The francisca or francesca (German: Franziska or Franciska ; French: francisca or francisque; Latin: bipennes/bipennis or secures/securis) is a throwing-axe used by the Merovingian Franks between the 5th and 8th centuries.
Good archaeological evidence exists for the common use of the francisca by the Franks. Troops would throw it from a distance of approximately ten to twelve metres. The francisca has a characteristic S-shaped curvature of the upper head, the lower edge describing a simple elbow. The lower part of the blade swings strongly to the handle, and has two clearly trained points, while the upper edge is particularly strongly formed out. Mostly franciscas have a round shank hole for a (possibly swung) wooden handle. The centre of the axe head forms an angle of approximately 90–115° to the handle. Most franciscas had a length of between eleven and twenty-three centimetres, and weighed between 200 and 1,300 grams.
The name “francisca” first appears in the book Ethymologiarum sive originum, libri XX by Isidor of Sevilla (c.570–636).
The régime of Vichy France used the image of a stylised double-headed francisque as part of its iconography — compare fasces.
Today the francesca remains in popular use as a throwing-axe in sport, and as a weapon for re-enactors.
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Last updated: 10-11-2005 18:30:18
