Knowledge

Pike (weapon)

Source đź“ť

1242: 607: 1321: 892: 1028:
as a spear-like weapon when held out with both hands. Although they did not have the full reach of pikes, bayonets were effective against cavalry charges, which used to be the main weakness of musketeer formations, and allowed armies to massively expand their potential firepower by giving every infantryman a firearm; pikemen were no longer needed to protect musketeers from cavalry. Furthermore, improvements in artillery caused most European armies to abandon large formations in favor of multiple staggered lines, both to minimize casualties and to present a larger frontage for volley fire. Thick hedges of bayonets proved to be an effective anti-cavalry solution, and improved musket
1052: 31: 488: 192: 184: 114: 308: 374: 247: 1822: 1036: 929:, which consisted of a large square of pikemen with small, mobile squadrons of arquebusiers moving along its perimeter, as well as traditional men-at-arms. These three elements formed a mutually supportive combination of tactical roles: the arquebusiers harried the enemy line, the pikemen protected the arquebusiers from enemy cavalry charges, and the men-at-arms, typically armed with 584: 866: 626:(the German term for "skewer") on maneuvers and in combat; they also introduced marching to drums for this purpose. This meant that the pike blocks could rise to the attack, making them less passive and more aggressive formations, but sufficiently well trained that they could go on the defensive when attacked by cavalry. German soldiers known as 721:, the Swiss not only successfully resisted the attacks of enemy knights, as the relatively passive Scottish and Flemish infantry squares had done in the earlier Middle Ages, but also marched to the attack with great speed and in good formation, their attack columns steamrolling the Burgundian forces, sometimes with great massacre. 1027:
in the 1680s and 1690s. The plug bayonet did not replace the pike as it required a soldier surrender his ability to shoot or reload to fix it, but the socket bayonet solved that issue. The bayonet added a long blade of up to 60 cm (24 in) to the end of the musket, allowing the musket to act
955:
The percentage of men who were armed with firearms in Tercio-like formations steadily increased as firearms advanced in technology. This advance is believed to be the demise of cavalry when in fact it revived it. From the late 16th century and into the 17th century, smaller pike formations were used,
745:
was a polearm, closely related to the pike, which from the late 1400s and throughout the 16th century saw widespread use in the German-speaking world. It served as a multipurpose weapon for both infantry (in the manner of pikes) and light cavalry (in the manner of demi-lances). Characteristically, it
547:
ordered the pikes to be at least 10 feet long in Milan, equivalent to 4.35 m (14.3 ft) and their tips to be reinforced with iron strips to prevent enemies, given their length, from cutting or breaking them. A second decree of 1397 provided that half the infantry of the duchy were armed with
1268:
had an elite force of men armed with very long spears who seem to have fought in a manner identical to European pikemen, despite the usual conception of his people's general disposition for individualistic dueling as their method of close combat. It is not known whether Kamehameha himself introduced
195:
First rank with pikes at "charge" (their points projecting forward from the formation front), second rank holding pikes at "port" (upward to avoid injuring front rank friendlies with their points). In real action first 3 – 4 ranks will hold their pikes at "charge", and those behind will hold weapons
211:
As long as it kept good order, such a formation could roll right over enemy infantry, but it did have weaknesses. The men were all moving forward facing in a single direction and could not turn quickly or efficiently to protect the vulnerable flanks or rear of the formation. Nor could they maintain
475:
These formations were essentially immune to the attacks of mounted men-at-arms as long as the knights obligingly threw themselves on the spear wall and the foot soldiers remained steady under the morale challenge of facing a cavalry charge, but the closely packed nature of pike formations rendered
511:
pikemen overwhelmed the infantry forces of the opposing Habsburg/Burgundian army with a massive charge before wheeling over to strike and rout the Austro-Burgundian horsemen as well. At the same time however such aggressive action required considerable tactical cohesiveness or suitable terrain to
121:
The pike was a long weapon, varying considerably in size, from 3 to 7 m (9.8 to 23.0 ft) long. Generally, a spear becomes a pike when it is too long to be wielded with one hand in combat. It was approximately 2 to 6 kg (4.4 to 13.2 lb) in weight, with the 16th-century military
223:
According to Sir John Smythe, there were two ways for two opposing pike formations to confront one another: cautious or aggressive. The cautious approach involved fencing at the length of the pike, while the aggressive approach involved quickly closing distance, with each of the first five ranks
219:
As a result, such mobile pike formations sought to have supporting troops protect their flanks or would maneuver to smash the enemy before they could be outflanked themselves. There was also the risk that the formation would become disordered, leading to a confused melee in which pikemen had the
227:
Although primarily a military weapon, the pike could be surprisingly effective in single combat and a number of 16th-century sources explain how it was to be used in a dueling situation; fencers of the time often practiced with and competed against each other with long staves in place of pikes.
1072:
in 1700, Russian line infantry companies had 5 NCOs, 84 musketeers, and 18 pikemen, the musketeers initially being equipped with sword-like plug bayonets; they did not fully switch to socket bayonets until 1709. A Swedish company consisted of 82 musketeers, 48 pikemen, and 16 grenadiers. The
1063:
A common end date for the use of the pike in most infantry formations is 1700, such as the Prussian and Austrian armies. Others, including the Swedish and Russian armies, continued to use the pike as an effective weapon for several more decades, until the 1720s and 1730s (the Swedes of King
138:
for the pole, which was tapered towards the point to prevent the pike from sagging on the ends, although drooping or slight flection of the shaft was always a problem in pike handling. It is a common mistake to refer to a bladed polearm as a pike; such weapons are more generally known as
1284:. However, these hand-held weapons never left the stores after the pikes had "generated an almost universal feeling of anger and disgust from the ranks of the Home Guard, demoralised the men and led to questions being asked in both Houses of Parliament". The pikes, made from obsolete 175:. In general, however, pikemen attempted to avoid such disorganized combat, in which they were at a disadvantage. To compound their difficulties in a melee, the pikeman often did not have a shield, or had only a small shield which would be of limited use in close-quarters fighting. 746:
featured a large, hollow-made and leaf-shaped head of about 50 cm (1.6 ft) or more, which was attached to a long and slender shaft. Apart from being used by soldiers in battle, a tassel fixed to the socket of the head together with optional further embellishment made the
162:
The great length of the pikes allowed a great concentration of spearheads to be presented to the enemy, with their wielders at a greater distance, but also made pikes unwieldy in close combat. This meant that pikemen had to be equipped with an additional, shorter weapon such as a
956:
invariably defending attached musketeers, often as a central block with two sub-units of shooters, called "sleeves of shot", on either side of the pikes. Although the cheaper and versatile infantry increasingly adopted firearms, cavalry's proportion in the army remained high.
