A bardiche ( /bɑrˈdiːʃ/) or berdiche ("long poleaxe") is a type of glaive polearm known in the 16th and 17th centuries in Eastern Europe and Russia. Ultimately a descendant of the medieval sparth (Danish axe), the bardiche proper appears after 1500, but there are numerous medieval manuscripts that depict very similar weapons beginning ca. 1250. The bardiche differs from the halberd in having neither a hook at the back nor a spear point at the top.[1]
Use of bardiches started in early 15th century Russia (some sources name the late 14th century), and in Scandinavia in the late 15th century. In the 16th century the bardiche became a weapon associated with streltsy (Russian guardsmen armed with firearms).[2]
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The blade varied greatly in shape, but was most often a long, cleaver type blade. The distinction was in how the blade was attached to the pole. The bardiche blade was attached to the pole either via two sockets (one at the top of the pole and one lower, at the base of the blade) or one socket at the top and one surface mount at the base, effectively mounting the heavy blade to the wooden shaft. This construction is also seen in Scottish polearms, such as the Lochaber axe and Jeddart staff, and bardiches are known to have been imported into Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries[3] Depending on the design of the particular weapons in question, at times a bardiche may greatly resemble a voulge.
While the blade was often very long for an axe (usually exceeding 2 feet (60 cm)) the shaft was one of the shortest of all polearms; rarely did it exceed 5 feet (1.5 m) in length. It relied more on the weight of its heavy blade to do the damage than a swing from a long pole. This makes the bardiche more similar to the Danish axe, in some respects, than to a true polearm.
In Russia and in Poland this weapon was used to rest handguns upon when firing. It was standard equipment for the Streltsy (literally 'shooters')corps (foot, mounted and dragoons) and also for the Polish infantry (shorter version invented by king Jan III Sobieski).[4]
Bardiche was also a weapon used famously by Fate Testarossa in the popular anime Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha. Not only does the weapon (referred to in the anime as a "Magical device") look similar to its namesake, it is also named after it entirely. The weapon, Bardiche, retains the original appearance of a Bardiche but also appears as a Glaive, a two-handed sword, and two one-handed swords that Fate dual-wields throughout the seasons.