Introduction
In humanities history there has been one weapon that has withstood the test of time, one weapon that has been used so extensively throughout our history that it has been depicted in literature and art from every age. Yet its prestige has not grown to that of the sword, it has been present but overlooked when compared to, what would be called a nobler weapon. The weapon I speak of is of course the spear. The weapon used in times of war by nearly every nation on the planet, but also a weapon used in times of peace as a hunting tool, security and traveling among many others.
It is this weapon that I wish to talk about in this article. We will look at some of its long history, its use and the countless variations that are and have been used. The spear has outlived and been used longer than any other weapon and for good reason.
History
For as long as humans have fought among each other, we have used long and pointy sticks to wage our wars. From the phalanx of the Macedonians to the legendary Spartans. The Norsemen raiding the coast of England, the eventual invasion of the Normans using heavy cleverly. The spear has been seen as the main weapon of choice. Many countries depending on the time did not have a professional free standing army and would need to recruit or (raise) an army from the people in times of war. This often came with the primary concerns of logistics, equipment and training. The spear however was a tool that nearly every citizen had access to with many using the quarter staff (a solid wood staff without a metal tip fitting or spear head) was commonly used by the people and easily accessible from local forests. This meant that when raising an army the local populas would supply the spear shaft and the local smith would make the spear head. This could be done very quickly. Its simplicity and easy to produce nature of the spear allowed army’s to be equipped very quickly. The basic use of a spear was also easy to learn. It was said by one notable master that the soldier should train using the spear as it is the best and easiest of the weapons to use. The sword is the hardest but most noble.
The spear due to these characteristics saw extensive use throughout the medieval and renaissance period. Even in the 17th and 18th century the spear was used in different forms. The golden age of sail saw the boarding pike and even during World War 1 the spear was still in use by the British, French, Belgian, Russian and Germans. The French initially used cavalry strikes against the German lines. At Helen in 1914 saw German cavalry use the spear (known as a lance when used on horseback) against the Belgians although unsuccessfully.
Again the spear was used by the Turkish army in the Greco Turkish war of 1919 in which the Turkish army used cavalry to great effect against the retreating Greek forces across the open desert plains of Asia Minor. The Greeks suffering heavy loses to the mounted Turkish cavalrymen. The Turks lances this time being made of bamboo rather than wood showing another form of the spear or lance.
The spear would continue to see use up until 1940 with pictures showing argentine cavalry equipped with lances. To this day the world still sees the spears use, from native African tribes and stick fighting, to rural towns in Italy. Mounted police have also been seen outfitted with lances.
Types of spear
When we look at spears we must first look at the shaft that carries the fittings. The wood used in spears ranged from Oak a hard and strong hard wood that often saw use in ship building to Ash a favored wood for the creation of staffs due to is strong but flexible nature. The shaft of a spear was made from many more types of wood depending on the region, each giving its own unique properties to the spear. This was a very important choice as the spear would be useless if the wooden pole that the metal fittings are on were to break.
When it comes to fittings it depended on the time and the person using the weapon. Here are a few examples:
Metal brackets along the wooden pole where used in order to strengthen the pole against fracturing or breaking, these brackets could also feature raised studs or spikes to use against opponents who get to close or try and take your weapon.
Another aspect was the butt or end of the pole. This could be outfitted with a raised blade metal butt used for striking the opponent and again further strengthening the wooden pole. The end could also feature a metal butt spike to pierce Armor. Spikes like this can also be seen being employed against cavalry where the spearman or pikeman would drive the spike into the ground to brace the spear and lower the tip towards charging cavalry (a scary and brave job).
Then we come to the tip of the spear, the spear head as is it’s more commonly known as, the spear head went from a simple spike to a long cutting blade to a thrusting and cut type fitting. Fittings did not stop their as the head could be outfitted with hooks and spikes, the spear leading to the evolution of the poleaxe, bill ect
Its use
The spears primary use is for thrusting, using the length to keep distance and to strike the opponent while preventing them from getting close.
The spear can also cut depending on the head configuration. Both thrusting and cutting actions (cutting being a secondary option) are used extensively.
Many tend to forget that the spears wooden shaft was also used as a weapon, when an opponent gets past the tip of your spear the shaft can be employed to throw or strike the closing opponent.
The last option is the use of the butt of the spear, bringing it up and then striking the opponent with it.
The spear is also a great weapon for clearing or trapping the opponent’s weapon, this tactic can be seen in formation fighting where the goal for a spear man or pike man is to move and trap the opponents spear allowing for their companion to the left or right of them to dispatch the opponent. This was used in pike formations where pikemen would open up the opposition’s formation by moving and trapping their pikes allowing for sword and shield men to slip past and into the lines.
The spear was a very versatile weapon that could be used in many different ways, another use saw the spear being used against cavalry and by cavalry. Against animals used in war fair such as elephants and by charioteers using horse and cart with a long lance.
One master stated that, the sign of an excellent swordsman, was to have them beat a good spearman. Not a great spearman but a good one. This shows the difficulty and disadvantage one has when facing a spear without a spear. Even sword and shield, the weapon combination with the greatest chance of success against a spear is still a very difficult task.
An example of this is seen here. The swordsman tries to close the distance and get past the spear tip (picture A) The spearman uses the superior leverage to easily move the swordsman’s blade off, at the same time the spear man steps off to the right creating distance (picture B). The swordsman is now at a massive disadvantage as his leverage and distance has been taken from them. The spearman then uses the superior length to thrust into the swordsman’s chest driving forward and down at an angle to impale and drive the swordsman to the ground (picture C).
The above example shows that the level of work the swordsman’s has to do simple to get past the point of the spear and then still have the advantage taken from them so quickly, shows the exact reason the spear was a feared and well used weapon.
When a spearman faces another spearman it becomes a game of distance and leverage, with both vying for control of the others weapon. Quick beating (knocking the weapon to the side or down) followed by thrusts to the head or body.
These thrusts can be countered with circling motions were the shaft of the spear is used to catch the incoming thrust and then directing the thrust out and away from the target. This opens up the opponent to a counter thrust or sweeping cut.
But what happens when a spearman fails to keep the opponent away, this is a question that many have trouble with as many feel the urge to hold onto the weapon. A weapon is a tool and once the tool has used up its use then it should be discarded. An example of this would be, if we were to take a look at the above example of the swordsman and spearman but this time have the swordsman gain distance and charge up to the spearman.
The spearman’s best option is to clear the space, by using the shaft of the spear to block or throw the opponent away. Creating distance in order for them to draw their secondary weapon, often the sword or if they are very close the dagger. Similar to a solider today who expends the ammunition on their primary weapon and draws their side arm.
The spear also lent itself to training, when using the spear you are learning to use a variation of other pole weapons as the use and mechanics where very similar with small changes to compensation for the different configurations of weapon (different fittings and heads). Example would be the pole axe, a 5 to 6 foot long pole weapon with an axe head or hammed often featuring a spike at the top allowing it to be used as a spear as well as a hammer or axe for anti-armour fighting. All of this coming from the evolution first started by the spear.
Conclusion
The spear is a fantastic weapon, I would stop the conclusion right there as I think it’s really all that needs to be said about it. However its long history, its use extensively throughout many of humanities conflicts and the fact that it’s still seeing use today in one form or another is a testament to how effective a weapon it is. They say the sword is the noblest of weapons, it is the weapon that is depicted at the forefront of movies and books, in epic tails of the past and no doubt in the future. However the spear is often right there beside it and often the tool doing the most work. It’s a weapon that every nation has in common, from the west to the east it has been held by all the warriors of the past.
It truly is the one weapon that I would recommend every martial artist take up and try.