872: 870: 867: 762:(English), both referring to some type of cavalry spear. Although rarely noticed, many of these weapons have survived to this day. Some pieces, of which many are said to have been used by the personal entourage of Henry VIII, are kept at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. 208:. However, better-trained troops were capable of using the pike in an aggressive attack with each rank of pikemen being trained to hold their pikes so that they presented enemy infantry with four or five layers of spearheads bristling from the front of the formation. 224:
giving a single powerful thrust. In the aggressive approach, the first rank would then immediately resort to swords and daggers if the thrusts from the first five ranks failed to break the opposing pike formation. Smythe considered the cautious approach laughable.
871: 323:
Although very long spears had been used since the dawn of organized warfare (notably illustrated in art showing Sumerian and Minoan warriors and hunters), the earliest recorded use of a pike-like weapon in the tactical method described above involved the
937:, fought off enemy pikemen when two opposing squares made contact. The Tercio deployed smaller numbers of pikemen than the huge Swiss and Landsknecht columns, and their formation ultimately proved to be much more flexible on the battlefield. 472:. Both battles were seen by contemporaries as stunning victories of commoners over superbly equipped, mounted, military professionals, where victory was owed to the use of the pike and the brave resistance of the commoners who wielded them. 228:
George Silver considered the 5.5 metres (18 ft) pike one of the more advantageous weapons for single combat in the open, giving it odds over all weapons shorter than 2.4 metres (7.9 ft) or the sword and dagger/shield combination.
689:
again led to the employment of mercenary units across Europe in order to train other armies in their tactics. These two, and others who had adopted their tactics, faced off in several wars, leading to a series of developments as a result.
869: 836:
as cavalry battles became more important. Yari were spears of varying lengths; their straight blades usually had sharpened edges or protrusions from the central blade, and were fitted to a hollowed shaft with an extremely long tang.
831:
due to their greater reach. Naginata, first used around 750 AD, had curved sword-like blades on wooden shafts with often spiked metal counterweights. They were typically used with a slashing action and forced the introduction of
1108:, a type of shortened pike that typically had a pair of blades or lugs mounted to the head, was retained as a symbol by some NCOs; in practice it was probably more useful for gesturing and signaling than as a weapon for combat. 993:) English infantry battalions fighting in the Low Countries still had two musketeers to every pikemen and fought in the now traditional style of pikemen five ranks deep in the centre, with six ranks of musketeers on each side. 343:
recorded Germanic tribesmen in the 2nd century AD as using "over-long spears". He consistently refers to the spears used by the Germans as being "massive" and "very long" suggesting that he is describing in essence a pike.
849:, pikes used were generally 4.5 to 6.5 m (15 to 21 ft) long, but sometimes up to 10 m (33 ft) in length. By this point, pikemen were becoming the main forces in armies. They formed lines, combined with 1195:(mostly landless peasants, like the Polish partisans before them) could be found carrying shortened pikes into battle. As the 19th century progressed, the obsolete pike would still find a use in such countries as 484:, were suffered by the militia pike armies when faced by cunning foes who employed their archers and crossbowmen to thin the ranks of the pike blocks before charging in with their (often dismounted) men-at-arms. 1077:
maintained a ratio of 2 muskets to 1 pike in the middle to late 17th century, officially abandoning the pike in 1699. The French, meanwhile, had a ratio of 3-4 muskets to 1 pike by 1689. Both sides of the
979:) he supplied regiments with equal numbers of musketeers and pikemen.} On the battlefield, the musketeers lacked protection against enemy cavalry, and the two types of foot soldier supported each other. 536:
in the later period was attributed to their extreme discipline and tactical unity due to semi-professional nature, allowing a pike block to somewhat alleviate the threat presented by flanking attacks.
671: 914:
In the aftermath of the Italian Wars, from the late 15th century to the late 16th century, most European armies adopted the use of the pike, often in conjunction with primitive firearms such as the
126:
recommending lighter rather than heavier pikes. It had a wooden shaft with an iron or steel spearhead affixed. The shaft near the head was often reinforced with metal strips called "cheeks" or
1234:
planned to recruit twenty regiments of pikemen in 1862. In April 1862 it was authorised that every Confederate infantry regiment would include two companies of pikemen, a plan supported by
868: 622:
solved the pike's earlier problems and brought a renaissance to pike warfare in the 15th century, establishing strong training regimens to ensure they were masters of handling the
339:
After the fall of the last successor of Macedon, the pike largely fell out of use for the next 1,000 or so years. The one exception to this appears to have been in Germany, where
134:, getting longer in both shaft and head length to give one side's pikemen an edge in combat. The extreme length of such weapons required a strong wood such as well-seasoned 476:
them vulnerable to enemy archers and crossbowmen who could shoot them down with impunity, especially when the pikemen did not have adequate armor. Many defeats, such as at
187:
First rank with pikes at "charge for horse" static defensive posture, ready to draw swords if needed. Second rank holding their pikes at "charge" for delivering thrusts.
