuse an ax with another weapon. Different countries, dissimilar cultures, independently of each other, came to the creation of this ingenious weapon. Simple, cheap and extremely practical, it was equally applicable in everyday life and in battle. Actually, sometimes it is difficult to say for what exact purposes these weapons were used. Yes, specialized axes created exclusively for warriors cannot be confused with household tools. It’s just that the pattern doesn’t work in the opposite direction in this case. Any ax suitable for chopping firewood instantly becomes a combat ax; you only need to want to chop something other than pine logs. Or anyone.

Why were axes popular in Rus'?

Viking battle axes are practically legendary. There is not a single film about the harsh northerners in which a sharply sharpened ax of impressive size would not flash in the frame. Moreover, in Europe at the same time they mostly used swords, and in the East - sabers. That is, the territory in which one could see an ax in the hands of a warrior with the same probability as a sword was not so large. Why? If the ancient battle ax was so bad that few people used it, then why was it used at all? Weapons are not a reason to show off your originality. There is no time for external effect, this is a matter of life and death. And if the ax was good in battle, then why did the sword clearly dominate?

In fact, there are no bad or good weapons. Unusable tools simply disappear from use forever. Those unfortunate people who trusted the promises of the inventors die, and the rest draw conclusions. Weapons that remain in active use are, by definition, quite convenient and practical. But it remains so only under certain conditions. There is no universal weapon that would be appropriate everywhere and always. What are the advantages and disadvantages of an axe? Why were the battle axes of the Slavs and Normans not widespread in Europe?

First of all, it should be noted that an ax is a weapon of a foot warrior. It is much more convenient for a rider to work with a sword or saber, depending on the situation. This is why Viking seafarers so often used axes, unlike European or Eastern cavalry. Rus', which traditionally had close cultural ties with the Viking northerners, could not help but adopt these features of combat. And there were a large number of foot soldiers in Rus'. Therefore, many preferred the battle ax.

Ax and sword - what's the difference?

If we talk about the comparative characteristics of a sword and an ax in equal conditions, in this case in a foot fight, then each type of weapon has its own advantages and disadvantages. The ax has much more power blow, it easily cuts through armor, but a sword is unlikely to cope with such a task. The ax can be thrown. In addition, these weapons are much cheaper. Not every warrior can buy a good sword. But the axe, even if devoid of decorative elements, will be affordable for anyone. And this type of weapon has many more functions. The sword is only good for war. The ax can also be used for its intended purpose, that is, to chop and chop a tree, and not an enemy. In addition, the ax is more difficult to damage. It does not chip as much as a sword, and such damage is of little significance. This is why battle axes were valued. You could replace the damaged butt with your own hands by simply attaching a suitable shaft. But to put the sword in order, you need a forge.

Compared to swords, battle axes have two main disadvantages. Due to the center of gravity falling on the metal part of the weapon, they are less maneuverable. But it is precisely this design feature that gives the ax blow its crushing force. But it is more difficult for them to fend off an enemy attack, so warriors who prefer this type of weapon almost always used shields. And the ax is not capable of a piercing blow, and in battle this can turn out to be a serious problem. A lunge always occurs faster than a swing; a warrior with an ax in such a situation loses in speed to an opponent with a sword. After the heavy, durable armor fell out of use, the latter type of weapon gave way to the much lighter and swifter sword. In the same way, battle axes retreated to much more maneuverable fencing techniques. There weren't many Viking seafarers left, for whom cheapness and practicality were decisive. But at the same time, our ancestors still used such weapons.

What did a battle ax look like in Rus'?

One way or another, this weapon was very popular in Rus'. Even in written evidence dating back to the 8th century, there are references to this type of military equipment. A huge number of axes found were made between the 9th and 13th centuries. This was due to the technological leap that occurred during this period. The number of axes found in burials and ancient settlements is amazing. More than one and a half thousand copies have survived to this day. Among them there are obvious battle axes, such as coined ones, and universal ones, suitable for both war and peaceful work.

The specimens found vary greatly in size. Conventionally, they can be divided into two-handed and one-handed, just like swords. Small axes in economic use could be a tool for coopers and carpenters. The larger ones were used by carpenters and lumberjacks.

Often in films, battle axes are depicted as huge, almost impossible to lift, with monstrously wide blades. This, of course, looks very impressive on the screen, but has little to do with reality. In fact, no one would use such a pointlessly heavy and clumsy machine in battle. Slavic battle axes found in military burials are quite compact and light in weight. The length of the handle of such a weapon is on average about 80 cm, the length of the blade varies from 9 to 15 cm, width - from 10 to 12, weight - within half a kilogram. And this is quite reasonable. These dimensions are sufficient, they provide an optimal combination of impact force and maneuverability. Battle axes made in such modest, “non-cinematic” proportions are quite capable of cutting through armor and inflicting a mortal wound. Create unnecessary difficulties for yourself with your own hands by weighing down effective weapon? No warrior would do such a stupid thing. Moreover, archaeological finds prove that the warriors also used even lighter hatchets, weighing from 200 to 350 grams.

Military weapons in ancient Slavic burials

Working axes, which served as an indispensable attribute of the burial of Russian men, were larger. Their length was from 1 to 18 cm, width - from 9 to 15 cm, and weight reached 800 g. However, it should be noted that the classic funeral decoration of both a warrior and a civilian in Rus' implied his readiness not so much for battles, but to a long journey through the halls of the afterlife. So they put into the mounds what might be needed on the campaign. The ax turned out to be indispensable in this regard. It could perform the functions of both a weapon and a tool at the same time.

However, one can also dispute theories about the purely peaceful or exclusively combat use of specific axes. Judging by the coinage and rich decoration, some large specimens were clearly status weapons - no one would put such insignia on a wood chopping tool. This probably depended on the personal preferences and physical capabilities of the warriors.

The famous Arab traveler Ibn Faddlan noted in his notes that the Russian warriors he met had swords, axes and knives with them, and never parted with these weapons.

