怜悯之刃

怜悯之刃是一种长而窄的刀具，是中世紀盛期时人們对受重伤的骑士执行致命一擊的武器^[1]。怜悯之刃的刀刃很细，能从盔甲板之间的缝隙刺入人体。

在以刀剑为主的冷兵器年代，受了致命伤的骑士通常不会很快死亡，为减轻其痛苦，人們就会用到怜悯之刃；怜悯之刃还可用于在扭打中击杀对手^[1]。怜悯之刃的刀尖能穿过十字軍頭盔的面甲或视孔，进而刺入头颅，刺中大脑，也能穿过板甲上的孔洞和脆弱之处（如腋下位置），进而刺中心脏。怜悯之刃自12世纪起就已为人所知，德意志地区、波斯以及英格兰的军队都曾装备过该武器^[2]^[3]。至少从14世纪起，波兰的骑士和王公们也开始使用怜悯之刃。

参考文献

^ ^1.0 ^1.1 Bradbury, Jim. The Routledge Companion to Medieval Warfare. London; New York: Routledge. 2004. ISBN 978-0-415-22126-9.
^ Boutell, Charles. Arms and Armour in Antiquity and the Middle Ages: Also a Descriptive Notice of Modern Weapons. Paul Lacombe (trans.). University of Michigan Library. 2004: 324. ISBN 978-0-217-17547-0.
^ Riley, Henry Thomas (编). Memorials of London and London Life, in the XIIIth, XIVth and XVth Centuries. Being a Series of Extracts Local, Social, and Political, from the Early Archives of the City of London A.D. 1276–1419. London: Longmans, Green and Co. 1868. OCLC 940160319.

[Routledge-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Bradbury, Jim. The Routledge Companion to Medieval Warfare. London; New York: Routledge. 2004. ISBN 978-0-415-22126-9.

[AAA-2] Boutell, Charles. Arms and Armour in Antiquity and the Middle Ages: Also a Descriptive Notice of Modern Weapons. Paul Lacombe (trans.). University of Michigan Library. 2004: 324. ISBN 978-0-217-17547-0.

[Riley-3] Riley, Henry Thomas (编). Memorials of London and London Life, in the XIIIth, XIVth and XVth Centuries. Being a Series of Extracts Local, Social, and Political, from the Early Archives of the City of London A.D. 1276–1419. London: Longmans, Green and Co. 1868. OCLC 940160319.

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