796:, and possibly the succeeding Han dynasty, who produced 5.5 m (18 ft) halberd and pike-like weapons, as well as 6.7 m (22 ft) long pikes during the 788:
came in various lengths, from 2.75 to 5.5 m (9.0 to 18.0 ft); the weapon consisted of a thrusting spear with a slashing blade appended to it. Dagger-axes and
1150:"pikemen" armed with these crude instruments played a pivotal role in securing a near impossible victory against a far larger and better equipped Russian army at the 728:
saw the first conflict in which both sides had large formations of well-trained pikemen. After that war, its combatants—the Swiss (thereafter generally serving as
1115:
in 1794, the pike reappeared as a child of necessity which became, for a short period, a surprisingly effective weapon on the battlefield. In this case, General
940:
Mixed formations of men quickly became the norm for European infantrymen, with many, but not all, seeking to imitate the Tercio; in England, a combination of
967:(1646–1660) initially had two musketeers for each pikeman. Two musketeers for each pikeman was not the agreed mix used throughout Europe, and when in 1658, 1019:
a faster rate of fire than he before possessed, incentivizing a higher ratio of shot to pikes on the battlefield. It continued with development of the
641:
formation; their attempt to adopt the longer Continental pike was dropped for general use after its ineffective use led to humiliating defeat at the
1089:(1775–1783), pikes called "trench spears" made by local blacksmiths saw limited use until enough bayonets could be procured for general use by both 1241: 750:
an appropriate main weapon for princely bodyguards and courtly officials. There seems to be a close relation between the contemporary German term
503:(1297), for example, utilized the momentum of their charge to overrun an English army while the Englishmen were crossing a narrow bridge. At the 1008:
The mid-17th century to the early 18th century saw the decline of the pike in most European armies. This started with the proliferation of the
356:
as fighting in a tight, phalanx-like formation with spears jutting out over their shields. Caesar was probably describing an early form of the
1495:
Romanoni, Fabio (2023). "Balestrieri, pavesari e lance lunghe: la tripartizione funzionale delle cernite di Gian Galeazzo Visconti del 1397".
815:, the Japanese style of warfare was generally fast-moving and aggressive, with far shallower formations than their European equivalents. The 682:: holding a pike that had its weight in the lower 1/3 at the end with two hands), which was utilized in a more flexible attacking column. 2339: 1666:
Guthrie, William. "The Later Thirty Years War: From the Battle of Wittstock to the Treaty of Westphalia." Praeger, Feb. 2003. Page 33.
975:, sent a contingent of the New Model Army to Flanders to support his French allies under the terms of their treaty of friendship (the 216:. The huge block of men carrying such unwieldy spears could be difficult to maneuver in any way other than straightforward movement. 606: 559:(1386), where the dismounted Austrian vanguard, using their lances as pikes, had some initial success against their predominantly 1146:". These weaponized agricultural accouterments were then used in battle as both cutting weapons, as well as makeshift pikes. The 1675:
Reid, Stuart. "All The King's Armies: A Military History of the English Civil War: 1642-1651." Spellmount, July 2007. Chapter 1.
1618: 1538: 1506: 1421: 1220: 34:
A modern recreation of a mid-17th century company of pikemen. By that period, pikemen would primarily defend their unit's
1854: 1758:, originally published in 1920; University of Nebraska Press (reprint), 1990 (trans. J. Renfroe Walter). Volume III: 1720: 1355: 1347: 724:
The deep pike attack column remained the primary form of effective infantry combat for the next forty years, and the
499:
Medieval pike formations tended to have better success when they operated in an aggressive fashion. The Scots at the
421: 294: 123: 1238:. Many pikes were produced but were never used in battle and the plan to include pikemen in the army was abandoned. 403: 276: 2334: 1303: 563:-equipped Swiss adversaries. Dismounted Italian men-at-arms also used the same method to defeat the Swiss at the 808:
During the continuous European development of the pike, Japan experienced a parallel evolution of pole weapons.
1570:
Cromwell's Army – A history of the English soldier during the civil wars, the Commonwealth and the Protectorate
399: 395: 272: 268: 907: 1231: 1181: 1074: 453: 516:. When these features were not available, militia often suffered costly failures, such as at the battles of 1351: 1320: 891: 774:
since the 5th century BC. Infantrymen used a variety of long polearm weapons, but the most popular was the
1789: 693:
These formations had great successes on the battlefield, starting with the astonishing victories of the
2324: 1079: 465: 1332: 200:
The pike, being unwieldy, was typically used in a deliberate, defensive manner, often alongside other
2329: 1767:
The Golden Spurs of Kortrijk: How the Knights of France Fell to the Foot Soldiers of Flanders in 1302
1587: 1216: 972: 500: 1447: 1498:"Castrum paene in mundo singulare". Scritti per Aldo Settia in occasione del novantesimo compleanno 1082:
in the 1640s and 1650s preferred a ratio of 2 muskets to 1 pike, but this was not always possible.
517: 384: 257: 1051: 1638: 1158: 997: 521: 388: 261: 17: 1808:
Royal George: A Study of King George III, His Experiment in Monarchy, His Decline and Retirement
1657:
Gabriele Esposito. "Armies of the Great Northern War: 1700-1720." Osprey: 2019. Pages 10 and 16.
1309:
In Spain, beginning in 1715 and ending in 1977, there were night patrol guards in cities called
1847: 1826: 976: 544: 481: 468:
in 1302, before other troops in the Flemish formation counterattacked the stalled knights with
1306:
who attempted to defend the fiasco by stating that they were a "silent and effective weapon".
1151: 1112: 336:, and successive dynasties, which dominated warfare for several centuries in many countries. 1608: 904: 771: 457: 30: 2047: 877: 512:
protect the vulnerable flanks of the pike formations especially from the attack of mounted
333: 55: 8: 1339: 1131: 1116: 1086: 648:
Such Swiss and Landsknecht phalanxes also contained men armed with two-handed swords, or
525: 477: 329: 325: 99: 95: 91: 2273: 1273: 1227: 1069: 990: 986: 983: 792:
were an extremely popular weapon in various kingdoms, especially for the Qin state and
710: 311: 130:. When the troops of opposing armies both carried the pike, it often grew in a sort of 529: 2319: 2037: 1912: 1840: 1716: 1614: 1591: 1534: 1502: 1254: 1162: 960: 741: 729: 702: 642: 619: 587: 572: 556: 539:
Perhaps copying the nearby Swiss model, the pike had a certain diffusion also in the
533: 492: 213: 75: 2077: 1299: 1261: 1226:
One attempt to resurrect the pike as a primary infantry weapon occurred during the
1169:, the pike was useful mainly as a weapon by men and women fighting on foot against 1090: 896: 846: 812: 698: 611: 564: 504: 349: 51: 1425: 1354:, or by some of the infantry units on duty during their rotation as guard for the 736:, which would become in many ways the military proving ground of the Renaissance. 2314: 2032: 1997: 1634: 1359: 1285: 1208: 1188: 1157:
Civilian pikeman played a similar role, though outnumbered and outgunned, in the
968: 797: 718: 714: 706: 675: 634: 575:(1513), incidentally rendering the whole formation resistant to English archery. 443: 1000:
in 1706, the pike was typically 4.3 to 4.9 m (14 to 16 ft) in length.
