Flail (weapon)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The flail is a medieval weapon made of one (or more) weights attached to a handle with a hinge or chain. There is some disagreement over the names for this weapon; the terms "morning star," and even "mace" are variously applied, though these are used to describe other weapons, which are very different in usage from a weapon with a hinge or chain, commonly used in Europe from the 13th century to the 15th century. In construction, the "morning star" and flail have similar, if not identical, spiked heads. Thus, "morning star" is an acceptable name for this weapon, especially as the name "flail" is also used to describe a style of whip used for punishment; flagellation. It is also vulgarly referred to as a bommyknocker or bombyknocker.^{[citation needed]}

The term "morningstar" actually refers to the head of a weapon (the small round spiked ball) and can be used for either a morningstar mace (on a shaft) or flail (if on a chain). Flails also sometimes had blunt round heads or flanges like a mace. Some written records point to small rings attached to chains on a flail used to inflict greater damage, but no historical examples are known to exist.^{[citation needed]}

The martial flail began as a variant of the normal agricultural flail. The term "flail" was given first to a farming implement used to separate wheat from chaff. This was normally a block of wood attached to a handle with either leather or rope. It was probably farmers called up for military service or peasant rebels who discovered its usefulness as a weapon. A few added spikes made the flail even more dangerous. The Hussites fielded large numbers of peasant soldiers with flails.

Later, special military flails were made, such as the iconic short stick with the chain and spiked metal ball.

Other characteristics of the flail:

• Unlike a sword or mace, it doesn't transfer vibrations from the impact to the wielder.
• It is difficult to block with a shield or parry with a weapon because it can curve over and round impediments such as shield or weapons and still strike the target.
• It provides defense whilst in motion.
• The flail needed space to swing and could easily endanger the wielder's comrades.
• Controlling the flail is much more difficult than rigid weapons.

A variation of the flail is called a chain mace. It is composed of a long chain usually wrapped in leather or another protective material, and has a steel ball at the end of the chain^{[citation needed]}. Another variation is a handle with several chains attached to it rather than one, but none of these chains have a spiked metal ball at their ends.^{[citation needed]}

The flail was not just a European weapon. Examples existed in India and many other countries. In southeast Asia, lighter flail weapons such as the nunchaku or sansetsukon were more common.

[edit] Use in Popular Culture

This weapon can be prominently seen in many old cartoons, most notably are the Loony Toons and Tom & Jerry.

A flail is also used by The Witch-king of Angmar in Peter Jackson's film adaptation of The Return of the King; however, the Witchking's use of this weapon differs from the book in which a mace is used instead.

In a memorable fight from the Super Nintendo game The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, a guard in the dungeon of Hyrule Castle guarding the captive Princess Zelda used a flail-like weapon. This knight also makes an appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, although his weapon resembles a meteor hammer more than a flail. Link is able to use this weapon (called a "Ball & Chain" in Twilight Princess) once he defeats the knight.

The tokusatsu series Yuke! Godman the hero Godman uses a flail againist his enemies.