Voulge

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The Adoration of the Magi from the Livre d'heures d'Etienne Chevalier 1455). The leftmost character is holding a voulge L'Adoration des mages, Heures d'Etienne Chevalier.jpg
The Adoration of the Magi from the Livre d'heures d'Étienne Chevalier 1455). The leftmost character is holding a voulge

A voulge (also spelled vouge, [1] sometimes called a couteau de breche) is a type of polearm that existed in medieval Europe, primarily in 15th century France. [2]

Contents

Description

A voulge would usually have a narrow single-edged blade (sometimes with a secondary edge on the back) mounted with a socket on a shaft. The weapon could additionally feature shaft reinforcements called langets and rondel protection for the hands at the base of the blade. [3] Troops that used the weapon are called voulgiers. [4] It is a weapon noted to have been used by the Franc-Archers [3] and is also depicted in artwork of their creation.

Late XV century depiction of men on foot holding vouges from the Chroniques de Froissart The Dukes of Berry and Burgundy Departing from Paris to Meet with the Duke of Bretagne 2.jpg
Late XV century depiction of men on foot holding vouges from the Chroniques de Froissart

There is a popular erroneous definition of the word voulge in modern times, which refers to a pointy cleaver-like weapon blade attached to the shaft with two hoops like a bardiche. This definition is incorrect and started in the 19th century with Viollet le Duc, and the weapon in question is an early form of halberd. [5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Definition of VOUGE".
  2. ↑ Waldman, John (2005). Hafted Weapons in Medieval and Renaissance Europe The Evolution of European Staff Weapons between 1200 and 1650. Leiden. pp. 183–188. ISBN   978-90-474-0757-7. OCLC   704633881.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. 1 2 "Historical European Polearms and other Weapons: The historical Voulge - what is this polearm?". Historical European Polearms and other Weapons. 2022-12-28. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  4. ↑ Sargeaunt, Bertram Edward (1908). Weapons: A Brief Discourse on Hand-weapons Other Than Fire-arms. London: Hugh Rees, Ltd. pp. 23–24.
  5. ↑ Waldman, John (2005). Hafted Weapons in Medieval and Renaissance Europe The Evolution of European Staff Weapons between 1200 and 1650. Leiden. pp. 16–17. ISBN   978-90-474-0757-7. OCLC   704633881.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)


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