Subject: knight, man-at-arms

Culture: English

Setting: Wars of the Roses, England mid-late 15thc

Object: 1471 English knight polearms = bill, halberd, pollaxe

Royal Armouries Museum > War Gallery *

"Pollaxe North European, probably English, 1450-1500

The pollaxe is a two-handed infantry staff weapon.

Its head includes an axe-blade, hammer-head, and a top-spike, designed to hack,

crush and pierce plate armour as well as flesh and bone.

The name derives from the old English poll, meaning head and has nothing to do with its wooden haft." ...

* Royal Armouries Museum > War Gallery

"Bills English, 15th century

The characteristic weapon of the English heavy infantry of the 15th century was the bill,

used in the same way as the halberd on the continent. Originally an agricultural implement,

military versions were being made by the late 13th century." ...

Higgins Armory Museum > Castle Quest *

"POLLAXE

Powerful two-handed weapon for armored combat."