Halberd facts for kids

Reenactors with Halberds.

The halberd is a two handed pole weapon that has a axe blade topped with a spike mounted on a long shaft and a hook or thorn on the back side of the axe blade. The Halberd was popular during the 14th and 15th centuries. The Halberd is still the ceremonial weapon of the Swiss Guard in the Vatican.

Images for kids

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  Halberd illustrated in "Théâtre de tous les peuples et nations de la terre avec leurs habits et ornemens divers, tant anciens que modernes, diligemment depeints au naturel". Painted by Lucas d'Heere in the 2nd half of the 16th century. Manuscript preserved in the Ghent University Library.

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  A member of the Swiss Guard with a halberd in the Vatican.

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  Different sorts of halberds and halberd-like pole weapons in Switzerland

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  Citizens of Zürich on 1 May 1351 are read the Federal Charter as they swear allegiance to representatives of Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden and Lucerne. One of the representatives carries a typical Swiss halberd of the period depicted (as opposed to the time the image was made, 1515).

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  Saint Wiborada is often (anachronistically) depicted with a halberd to indicate the means of her martyrdom.

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  Halberd-axe head with the head of a mouflon. Late 2nd millennium–early 1st millennium BC. From Amlash, Gilan, Iran.

See also

In Spanish: Alabarda para niños