What types of axes are there?

First of all, you need to decide on the terminology. What is the name of this or that type of battle ax? Axe, cleaver, chaser, halberd, glevia, guisarma, francisca... Strictly speaking, all these axes are blades mounted on a shaft, capable of chopping. But at the same time they differ greatly.

A mint, or klevets, is a small hatchet whose blade is made in the form of a sharp, beak-like protrusion. The blow with this part of the weapon is exceptionally powerful. High-quality chasing can be used to pierce not only armor, but also shields. On the side of the butt there is a small hammer.

The hammer hatchet is a separate type of weapon, a direct descendant of the Scythian sagaris. It has a narrow blade and also a hammer on the butt.

A poleaxe is not just a huge axe. This is a structurally different weapon, differently balanced, therefore the technique of fighting with an ax is fundamentally different from that when using an ax. The blade of the ax is usually arched, sometimes it can be double-sided.

Franziska - a small throwing ax used by the Franks. This is a relative of the Indian tomahawk. The length of the Francis handle was no more than 80 cm. True, there were also large types of this weapon, not intended for throwing, but they are less remembered.

Halberd, gisarma, glevia are a kind of hybrids of an ax and a spear. The blade, reminiscent of that of a poleaxe, was combined with either the tip of a spear or a sharpened hook and was mounted on a long shaft. If the ax is a chopping type weapon, then such hybrids should also stab, and, if necessary, even cling and pull the enemy from the saddle or rampart.

All these types of bladed weapons were used in Rus'. Some were more popular, some less. We generally imagine the guards of the times of Ivan the Terrible exclusively with halberds, and, for example, the legendary knights - with huge axes. Craftsmen, making modern battle axes, copy these classic examples as far as possible, usually choosing the most spectacular ones in appearance. Unfortunately, it is the ax that makes a weak impression on a person who has little knowledge of edged weapons due to its inconspicuousness. But it was he who was the most common weapon of medieval Rus'.

Classic typology

Although in Rus' there was no pronounced classification difference between these types of weapons, the following types of battle axes can still be distinguished.

1. Weapons for combat purposes - hatchets, hammers, peckers, which physically could not be used in household work. This also includes expensively decorated axes. By the way, only 13 copies of such weapons survived, 5 of them were lost, 1 was later discovered in a foreign collection.
2. Small hatchets for universal use. These specimens look like ordinary work axes, they are simply inferior in size. The shape and dimensions of such weapons have already been described above.
3. Massive, heavy axes primarily for household purposes. They were obviously rarely used as weapons by warriors.

Mentioning the features of battle axes, we will focus only on the first two types described. The fact is that the third type is exclusively a working tool. Different versions of halberds or guizarms should not be included in the list either. They undoubtedly belong to the category of striking-cutting weapons, but the length of the shaft does not allow them to be considered an adequate replacement for an ax.

Axes exclusively for military purposes

The classical classification of A. N. Kirpichnikov divides battle axes into 8 types.

• Type 1. These axes have a triangular, narrow and elongated blade, sometimes slightly curved downwards. The jaws of the butt are triangular in shape, and the hammer attachment always produces a square in cross section. They were common in the X-XIII centuries. It is this type that the coin, the most popular battle ax among warriors in Rus', belongs to. It is the coins that are usually found in squad burials. Judging by their exceptional numbers, these axes were not expensive imported weapons, but were made by local craftsmen.
• Type 2. Another version of the coinage. Its blade is long, trapezoidal in shape, and on the back of the butt there is a narrow lamellar “beak”. This version of the ax is found only in burials dating from the 10th and first half of the 11th centuries. Similar models were discovered during excavations in Latvia, Poland, Sweden and Hungary.
• Type 3. A combat hatchet with a narrow blade, very common. Such models were found in burials of the 10th-11th centuries throughout Russia. A lot was extracted from the Vladimir mounds. But in the north of the country this type of ax is not particularly widespread. Considering the number of hatchets of this type found in Russia and other countries, and the time of their manufacture, we can conclude that this model was created by local craftsmen, and from here it migrated to neighboring states.

Axes used both in battle and for household needs

• Type 4. A version of the ax with a carved, elongated butt and a wide triangular blade extended downwards. The upper edge of the blade is straight. Often the lower part of the blade had a truncated shape, this made it possible to carry the weapon on the shoulder, resting the blade against the back. Two notches on the cheeks provided the blade with reliable fixation on the butt. Archaeologists found these axes in both combat and working versions, in a ratio of almost 50/50. Some household axes were found complete with weapons and may have been used as a universal tool, suitable for both work and battle. The axes found date back to the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Often this weapon was the only one that archaeologists discovered with a warrior, and this is not surprising. The exceptionally successful shape of the ax and a reliable, strong butt, secured with triangular jaws, made this weapon surprisingly effective; its efficiency approached unity. Slavic craftsmen knew how to make battle axes practical and formidable weapons. This type of weapon was suitable for a strong vertical blow; the curved edge of the blade made it possible to deliver cutting blows - a property useful not only in battle, but also in everyday life.

Such axes are also considered an exclusively Slavic invention: in Russia, similar finds date back to the 10th century, and foreign analogues were created no earlier than the 11th century, that is, 100 years later.

• Type 5. A type of ax with a significantly drawn down blade and a pronounced notch. The cheekbones have only one lower notch. Such axes were in use in the 10th and early 12th centuries. In the north of Rus', these particular guns were extremely popular; significantly more of them were discovered than other models. And this is quite logical, because Scandinavian culture gave a similar blade shape to the Russians. There were many battle axes of this type; they actively came into use three hundred years earlier.
• Type 6. It differs from the model described above by its characteristic double cheeks. At first, these axes were used as combat axes (from the 10th to the 11th centuries). But their characteristics were significantly lower than those of the 4th type, and by the 12th century axes became predominantly working. They were usually not combative, but household tools, that is why the butt was attached so securely.

