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The francisca (or francesca) is a throwing axe used as a weapon during the Early Middle Ages by the Franks, among whom it was a characteristic national weapon at the time of the Merovingians from about 500 to 750 and is known to have been used during the reign of Charlemagne (768–814).
Although generally associated with the Franks, it was also used by other Germanic peoples of the period, including the Anglo-Saxons; several examples have been found in England.Underwood, Richard (1999). ''Anglo-Saxon Weapons and Warfare''. p.35-37. Tempus Publishing. .
The term ''francisca'' first appeared in the book '' Etymologiarum sive originum, libri XVIII'' by
http://www.silvermane.com/Francisca.html] with an average weight of around 600 g (21 oz, 1.3 lb). Based on the surviving heads of franciscas recovered at Burgh Castle and Morning Thorpe in county Norfolk, England, the length of the head itself measured 14–15 cm (5–6 in) from the edge to the back of the socket.
An informative page about axe throwing, by Norbert C. Maier
The francisca (or francesca) is a throwing axe used as a weapon during the Early Middle Ages by the Franks, among whom it was a characteristic national weapon at the time of the Merovingians from about 500 to 750 and is known to have been used during the reign of Charlemagne (768–814).
Although generally associated with the Franks, it was also used by other Germanic peoples of the period, including the Anglo-Saxons; several examples have been found in England.Underwood, Richard (1999). ''Anglo-Saxon Weapons and Warfare''. p.35-37. Tempus Publishing. .
Etymology
The term ''francisca'' first appeared in the book '' Etymologiarum sive originum, libri XVIII'' by Isidore of Seville
Isidore of Seville ( la, Isidorus Hispalensis; c. 560 – 4 April 636) was a Spanish scholar, theologian, and archbishop of Seville. He is widely regarded, in the words of 19th-century historian Montalembert, as "the last scholar of ...
(c. 560–636) as a name used in Hispania to refer to these weapons "because of their use by the Franks".
The historian Gregory of Tours
Gregory of Tours (30 November 538 – 17 November 594 AD) was a Gallo-Roman historian and Bishop of Tours, which made him a leading prelate of the area that had been previously referred to as Gaul by the Romans. He was born Georgius Florenti ...
(c. 538–594) in his ''History of the Franks'' uses two Latin terms for the Frankish axe: ''securis'' and ''bipennis''.
The régime of Vichy France used the image of a stylised double-headed ''francisque'' as part of its iconography (compare fasces
Fasces ( ; ; a ''plurale tantum'', from the Latin word ''fascis'', meaning "bundle"; it, fascio littorio) is a bound bundle of wooden rods, sometimes including an axe (occasionally two axes) with its blade emerging. The fasces is an Italian symbo ...
).
Description
The francisca is characterized by its distinctly arch-shaped head, widening toward the cutting edge and terminating in a prominent point at both the upper and lower corners. The top of the head is usually either S-shaped or convex with the lower portion curving inward and forming an elbow with the short woodenhaft
Haft may refer to:
* Haft, another name for the hilt of a bayonet, knife, or sword
* Haft, the shaft of an arrow, axe, or spear
* The narrow constricted part of the standards (petals) and falls (sepals) near the center of the iris flower
* Haft, ...
. Sometimes the head is more upswept, forming a wider angle with the haft. Most franciscas have a round or teardrop-shaped eye designed to fit the tapered haft, similar to Viking axes. Based on the measurements of modern replicas
A 1:1 replica is an exact copy of an object, made out of the same raw materials, whether a molecule, a work of art, or a commercial product. The term is also used for copies that closely resemble the original, without claiming to be identical. Al ...
, the francisca had a haft length of around 40–45 cm (16–18 in) and a 10 cm (4 in) cutting edghttp://www.silvermane.com/Francisca.html] with an average weight of around 600 g (21 oz, 1.3 lb). Based on the surviving heads of franciscas recovered at Burgh Castle and Morning Thorpe in county Norfolk, England, the length of the head itself measured 14–15 cm (5–6 in) from the edge to the back of the socket.
Use
The Byzantine historian Procopius (c. 500–565) described the Franks and their use of throwing axes: Procopius makes it clear that the Franks threw their axes immediately beforehand-to-hand combat
Hand-to-hand combat (sometimes abbreviated as HTH or H2H) is a physical confrontation between two or more persons at short range (grappling distance or within the physical reach of a handheld weapon) that does not involve the use of weapons.Huns ...
with the purpose of breaking shields and disrupting the enemy line while possibly wounding or killing an enemy warrior. The weight of the head and length of the haft would allow the axe to be thrown with considerable momentum to an effective range of about 12 m (40 ft). Even if the edge of the blade were not to strike the target, the weight of the iron head could cause injury. The francisca also had a psychological effect, in that, on the throwing of the francisca, the enemy might turn and run in the fear that another volley was coming.
Some sources, strangely, describe the Francisca as both the "main weapons" of the Frankish infantry around the time of Clovis. These sources also describe the Francisca as being a fierce melee weapon.Oman, The Art of War in the Middle Ages. Pages 15-17
See also
*Anglo-Saxon warfare
The period of Anglo-Saxon warfare spans the 5th century AD to the 11th in England. Its technology and tactics resemble those of other European cultural areas of the Early Medieval Period, although the Anglo-Saxons, unlike the Continental Germani ...
* Axe
* Battle axe
* Hurlbat
*Nzappa zap
The Nzappa zap (also referred to as zappozap, nsapo, kilonda, kasuyu) is a traditional weapon from the Congo similar to an axe or hatchet.
Uses
It has an ornate wrought-iron blade connected to a club-like wooden handle, often clad in copper, b ...
* Tomahawk
References
Further reading
*Gamble, James Douglas (2002). ''Axes of War and Power''. Tanro Company. .External links
{{Commons category, FrancisquesAn informative page about axe throwing, by Norbert C. Maier