Write An Essay On The Use Of Halberds In The 1500s

The word halberd comes from Halm (staff) and Barte (axe). The halberd was a staff weaponed used in medieval times. This staff weapon was favored by European infantries for its versatility and deadly effects. A halberd has many functions to it. The axe is used for hacking opponents, the spike is used for thrusting, and the beak was used for pulling enemies from saddles. In the 1500s the halberd was used for battle by shock troops, German, and Swiss mercenaries. By the end of the 1500s the use of halberds in warfare became little, they ending up being used as a ceremonial for palace guards. The halberd I picked was a Parade Halberd (from the state guard of Elector Christian I of Saxony [ 1560- 91]), 1586-1591 (Parade Halberd, par. 2). The etching
She says that halberds were made for close and medium range distances (depending on the length of the pole). According to Linda, halberds were very effective against knights wearing plate armour and for reducing the effectiveness of their shields. It could provide significant damage to the knight in armour and even the horses. Horse armor was made to protect against this, but the sheer force of the halberd was to much. Linda shows the power of these weapons in battle. After a couple decades, halberds stopped being used in warfare. They started to become more of a ceremonial weapon instead. In George Snook’s, The Halberd and Other Polearms of the Late Medieval Period, he says that as the decrease of the use of the halberd in warfare the more it became a ceremonial weapon. It showed an insignia of rank, and at this time it started to assume ornate and occasionally bizarre shapes, and with elaborate engraving it became a ceremonial item, as in the Papal Guards. As halberds faded out of warfare they became more evident in ceremonial events.
The Making of Parade
Medieval Chronicles say that a Halberd was based on a long wooden shaft which could vary in length, initially being six feet. They also say that at the bottom is a round a blunt solid end;while the other side is a pole axe with a hook on the opposite side. Along with the axe and the hook there is also a sharp pike. As well as telling how and what they were made of, they also state who made them. The Medieval Chronicles state explain that the halberds were made by blacksmiths who used iron and steel into forging these weapons. One of the key reasons why the halberd was important was because it was a cheap to make for its powerful effect. In some cases, strips of metal were added to the wooden shaft so as to reinforce the strength of the shaft itself and to allow the wielder to strike the head with greater