Ajavelin is a lightspear designed primarily to be thrown, historically as a ranged weapon. Today, the javelin is predominantly used for sporting purposes such as thejavelin throw. The javelin is nearly always thrown by hand, unlike thesling,bow, andcrossbow, which launch projectiles with the aid of a hand-held mechanism. However, devices do exist to assist the javelin thrower in achieving greater distances, such asspear-throwers or theamentum.
A warrior or soldier armed primarily with one or more javelins is ajavelineer.
The word javelin comes fromMiddle English and it derives fromOld Frenchjavelin, a diminutive ofjavelot, which meant spear. The wordjavelot probably originated from one of theCeltic languages.
There is archaeological evidence that javelins andthrowing sticks were already in use by the last phase of theLower Paleolithic. Seven spear-like objects were found in a coal mine in the city ofSchöningen, Germany.Stratigraphic dating indicates that the weapons are about 400,000 years old.[1] The excavated items were made ofspruce (Picea) trunk and were between 1.83 and 2.25 metres (6.0 and 7.4 ft) long. They were manufactured with the maximum thickness and weight situated at the front end of the wooden shaft. The frontal centre of gravity suggests that these weapons were used as javelins. A fossilized horse shoulder blade with a projectile wound, dated to 500,000 years ago, was revealed in a gravel quarry in the village ofBoxgrove, England. Studies suggested that the wound was probably caused by a javelin.[2][3][4]
InHistory of Ancient Egypt: Volume 1 (1882),George Rawlinson depicts the javelin as an offensive weapon used by theAncient Egyptian military. It was lighter in weight than that used by other nations. He describes the Ancient Egyptian javelin's features:
It consisted of a long thin shaft, sometimes merely pointed, but generally armed with a head, which was either leaf-shaped, or like the head of a spear, or else four-sided, and attached to the shaft by projections at the angles.[5]
A strap or tasseled head was situated at the lower end of the javelin: it allowed the javelin thrower to recover his javelin after throwing it.[5]
Egyptian military trained from a young age in special military schools.[6] Focusing on gymnastics to gain strength, hardiness, and endurance in childhood, they learned to throw the javelin – along with practicingarchery and the battle-axe – when they grew older, before entering a specific regiment.[7]
Javelins were carried by Egyptian light infantry, as a main weapon, and as an alternative to abow orspear, generally along with ashield. They also carried a curved sword,club, orhatchet as asidearm.[8] An important part in battles is often assigned to javelin-men, "whose weapons seem to inflict death at every blow".[9]
Multiple javelins were also sometimes carried byEgyptian war-chariots, in a quiver and/or bow case.[10]
Beyond its military purpose, the javelin was likely also a hunting instrument, for food and sport.[11]
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Thepeltasts, usually serving asskirmishers, were armed with several javelins, often withthrowing straps to increase stand-off power. The peltasts hurled their javelins at the enemy's heavier troops, thehoplitephalanx, in order to break their lines so that their own army's hoplites could destroy the weakened enemy formation. In thebattle of Lechaeum, theAthenian generalIphicrates took advantage of the fact that aSpartan hoplite phalanx operating nearCorinth was moving in the open field without the protection of any missile-throwing troops. He decided to ambush it with his force of peltasts. By launching repeated hit-and-run attacks against the Spartan formation, Iphicrates and his men were able to wear the Spartans down, eventually routing them and killing just under half. This marked the first recorded occasion in ancient Greek military history in which a force entirely made up of peltasts had defeated a force of hoplites.
Thethureophoroi andthorakitai, who gradually replaced the peltasts, carried javelins in addition to a long thrustingspear and ashort sword.
Javelins were often used as an effective hunting weapon, the strap adding enough power to take down large game. Javelins were also used in theAncient Olympics and otherPanhellenic games. They were hurled in a certain direction and whoever hurled it the farthest, as long as it hit tip-first, won that game.
In 387 BC, theGauls invaded Italy, inflicted a crushing defeat on theRoman Republican army, and sacked Rome. After this defeat, the Romans undertook a comprehensive reform of their army and changed the basic tactical formation from the Greek-style phalanx armed with thehasta spear and theclipeusround shield to a more flexible three-line formation. Thehastati stood in the first line, theprincipes in the second line and thetriarii in the third line. While thetriarii were still armed withhastae, thehastati and theprincipes were rearmed with short swords and heavy javelins. Each soldier from thehastati andprincipes lines carried two javelins. This heavy javelin, known as apilum (pluralpila), was about two metres long overall, consisting of an iron shank, about 7 mm in diameter and 60 cm long, with pyramidal head, secured to a wooden shaft. The iron shank was either socketed or, more usually, widened to a flattang. Apilum usually weighed between 0.9 and 2.3 kilograms (2.0 and 5.1 lb),[citation needed] with the versions produced during theempire being somewhat lighter. Pictorial evidence suggests that some versions of the weapon were weighted with a lead ball at the base of the shank in order to increase penetrative power, but no archaeological specimens have been found.[12] Recent experiments have shownpila to have a range of about 30 metres (98.4 ft), although the effective range is only 15 and 20 metres (49.2 and 65.6 ft).Pila were sometimes referred to as "javelins", but the archaic term for the javelin was "verutum".