Wide-bladed and narrow-bladed universal tools

• Type 7. Axes with a symmetrically expanding large blade. The cutting edge of the blade of such a weapon is usually significantly beveled towards the shaft. Such axes are found mostly in the north of the country, which is quite logical, because they were borrowed from the Scandinavians. They were popular with Norman and Anglo-Saxon foot soldiers, as some documentary evidence has survived. But at the same time, this type of ax was actively used in everyday life, even more often than for combat purposes. In Rus' similar weapons often found in peasant burials.
• Type 8. It is very reminiscent of type 3, but its butt design is different. This is an outdated form of a heavy splitting axe, rarely used in combat conditions. Such instruments were popular as weapons in the 5th-9th centuries, later they were replaced by more advanced forms.

Old Russian axes from the collection of the State Historical Museum. At the top is a typical embossing. Underneath are axes. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Classification problem

First of all, the actual battle axes of all varieties and types stand out. In size, they basically did not differ from other axes, but had a smaller blade and were lighter - no more than 450-500 g. They were intended for battles, but could also be used for household needs, although in this regard they were not particularly convenient.

Classification of forms of battle axes from " Old Russian weapons" A.N. Kirpichnikova

The third main class is working axes. These were larger and heavier samples, designed to perform various jobs. In some situations, working axes were used in battle, but in terms of convenience they were noticeably inferior to specialized models.

Over several centuries of development, axes have repeatedly changed shape, and this applied to both combat and working samples. Only for weapons of the X-XIII centuries. It is customary to distinguish eight different types of blades. They differ in the shape and size of the working part, the presence or absence of a protruding butt, etc.

Ax options

Axes from the State Historical Museum. At the top there is a coin with a wide blade. In the middle there is a chase with a reduced butt. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The ax itself was forged from iron or steel, depending on the capabilities of the blacksmith. The ax handle used suitable wood, a simple and accessible material.

Probably, hammered battle axes were borrowed from the nomads (type I in the table by A.N. Kirpichnikov). Such a weapon had a narrow and long blade, and also received a hammer-shaped butt. A strike with a hammer could be carried out either with a blade or with a butt, which ensured the effective transfer of energy to the target. In addition, the ax had good balance, which improved the accuracy of the blow.

Different designs of coins. Drawing from the book by A.V. Viskovatov "Historical description of clothing and weapons of the Russian troops"

Scandinavian influence explains the appearance in Rus' of ax-axes with a straightened upper edge and a rounded, narrow blade drawn down (type V). This design of the blade made it possible to combine a chopping blow with cutting. There were also similar axes with a concave upper edge and a different butt (type IV).

Also “from the Varangians” came the so-called. wide-bladed axes (type VII) - axes with a blade of a triangular or similar shape, symmetrical or with slight asymmetry. It is curious that such samples could be equipped with a longer ax handle. The total length of such a battle ax, unlike other varieties, reached 1 m.

Modern reconstruction of an ancient Russian ax. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Battle and work axes of all known species were distributed throughout Ancient Rus' and were actively used by squads. At the same time, in different periods and in different regions one design or another prevailed. Thus, coinage was more common in the South, near the places of its original appearance, and Scandinavian-style axes were more common in the northern regions. However, nothing prevented the interpenetration of weapons culture and the use of other people's experience.

Simple and massive

Russian axes. Drawing from the book "Antiquities of the Russian State, Published by Highest Order"

The battle ax retained its position until the 12th century, when the situation began to change. IN archaeological complexes, dating from the 12th-13th centuries, axes are found in significant quantities, but with many copies, swords, etc. Whenever possible, warriors replaced the ax with a more convenient weapon with a long blade, while the militias retained it.

Despite the reduction in their role, battle axes remained in service. In addition, their development continued. The evolution of such weapons was associated with ax-axes of all versions. The shapes and configurations of the blade and butt changed, and the handle was modified. Subsequently, these processes led to the appearance of a wide moon-shaped blade, on the basis of which the reed was created. Its final form was determined in the 15th century, and with certain changes, such weapons served for several centuries.

Reeds of different configurations. Drawing from the book by A.V. Viskovatov "Historical description of clothing and weapons of the Russian troops"

Helpful Versatility

However further development army, the growing importance of cavalry and new threats to infantry led to rearmament and changes in the nomenclature of the main equipment of the infantryman. The role of battle axes was reduced; some of their tasks were now solved with the help of swords and sabers. However, the development of axes did not stop and led to the emergence of new types of edged polearms.

Subsequently, these samples were withdrawn from service due to final obsolescence. Despite all this, working axes have not gone away. They remained in the army and the national economy and did their own thing. The versatility and ability to perform different tasks turned out to be useful - and after leaving the battlefield, the axes were not left without work.

Ax is one of the types of battle axes, characterized by a semicircular blade shape (crescent). It can have one or two cutting parts and a long handle, which allows the entire structure to be well balanced and allows maneuvering during combat.

Story

The history of man is strongly connected with weapons. At first, its use was necessary in order to kill the animal and obtain food. Then to protect their home, and subsequently, to capture new territories. War is one of the constant companions of progress, forcing us to develop and modernize our military weapons.

Ancient prototype

It is believed that the ancestor of the ax is an ordinary stone ax. It is believed that their age can be considered from the Upper Paleolithic, that is, more than 20 thousand years. A piece of stone was attached to the handle using strips of leather or animal tendons. Part of the stone (the tip) chipped when it hit other stones.

In more late time the shaft could fit firmly into the hole in the ax handle, which was sometimes (for greater reliability) filled with resin.

Sacrificial Attribute

The first axes were found during excavations of cities in Greece. The ancient weapon was called Labrys and looked like a double-sided ax with two semicircular blades. According to historical documents, they were used by priestesses of the Mother Goddess during ceremonies to kill a sacrificial animal, most often a bull.

Interesting! The weapon was often enormous in size (larger than a man's height). This is exactly the artifact that was found during excavations on the island of Crete.

