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Battle axes are particularly associated in Western popular imagination with the Vikings. Certainly, Scandinavian foot soldiers and maritime marauders employed them as a stock weapon during their heyday, which extended from the beginning of the 8th century to the end of the 11th century.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describes how a giant Norse axeman wielding what was most likely a Dane axe, single-handedly cut down up to 40 Englishman during the battle of Stamford bridge. Supposedly, he was only defeated when an English soldier floated under the bridge in a barrel and thrust his spear through the planks, mortally wounding the axeman.
Minoan double axe. Drawing of a golden ring found at Mycenae depicting cult of the seated poppy goddess, in which the labrys is central and prominent. In ancient Crete, the double axe was an important sacred symbol of the Minoan religion. [12] In Crete the double axe only accompanies goddesses, never gods.
The Battle Axe culture, also called Boat Axe culture, is a Chalcolithic culture that flourished in the coastal areas of the south of the Scandinavian Peninsula and southwest Finland, from c. 2800 BC – c. 2300 BC.
A wealthy Viking would likely have a complete ensemble of a spear, a wooden shield, and either a battle axe or a sword. Battle axes were considered the "normal weapon" for middle class Vikings. Swords were normally reserved for the upper class and nobles. Much poetry was associated with Viking weapons.
A Norwegian peasant axe. The Norwegian battle axe, also called Norwegian peasant militia axe, Norwegian peasant axe or peasant battle axe (Norwegian: bondeøks or bondestridsøks), is a tool and weapon from Norway, which was an important part of the Norwegian national defense in the 1600s.
Bardiche. Two examples of a bardiche together with a flail, on display in Suzdal. Several medieval battle axes including a 15th-century Austrian bardiche. A bardiche / bɑːrˈdiːʃ /, berdiche, bardische, bardeche, or berdish is a type of polearm used from the 14th to 17th centuries in Europe.
Lochaber axe. Replica of a Lochaber axe being demonstrated at a battle re-enactment near Inverlochy Castle. The Lochaber axe ( Gaelic: tuagh-chatha) is a type of poleaxe that was used almost exclusively in Scotland. It was usually mounted on a staff about five feet long.
The francisca (or francesca) was 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 (about 500 to 750 AD). It is known to have been used during the reign of Charlemagne (768–814).
Gillean of the Battle Axe, or Gilleain na Tuaighe in Scottish Gaelic, was the eponymous ancestor of Clan Maclean and Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie. He is considered the 1st chief of Clan Maclean. Biography. He was born to a man named Rath and flourished around the year 1250.