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[[image:Danishaxe.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Replica Daneaxe.]]
The '''Daneaxe''' (or '''Danish Axe''') was a fearsome, two-handed [[axe]] with a broad, heavy head and a four-to-five-foot haft.  The sheer size and weight of this weapon made it one of the most powerful weapons on the field until the development of [[cavalry]].  Handled with skill, the daneaxe could shatter a shield (and likely the arm behind it) with a single blow.  [[Armour]] was a poor defense, since [[plate]] armour had not been developed, and, even if [[maille]] withstood the blow, sheer inertia would cause terrible crushing injuries.

Commonly used by [[Dane]]s, [[Viking]]s and Anglo-Saxon]]s, daneaxes were popular weapons up until the advent of mounted cavalry led to the decline of the [[Alfred the Great]]-style [[shieldwall]].

One legend of the [[Battle of Stamford Bridge]] is of the [[berserker]] who, armed with a daneaxe, held the bridge alone, and was only killed when an [[English]] solider [[spear|speared]] him through the planks of the bridge itself, suggesting that no-one could stand against a well-wielded daneaxe, but only defeat it by stealth.

[[category:weapons]]