War hammer, maul

Product description

A maul is a war hammer with a heavy head. This particular example features a spear-like point, though the tip is broader than that of the cavalry lance — another type of war hammer. From the late 14th century onward, the weapon was mainly used by infantry. During the uprising in Paris in 1382, the rebels seized 3,000 mauls from the city’s armory, earning them the nickname Maillotins. Later that same year, the chronicler Froissart mentioned mauls at the Battle of Roosebeke, showing that it was not merely a weapon of the lower classes.

A special use of the maul occurred among archers in the 15th and 16th centuries. At the Battle of Agincourt, English longbowmen reportedly used lead mauls — first as tools to drive stakes into the ground and later as improvised weapons. Other contemporary sources also mention their use. In England, such weapons were even used by Tudor archers until around 1562.

From the 15th century onward, shorter war hammers were increasingly adopted by cavalry. Initially, nobles looked down on the weapon because of its association with the lower ranks, but later they embraced it for its practical value. Cavalry commanders sometimes carried war hammers as both weapons and symbols of rank; these were known as “Rottmeister hammers” or “packmaster hammers.” In Landsknecht armies and parts of Central Europe, hammers also became status symbols for the lesser nobility, almost equivalent to the sword. According to some sources, a nobleman would never leave his house without his sword and war hammer — the latter often doubling as a walking stick.

The hammerhead is attached to the hardwood shaft with wedges. The shaft measures approximately 60 cm in length.