Editing Falchion

{{Short description|One-handed, single-edged sword}}
{{About|the medieval weapon|the Finnish heavy metal band|Falchion (band)}}
{{Infobox weapon
 | name              = Falchion
 | image             = Falchion MET 244431.jpg
 | image_size        = 150
 | caption           = Falchion – [[Italy]], 15th century
 | origin            = [[France]]
 | type              = [[Sword]]
<!-- Type selection -->
 | is_bladed         = yes
<!-- Service history -->
 | service           = 
 | used_by           = 
 | wars              = 
<!-- Production history -->
 | designer          = 
 | design_date       = 
 | manufacturer      = 
 | production_date   = 13th–16th centuries
 | number            = 
 | variants          = See [[Elmslie typology]]
<!-- General specifications -->
 | weight            = 
 | length            = 
 | part_length       = 
<!-- Bladed weapon specifications -->
 | blade_type        = Generally single-edged, curved (occasionally straight)
 | hilt_type         = After an [[arming sword]]
}}

A '''falchion''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|ɔː|l|tʃ|ən}}; [[Old French]]: ''fauchon''; [[Latin]]: ''falx'', "sickle") is a one-handed, [[backsword|single-edged]] {{Convert|37|-|40|in|cm|adj=on}} [[sword]] of [[Europe]]an origin. Falchions are found in different forms from around the 13th century up to and including the 16th century. In some versions, the falchion looks rather like the [[seax]] and later the [[sabre]], and in other versions more like a [[machete]] with a crossguard.

==Types==

The blade designs of falchions varied widely across the continent and over time. They almost always included a single edge with a slight curve on the blade towards the point on the end and most were also affixed with a quilloned [[crossguard]] for the [[hilt]] in the manner of the contemporary [[arming sword]]s. Unlike the double-edged swords of Europe, few actual swords of this type have survived to the present day; fewer than a dozen specimens are currently known.<ref name="conyers">{{cite web|url=http://www.foxtail.nu/bjorn/h_conyers_eng.htm|last= Hellqvist| first=Björn|title=The Conyers Falchion}}</ref>  A number of weapons similar to the falchion existed in Western Europe, including the [[Messer (weapon)|Messer]], [[hanger (weapon)|hanger]] and the [[backsword]]. Two basic types of falchion can be identified:

===Cleaver falchions===
One of the few surviving falchions (the Conyer's falchion) is shaped very much like a large [[cleaver]] or [[machete]]. This type is also illustrated in art. The type seems to be confined to the 13th and 14th centuries.<ref>{{cite book |title=European Weapons and Armour |last= Oakeshott |first= Ewart|year= 1980 |publisher= Lutterworth Press |location= Guildford & London |isbn= 0-7188-2126-2|page= 152}}</ref> However apart from the profile they present a very thin blade, often only {{convert|1.2|mm|abbr=on}} thick spines, {{convert|7|cm|abbr=on}} from the point with a slight taper leading near to the edge before dropping into a secondary bevel which brings the blade to a very acute edge while maintaining some durability. Current theories are that they were the anti-cloth armour weapon of the day.<ref>James G. Elmslie</ref>

===Cusped falchions===
The majority of the depictions in art reflect a design similar to that of the ''[[großes Messer]]''. The Thorpe Falchion, a surviving example from England's 13th century, was just under {{convert|904|g|lb|2}} in weight. Of its {{convert|956|mm|abbr=off}} length, {{convert|803|mm}} are the straight blade which bears a cusped or flare-clipped tip similar to the much later [[kilij]] of [[Turkey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myarmoury.com/review_mrl_falc.html|title=German Falchion &ndash; myArmoury.com|author=Nathan Robinson|access-date=26 October 2014}}</ref> This type of sword continued in use into the 16th century.<ref>Oakeshott (1980), p.152</ref>

===Other falchions===
[[File:Maciejowski falchion.png|thumb|[[Elmslie typology|Subtype]] of 'umbrella hilted' falchion, from the [[Morgan Bible]].|275x275px]]

In addition, there are a group of 13th- and early 14th-century weapons sometimes identified with the falchion. These have a falchion-like blade mounted on a wooden shaft {{convert|1|-|2|ft|cm|abbr=on}} long, sometimes ending in a curve like an umbrella. These are seen in numerous illustrations in the mid-13th-century [[Maciejowski Bible]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/exhibOnlineThumbs.asp?id=OnlineKings|title=The Crusader Bible|date=16 March 2016 }} e.g., folio 3v., folio 14v</ref>

== Elmslie typology ==
Produced by bladesmith and historian James Elmslie, this typology continuously seeks to systematically classify medieval single edged swords, similar to the way Oakeshott typology addresses double edged swords of the same period. The Elmslie typology covers all types of single edged swords from the period, which encompasses all types of falchion, as well as similar sword types such as [[falcastro]], messers, [[Dusack|tessak]], [[storta]], early [[sabre]]s, as well as transitional forms. For more information see [[Elmslie typology]].