551:
It was not uncommon for aggressive pike formations to be composed of dismounted
2228: 2117: 2012: 1794:
The Military Revolution: Military Innovation and the Rise of the West 1500–1800
1024: 964: 540: 1735: 1553: 1410:. Translated by Willard, S.; Southern, R.W. Boydell & Brewer. p. 151. 127: 2308: 2238: 2158: 2027: 1992: 1982: 1897: 1892: 1751: 1474: 1269:
this tactic or if it was taken from the use of traditional Hawaiian weapons.
1235: 941: 694: 345: 201: 152: 83: 1685: 948:, and men-at-arms remained the norm, though this changed when the supply of 665:
who used similar tactics as the Swiss, but more pikes in the more difficult
650: 571:) were recorded as forming the leading ranks of Scottish pike blocks at the 2213: 2203: 2057: 2007: 1942: 1922: 1779: 1376: 1265: 1056: 1020: 779: 733: 732:) and their Landsknecht imitators—would often face each other again in the 599: 595: 205: 1422:"Everything you ever wanted to know about Pikes but were afraid to ask..." 212:
cohesion over uneven ground, as the Scots discovered to their cost at the
2268: 2183: 2017: 1917: 1371: 1065: 850: 793: 725: 627: 591: 552: 513: 435: 79: 63: 1642: 1068:
in particular using it to great effect until 1721). At the start of the
567:(1422). Equally, well-armored Scottish nobles (accompanied even by King 438:, the principal users of the pike were urban militia troops such as the 2253: 2173: 2132: 2127: 2107: 2087: 1907: 1902: 1583: 1277: 1143: 1101: 775: 487: 357: 307: 191: 183: 113: 2283: 1338:
Pikes live on today only in ceremonial roles, being used to carry the
1282:"every man must have a weapon of some kind, be it only a mace or pike" 2208: 2198: 2067: 2022: 1977: 1962: 1877: 1496: 1212: 1029: 1016: 1009: 884: 881: 638: 469: 448: 131: 35: 373: 246: 171:
in order to defend themselves should the fighting degenerate into a
2278: 2243: 2223: 2218: 2102: 1967: 1952: 1932: 1927: 1887: 1343: 1105: 1040: 1032:
was now so deadly that combat was often decided by shooting alone.
915: 854: 824: 816: 568: 439: 353: 135: 59: 2193: 2188: 2168: 2112: 2072: 2062: 2052: 1987: 1972: 1937: 1863: 1328: 1291: 1196: 1192: 1177: 1170: 1147: 1124: 1120: 1094: 1044: 945: 934: 919: 833: 828: 655: 560: 340: 318: 148: 140: 102: 87: 71: 67: 543:
in the last two years of the 14th century. In 1391, a decree by
74:. The pike was particularly well known as the primary weapon of 2263: 2258: 2178: 2163: 2137: 2122: 2097: 2082: 1957: 1882: 1821: 1736:
Cambio della guardia al Quirinale – Infantry Passing out Parade
1408:
The Art of Warfare in the Western Europe during the Middle Ages
1200: 1166: 1139: 1135: 1035: 1012: 926: 925:
The quintessential example of this development was the Spanish
900: 164: 156: 144: 770:
Pikes and long halberds were in use in ancient China from the
658:
for close combat against both infantry and attacking cavalry.
2288: 2248: 2233: 2153: 2092: 2002: 1386: 1381: 1288: 1204: 1142:
heated and straightened out into something resembling crude "
930: 446:. For example, the Scots used a spear formation known as the 172: 168: 47: 1313:
who carried a short pike of 1.5 m (4.9 ft) called
2293: 1947: 1832: 1607:
Chandler, David G.; Beckett, Ian Frederick William (2003).