Spreading

It is believed that this type of military attributes was actively used by the ancient Greeks in the first millennium AD and from there spread to other territories. Having reached the Scythians, Labrys was modernized and turned into the Sagaris ax. The weapons came to the Russian knights from the Vikings and Gauls and also changed as the warriors encountered German knights clad in armor. In order to break armor, Russian axes had a special spike on the reverse side, often curved downwards.

Fact. In Asian countries, skilled fighters preferred the ax to the axe, since it was better balanced and gave much more maneuverability.

Today

These days, the poleaxe has become less popular than the axe, as it is a more compact and easy-to-carry weapon. However, true experts know the value of this ancient type of weapon.

Characteristics

Essential elements:

• blades (there may be two of them);
• handles (wooden or plastic);
• butt, which can be made in the form of a spike, a hammer or a second blade);
• counterweight.

The plastic handle is, of course, a tribute to our time. Previously, the handle was made from a piece of wood and was often wrapped with leather strips or rope to prevent slipping. Its length could vary depending on who was using the weapon. For example, infantrymen could use an ax with a shaft longer than 2 meters (the so-called combat halberd). The boarding gun could exceed even these dimensions and be more than 3 meters long. However, the standard length of this military attribute was on average from 50 to 80 centimeters.

Also, depending on the use, the length of the cutting part may vary, from several to one hundred centimeters.

Multifunctionality

This combat attribute can be intended to perform a variety of functions. It is versatile and can be used for both defense and attack. The ax can be considered the golden mean between a regular sword and an axe.

Many European armies had special units, armed with axes. Such fighters were used to protect the flanks from the enemy. An armed soldier in close combat could easily pull a rider off a horse and inflict powerful injuries on him in the lower extremities, since this part of the body was not protected by a shield. This military attribute was also used to damage the legs of horses.

A weapon with a long shaft and a point on the cutting surface could be used as a spear. It could be thrown at an approaching enemy line, which made it possible to keep the enemy at a distance.

In martial arts, where warriors fought one-on-one, this ax had an advantage over other types of bladed weapons, since it was perfectly balanced and often had additional devices on the butt.

Boarding halberds were used in naval clashes and gave a huge advantage in battle.

Interesting! Warriors in Russia armed with this type of battle ax were called spearmen.

Common types of ax

Halberd

The tip of the halberd most often had a tip (up to one meter long) similar to a spear, which gives it some resemblance to the weapon of the same name. The point could have a long or short hook-shaped protrusion.

Halberds vary in shaft size and blade shape. The handle could be 2 - 2.5 meters long, and the mass of this combat attribute could be from 2 to 5.5 kilograms. The cutting part with the tip delivered the most powerful piercing and chopping blows, and the butt easily crushed the strongest materials, including human bone.

Boarding halberds could exceed the length of standard ones by several meters. In addition, they had an enlarged hook (for good grip on the side).

Brodex or broad-bladed ax

The name comes from the English phrase “broad ax” - a wide axe. A wide trapezoidal cutting surface distinguishes this option, which was popular in the Scandinavian countries and the Baltic.

There were also double-edged (double-sided) brodexes, but their use was quite rare due to heavy weight and inconvenient design. Therefore, such axes were used only by executioners to carry out the sentence.

Interesting! At a later time, the rounded blade of this tool found application in agriculture. It is perfect for trimming tree trunks or wooden beams.

Berdysh

In the early to mid-13th century, weapons appeared in Europe, the name of which came from the Polish word “berdysz” - battle axe. The design of the upper part was divided into several elements, which had their own name: the butt - blunt, the drawn end of the blade - braid. The wooden handle (ratovishche) was driven into the butt, and was attached with straps and rivet nails through special holes. A subtok was often attached to the bottom of the shaft - a special iron support that allowed the weapon to be installed on the ground.

The cavalry's guns were smaller and lighter than those of the infantry and had two rings attached to the handle for a belt.

Sakravor

An ax that came from ancient Armenia, which, in fact, gave the name to the Armenian universal warriors - sakravors. Their duties included providing for the army, cutting down trees for roads, building bridges and much more. Of course, the ax was not the only weapon these fighters had. But its advantages for use in work and combat are difficult to overestimate.

Guizarma

The Italian copy of the halberd has a narrow and long blade with a curve. At the end of the cutting surface there is a curved branch (spike), and the main part ends in a straight, pointed blade.

The guisarma is considered a European weapon that is designed for a spectacular strike. Most often, the halberd was used to stop a mounted enemy, damaging the tendons of horses or throwing off riders upon impact.

Scandinavian ax

A medieval military weapon with a wide, symmetrical blade about 2 millimeters thick, ending in a sleeve (2.5 cm wide). The length and width of the cutting part, which diverged in different directions, were almost the same, from 17 to 18 centimeters. The length of the handle of such a weapon was slightly more than a meter. Ceremonial attributes could have a longer shaft - from 1.5 to 1.7 meters and have silver inlay. The mass of the military weapon varied from 800 grams to one and a half kilograms.

Polex

One of the modifications of Scandinavian weapons that spread in Europe. This version of the ax is considered one of the most popular in the infantry. The Polex blade is equipped with a needle-like spike; the same device could be located on the lower part of the handle. The shaft is girded with special splints - strips of iron fastened along its entire length. This mechanism was used to prevent damage to the tree in battle.

The cutting part of such a weapon was prefabricated and consisted of replaceable elements that were attached to pins or special bolts.

Lochaber ax

Another name for this modification, which has a great resemblance to the reed, is Lohaberakst. She received this name from the name of the Lochaber region in Scotland. The cutting part could be smooth or slightly wavy and reach a length of about half a meter. Its upper part was shaped like a crescent with a pointed end. The eye was sometimes equipped with a special hook, which helped to pull riders off their horses.

Interesting. There is an opinion that the modern halberd originated from Lochaberakst.

Glaive

A weapon for close combat, which consisted of a tip, about 60 centimeters long and 5 to 7 centimeters wide, and a one and a half meter wooden handle. There was a spike-like protrusion on the butt of such a weapon. The glaive could deliver piercing and slashing blows, repel attacks, and also capture the enemy’s weapon and knock it out of their hands.