==Status==
An unsolved mystery exists as to why there is such a large discrepancy between the frequency of falchions in period art, contrasted with the amazingly few surviving falchions from the medieval period.<ref>John Clements, ''Medieval Swordsmanship'', 1998, p. 43.</ref> Currently, there are fewer than 30 confirmed surviving medieval falchions, contrasted with the thousands of straight double edged swords from the same period. Current research by James Elmslie suggests that the overrepresentation in medieval artwork may be a form of artistic short-hand to convey certain meanings, such as indicating who the story enemies are, as falchions are overrepresented in 'villainous' characters, such as biblical enemies, or non-Christian barbarians.

Falchions are sometimes misunderstood and thought of as being similar to machetes; however, the ancient falchions that have been discovered are very thin and on average, lighter than a double-edged blade. These weapons were therefore not cleaving or chopping weapons similar to the machete, but quick slashing weapons more similar to shamshir or sabres despite their wide blade.

Unlike Central European messers, and smaller fighting knives such as [[Dusack|tesak]] which could be of very crude construction and at times were popular among the peasantry, surviving Falchions display high levels of craftsmanship, oftentimes with intricately decorated pommels of bronze, and may feature inscribed blades of latten. While some forms of falchions may blur the line between sword and tool (in particular early forms [[Lombardy]]), and are depicted being used by common infantry,<ref name=":0" /> surviving examples are shown to be handsome weapons of status; the Conyers falchion belonged to a landed family,<ref name=":0">Hellqvist, Conyers Falchion</ref> and the falchion is shown in illustrations of combat between mounted knights.<ref>e.g., [[media:Peers and commoners fighting - The Holkham Bible Picture Book (c.1320-1330), f.40 - BL Add MS 47682.jpg]]</ref> Some later falchions were ornate and used by the nobility; there is an elaborately engraved and gold plated falchion from the 1560s in the [[Wallace Collection]], engraved with the personal [[coat of arms]] of [[Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Masterpieces of European Arms and Armour from the Wallace Collection|last=Capwell|first=Tobias|author-link=Tobias Capwell|publisher=Wallace Collection|year=2011|isbn=978-0-900785-86-3|location=London|pages=98–99|author2=David Edge|author3=Jeremy Warren}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wallacecollection.org/whatson/treasure/62|title=The Wallace Collection – What's On – Treasure of the Month|last=Collection|first=The Wallace|website=www.wallacecollection.org|language=en|access-date=2017-03-06|archive-date=5 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705151031/http://www.wallacecollection.org/whatson/treasure/62|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Popular culture==
* A falchion was used by the [[Minotaur]] [[List of The Chronicles of Narnia characters#Adaptations|General Otmin]], leader for the [[White Witch]]'s army in ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]''.
* In ''[[Sailor Moon]]'', [[Sailor Uranus]]' Space Sword is themed after a falchion.
* In ''[[Brisingr]]'', [[Eragon (character)|Eragon]] uses a falchion after he loses his first sword, Zar'roc, in the climactic battle of [[Eldest]]. The weapon is suggested to him on the basis that he has learned to fight with a weapon impervious to damage, and thus requires a weapon more durable against edge damage. Nonetheless, the falchion is later shattered in a fight, and is replaced by Eragon's third and final sword, Brisingr.
* In the ''[[Fire Emblem]]'' series, several games feature a magical sword named Falchion. However, the swords themselves feature the [[Knightly sword|more common medieval straight double-edged blade]].
* In the video game ''[[Dungeons & Dragons Online]]'', the falchion is a curved blade wielded with two hands rather than one.
*Falchions feature in the 2018 video game ''[[Kingdom Come: Deliverance]]''.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20140117021941/http://interestingswords.com/historical-swords/saber/falchion-sword.html The Falchion sword – a wonderful curved sword]}}

{{Wiktionary|falchion}}

{{Swords by region}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

[[Category:Medieval European swords]]
[[Category:Renaissance-era swords]]
[[Category:Single-edged swords]]