Amanda Sopchockchai, Class of 2027, College of the Holy Cross

This pollaxe would have to be derived from somewhere in Northern Europe where steel and brass were accessible, as they are recurring materials in medieval weaponry and armory.

Furthermore, as this weapon was likely commissioned by a wealthy patrician, it’s important to recognize that, in the Holy Roman Empire, only noblemen could participate in tournaments. The common folk were excluded. However, some patricians held their own “bachelor jousts,” open to the public, of which, the first was held in 1446, angering the aristocracy. Yet, even princes participated in these competitions, signaling that this weapon must have originated from a region of Northern Europe known for its sporting, including poleaxe duels on foot, suggesting an accessible place where even foreigners, from neighboring lands, or from overseas, could join in the fierce tradition of tourneying.