1128: 820: 709:, in which the Swiss participated in 1476 and 1477. In the 508: 1588:"Royalist and Cromwellian 76Armies in Flanders, 1657–1662" 583: 1572:(1st ed.). London: Methuen & Co Ltd. p. 70. 1191:, at the beginning of the 19th century, even the Russian 949: 857:. Formations were generally only two or three rows deep. 464:
long spear to absorb the attack of French knights at the
1644:
The New World of Words; or, universal English dictionary
1501:(in Italian). Genova: Sagep Editori. pp. 214–216. 1219:
purchased a large number of pikes and brought them to
899:(1643) marked the end of the supremacy of the Spanish 1557:(Terracotta Army) Documentary Video (August 12, 2017) 1784:
A History of the Art of War in the Sixteenth Century
1245:
American petty officers reenact boarding pike drills
1134:
recruited straight from the wheat fields, had their
1180:on poles, were used by escaped convicts during the 685:The high military reputation of the Swiss and the 823:were more commonly used than swords for Japanese 2306: 1713:The Home Guard: A Military and Political History 1294:blades welded to a steel tube, took the name of 1280:acted on a letter from Winston Churchill saying 117:Re-enactment during the 2009 Escalade in Geneva. 1606: 989:used pikemen and by 1697 (the last year of the 1803:, New York: McClure, Phillips & Co., 1905. 1528: 1253:were also used on warships—typically to repel 1211:, generally in the hands of desperate peasant 630:later adopted Swiss methods of pike handling. 1848: 1522: 845:During the later half of the 16th century in 1715:. Oxford University Press. pp. 97–100. 1593:Transactions of the Royal Historical Society 578: 66:formation, until it was largely replaced by 1039:An English pikeman (1668), with steel cap, 637:predominantly used shorter spears in their 402:. Unsourced material may be challenged and 275:. Unsourced material may be challenged and 50:formerly used in European warfare from the 1855: 1841: 1810:, D. Appleton-Century Company, Inc., 1937. 1405: 1161:four years later. Here, especially in the 922:, to form large pike and shot formations. 661:The Swiss were confronted with the German 363: 1710: 1704: 1399: 422:Learn how and when to remove this message 295:Learn how and when to remove this message 1633: 1627: 1600: 1576: 1561: 1494: 1319: 1240: 1050: 1034: 890: 864: 605: 582: 486: 306: 190: 182: 112: 29: 1776:, 7(1), August 2005, pp. 10,12,13. 1613:. Oxford University Press. p. 65. 14: 2307: 1610:The Oxford History of the British Army 1472: 1257:parties, up to the late 19th century. 1003: 1836: 1678: 1582: 1567: 1466: 1215:who did not have access to firearms. 460:in 1314, and the Flemings used their 1801:Irish History and the Irish Question 1647:(6th ed.). London: J. Phillips. 1154:, which took place on 4 April 1794. 532:(1408). The constant success of the 442:or the peasant array of the lowland 400:adding citations to reliable sources 367: 273:adding citations to reliable sources 240: 1796:, Cambridge University Press, 1996. 1327:, a pikeman (16-17th century) from 24: 2340:Warfare of the early modern period 1786:. London: Methuen & Co., 1937. 1745: 1440: 803: 25: 2351: 1814: 1769:, Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2002. 1531:Der alte Schweizer und sein Krieg 1356:President of the Italian Republic 1348:Company of Pikemen and Musketeers 1249:Shorter versions of pikes called 840: 236: 220:vulnerabilities mentioned above. 1820: 1533:(in German). Frauenfeld: Huber. 1304:Under-Secretary of State for War 860: 778:, pike-like long spear, and the 765: 372: 245: 1729: 1669: 1660: 1651: 1529:Schaufelberger, Walter (1987). 880:with piekenier training at the 328:sarissa, used by the troops of 1547: 1488: 1414: 610:Pikemen exercising during the 452:in several battles during the 13: 1: 1392: 1232:Confederate States of America 1075:Army of the Holy Roman Empire 827:foot soldiers and dismounted 454:Wars of Scottish Independence 1862: 1352:Honourable Artillery Company 1176:Improvised pikes, made from 754:and the West European terms 491:Contemporary woodcut of the 7: 1365: 360:so popular in later times. 27:Long spear used by infantry 10: 2356: 1080:Wars of the Three Kingdoms 466:Battle of the Golden Spurs 316: 231: 178: 2146: 1870: 1756:History of the Art of War 1406:Verbruggen, J.F. (1997). 1276:weapon in 1942 after the 1272:The pike was issued as a 1221:his raid on Harpers Ferry 579:Renaissance Europe heyday 501:Battle of Stirling Bridge 108: 1711:MacKenzie, S.P. (1995). 952:on the island dwindled. 86:. A similar weapon, the 2335:Renaissance-era weapons 1473:Silver, George (1599). 1333:MeÄ‘imurje County Museum 1119:, facing a shortage of 364:Medieval Europe revival 1475:"Paradoxes of Defense" 1346:regiment and with the 1335: 1246: 1159:1798 rising in Ireland 1060: 1048: 911: 888: 876:A re-enactment of the 679: 615: 603: 545:Gian Galeazzo Visconti 496: 314: 197: 188: 118: 39: 1568:Firth, C.H. (1972) . 