The katzbalger is a short arming sword of the Holy Roman Empire, recognizable by its distinctive S-shaped or figure-8 guard, and was the signature sidearm of the Landsknecht, German mercenary infantry. Carried during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, including the Habsburg-Valois Wars and the European Wars of Religion, it measured 70 to 80 centimeters, weighed 0.8 to 1.5 kilograms, and had a straight, broad, flat blade suited to cutting rather than thrusting. It served pikemen, archers and crossbowmen as a close-quarters backup weapon for when the enemy closed too near for bows or pikes to remain effective.
Facts
Weapon Class
Weapon Class (category) Weapon Class (category)Sword / Polearm / Bladed 1 Weapon Class Introduced Year Classification
Service Status Connections
Used In
Source Wikipedia: Katzbalger
In the Other Atlases
Originated In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.
Source Wikipedia: KatzbalgerInfobox: originQuote, Infobox: origin
Holy Roman Empire
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Katzbalger
- Weapon class classified from the entity's own sourced description text.
Infobox: service
16th - 17th century
Used In: Italian Wars, Infobox: wars
Habsburg-Valois Wars, European wars of Religion
In Group: Early Modern Swords and Sabres, Infobox: type
Arming sword
View the SourceWikidata: Katzbalger
Wikidata Q1432731, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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