From the third century BC, the Roman legion added a skirmisher type of soldier to its tactical formation. Thevelites were light infantry armed with short swords (thegladius orpugio), small round shields, and several small javelins. These javelins were called "veruta" (singularverutum). Thevelites typically drew near the enemy, hurled javelins against their formation, and then retreated behind the legion's heavier infantry. Thevelites were considered highly effective in turning backwar elephants, on account of discharging a hail of javelins at some range and not presenting a "block" that could be trampled on or otherwise smashed – unlike the close-order infantry behind them. At theBattle of Zama in 202 BC, the javelin-throwingvelites proved their worth and were no doubt critical in helping to herd Hannibal's war elephants through the formation to be slaughtered. Thevelites would slowly have been either disbanded or re-equipped as more-heavily armed legionaries from the time whenGaius Marius and other Roman generals reorganised the army in the late second and early first centuries BC. Their role would most likely have been taken by irregular auxiliary troops as the republic expanded overseas. Theverutum was a cheaper missile weapon than thepilum. Theverutum was a short-range weapon, with a simply made head of soft iron.
Legionaries of the laterepublic and early empire often carried twopila, with one sometimes being lighter than the other. Standard tactics called for a Roman soldier to throw hispilum (both if there was time) at the enemy just before charging to engage with hisgladius. Somepila had small hand-guards, to protect the wielder if he intended to use it as a melee weapon, but it does not appear that this was common.
In the late Roman Empire, the Roman infantry came to use a differently-shaped javelin from the earlierpilum. This javelin was lighter and had a greater range. Called aplumbata, it resembled a thick stocky arrow, fletched with leather vanes to provide stability and rotation in flight (which increased accuracy). To overcome its comparatively small mass, the plumbata was fitted with an oval-shaped lead weight socketed around the shaft just forward of thecenter of balance, giving the weapon its name. Even so, plumbatae were much lighter than pila, and would not have had the armour penetration or shield transfixing capabilities of their earlier counterparts.
Two or three plumbatae were typically clipped to a small wooden bracket on the inside of the large oval or round shields used at the time. Massed troops would unclip and hurl plumbatae as the enemy neared, hopefully stalling their movement and morale by making them clump together and huddle under their shields. With the enemy deprived of rapid movement and their visibility impaired by their own raised shields, the Roman troops were then better placed to exploit the tactical situation. It is unlikely plumbatae were viewed by the Romans as the killing blow, but more as a means of stalling the enemy at ranges greater than previously provided by the heavier and shorter ranged pilum.
The Gallic cavalry used to hurl several javelin volleys to soften the enemy before a frontal attack. The Gallic cavalry used their javelins in a tactic similar to that ofhorse archers'Parthian shot. The Gauls knew how to turn on horseback to throw javelins backwards while appearing to retreat.
The Hispanic cavalry was a light cavalry armed withfalcatas and several light javelins. TheCantabri tribes invented a military tactic to maximize the advantages of the combination between horse and javelin. In this tactic the horsemen rode around in circles, toward and away from the enemy, continually hurling javelins. The tactic was usually employed against heavy infantry. The constant movement of the horsemen gave them an advantage against slow infantry and made them hard to target. The maneuver was designed to harass and taunt the enemy forces, disrupting close formations. This was commonly used against enemy infantry, especially the heavily armed and slow moving legions of the Romans. This tactic came to be known as theCantabrian circle. In the late Republic various auxiliary cavalry completely replaced the Italian cavalry contingents and the Hispanic auxiliary cavalry was considered the best.
TheNumidians were indigenous tribes ofnorthwest Africa. TheNumidian cavalry was a light cavalry usually operating as skirmishers. The Numidian horseman was armed with a small shield and several javelins. The Numidians had a reputation as swift horsemen, cunning soldiers and excellent javelin throwers. It is said thatJugurtha, the Numidian king "...took part in the national pursuits of riding,javelin throwing and competed with other young men in running." [Sallust The Jugurthine War: 6]. The Numidian Cavalry served as mercenaries in theCarthaginian Army and played a key role in assisting bothHannibal and Scipio during theSecond Punic War.
