A voulge (also spelled as vouge, sometimes called couteau de breche) is a type of tyčová zbraň that was especially common in 15th-century France. The voulge usually had a narrow, single-edged ostrý blade, sometimes with an extra cutting edge on the back.
The blade was attached to a shaft via a ring. Often the zbraň had reinforcements on the shaft, so-called langets, for extra protection of the shaft. Some voulges had a rondelová dýka at hand level that protected the hand like a záštita.
Soldiers who used this zbraň were called voulgiers. The zbraň was used among others by the Franc-Archers, archers from France in the 15th century who were called up by the king from ordinary citizens to strengthen the army. The voulge is regularly depicted in 15th-century artworks.
A common mistake is that a voulge would be a pointed sekera that is attached to the shaft with two rings, like a bardiche. This explanation is incorrect and only arose in the 19th century through Viollet le Duc.
Sometimes halapartne were also called Swiss voulges. This seems to insinuate that the early halapartne were developed from the voulge.
Internal links
- Guisarme: Medieval tyčová zbraň with hook and sekyrová hlava
- Glaive: Medieval tyčová zbraň for infantry and riders
- Hellebaard: Medieval tyčová zbraň and ceremonial sekera
- Bill: agricultural zbraň, tyčová zbraň and English war zbraň
Sources:
- Visual Source: Images of the French Francs-Archers (established by Louis XI) in 15th-century manuscripts.
- Museum Collection: Musée de l'Armée (Paris) for authentic French and Swiss voulges.