Interesting. It is believed that the Glaive is an ordinary agricultural scythe, with a slightly modified blade.

Perun

One of the most mysterious amulets, shaped like an ax. According to ancient Slavic legends, Perun's ax bestows strength, courage and perseverance in battles, and advances towards the intended goal. The weapon was popular among the Scandinavians and Slavs, was considered a symbol of the clan and bestowed the wisdom of the ancestors on the warrior.

Fact. The “Ax of Perun” amulet is still popular today; it can look like a bracelet or a neck decoration.

Conclusion

Nowadays there are a huge number of the most various types weapons, however, at the origins of humanity there were very few of them: sticks and stone axes, some of which were later transformed into axes. These ancient tools, due to their versatility and compact size, have not lost their relevance today.

An ax is a thing known to almost everyone as a very useful tool for peaceful creative work. We will also talk about another aspect of the ax - combat. And of course, the entire text will be illustrated with pictures, where there are a lot of axes and people with axes (and without)...

Intermediate position between pure impact weapon and bladed (cutting-cutting-piercing) are occupied by a large group of impact-cutting weapons. This name hides all types of battle axes. As a means of cutting down trees and enemy heads, the ax has been known since ancient times, since the Stone Age.

The sharp chip of the ax provided not a simple blow, but penetration, clearly marking the chopping side.

The ax is probably the most typical example of a household tool that has turned into a weapon. This explains its wide distribution and presence among almost all nations before the advent of such purely military weapons as the sword. But even after the spread of the sword, the battle ax, especially in the West, was perhaps its most important rival.

Making an ax is much easier than making a sword. It is more multifunctional. At close range it can also be used as a throwing weapon, easily penetrating enemy defenses. The power of a chopping blow with an ax is very great due to its large mass and relatively short blade length compared to a sword.

With the corners of the blade you can not only catch the enemy, but also poke him. How combat unit A butt can also work, and its handle can end with a knob or a point.

The ax can be used with one or two hands. The ability to take it with a wide grip gives its owner an advantage in close combat. The ax is very effective against an armored opponent. With it, like a club, you can simply crush the armor if you couldn’t cut through it, stun the enemy, stun him. In general, the penetrating power of an ax is very high.

Battle axes can be classified into two main categories - the length of the handle, which determines overall size weapons, and the shape of an ax blade. The handle can be of three main sizes. An ax with a long handle, which is already a pole weapon, is designed mainly for combat with a mounted enemy.

A two-handed ax or a large ax with a handle up to one meter long is held with both hands by both the end and with a wide grip, which makes it possible to block part of the blows with the handle, strike and strike with the second end, which is often equipped with a blade or tip.

With a wide grip, the second hand is usually directly under the blade and is often covered by the curved part of it. This length of the handle allows you to sharply change the combat distance and use the ax as a weapon for a horseman who can, holding it by the end with one hand, “get” an infantryman. Compared to a sword of the same length, such an ax is much more convenient in close combat and in cramped conditions in general, for example, in small rooms or narrow corridors.

A short or so-called hand ax, the length of the handle of which does not exceed the length of the forearm, can be used in pairs, both as a weapon for the left hand and as a throwing weapon. For such battle axes, the handle may end with a thickening or a knob so that the weapon does not slip out of the hand during strong chopping blows and rotations, and also as a support for the hand holding the ax during pulling blows.

Holding such an ax directly under the blade, it can be used to deliver brass knuckle-type blows. As for the shape of the blade, we will consider three main types. The ax itself usually has a fairly straight blade, bent downwards somewhat more than upwards - this strengthens the blow from top to bottom and partially covers the hand. The width is equal to or greater than the length of the blade.

This is especially evident in the early forms of the axe, where the emphasis was mainly on its chopping, piercing abilities. Such axes had a very elongated shape (from the butt to the blade), and the width of the ax could even be twice the length of its blade.

The ax has a clearly defined semicircular, moon-shaped blade, the length of which is usually greater than its width.

This shape of the blade somewhat reduces the penetrating power of the weapon, but increases its ability to poke strikes with the upper angle and makes it possible to perform not just chopping, but also chopping with pull (“collapse”) blows.

We will call that form of an ax where the upper end sharply protrudes forward, turning it almost into a piercing-cutting weapon, a reed, although the classic reed, which also provides complete protection for the second hand, since the lower part of its tip is adjacent to the handle , found only in Russia and Poland.

Finally, we will call an ax with a blade tapering towards the end, having a triangular or dagger-shaped shape, a klevets. The technique of working with it is similar to working with embossing, but also allows for cutting blows due to the presence of a blade.

The ax can be single-sided or double-sided. In the first case, the side opposite the blade is called the butt and can be equipped with an additional hook or spike.

In the second, the blades of the ax are on both sides and, as a rule, have the same size and shape. Their working technique allows them to cut in two directions without turning the blade, and also to easily perform “counter”, similar to jabbing, forward strikes aimed at repelling direct attacks.

The ax is equally common on all continents, but the technique of working with it has reached its greatest development in Europe, where it is the second weapon after the sword. In the Far East, the ax in its pure form was supplanted by the claw and halberd, and although both the ax and the ax are included in the list of eighteen classical types of Chinese weapons, they are used much less frequently.
The reason for its unpopularity may be that here it is less functional, since there is no need to pierce heavy armor with it, and other elements of its technique are successfully implemented when working with other types eastern weapons. For example, many of the bends and hooks characteristic of the European technique of working with an ax are found in the technique of working with a Chinese and Japanese sickle.
The historical development of the ax shape as a weapon looks like this. The most ancient metal axes had a short handle, convenient for household use, and a narrow blade, copying the shape of a stone ax.

