The mace developed in the Late Paleolithic from the simple club by adding sharp stone points made of flint or obsidian.
In Europe, decorated ceremonial flint maceheads have been found, for example during excavations of the Neolithic hill of Knowth in Ireland. In ancient Ukraine, stone maceheads were already being used nearly eight millennia ago, including disc-shaped maces and decorated specimens like those seen on the Narmer Palette.
Early stone maces had the disadvantage that their heads easily shattered and were difficult to attach firmly to the wooden shaft.
In Egypt, attempts were made to improve this in the pre-dynastic period (ca. 3850–3650 BCE) by giving it a disc shape, but this was not a lasting solution. Later, the pyriform (pear-shaped) macehead became popular in Upper Egypt and also in Mesopotamia.
Important later developments were metal maceheads, especially made of copper or bronze, which were stronger and fitted better on the shaft. Sardinian warriors who helped Ramses II against the Hittites used wooden staffs with bronze heads.
Maces in Classical Antiquity
In antiquity, the mace was used extensively in various cultures. The Assyrians used stone or marble maces in their campaigns, the Persians deployed heavily armed cavalry with maces, and in India the epic tales Ramayana and Mahabharata describe extensive combat with the gada (Indian mace).
The Romans made less use of maces due to their infantry style and armour, although Syrian and Palestinian auxiliaries were effective with clubs and maces against heavily armed cavalry.
Etymology
The modern English word mace came into Middle English via Old French mace ("large hammer/hammer, mace"), itself derived from a Vulgar Latin term mattia or mattea (compare with Italian mazza, "club, staff, mace"), probably derived from the Latin mateola (uncertain, possibly a type of club, hammer or "hoe/staff handle"). Possibly influenced by the Latin mattiobarbulus ("type of javelin"), mattiarius ("soldier armed with said javelin"), derived from mataris, matara ("Gallic javelin"), itself from a Gallic or Celtic word.
The Medieval Battle Mace
During the High Middle Ages, mail armour provided protection against cutting and to a lesser extent against thrusting. However, blows from maces were extremely deadly, since maces were often equipped with sharp points, such as the morning star, and mail armour provided little protection against the trauma of blows.
An example of a mace that was capable of piercing body armour was the flanged mace (bardoukion), which possibly originated in the 10th century in the Byzantine Empire.
The name flanged mace refers to the various flanges that make up the macehead. This type of mace was used throughout Europe from the 12th century onwards, and was later also used in the regions of Russia and Central Asia.
Maces were simple to make, cheap and easy to use, making them a widely used weapon.
There is a popular belief that the clergy used maces in warfare to avoid bloodshed (sine effusione sanguinis). However, evidence for this is limited and appears to be largely based on the depiction of Bishop Odo of Bayeux wielding a mace during the Battle of Hastings in 1066 on the Bayeux Tapestry, where it is assumed that he did so to avoid shedding blood or bearing weapons.
According to Paul Lacombe and Charles Boutell in Arms and Armour in Antiquity and the Middle Ages (1893), the mace was primarily used to deliver blows to the enemy's head.
Eastern Europe
East European maces often had pear- or ball-shaped heads. These weapons were used, among others, by the Moldavian prince Stefan the Great in some of his wars (Bulawa).
The mace is also the favourite weapon of Prince Marko, a hero in South Slavic epic poetry.
The pernach was a type of flanged mace that was developed from the 12th century in the area of Kievan Rus and later used throughout Europe. The name comes from the Slavic word pero (перо), which means "feather", referring to the shape that resembled an arrowhead with feathers.
Ceremonial maces
From the 15th century onwards, maces became popular among the aristocracy. This popularity probably arose from the applicability of the mace against full plate armour that developed from the late 14th century.
Aristocrats regularly had themselves depicted with maces and various maces are associated to this day with ecclesiastical institutions, magistrates and academic bodies as a symbol of authority and jurisdiction.
In many parliaments that follow the Westminster system, these maces are brought in by the sergeant-at-arms or another bearer and placed on the clerks' table during sessions to show that parliament is formally assembled. At the end of the session or upon the election of a new Speaker, the mace is removed from the table to indicate that parliament is not ready for meetings.
Ecclesiastical maces
In church processions, maces can also be carried for clergy, although for the Pope and cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church these have been largely replaced by processional crosses.
Parade maces
Maces are also used as a parade attribute, for example in military fanfares. Specific movements of the mace by the drum major signal commands to the musicians, such as the start or stop of music or the marching command.
University maces
University maces function similarly to parliamentary maces. They symbolize the authority and independence of a chartered university and the powers of the rector or provost. They are usually carried at the beginning of an opening ceremony and are often less than half a meter long.
Heraldry
Like many weapons from feudal times, maces are also used in heraldry, as a charge on a shield or as decorative elements. Examples in France are:
Cognac (Charente): Argent, a black mounted man in blue clothing with a red cloak, holding a mace, on a chief in the colours of France.
Colmar (Haut-Rhin): Per pale gules and vert, a gold mace placed diagonally. Three maces also appear on a seal from 1214 and on stained glass windows from the 15th century.
Duke of Retz (1581): Two gold maces crossed in sable, bound with gules.
Garde des sceaux (French Minister of Justice): Two silver and gilt maces in saltire behind the shield, topped with a magistrate's hat (mortier).
Internal links
- The Morning Star: Medieval weapon with points and power
- The War Flail: Medieval weapon and peasant tool
- War Hammer: Medieval weapon and lance
- Medieval Battle Axes: From francisca to Danish axe
Sources:
- Archaeological Find: Neolithic flint and antler maceheads (such as the wooden mace from Thames/Heveningham).
- Primary/Visual Source: Medieval manuscripts depicting the mace as a symbol of 'wild men' or as a weapon for clergy (who officially were not allowed to shed blood).
