The Maillotin Namesake Weapon

Queequeg · 9th March 2009, 11:18 PM

I'm reading Barbara Tuchman's A Distant Mirror and just finished an interesting chapter about the 1382 Maillotin Uprising in France.

In response to further taxes from the crown, residents of Paris,

Quote:

...broke into the Hotel de Ville in the Place de Greve, where they seized 3,000 long-handled mallets normally used by the police. Mounted with cylindrical heads of lead and wielded with both hands, these had been stored by Hugues Aubriot in case of need against the English, and now gave their name to the insurgents as Maillotins.

Information on the Maillotin Uprising on the internet is pretty scant. I can't find anything at all on what their namesake mallets looked like. Does anyone have any pictures?

Jim McDougall · 10th March 2009, 08:07 PM

Well, again Queequeg, you really come up with some esoterica!
Barbara Tuchman's work is always outstanding, and its hard to imagine the detail she typically includes, let alone finding information that exceeds her research. As you have cited, the insurgents apparantly broke into the Hotel de Ville, taking 3000 lead mallets. The only other references I have found refer to the location as an 'arms depot' and talking the mallets.

It seems sometimes semantics and terminology can be confounding in determining actuality in events and descriptions of things associated.
I am not clear on what police organization was like in these times, nor the type of mallets that might have been used.

It does seem clear these were utilitarian in nature rather than the 'martel de fer' or war hammer of the times, which had a spike type poll, and it is noted these mallets had cylindrical heads. In a description of the Battle of Agincourt some years later, John Keegan ("The Face of Battle") notes the use of lead mallets used for driving tent stakes, used to knock knights off horses. While this is obviously the standard instance of using whatever is at hand in the heat of the moment in battle, it seemed interesting that these implements were of lead, and seemingly a component of army ordnance.
This more than anything, demonstrates the effective use of a utilitarian tool against armed opponents, as probably faced by the maillots.

In iconic artwork, there is a painting titled "The Mystic Marraige of St. Catherine" associated in the predella in its display in Boston, depicting St. Margaret of Antioch striking the demon beelzebub with a large 'hammer or mallet', in one interpretation.
Perhaps locating that artwork might give some idea, as it is of related period.

It would seem that museums in France might have such implements in some display, and it would be interesting to discover more on this. It seems that this carries into your previous interest in the shillelagh, and also to the earlier discussions here on the history of the 'billy club' or truncheons used by police. Interesting topics, and hopefully we will hear more.

All the best,
Jim

katana · 10th March 2009, 10:18 PM

Hi Queequeg and Jim

,
I too have tried to find out more....with little sucess

Jim has beaten me with the references to Agincourt. The lead mallets used by the archers were also used to drive stakes into the ground, as a defence against horse charges. During the melee a number of archers used these mallets effectively against the French Knights (but we must consider the fact that the ground was extremely muddy and the knights had great difficulty in their mobility....this could have helped the 'effectiveness' of the use of the mallets.)

I did find a reference about an iron mallet, used as a weapon (in France) but there were no further details .....

Regards David

Jim McDougall · 10th March 2009, 10:44 PM

Hi David,
Its good to have you here on this! and thought about you as I read the notes on the Agincourt archers lead mallets (thinkin' outside the box

) and thier possible presence in an armoury, but wondered why these were the only weapons in an arms depot. Then again, why would they store 3000 mallets in a hotel? There was apparantly a lot of civil unrest concerning taxes ( hmmmm, I guess things havent changed much...where are the mallets?)

One item I found noted weapons had been largely confiscated, so perhaps the mallets were considered more implements than weapons? In any case, it seems that the 'mallet' was simple in form, a hafted lead cylinder, and these simple rather mundane 'weapons' probably did not largely survive.

I really dont know much on the organization of 'police' in medieval times, nor how they might have been armed, but this certainly has set the wheels in motion....as always.....curiouser and curiouser!!!

