Morgenstern ( German: Morgenstern , lit. - “morning star”) is a cold-blast weapon in the form of a metal ball equipped with spikes.
It was used as the top of clubs or brushes . Such a top greatly increased the weight of the weapon - the Morgenstern himself weighed more than 1.2 kg, which had a strong moral impact on the enemy, frightening him with his appearance.
A variant of the so-called chain Morgenstern was also common, in which a spiked ball was connected to a long handle by means of a chain. Although the use of the Morgenstern increased the severity of the wounds inflicted on the enemy, but it made it very difficult to carry the weapon, its spikes prevented an accurate hit, clinging to close objects, and often got stuck in shields or armor .
Morgenstern was also called a short wooden spiked club or a metal club with a not very long handle and a spiked spherical beat like a flail. Such weapons consisted, in particular, in the arsenal of the Swiss infantry until the middle of the 15th century [1] . Due to the simplicity of manufacture, morgensterns were popular during the peasant wars in Germany . In addition to the infantry Morgenstern, there was also a cavalry on a shortened hilt. Some cavalry morgensterns were combined with manual squeakers [2] .
Used by the Germans until the end of the First World War .
Notes
- ↑ Oman, 2011 .
- ↑ Demmin, 1877 , p. 422.
Literature
- Beheim Wendalen . Encyclopedia of weapons / Per. with him. A. A. Devell et al. Ed. A. N. Kirpichnikova . - St. Petersburg: Orchestra, 1995 .-- 576 p.: Ill. - ISBN 5-87685-029-X .
- Oman, Charles. Chapter 5. The Swiss. 1315-1515 From the battle of Morgarten to the battle of Marignano. // Military art in the Middle Ages = Oman C. A History of the Art of War: The Middle Ages from the Fourth to the Fourteenth Century. / Translator V. Mikhailov .. - M .: Tsentrpoligraf , 2011. - 192 p. - 3000 copies. - ISBN 978-5-9524-4945-9 .
- Demmin, Auguste. The morgenstern, or morning-star. // An illustrated history of arms and armor / Translated by CC Black. - London: George Bell & Sons, 1877.
See also
- Kisten
- Mace
- Club