1448:"On the Push of Pike" 1331:as an exhibit in the 1323: 1244: 1230:(1861–1865) when the 1182:Castle Hill rebellion 1054: 1038: 977:Treaty of Paris, 1657 905:Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau 894: 875: 784:. The dagger-axe and 772:Warring States period 609: 586: 490: 458:Battle of Bannockburn 310: 194: 186: 116: 33: 1829:at Wikimedia Commons 1111:As late as Poland's 396:improve this section 334:Philip II of Macedon 269:improve this section 46:is a long thrusting 1152:Battle of RacĹ‚awice 1117:Thaddeus Kosciuszko 1113:KoĹ›ciuszko Uprising 1087:American Revolution 1004:End of the pike era 798:war against Xiongnu 711:Battles of Grandson 330:Alexander the Great 96:Alexander the Great 90:, had been used in 56:early modern period 38:from enemy cavalry. 1772:McPeak, William. 1765:Fegley, Randall. 1692:. 7 September 1998 1336: 1274:British Home Guard 1247: 1228:American Civil War 1070:Great Northern War 1061: 1049: 1023:, followed by the 912: 889: 616: 604: 594:pikemen fight at " 497: 315: 312:Macedonian phalanx 198: 189: 119: 40: 2325:Medieval polearms 2302: 2301: 1913:Bohemian earspoon 1825:Media related to 1799:Smith, Goldwyn. 1774:Military Heritage 1690:home-guard.org.uk 1686:"Home Guard Pike" 1620:978-0-19-280311-5 1596:. pp. 76–77. 1540:978-3-7193-0980-0 1508:979-12-5590-015-3 1454:. 21 October 2011 1173:armed with guns. 1163:Wexford Rebellion 1015:, which gave the 961:English Civil War 878:Thirty Years' War 873: 643:Battle of Flodden 573:Battle of Flodden 557:Battle of Sempach 534:Swiss mercenaries 493:Battle of Dornach 432: 431: 424: 305: 304: 297: 214:Battle of Flodden 82:units and French 58:, and wielded by 16:(Redirected from 2347: 2330:European weapons 2274:Torimono sandĹŤgu 2078:Scottish halberd 1857: 1850: 1843: 1834: 1833: 1824: 1806:Vullaimy, C. E. 1790:Parker, Geoffrey 1760:Medieval Warfare 1739: 1733: 1727: 1726: 1708: 1702: 1701: 1699: 1697: 1682: 1676: 1673: 1667: 1664: 1658: 1655: 1649: 1648: 1635:Phillips, Edward 1631: 1625: 1624: 1604: 1598: 1597: 1580: 1574: 1573: 1565: 1559: 1551: 1545: 1544: 1526: 1520: 1519: 1517: 1515: 1492: 1486: 1485: 1483: 1481: 1470: 1464: 1463: 1461: 1459: 1444: 1438: 1437: 1435: 1433: 1428:on 9 August 2014 1418: 1412: 1411: 1403: 1362:in Rome, Italy. 1300:Henry Page Croft 1127:to arm landless 1091:Continental Army 963:(1642–1651) the 897:Battle of Rocroi 874: 699:Charles the Bold 674: 612:Battle of Grolle 565:Battle of Arbedo 505:Battle of Laupen 427: 420: 416: 413: 407: 376: 368: 352:, describes the 350:De Bello Gallico 300: 293: 289: 286: 280: 249: 241: 54:and most of the 52:Late Middle Ages 21: 2355: 2354: 2350: 2349: 2348: 2346: 2345: 2344: 2305: 2304: 2303: 2298: 2142: 2048:Plançon Ă  picot 2033:Ox tongue spear 1866: 1861: 1817: 1748: 1746:Further reading 1743: 1742: 1734: 1730: 1723: 1709: 1705: 1695: 1693: 1684: 1683: 1679: 1674: 1670: 1665: 1661: 1656: 1652: 1632: 1628: 1621: 1605: 1601: 1581: 1577: 1566: 1562: 1552: 1548: 1541: 1527: 1523: 1513: 1511: 1509: 1493: 1489: 1479: 1477: 1471: 1467: 1457: 1455: 1446: 1445: 1441: 1431: 1429: 1420: 1419: 1415: 1404: 1400: 1395: 1368: 1360:Quirinal Palace 1296:"Croft's Pikes" 1189:Napoleonic Wars 1187:As late as the 1100:Throughout the 1006: 991:Nine Years' War 969:Oliver Cromwell 865: 863: 843: 813:Classical Japan 806: 804:Classical Japan 768: 707:Burgundian Wars 670: 581: 428: 417: 411: 408: 393: 377: 366: 321: 301: 290: 284: 281: 266: 250: 239: 234: 181: 124:Sir John Smythe 111: 76:Swiss mercenary 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 2353: 2343: 2342: 2337: 2332: 2327: 2322: 2317: 2300: 2299: 2297: 2296: 2291: 2286: 2281: 2276: 2271: 2266: 2261: 2256: 2251: 2246: 2241: 2236: 2231: 2226: 2221: 2216: 2211: 2206: 2201: 2196: 2191: 2186: 2181: 2176: 2171: 2166: 2161: 2156: 2150: 2148: 2144: 2143: 2141: 2140: 2135: 2130: 2125: 2120: 2118:Viking halberd 2115: 2110: 2105: 2100: 2095: 2090: 2085: 2080: 2075: 2070: 2065: 2060: 2055: 2050: 2045: 2040: 2035: 2030: 2025: 2020: 2015: 2013:Lucerne hammer 2010: 2005: 2000: 1995: 1990: 1985: 1980: 1975: 1970: 1965: 1960: 1955: 1950: 1945: 1940: 1935: 1930: 1925: 1920: 1915: 1910: 1905: 1900: 1895: 1890: 1885: 1880: 1874: 1872: 1868: 1867: 1860: 1859: 1852: 1845: 1837: 1831: 1830: 1816: 1815:External links 1813: 1812: 1811: 1804: 1797: 1787: 1777: 1770: 1763: 1752:DelbrĂĽck, Hans 1747: 1744: 1741: 1740: 1728: 1721: 1703: 1677: 1668: 1659: 1650: 1626: 1619: 1599: 1575: 1560: 1555:An Army Reborn 1546: 1539: 1521: 1507: 1487: 1465: 1439: 1424:Archived from 1413: 1397: 1396: 1394: 1391: 1390: 1389: 1384: 1379: 1374: 1367: 1364: 1251:boarding pikes 1025:socket bayonet 1005: 1002: 973:Lord Protector 971:, by then the 965:New Model Army 