All the best,
Jim

Queequeg · 11th March 2009, 01:35 AM

I have to give you gentlemen kudos. I've posted this on three forums, and the only response I've gotten is here.

You really know your weaponry!

Jim McDougall · 11th March 2009, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Queequeg

I have to give you gentlemen kudos. I've posted this on three forums, and the only response I've gotten is here.

You really know your weaponry!

Thank you so much Queequeg! We really try hard, and I believe everyone here has a sincere passion for learning together as we go, so your most interesting queries are very much appreciated.
When this forum began in September, the purpose was to accomplish exactly this, to learn together and offer a serious approach to the study of antique arms and armour of all countries and all times.

All very best wishes,
Jim

10th March 2009, 08:07 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,896	Well, again Queequeg, you really come up with some esoterica! Barbara Tuchman's work is always outstanding, and its hard to imagine the detail she typically includes, let alone finding information that exceeds her research. As you have cited, the insurgents apparantly broke into the Hotel de Ville, taking 3000 lead mallets. The only other references I have found refer to the location as an 'arms depot' and talking the mallets. It seems sometimes semantics and terminology can be confounding in determining actuality in events and descriptions of things associated. I am not clear on what police organization was like in these times, nor the type of mallets that might have been used. It does seem clear these were utilitarian in nature rather than the 'martel de fer' or war hammer of the times, which had a spike type poll, and it is noted these mallets had cylindrical heads. In a description of the Battle of Agincourt some years later, John Keegan ("The Face of Battle") notes the use of lead mallets used for driving tent stakes, used to knock knights off horses. While this is obviously the standard instance of using whatever is at hand in the heat of the moment in battle, it seemed interesting that these implements were of lead, and seemingly a component of army ordnance. This more than anything, demonstrates the effective use of a utilitarian tool against armed opponents, as probably faced by the maillots. In iconic artwork, there is a painting titled "The Mystic Marraige of St. Catherine" associated in the predella in its display in Boston, depicting St. Margaret of Antioch striking the demon beelzebub with a large 'hammer or mallet', in one interpretation. Perhaps locating that artwork might give some idea, as it is of related period. It would seem that museums in France might have such implements in some display, and it would be interesting to discover more on this. It seems that this carries into your previous interest in the shillelagh, and also to the earlier discussions here on the history of the 'billy club' or truncheons used by police. Interesting topics, and hopefully we will hear more. All the best, Jim

10th March 2009, 10:18 PM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi Queequeg and Jim , I too have tried to find out more....with little sucess Jim has beaten me with the references to Agincourt. The lead mallets used by the archers were also used to drive stakes into the ground, as a defence against horse charges. During the melee a number of archers used these mallets effectively against the French Knights (but we must consider the fact that the ground was extremely muddy and the knights had great difficulty in their mobility....this could have helped the 'effectiveness' of the use of the mallets.) I did find a reference about an iron mallet, used as a weapon (in France) but there were no further details ..... Regards David

10th March 2009, 10:44 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,896	Hi David, Its good to have you here on this! and thought about you as I read the notes on the Agincourt archers lead mallets (thinkin' outside the box ) and thier possible presence in an armoury, but wondered why these were the only weapons in an arms depot. Then again, why would they store 3000 mallets in a hotel? There was apparantly a lot of civil unrest concerning taxes ( hmmmm, I guess things havent changed much...where are the mallets?) One item I found noted weapons had been largely confiscated, so perhaps the mallets were considered more implements than weapons? In any case, it seems that the 'mallet' was simple in form, a hafted lead cylinder, and these simple rather mundane 'weapons' probably did not largely survive. I really dont know much on the organization of 'police' in medieval times, nor how they might have been armed, but this certainly has set the wheels in motion....as always.....curiouser and curiouser!!! All the best, Jim

11th March 2009, 01:35 AM	#5
Queequeg Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Detroit (New Mayapan) Posts: 96	I have to give you gentlemen kudos. I've posted this on three forums, and the only response I've gotten is here. You really know your weaponry!