Pike (weapon)

A pike is a very long thrusting spear used in European warfare.

It was a vital tool for foot soldiers from the Late Middle Ages through the early modern period. Soldiers often deployed in a tight group known as a pike square. This formation was essential for defending infantry from enemy cavalry. The pike was the primary weapon for famous groups like the Spanish tercios. It was also used by Swiss mercenaries and German Landsknecht units. Eventually, muskets equipped with bayonets largely replaced the pike on the battlefield.

The physical design of a pike is what defines it. A spear is generally considered a pike when it is too long to be used with one hand. The shaft is typically made of well-seasoned ash wood. This wood is strong enough to support the weapon's weight. The shaft is often tapered toward the point to prevent sagging or drooping. At the tip, there is an iron or steel spearhead. To keep the wood from breaking, metal strips called langets or cheeks reinforce the shaft near the head.

Using a pike requires specific tactics and formations. In a pike square, soldiers stand in many rows. The first few ranks might hold their pikes at a "charge" position to thrust at enemies. The ranks behind them may hold their weapons at "port," which means pointing them upward. This prevents the soldiers from accidentally hitting their own comrades.

Well-trained troops could use these formations aggressively. They could present four or five layers of spearheads bristling from the front. This created a massive wall of points that could roll over enemy infantry. However, the pike was unwieldy in close combat, or a melee. Because of this, pikemen often carried a secondary weapon like a sword or dagger.

The history of the pike reaches back to antiquity. The most famous early version was the sarissa. This was a long spear used by the Macedonian phalanx under Alexander the Great.

After the fall of Macedon, the pike largely disappeared for about 1,000 years. However, the historian Tacitus recorded Germanic tribes using massive, long spears in the 2nd century AD. During the Middle Ages, the weapon saw a major revival. Urban militias, such as the Flemings, used long spears to stop French knights. The Scots also used a formation called a schiltron during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

In the 15th century, the Swiss mercenaries brought a renaissance to pike warfare. They used extreme discipline and tactical unity to master the weapon. They even used drums to help their pike blocks march in formation.

This allowed them to move from a defensive posture to an aggressive attack. The German Landsknechts later adopted these Swiss methods. They often used a "German thrust," where the weight of the pike was held in the lower third. This allowed for a more flexible attacking column. This level of training made Swiss and German units highly sought after as mercenaries across Europe.

While powerful, the pike formation had significant weaknesses. The large blocks of men were difficult to maneuver. They could not turn quickly to protect their flanks or their rear. They also struggled to stay organized on uneven ground. The Scots learned this during the Battle of Flodden in 1513. Additionally, pike formations were vulnerable to missile weapons. Archers and crossbowmen could shoot into the tightly packed ranks. This was especially dangerous if the pikemen did not have enough armor.

Despite these risks, the pike remained a central part of military technology for centuries. In 1391, a decree in Milan required pikes to be at least 10 feet long. This is approximately 4.35 meters. The decree also required iron strips to reinforce the tips. As armies entered an arms race, pikes often grew even longer to gain an advantage. The pike's era only ended when the bayonet allowed every musketeer to become a pikeman. This change combined the power of shooting with the reach of the long spear.