However, the metal tip was, of course, much sharper than the stone one, and the effectiveness of its impact began to depend not so much on the amount of mass distributed along the length of the blade, but on the width of the chopping surface. This shape of the ax lengthened its handle, making it capable of cutting off branches well or using it as a kind of hook, like a Canadian lumberjack, which is used by raftsmen and lumberjacks. The long handle made it possible to better use the inertia of the weapon’s movement and made the ax a weapon not only for infantrymen, but also for horsemen. Ax development as military weapons passed along the line of replacing cutting-penetrating techniques with cutting-cutting ones. First the ax appeared, then the reed, which is no longer suitable as a household tool.

The evolution of the biting fish followed a different path. A stone chopper on a stick combined the functions of an ax and a knife. The main idea of ​​a klevets is a knife mounted on a stick. Subsequently, the klevet, the penetrating qualities of which became more and more intensified until it was transformed into a faceted coin, seemed to pick up that group of techniques that faded into the background during the transformation of the ax into a cutting weapon. A new attempt to combine both groups in one weapon was combined axes, the head of which was a hammer or a klevet.

All the dynamics described above can be traced in one form or another both in the West and in the East. The ancient Egyptians were armed with axes

Since the time of the Trojan War, the ancient Greeks actively fought with them, using both an ordinary and a double-sided ax.

However, during the era of the Roman Empire, the use of the ax in the army gradually began to fade away - the Romans, with their well-established system of combat in close formation, did not need this type of weapon. During this period, the auxiliary troops of the Italian allies or the lictor's guard were armed with an axe.

The turning point came at the end of the empire, when the Roman army encountered well-armed barbarian, mainly Germanic, tribes, whose favorite weapon was the battle ax - “Francis”.

Outwardly, the franciska fit an ordinary axe, but had a crooked bend at the bottom. It was a percussion technique, and Frankish warriors were known for their ability to cut off limbs and split open skulls with their battle axes. Sometimes Francis was thrown around. The ax was the symbol of the Fransian warrior. He never parted with it during his lifetime and went to the grave with it - it was placed on the feet of the deceased.

With the development of chivalry, the ax became the second weapon after the sword. Its forms varied. Polish and German axes acquired an almost L-shaped shape, convenient for inflicting wide wounds.

In England, the ax was often used as a weapon for the second hand, holding a sword in the first. In this case, with an ax it was possible to pick up the enemy’s leg, pull his sword away, grabbing him with the ax like a hook; Having blocked the sword with the sword, strike a powerful blow with the axe. Everywhere in Europe, the ax was used in conjunction with a shield.

The use of a shield made it possible, for example, to block the blow of a sword with it, to hook the enemy’s sword or hand with an ax so that his sword was, as it were, sandwiched between the shield and the ax. Then, with a sharp jerk towards himself, he was knocked out. And against the enemy’s shield, you could hit it from top to bottom by the edge, pull it towards yourself and, when the enemy opens up, poke the corner of the ax into his head. The ax fighting technique of the Scandinavian Vikings, whose battle axes had the appearance of a cleaver, against which any armor was practically ineffective. And although some heroes even managed to throw such axes, which reached the warrior’s shoulder, the technique of using it was quite varied and included not only chopping blows, but also thrusting with the upper edge of the ax.

In this way it was possible not only to repulse the enemy’s sword, but also to try to seriously damage his hand, and the arc-shaped trajectory of the movement made it possible, having thus neutralized the enemy’s weapon, to easily strike him with the next movement full force. In close combat, the second end of the ax was also actively used, with which sensitive pokes were applied. The cavalry was cut with a Danish-type battle axe, which also had a semicircular shape. The upper edge of this type of ax was elongated, and the handle had a slight upward bend, which increased the force of the blow. They chopped with such an ax, holding it with both hands by the handle and rising in stirrups.

The ancient Slavs also knew the battle ax well. Archaeological excavations, especially in Northern Rus', show that the number of battle axes there was twice as large as the number of swords.

The battle ax of the ancient Slavs is similar to an ordinary carpenter's ax, but often has a recess at the bottom that covers the hand well when gripping the blade. The Slavic ax is somewhat shorter and lighter than the Scandinavian one. It, just like the Scandinavian axe, has the ability to hit with an ax like a brass knuckles, but since it was much lighter, it was more convenient to maneuver. You could even twist it in a figure eight when gripping it under the blade. An iron or iron-bound handle was used not only for poking, but also for striking. Both infantrymen and horsemen were armed with an axe.

By the 15th century, the main type of European battle ax became a one-handed ax with a straight, often metal handle. The weight of such a battle ax averaged 1.2 kg, and the length was 80-90 cm. The handle was clearly visible and sometimes even marked with a restrictive ring. On the butt there was a spike-piercer, a hook, or most often a coin.

The blade of the ax combined with the chasing was usually quite thin. Such weapons can be considered combined; they were intended for combat with various options armor Stronger and more durable armor was pierced by chasing, weaker ones were hacked or cut through with an ax. Sometimes the butt ended with a platform with projections, which is very reminiscent of a hammer for preparing chops.

The ax blade could have different shapes and lengths. Its standard length was about 20 cm, although some types of axes, stylized as ancient examples, had a blade length of only 7-8 cm. The large ax was used much less frequently, as was the ax on a long shaft, supplanted by the halberd and its many varieties.

An interesting type of ax developed in the Carpathian region. Valashka...

It had a very small blade, about 7 cm long, and a miniature butt and served as both an ax and a cane.

This ax can be manipulated almost like a stick. Wallachka was both a weapon of local bandits and, as in other regions, a symbol of dignity and wealth. Such axes were usually inlaid, decorated with carvings and precious metals. Ambassadorial axes in Rus' also served as a similar symbol.

By the 16th century, the ax became an honorary weapon or was equipped with various hidden devices. You can hide a dagger in the ax handle; the hollow shaft can hide a sword, which is not secured inside and flies out when simply shaken. The crowning achievement of such invention was the cricket, a hybrid of an ax and a pistol, the muzzle of which was located at the end of the handle, near the blade, and the handle itself served as the barrel.

