Cleveland Museum of Art

Corsèque (Chauve-Souris)

Date

c. 1530

Medium

steel; round wood haft with leather straps

Culture

North Italy, 16th century

Department

Medieval Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The corsèque is a pole arm with a symmetrical three-pronged head consisting of a central double-edged blade and two sharp, upturned wings. The side blades served several functions: as guard to protect the soldier's hand when a thrust was delivered with the central blade; as a hook for unseating a mounted opponent; and to trip the opponent's horse. The corsèque was used mostly in Italy and France from the 1400s to the early 1600s. The corsèque is said to have originated in Corsica, from where it takes its name.

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