There is some literary and archeological evidence that the Norse were familiar with and used the javelin for hunting and warfare, but they commonly used a spear designed for both throwing and thrusting. TheOld Norse word for javelin wasfrakka.[13]
The Anglo-Saxon term for javelin wasfranca.[14] InAnglo-Saxon warfare, soldiers usually formed ashield wall and used heavy weapons likeDanish axes,swords andspears. Javelins, including barbedangons, were used as an offensive weapon from behind the shield wall or by warriors who left the protective formation and attacked the enemy asskirmishers.[15] Designed to be difficult to remove from either flesh or wood, theAngon javelin used by Anglo-Saxon warriors was an effective means of disabling an opponent or hisshield, thus having the potential to disrupt opposing shield-walls.[16]
TheAlmogavars were a class of Aragonese infantrymen armed with a short sword, a shield and two heavy javelins, known as azcona.[17] The equipment resembled that of a Roman legionary and the use of the heavy javelins was much the same.
TheJinetes were Arabic light horsemen armed with several javelins, a sword, and a shield. They were proficient at skirmishing and rapid maneuver, and played an important role in Arabic mounted warfare throughout the Reconquista until the sixteenth century. These units were widespread among the Italian infantrymen of the fifteenth century.[18]
TheWelsh, particularly those ofNorth Wales, used the javelin as one of their main weapons. During theNorman and laterEnglish invasions, the primary Welsh tactic was to rain javelins on the tired, hungry, and heavily armoured English troops and then retreat into the mountains or woods before the English troops could pursue and attack them. This tactic was very successful, since it demoralized and damaged the English armies while the Welsh ranks suffered little.
Thekern of Ireland used javelins as their main weapon as they accompanied the more heavily armouredgalloglass.
Various kingdoms and dynasties inChina have used javelins, such as the iron-headed javelin of theQing dynasty.[19]
Qi Jiguang's anti-pirate army included javelin throwers with shields.[20]
A type of javelin in the pre-colonialPhilippines is known assugob. They were made from simple sharpened bamboo poles in which certain compartments were filled with sand to add weight for throwing. They sometimes included wooden tips laced withsnake venom. They were carried in large numbers aboardkarakoa warships and were thrown at enemy ships. Unlike the metal-tippedsibat spears, sugob were easy to make and were meant to be disposable.[21]
ManyAfrican kingdoms have used the javelin as their main weapon since ancient times. Typical African warfare was based on ritualized stand-off encounters involving throwing javelins without advancing for close combat. In the flag ofEswatini there is a shield and two javelins, which symbolize the protection from the country's enemies.
TheZulu warriors used a long version of theassegai javelin as their primary weapon. The Zulu legendary leaderShaka initiatedmilitary reforms in which a short stabbing spear, with a long, swordlike spearhead namediklwa, had become the Zulu warrior's main weapon and was used as a mêlée weapon. The assegai was not discarded, but was used for an initial missile assault. With the larger shields, introduced by Shaka to the Zulu army, the short spears used as stabbing swords and the opening phase of javelin attack; the Zulu regiments were quite similar to the Roman legion with itsScutum,Gladius and Pilum tactical combination.
In Norse mythology, Odin, the chief god, carried a javelin or spear called Gungnir. It was created by a group ofdwarves known as theSons of Ivaldi who also fashioned the ship ofFreyr calledSkidbladnir and the golden hair ofSif.[22] It had the property of always finding its mark ("the spear never stopped in its thrust").[23] During the final conflict ofRagnarok between thegods andgiants, Odin will use Gungnir to attack the wolfFenrir before being devoured by him.[24]
During thewar (and subsequent alliance) between theAesir andVanir at the dawn of time, Odin hurled a javelin over the enemy host[25] which, according to custom, was thought to bring good fortune or victory to the thrower.[26] Odin also wounded himself with a spear while hanging fromYggdrasil, theWorld Tree, in his ritual quest for knowledge[27] but in neither case is the weapon referred to specifically as Gungnir.
When the godBaldr began to haveprophetic dreams of his own death, his motherFrigg extracted an oath from all things in nature not to harm him. However, she neglected themistletoe, thinking it was too young to make, let alone respect, such a solemn vow. WhenLoki learned of this weakness, he had a javelin ordart made from one of its branches and trickedHod, the blind god, into hurling it at Baldr and causing his death.[28]
The godRunesocesius is identified as a "god of the javelin".[citation needed]
