Franziska (weapon)
| Franziska (weapon) | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Information | |
| Weapon type: | Throwing ax |
| Designations: | Franconian hatchet |
| Use: | military weapon |
| Creation time: | approx. 5th century |
| Working time: | 5th century - 7th century |
| Region of origin / author: |
Franconian Empire , Frankish warriors |
| Distribution: | Frankish Empire ; Alemanni |
| Overall length: | approx. from 40 cm |
| Blade length: | approx. 11 cm - 23 cm |
| Weight: | approx. 200 gr - 1300 gr |
| Handle: | Wood |
| Particularities: | Standard weapon of the Frankish warriors |
| Lists on the subject | |
The Franziska , also Franciska (English: Francisca , French: Francisca / Francisque , Latin: Bipennes / Bipennis or Secures / Securis ), is a special form of the throwing ax , used mainly by the Merovingian Franks . Towards the end of the 6th century it went out of use. The last finds come from the context of finds from the 7th century.
description
Numerous grave finds and written sources prove that the Franziska was a common weapon in the 5th and 6th centuries. Forerunners of the Franziska can already be found in the late Roman army. Finds come from southern England, the Alemannic areas and especially the Merovingian Franconian Empire . After Isidore of Seville , Franziska received her name from the Franks. The weapon is no longer mentioned in the 7th century Lex Ripuaria .
The Franziska was hurled against the enemy ranks from a distance of about 10-12 m. Tests show that she achieved considerable penetration. The use required some practice from the thrower.
The S-shaped curve of the upper edge of the sheet is characteristic of the Franziska, whereas the lower edge describes a simple curve. The cutting edge swings more strongly towards the handle in the lower part and has two clearly formed points, the upper one of which is particularly strongly formed and which is not infrequently broken off by an impact in found objects. In the mostly round shaft hole sat a possibly curved wooden handle, which formed an obtuse angle of 90–115 ° with the central axis of the leaf. The leaf lengths of the found Franzisken range from 11 cm to 23 cm with weights of 200 to 1,300 g.
The Franziska is still a popular model in sporting ax throwing and can often be found in re-enactment and on medieval markets .
Individual evidence
- ↑ " quas Hispani ab usu Francorum per derivationem Franciscas vocant " - Etymologiarum sive originum liber XVIII 6.9
literature
- Ulrich Dahmlos: Franzisca - bipennis - securis. Comments on archaeological findings and written records . In: Germania , Volume 55 (1977), pp. 141-165.
- Wolfgang Hübener: Franziska . In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde , Volume 9, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin 1995, pp. 470–476.
