Apr 24, 2020
Oct 22, 2010

Corsèque

Corsèque

c. 1520

Steel; round wood haft; tassel

Overall: 269.2 cm (106 in.); Blade: 36.5 cm (14 3/8 in.)

Weight: 2.38

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1916.1535

Did you know?

The corsèque is said to have originated in Corsica, from where it takes its name.

Description

The corsèque is a pole arm with a symmetrical three-pronged head consisting of a central double-edged blade and two sharp, upturned wings. The side blades served several functions: as guard to protect the soldier's hand when a thrust was delivered with the central blade; as a hook for unseating a mounted opponent; and to trip the opponent's horse. The corsèque was used mostly in Italy and France from the 1400s to the early 1600s. The version here is sometimes called a chauve-souris after the French word for "bat," since the side blades are thought to resemble a bat's wings.

See also

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