length of lances

[MidnightWolf]

soemtimes i dont think games or even reenactors get the length of lances correct. whata you guys think? i've seen historical stuff saying they should be like 4 meters long

 

[James]

You mean they're too short, or too long in games?

 

[MidnightWolf]

well i've seen most, even mine that are too short. most look or range at 7-8 feet. but 4 meters is jut over 13 feet!!  sorry i dont mean lances as in jousters lances, i mean though of the average foot soilder. say for spears etc.

 

[quiet420]

your talking about too many weapons to really make generalizations, under the broad category of spears, you can fit pretty much anything from little hunting tools to massive pikes...your talking about a range of between 3 feet to 15 feet....the bigger ones most likely would have only been used in formations or by garrisons.

 

[khakhan]

Swiss Pikes ranged anywhere from 3-6 meters.. Commonly i would say 3-4 meters.

the greek Sarissa was 4-7 meters long (used by Hopilites)

 

[Llew2]

or by garrisons.

Oh? Seems they would want shorter ones in tight places,

 

[quiet420]

Oh? Seems they would want shorter ones in tight places,

Yeah, for the fodder, and everyone needs backup weapons, but fortifications are typically designed to have chokepoints, in garrosoning, if you can present a wall of thrusting spearheads to anyone attempting to breach a passage, you can hold off a much larger force, and the longer the shafts, the greater the number of defenders that can cram in to present them.

 

[italiano]

Okay, how long would spears used by infantry typically be in the 13th-14th centuries? And the length of lances of the same era?

 

[quiet420]

I don't think there are any real rules, people used what suited the application, spear length certainly didn't have a linear evoloution, you have accounts of both long and short spears in all periods.

 

[MidnightWolf]

see this is wear i got the 4 meter lances. was reading something on crusades era... now if i can just find it again.

 

[Balinux]

4 meter lances for knights and 2 or 2.5 meter spears for infantry. This is my assumption for the 12th century.

 

[Yeyinde]

I read something about the Polish Winged Hussars having 6 meters worth of lance.

Too bad Grunwalder isn't around to confirm this.

 

[Cirdan]

Generally, the rule of thumb would be 2 to 2.5 metres for a spear (one-handed weapon used by footsoldiers), 3 to 4 for a lance (used couched by cavalry) and 5 to 6 for a pike (used two-handed by infantry and only superificially resembling the spear); there were also some cavalry versions of pikes which were only marginally shorter and lighter than the infantry versions (some Hellenistic cavalry was referred to as σαρισσαφοροι or pike-bearers). Or at least, thus goes my understanding.

 

[Jurand]

I read something about the Polish Winged Hussars having 6 meters worth of lance.

Too bad Grunwalder isn't around to confirm this.

A reliable source has its length at 4.5 to 5 meters with some being up to 5.5 meters long. It was apparently a variation on a shorter, Hungarian lance (mere 3 meters).

I'm a bit new to this game, but haven't noticed lances shattering too often... Or am I mistaken?
- Jurand

 

[Vovolov]

I read something about the Polish Winged Hussars having 6 meters worth of lance.

Too bad Grunwalder isn't around to confirm this.

A reliable source has its length at 4.5 to 5 meters with some being up to 5.5 meters long. It was apparently a variation on a shorter, Hungarian lance (mere 3 meters).

I'm a bit new to this game, but haven't noticed lances shattering too often... Or am I mistaken?
- Jurand

They don't shatter, and that's a pity.

 

[Balinux]

Yeah, all pole-weapons should break after a certain amount of damage.

 

[Archonsod]

A reliable source has its length at 4.5 to 5 meters with some being up to 5.5 meters long. It was apparently a variation on a shorter, Hungarian lance (mere 3 meters).

That wouldn't really apply until the 16th Century (though the Mongols made use of a short lance of around 2 - 2.5 metres from the 12th). Prior to that, the use of the lance rest meant lances could be much longer, although recommendations and sources vary on the exact length.
In all likelihood, cavalry would have carried several lances of differing sizes, taking to the field whatever would most likely be needed. Against spear or polearm infantry, a long lance would be employed, hopefully to allow the rider to strike before the spears could reach him. Against other cavalry a shorter lance would be needed, largely because of it's greater agility. It's not until the Napoleonic era that lance size really became standardised, largely thanks to the introduction of the bayonet.

 

[Cirdan]

If we look at the descriptions of some HYW battles, it seems more likely that they always carried the longest lances, and cut them down if they needed them shorter. E.g. the order given to the French knights to cut their lances short before Azincourt, since the commanders had decided there wouldn't be a cavalry charge (unfortunately for them, discipline wasn't up to scratch).