Similar “mutant” axes were widely used in the second half of the 16th century, but XVII century the battle ax as a weapon ceased to exist.

The ax remained in Eastern Europe somewhat longer as a reed, turning into a long, powerful blade on a long handle, which could easily cut, chop and stab. The Croatian berdysh, with a total length of 153 cm, has a blade about 50 cm long, rounded at the top like a saber. Its lower part had a complex curved shape and could be used for a variety of hooks. The Russian berdysh is a much more multifunctional weapon. Its rather long notch, formed by the lower end of the blade recessed into the shaft, completely protects the hand, which is very convenient to hold the shaft in this place, especially when you need to change the combat distance.

Unlike other types of axes, it is convenient to use the reed with a reverse grip, acting like a scythe - this is what the warriors armed with it did, moving in the front ranks of the infantry and cutting off the enemy’s legs. The total length of the reed varied from 145 to 170 cm, and the length of its blade - from 65 to 80 cm.
The technique of working with a reed is extremely similar to working with a Chinese dadao or Japanese naginata. The principles of fighting with a powerful blade on a long shaft are largely the same and, perhaps, that is why in Russian literature the name “dadao” (Chinese “big sword” or “ big knife") is translated by the word "berdysh", although it has a completely different configuration and form of attachment to the shaft.

Finishing the conversation about the reed, I would like to note that this form of weapon is no longer an ax and occupies an intermediate position between it and a halberd. It’s a bit of a shame that such good edged weapons appeared too late - when they were increasingly being replaced by firearms, and the reed often served not so much as a weapon, but as a stand for a arquebus or as a ceremonial, “decorative” element adorning the guard of honor.

The ax was also known in India, where it had a short handle and a wide moon-shaped blade. The technique of their work was quite simple and was based on ordinary chopping blows.
The Japanese masakari, as a rule, had a long handle and was, in general, a pole weapon.

Warriors armed with it are found in drawings reflecting the acts of samurai of the Kamakura period (1185-1333), but even there these weapons are the weapons of selected warriors. The length of the shaft is up to two meters, the blade is massive and heavy, semicircular in shape, and the butt is powerful.
In Korea, the battle ax was also widespread, both before the unification of the Three States (668) and after the strengthening of Chinese influence. Judging by the frescoes, the Korean battle ax was two-handed, with a massive, slightly beveled blade. A blow from such a two-handed ax easily pierced almost any armor. Over time, thanks to Chinese influence, the use of the ax was limited, and by the 16th century. it was preserved as a specific weapon of the Korean fleet. Ax of the 16th century. also two-handed, has a semicircular blade, a complex butt with several hooks bent in different directions, and a spear point on the shaft. Immediately below the blade there are two oblique protrusions that serve as a stop for the hand and are used to “catch” enemy weapons. The technique of working with this weapon was very diverse and was more reminiscent of working with a halberd than with an ax.
In China, the battle ax was called "fu" and existed in two main functional versions. A two-handed or large ax "dafu" and a one-handed ax used in pairs - "shuangfu".

With a battle ax, not only ordinary chopping and cutting blows are performed, but also blocks with the butt or upper edge, as well as wide sweeping blows. Both infantry and cavalry were armed with an ax in China. Usually the blade of a horseman's ax was shorter, making it easier to chop than to cut.

The battle ax was the weapon of many heroes of Chinese classics. One of the most famous characters in Shi Nai'an's novel "River Pools" Li Kui, the Black Whirlwind, fights with two powerful battle axes (one of the systems of wielding them is named after him), and another hero of the same novel, So Chao, fights with a battle ax on a long handle, sitting on a horse.

The ax was also a weapon of the martial arts of Indonesia and the Philippines. The Philippine axe, whose working technique is based on the same basic movements as working with a standard stick, is a dual weapon, has a clear semicircular blade shape, both ends of which are recessed into the handle. Malay-Indonesian battle ax appearance similar to Chinese, but its handle often ends with a “crowbar” type tip. The Malay ax is called the kapak (and its shorter and smaller version is the kapak kesil). The technique of working with it includes poking and chopping blows, similar to blows with a knife, held under the handle.

The ax served as the basis for the creation of other types of weapons. The combination of an ax with a spear gave birth to a halberd; an attempt to place it on a shaft with the blade upward led to the creation of a “shovel” type weapon,

and the slightly curved and sharpened only from the inside (bottom) klevets was transformed into a combat sickle.

This review is based on K. V. Asmolov’s article “The Sword’s Rival” and an excerpt from Evart Oakeshott’s book “The Knight and His Weapons” about axes.

Find ancient ax, and the day will not be lived in vain. There are finds that can last the entire season. But what do you know about ancient axes? Few diggers will be able to distinguish a battle ax from a working one. And there are even fewer who can distinguish the ax of a simple warrior from the ax of a leader. Today, even among official archaeologists, you can hear wild things like - the main warrior had the largest ax. Drive away such specialists with wet rags. In fact, identifying an ax is quite simple.

All ancient Russian axes can be divided into two large groups - axes with extended butt(“hammer”) and axes with a regular blade. Specifications Both groups of axes are different from each other.

In the first group There are three types of axes, which most researchers classify as battle axes. The first type, “A”, is characterized by a wide rectangular blade and a flat guy on the butt (shapes 1-4).

Based on some differences in the shapes of the blades, axes of this type can be divided into two subtypes: the first is represented by axes with a trapezoidal blade, the second by axes with blades approaching a rectangular shape (shapes 1-2).

Type "A" dates back to the 10th century. based on finds in burial mounds of this time and by analogies. The second type of ax in this group, type “B,” has elongated hammers on the butt, usually ending in small heads, and narrow ones that symmetrically widen into often rounded blades. The cheeks are usually oval (shape 5-11).

Axes with elongated butts can generally be dated to the 10th-11th centuries.17. Analogues of IM are known in Hungary and Poland.

