Joan of Arc monument in Philadelphia

Category: Medievalism

  • The Case Against the Medieval Ball and Chain

    The Case Against the Medieval Ball and Chain

    Paul B. Sturtevant recently published an article at the Public Medievalist that argues the use of the ball and chain, technically called a one-handed military flail, is greatly exaggerated. More to the point, “they never existed.” This has caused heartache for some of my friends, such as Daniel Wallace, who have a romanticized vision of…