The term “lance” has become a catchall for a variety of different types of pole weapons that are based on the spear. The actual name is derived from “lancea”, which was a Roman auxiliaries' javelin. The lance is a light throwing spear, or javelin. The English verb to launch, which means to fling, hurl, or throw, is derived from the Old French term “lancier”, as well as, “lance”. In the 17th Century, “lance” came to refer to spears not thrown, the thrusting by heavy cavalry, and jousting. Usually, a spear which is used by infantry for thrusting is referred to as a pike. The lance was first used in the way by the Sarmatian and Parthian cataphractes from the 3rd Century B.C.
The use of the basic Cavalry spear or lance is ancient, and warfare so ubiquitous by the beginning of recorded history, that it is difficult to determine which populations invented the lance and which learned of it from their allies or enemies.
The most well known usage of military lances was that of the full-gallop closed-ranks and wedge-shaped charge of a group of knights who had underarm-couched lances, against lines of infantry, archery regiments, defensive embankments, and opposition cavalry. Scholars believe this particular tactic became the dominant European cavalry tactic in the 11th century after the development of the stirruped saddle, which prevented the charge from turning into a pole vault, and of rowel spurs, which enabled better control of the mount. This enabled the cavalry to have a tremendous collective force in their charge, and they could shatter most contemporary infantry lines; however, recent evidence has suggested that the lance charge could be effective without the benefit of stirrups.
Alexander the Great's Companion Cavalry, who were successful against both heavy infantry and cavalry units, is considered one of the most effective pre-stirrup lanced cavalry units to date.
Although the lance could generally be classified as a spear, it tends to be larger because it is usually longer, stouter, and considerably heavier; therefore, the lance is unsuited for throwing, or for rapid thrusting, unlike the infantry spear. Lances did not have spear tips that were made to break off or bend, unlike many throwing weapons of the spear or javelin family, and were adapted for mounted combat. Most often, the lance was equipped with a vamplate, which is a small circular plate to prevent the hand from sliding up the shaft upon impact. The lance is most well known as a military and sporting weapon used by European knights.
In the Late Middle Ages, the lance became a popular weapon of footmen because it had the stopping power of a thrusting spear. Eventually the longest type of spear, the pike, was made. The pike was an adaptation of the cavalry lance to be used by the infantry to stopping lance-armed cavalry charges. During the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, these weapons, both unmounted and mounted, were so effective that lancers and pike men became a major part of every Western army, and became highly sought-after mercenaries.
In Europe, the variation of the knight’s lance called the jousting lance appeared in a modified design or the original lance. In jousting, the lance tips were usually blunt and spread out to provide a wider impact surface designed to unseat the opposing rider without spearing him through. The center of the lance’s shaft was usually designed to be hollow, in order for it to break on impact or to prevent impalement. These lances were most often 4 m long or longer, tapered, and had special hand guards built into the lance. This type of lance is most often seen at medieval re-enactment festivals such as the Renaissance Festival in Phoenix, Arizona. In times of war, lances were much more like stout spears, long and balanced for one handed use, and had extremely sharp tips or spearheads.
In the 18th century, pike or mounted lance disappeared. It was replaced by a 2-3 m lance, and was used for the breakneck charge against the enemy infantry. The most infamous unsuccessful use of a lance was during the Crimean War, during the Charge of the Light Brigade.
After the Western introduction of the horse to Native Americans, the Plains Indians also took up the lance because the American cavalry at the time had sabres and pistols. The Native Americans charged them with lances at full gallop. The natural adaptation of the throwing spear to a stouter thrusting and charging spear appears to be an evolutionary trend in the military use of the horse.
The collection of Lances in our Native Crafts Weapons Category includes the warrior lance, ceremonial lance, beaded lance, lances with or without shoulder straps, rustic Medicine Man peace pipe lance, and many, many more styles and designs. Although we do feature some Native American made lances, other lances are replicas of lances from the Plains or Sioux Indian tribes. We also have a large collection of other Native Crafts and Native American Indian artifacts.
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