A voulge (also spelled as vouge, sometimes called couteau de breche) is a type of sulično orožje that was especially common in 15th-century France. The voulge usually had a narrow, single-edged oster blade, sometimes with an extra cutting edge on the back.
The blade was attached to a shaft via a ring. Often the orožje had reinforcements on the shaft, so-called langets, for extra protection of the shaft. Some voulges had a rondel at hand height that protected the hand like a pareerstang.
Soldiers who used this orožje were called voulgiers. The orožje 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 sekira attached to the shaft with two rings, like a bardiche. This explanation is incorrect and only originated in the 19th century through Viollet le Duc.
Sometimes hellebardes were also called Swiss voulges. This seems to suggest that the early hellebardes were further developed from the voulge.
Internal links
- Guisarme: Medieval sulično orožje with hook and sekiriščna glava
- Glaive: Medieval sulično orožje for foot soldiers and riders
- Helebarda: Medieval sulično orožje and ceremonial sekira
- Bill: agricultural orožje, sulično orožje and English war orožje
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.
