Editing Francisca (section)

{{short description|Frankish throwing axe}}
{{other uses}}
[[Image:Franziska.png|thumb|300px|Different types of francisca heads]]
[[File:Franziska b 1a.jpg|thumb|Francisca with shaft]]

The '''francisca''' (or '''francesca''') was a [[throwing axe]] used as a weapon during the [[Early Middle Ages]] by the [[Franks]], among whom it was a characteristic national weapon at the time of the [[Merovingian]]s (about 500 to 750 AD). It is known to have been used during the reign of [[Charlemagne]] (768–814).<ref name="Blair">{{cite book |last2=Blair |first2=Claude |last1=Tarassuk |first1=Leonid |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UJbyPwAACAAJ&q=The+Complete+Encyclopedia+of+Arms+and+Weapons |year=1982 |title=The Complete Encyclopedia of Arms and Weapons: the most comprehensive reference work ever published on arms and armor from prehistoric times to the present with over 1,250 illustrations |page=186 |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |isbn=0-671-42257-X}}</ref>
Although generally associated with the Franks, it was also used by other [[Germanic peoples]] of the period, including the [[Anglo-Saxons]]; several examples have been found in [[England]].<ref name=Underwood>Underwood, Richard (1999). ''Anglo-Saxon Weapons and Warfare''. p.35-37. [[Tempus Publishing]]. {{ISBN|0-7524-1910-2}}.</ref>