The third type, “B”, is represented by axes with a small hammer on the butt, and sometimes simply with a slightly thickened upper part of the butt. The blade is almost always wide, sometimes even drawn down by a narrow strip (shapes 12-18). It is interesting that some battle axes (XIII-XIV centuries) from Vladimir and Novgorod with rich decorative details belong to the same type.

These axes, which can be called “mints,” date back to the 10th-12th centuries, but the bulk of the finds date back to the 11th century. Probably, the initial form for axes of this type was type “B”, complicated by a number of characteristic details inherent in axes of the second group (without hammers on the butt). Analogies are known in Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. Axes of the three named types were made using the same technology from two strips of metal.

Axes of the second group represented by a significantly larger number of types. Some have subtriangular-shaped projections on the butt (bottom and top). It is possible that these processes originated from the “hammers” on the butts of axes of types “A” and “B” and were intended mainly to protect the ax from the blow of an enemy weapon. Decorative caps, which already appeared on axes of type “B” (forms 1, 5, 7, 10, 11), show that the hammers here have lost their original purpose and serve to protect the ax from an enemy blow.

The above-mentioned branches are found precisely in axes of those types, the origin of which dates back to the 10th century, to its second half. These are type “G” axes (forms 19-20).

Very small in size, with a blade that expands evenly from the butt and resembles the blade of a “B” type ax with cheeks on both sides. Axes of this type date back to the second half of the 10th-11th centuries; analogues to them are known in Poland. There are 23 known examples of such axes.

The most common type of battle ax in Russian antiquities of the late X-XII centuries. is type "D". These are axes with a wide blade and butt protrusions. Axes of the “D” type continue the evolution of the blade shape, which began already in the second half of the 10th century. (axe shape 11) for some axes of types “B” and “C”.

According to the nature of the lower notch, “D” type axes are divided into two subtypes: in the first, the lower notch approaches half the circle to a greater extent than in the second. Based on the size of the handle, there are four options in each subtype (“a”, “b”, “c”, “d”). There are 102 examples of this type in total.

Type “D” dates back to the end of the 10th-12th centuries; The vast majority of axes were found in burials of the 11th century. In Poland, such axes also date back to the 11th century. (forms 19-32).

Axes of types “E”, “Zh”, “3”, “I” are much less common and, like type “D”, do not produce clear and numerous series. Type "E" axes are characterized by a strongly concave top line and a large bottom notch. The date of axes of this type is the 11th century. (forms 33-34).

Type “G” is represented by axes with a blade strongly drawn down, completely similar to the blades of some axes of types “B” and “D” (shape 35).

Only five examples of such axes are known, which date back to the 11th-12th centuries. and have exact analogies in Poland 29 and Scandinavia.

All type 3 axes are different from each other, but they are united by small cheeks (always located only on one side), small sizes, a slight bend in the top line and a specific small notch at the bottom. They date back to the 11th-12th centuries. (forms 36-37). Nine axes of this type are known.

A characteristic feature of type “I” axes is the presence of slightly elongated jaws on both sides. The blade of these axes is usually not wide, the top line is slightly concave, and the bottom notch is large. Date - X-XI centuries. Five axes of this type are known (shape 38).

Axes of the “K” type with a straight top line and a butt hole in the shape of an inverted trapezoid are found exclusively in the Ladoga barrows (forms 40 and 41).

The top line of some axes of this type is perpendicular to the vertical of the butt, while in others it departs from it at a slight angle. The cheeks are usually located on one side. Date - X-XI centuries. E1 specimen is known.

Axes of type “L” differ from axes of type “K” primarily in the oval shape of the butt hole. They are found not only in the Ladoga region, but also in the north-west of Novgorod land. Dating back to the 11th-12th centuries. There are 14 known copies (Form 42).

Axes of the “M” type are wide-bladed, without a lower notch, with a relatively symmetrically expanding blade, very thin and always rounded, with cheeks on both sides of the butt, with a subtriangular shape of the butt hole (shape 43).

The historian and expert on ancient weapons Spitsyn considered these axes to be combat axes. Their date is X-XII centuries.34. Analogues of such axes are known in Poland and Scandinavia. They are distributed mainly in Northern Rus' 37. There are variants of this form - some have a less wide and more symmetrical blade, the cheeks are not triangular, but somewhat elongated (form 39); others have a lower notch (shape 44). These are later versions of “M” type axes, known already in the 11th-12th centuries.

The types of axes described are generally combat axes. In addition to their shape, battle axes differ from work axes in the size of the butt holes. For the task of separating battle axes from workers, these dimensions are of paramount importance, since they allow us to judge not only the thickness of the axe, but also its length. The shorter handles of working axes were also thicker, while the battle axes of the Middle Ages had thin and long handles. Characteristic of the axes of the selected types is the small thickness of the ax handles, which was compensated by a significant length, reaching up to 1 meter. The fact is that a long ax increases the force of the blow, but at the same time the recoil force. For a battle ax the impact force is important, for a working ax the recoil force is no less important; therefore, the length of the handles of working axes should not exceed the size at which the recoil force becomes more noticeable. Thus, reducing the recoil force is achieved by reducing the impact force (efficiency), in other words, by reducing the length of the handle. Accordingly, the decrease in length increases its thickness, reaching 4.3 cm in diameter. On the contrary, for a battle ax the thickness of the handle decreases as its length increases. It is impossible to work with such an ax (it will break), but it is convenient to fight.

The long handles of battle axes are known from ancient images. It’s interesting that on the carpet from Bayeux (the Bayeux Tapestry, try to estimate the scale or just look at this image of the tapestry, you’ll probably watch it live for the whole day) the handles of the axes held by the military leaders are long and thinner than those of the axes used by ordinary soldiers. If we compare this fact with the types of battle axes known to us, then we can assume that battle axes with the thinnest (and, obviously, the longest) handles belong to military leaders, and ordinary axes belong to ordinary warriors. Long ax handles are also depicted in ancient Russian miniatures.

More topics related to identifying a find. The main thing is to find it, and we’ll figure out what it is. Happy digging everyone!

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