Roman Throwing Axe | Weapons of History

While Roman cavalry were renowned for their versatility and weaponry, the francisca, a throwing axe iconic of the Franks, is not one typically associated with their arsenal. Recent discoveries, however, have sparked debate. A tombstone from Gamzigrad, a Roman fort on the Danube, depicts a mounted soldier wielding an axe-like weapon. Could this be evidence of Roman adoption of the barbarian francisca?
The Gamzigrad tombstone portrays a horseman with a weapon that some interpret as an axe-hammer. This type of weapon, typically secured to the saddle's front for easy access, aligns with cavalry tactics. However, the cutting edge poses a challenge - a careless rider could easily injure themself.
A more likely explanation lies in the confusion with the francisca itself. The francisca is a single-bladed axe, not a hammer-axe, designed for throwing at close range. Interestingly, two axe heads unearthed at Burgh Castle, a Roman fort in Britain, share striking similarities with early franciscas. These heads feature an angled perforation for the shaft, a key characteristic of the throwing axe.
The francisca offered distinct advantages over traditional javelins. Its greater weight allowed for more impactful throws, potentially shattering enemy shields before close-quarters combat. The Franks, who gave the weapon its name, employed this tactic effectively, hoping to disarm their opponents before charging in.
However, the Burgh Castle axe heads lack the signature curved blade that defines the francisca. This, combined with the lack of further archaeological evidence for widespread Roman use, casts doubt on the idea of Roman franciscas.
Here's a more plausible scenario: The Burgh Castle axes could represent a regional variation of throwing axes used by specific auxiliary units recruited from Germanic tribes familiar with the francisca. These units might have incorporated their own throwing axe traditions into the Roman military repertoire.
Alternatively, the axes could be entirely unrelated to the francisca, representing a regional throwing axe design adopted by Roman forces stationed in Britain. Without further evidence, it's difficult to say definitively.
The Gamzigrad tombstone further complicates the picture. The depicted weapon might not be a francisca at all. It could be a specific Roman cavalry axe-hammer variant, or perhaps a stylized representation of a weapon type that doesn't have a direct archaeological counterpart.
Ultimately, the Roman use of the francisca remains unconfirmed. While the Burgh Castle axe heads are intriguing, more evidence is needed to support the theory. The Gamzigrad tombstone, on the other hand, highlights the diversity of Roman cavalry weaponry and the potential for regional variations within the empire's military machine.
SOURCES:
www.worldhisto...
www.britannica...
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[@michaelsmith5474]

Rome recruited heavily from the Sarmatian peoples for cavalrymen, While their standard weapons where the lance and both long and short swords they also carried battle axes, The Burgh Castle artifacts may be confirmation that a huge force of Sarmatian cavalry was a part of Rome's British garrison.

[@velstadtvonausterlitz2338]

King Arthur is a SARMATIAN?!?!?! MOTHERFU-

[@rnanni1048]

i love the Time Team reverence inbetween

[@AncientHistoryGuy]

Seemed like the perfect time for one!

[@ravager2-636]

U can pry the cultural weapon of a auxiliary from their cold dead hands..

[@majungasaurusaaaa]

Romans have always adopted effective weapons of their enemies. This prolly has little to do with "aux".

[@josephvisnovsky1462]

The Salian Franks orignated where the Meuse river meets the Rhine, in what was later called The Low Countries (Belgique and Nederlaands). It is possible that the Franks were Auxiliaries used across the Dover strait. The Franks were subjugated and used against the Germanic tribes.

[@theromanorder]

Surprised not Puting the name of it in the title...

[@AncientHistoryGuy]

Well we don't know for sure if it is that. Hence why I've named it the roman throwing axe instead

[@LexMadafaka]

Nope, at Danube (Ishtar) were horse riding people, like Cumans, Yazighs, and oother Hunnic people at the time. Yeah, we are talking from the same timeperiod, just they are not teaching you the truth. We used simmilar axes (called fokos) from horseback.

[@mohamed-fb9vt]

Did the Romans throw pilum from horse back

[@samuelmendoza9356]

Very likely if they don't have other javelins.

[@SkyFly19853]

like Franks and Vikings ?

[@AncientHistoryGuy]

Exactly like the Frank's and vikings

[@SkyFly19853]

@@AncientHistoryGuy thought so. ☑️☑️☑️