903:, painting by 862: 859: 847:Medieval Japan 842: 841:Medieval Japan 839: 805: 802: 767: 764: 739:The so-called 680:deutscher StoĂź 580: 577: 541:duchy of Milan 518:Mons-en-Pevele 456:including the 430: 429: 380: 378: 371: 365: 362: 317:Main article: 303: 302: 253: 251: 244: 238: 237:Ancient Europe 235: 233: 230: 180: 177: 110: 107: 26: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 2352: 2341: 2338: 2336: 2333: 2331: 2328: 2326: 2323: 2321: 2318: 2316: 2313: 2312: 2310: 2295: 2292: 2290: 2287: 2285: 2282: 2280: 2277: 2275: 2272: 2270: 2267: 2265: 2262: 2260: 2257: 2255: 2252: 2250: 2247: 2245: 2242: 2240: 2237: 2235: 2232: 2230: 2227: 2225: 2222: 2220: 2217: 2215: 2212: 2210: 2207: 2205: 2202: 2200: 2197: 2195: 2192: 2190: 2187: 2185: 2182: 2180: 2177: 2175: 2172: 2170: 2167: 2165: 2162: 2160: 2159:Bambu runcing 2157: 2155: 2152: 2151: 2149: 2145: 2139: 2136: 2134: 2131: 2129: 2126: 2124: 2121: 2119: 2116: 2114: 2111: 2109: 2106: 2104: 2101: 2099: 2096: 2094: 2091: 2089: 2086: 2084: 2081: 2079: 2076: 2074: 2071: 2069: 2066: 2064: 2061: 2059: 2056: 2054: 2051: 2049: 2046: 2044: 2041: 2039: 2036: 2034: 2031: 2029: 2028:Military fork 2026: 2024: 2021: 2019: 2016: 2014: 2011: 2009: 2006: 2004: 2001: 1999: 1996: 1994: 1993:Jeddart staff 1991: 1989: 1986: 1984: 1981: 1979: 1976: 1974: 1971: 1969: 1966: 1964: 1961: 1959: 1956: 1954: 1951: 1949: 1946: 1944: 1941: 1939: 1936: 1934: 1931: 1929: 1926: 1924: 1921: 1919: 1916: 1914: 1911: 1909: 1906: 1904: 1901: 1899: 1896: 1894: 1893:Bec de corbin 1891: 1889: 1886: 1884: 1881: 1879: 1876: 1875: 1873: 1869: 1865: 1858: 1853: 1851: 1846: 1844: 1839: 1838: 1835: 1828: 1823: 1819: 1818: 1809: 1805: 1802: 1798: 1795: 1791: 1788: 1785: 1781: 1780:Oman, Charles 1778: 1775: 1771: 1768: 1764: 1761: 1757: 1753: 1750: 1749: 1738:8:41. YouTube 1737: 1732: 1724: 1722:0-19-820577-5 1718: 1714: 1707: 1691: 1687: 1681: 1672: 1663: 1654: 1646: 1645: 1640: 1636: 1630: 1622: 1616: 1612: 1611: 1603: 1595: 1594: 1589: 1585: 1579: 1571: 1564: 1558: 1556: 1550: 1542: 1536: 1532: 1525: 1510: 1504: 1500: 1499: 1491: 1476: 1469: 1453: 1449: 1443: 1427: 1423: 1417: 1409: 1402: 1398: 1388: 1385: 1383: 1380: 1378: 1375: 1373: 1370: 1369: 1363: 1361: 1357: 1353: 1349: 1345: 1341: 1334: 1330: 1326: 1322: 1318: 1316: 1312: 1307: 1305: 1301: 1297: 1293: 1290: 1287: 1283: 1279: 1275: 1270: 1267: 1264:warrior king 1263: 1258: 1256: 1252: 1243: 1239: 1237: 1236:Robert E. Lee 1233: 1229: 1224: 1222: 1218: 1214: 1210: 1206: 1202: 1198: 1194: 1190: 1185: 1183: 1179: 1174: 1172: 1168: 1164: 1160: 1155: 1153: 1149: 1145: 1141: 1137: 1133: 1130: 1126: 1122: 1118: 1114: 1109: 1107: 1103: 1098: 1096: 1093:and attached 1092: 1088: 1083: 1081: 1076: 1071: 1067: 1059:with his pike 1058: 1053: 1046: 1042: 1037: 1033: 1031: 1026: 1022: 1018: 1014: 1011: 1001: 999: 996:According to 994: 992: 988: 985: 980: 978: 974: 970: 966: 962: 957: 953: 951: 947: 943: 938: 936: 932: 928: 923: 921: 917: 909: 906: 902: 898: 893: 886: 883: 879: 861:Pike and shot 858: 856: 852: 848: 838: 835: 830: 826: 822: 818: 814: 809: 801: 799: 795: 791: 787: 783: 782: 777: 773: 766:Ancient China 763: 761: 758:(French) and 757: 753: 749: 744: 743: 737: 735: 731: 727: 722: 720: 716: 712: 708: 704: 700: 696: 695:Swiss cantons 691: 688: 683: 681: 677: 673: 668: 667:German thrust 664: 659: 657: 653: 652: 646: 644: 640: 636: 631: 629: 625: 621: 613: 608: 601: 598:" during the 597: 593: 589: 585: 576: 574: 570: 566: 562: 558: 554: 549: 546: 542: 537: 535: 531: 527: 523: 519: 515: 510: 506: 502: 494: 489: 485: 483: 479: 473: 471: 467: 463: 459: 455: 451: 450: 445: 441: 437: 426: 423: 415: 405: 401: 397: 391: 390: 386: 381:This section 379: 375: 370: 369: 361: 359: 355: 351: 347: 346:Julius Caesar 342: 337: 335: 331: 327: 320: 313: 309: 299: 296: 288: 278: 274: 270: 264: 263: 259: 254:This section 252: 248: 243: 242: 229: 225: 221: 217: 215: 209: 207: 206:melee weapons 203: 193: 185: 176: 174: 170: 166: 160: 158: 154: 150: 146: 142: 137: 133: 129: 125: 115: 106: 104: 101: 97: 93: 89: 85: 84:sans-culottes 81: 77: 73: 69: 65: 61: 60:foot soldiers 57: 53: 49: 45: 37: 32: 19: 2058:Quarterstaff 2042: 2008:Lochaber axe 1923:Brogit staff 1807: 1800: 1793: 1783: 1773: 1766: 1759: 1755: 1731: 1712: 1706: 1694:. Retrieved 1689: 1680: 1671: 1662: 1653: 1643: 1639:Kersey, John 1629: 1609: 1602: 1592: 1578: 1569: 1563: 1554: 1549: 1530: 1524: 1514:22 September 1512:. Retrieved 1497: 1490: 1478:. Retrieved 1468: 1456:. Retrieved 1452:Art Military 1451: 1442: 1430:. Retrieved 1426:the original 1416: 1407: 1401: 1377:Push of pike 1337: 1324: 1314: 1310: 1308: 1295: 1281: 1271: 1266:Kamehameha I 1259: 1250: 1248: 1225: 1186: 1175: 1156: 1110: 1099: 1084: 1062: 1057:sans-culotte 1021:plug bayonet 1007: 995: 987:English Army 981: 958: 954: 939: 924: 913: 851:arquebusiers 