Voulge

A voulge (also spelled vouge,^[1] sometimes called a couteau de breche) is a type of polearm that existed in medieval Europe, primarily in 15th century France.^[2]

Voulges from Richard F. Burton's The Book of the Sword, 1884

Description

A voulge would usually have a narrow single-edged blade mounted with a socket on a shaft. The weapon could additionally feature shaft reinforcements called langets and rondel protection for the hands at the base of the blade.^[3] Troops that used the weapon are called voulgiers.^[4]

It is a weapon noted to have been used by the Franc-Archers^[3] and is also depicted in artwork of their creation. There is a popular erroneous definition of the word voulge in modern times, which refers to a pointy cleaver-like weapon blade attached to the shaft with two hoops like a bardiche. This definition is incorrect and started in the 19th century with Viollet le Duc, and the weapon in question is an early form of halberd.^[5]

• 
  Voulges depicted in the hands of Franc-Archers

See also

• Lochaber axe

References

1. "Definition of VOUGE".
2. Waldman, John (2005). Hafted Weapons in Medieval and Renaissance Europe The Evolution of European Staff Weapons between 1200 and 1650. Leiden. pp. 183–188. ISBN 978-90-474-0757-7. OCLC 704633881.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
3. "Historical European Polearms and other Weapons: The historical Voulge - what is this polearm?". Historical European Polearms and other Weapons. 2022-12-28. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
4. Sargeaunt, Bertram Edward (1908). Weapons: A Brief Discourse on Hand-weapons Other Than Fire-arms. London: Hugh Rees, Ltd. pp. 23–24.
5. Waldman, John (2005). Hafted Weapons in Medieval and Renaissance Europe The Evolution of European Staff Weapons between 1200 and 1650. Leiden. pp. 16–17. ISBN 978-90-474-0757-7. OCLC 704633881.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)