844: 810: 807: 789: 785: 780: 769: 759: 755: 751: 747: 740: 738: 734:Italian Wars 723: 692: 687:Landsknechts 686: 684: 666: 662: 660: 649: 647: 632: 628:Landsknechts 623: 617: 600:Italian Wars 596:push of pike 555:, as at the 550: 538: 498: 482:Halidon Hill 474: 461: 447: 433: 418: 409: 394:Please help 382: 338: 322: 291: 282: 267:Please help 255: 226: 222: 218: 210: 199: 161: 120: 62:deployed in 43: 41: 2184:Fangtian ji 2018:Man catcher 1918:Brandistock 1696:17 November 1584:Firth, C.H. 1458:17 November 1372:Pike square 1286:Lee–Enfield 1144:war scythes 1085:During the 1066:Charles XII 998:John Kersey 984:Restoration 959:During the 834:shin guards 794:Qin dynasty 730:mercenaries 726:Swabian War 663:Landsknecht 656:halberdiers 592:Landsknecht 553:men-at-arms 528:(1382) and 514:man-at-arms 436:Middle Ages 332:'s father, 80:Landsknecht 64:pike square 2309:Categories 2254:Sodegarami 2174:Dagger-axe 2133:Welsh hook 2128:War scythe 2108:Swordstaff 2088:Sparth axe 1908:Boar spear 1903:Bear spear 1393:References 1278:War Office 1260:The great 1217:John Brown 1102:Napoleonic 946:longbowmen 776:dagger-axe 651:Zweihänder 470:goedendags 358:shieldwall 326:Macedonian 196:at "port". 105:infantry. 100:Macedonian 70:-equipped 36:musketeers 2209:Kama-yari 2199:Hoko yari 2068:Rhomphaia 2023:Menaulion 1978:Half pike 1963:Goedendag 1878:Ahlspiess 1209:Australia 1184:of 1804. 1132:partisans 1104:era, the 1030:firepower 1017:musketeer 1010:flintlock 982:The post 885:star fort 882:Bourtange 752:Schefflin 748:Schefflin 742:Schefflin 672:‹See Tfd› 639:schiltron 526:Roosebeke 478:Roosebeke 449:schiltron 412:June 2012 383:does not 348:, in his 285:June 2012 256:does not 132:arms race 92:antiquity 78:, German 2320:Polearms 2279:Trishula 2244:Sasumata 2224:Naginata 2219:Nagamaki 2103:Spontoon 2038:Partisan 1968:Guisarme 1953:Fauchard 1933:Dane axe 1928:Corseque 1888:Bardiche 1871:European 1864:Polearms 1637:(1706). 1586:(1898). 1480:4 August 1432:4 August 1366:See also 1344:infantry 1262:Hawaiian 1255:boarding 1178:bayonets 1125:bayonets 1121:firearms 1106:spontoon 1041:corselet 935:javelins 916:arquebus 855:spearmen 825:ashigaru 817:naginata 756:javeline 703:Burgundy 697:against 569:James IV 524:(1328), 520:(1304), 507:(1339), 440:Flemings 354:Helvetii 149:ranseurs 141:halberds 2284:TsukubĹŤ 2194:Guandao 2189:Gichang 2169:Bisento 2113:Trident 2073:Sarissa 2063:Ranseur 2053:Pollaxe 1988:Javelin 1973:Halberd 1938:Doloire 1641:(ed.). 1358:at the 1350:of the 1340:colours 1329:Croatia 1325:Pikenir 1311:serenos 1292:bayonet 1197:Ireland 1193:militia 1171:cavalry 1165:and in 1148:peasant 1140:scythes 1136:sickles 1097:units. 1095:militia 1045:tassets 942:billmen 920:caliver 908:picture 901:Tercios 829:samurai 760:javelin 705:in the 561:halberd 548:pikes. 509:Bernese 434:In the 404:removed 389:sources 341:Tacitus 319:Sarissa 277:removed 262:sources 232:History 202:missile 179:Tactics 157:voulges 145:glaives 128:langets 122:writer 103:phalanx 88:sarissa 72:muskets 68:bayonet 18:Pikemen 2315:Spears 2264:Sumpit 2259:Sovnya 2179:Dangpa 2164:Barcha 2138:Xyston 2123:Voulge 2098:Spetum 2083:Sovnya 1998:Kontos 1958:Glaive 1883:Atgeir 1719:  1617:  1537:  1505:  1342:of an 1302:, the 1298:after 1213:rebels 1207:, and 1201:Russia 1167:Dublin 1043:, and 1013:musket 931:swords 927:tercio 717:, and 676:German 654:, and 624:Spiess 522:Cassel 462:geldon 165:dagger 109:Design 2289:Woldo 2269:Tabar 2249:Sibat 2239:Qiang 2234:Podao 2154:Arbir 2147:Asian 2093:Spear 2003:Lance 1983:Hasta 1827:Pikes 1387:Spear 1382:Lance 1315:chuzo 1289:rifle 1205:China 719:Nancy 715:Morat 635:Scots 620:Swiss 588:Swiss 530:Othee 444:Scots 173:melee 169:sword 155:, or 153:bills 48:spear 2294:Yari 2229:Ngao 2214:Kudi 2043:Pike 1948:Falx 1943:Dory 1898:Bill 1717:ISBN 1698:2017 1615:ISBN 1535:ISBN 1516:2023 1503:ISBN 1482:2014 1460:2017 1434:2014 1138:and 1129:serf 1123:and 933:and 918:and 895:The 853:and 821:yari 819:and 633:The 618:The 590:and 480:and 387:any 385:cite 260:any 258:cite 204:and 44:pike 1792:. 1754:. 950:yew 811:In 701:of 398:by 271:by 167:or 136:ash 98:'s 94:by 2311:: 2204:Ji 1782:. 1688:. 1590:. 1450:. 1317:. 1223:. 1203:, 1199:, 1055:A 944:, 800:. 790:ji 786:ji 781:ji 713:, 678:: 645:. 159:. 151:, 147:, 143:, 42:A 1856:e 1849:t 1842:v 1762:. 1725:. 1700:. 1623:. 1543:. 1518:. 1484:. 1462:. 1436:. 1047:. 910:. 887:. 669:( 614:. 602:. 495:. 425:) 419:( 414:) 410:( 406:. 392:. 298:) 292:( 287:) 283:( 279:. 265:. 20:)

Index

Pikemen

musketeers
spear
Late Middle Ages
early modern period
foot soldiers
pike square
bayonet
muskets
Swiss mercenary
Landsknecht
sans-culottes
sarissa
antiquity
Alexander the Great
Macedonian
phalanx

Sir John Smythe
langets
arms race
ash
halberds
glaives
ranseurs
bills
voulges
dagger
sword

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.

↑