A Fourteen Foot Advantage

In the Song of Roland, there are a few battle scenes where Roland and Olivier use a lance to kill the enemy before them using their gloriously named swords described in a previous post. At one point the author says, "Count Roland pays no heed to his own safety, but plies his lance as long as its shaft holds with fifteen blows its splintered and useless" (p.95). A lance was an effective weapon but was not one that seemed to last very long in a battle; however, there must have been a reason for its use.

According to several historical blogs and websites, a lance was a long wooden shaft with a metal tip that was used from atop a horse. The lance itself would measure from nine to fourteen feet, which, when compared to a sword, gives the rider a longer reach and could be devastating in battle if the rider was properly trained. The lance was usually made from ash and would thus eventually splinter or crack, especially if used like Olivier who broke his lance to the hilt and battled with just a stump.

The lance was a weapon that was used well before knights, but was popularized in the medieval tournaments of jousting.
The lance was a powerful weapon and a great addition to battle and the story of Roland. At nine to fourteen feet you would have to be a true and glorious vassal in order to hurl a man off your lance nine feet!

Resources

http://www.lordsandladies.org/lance.htm

https://www.britannica.com/technology/lance-weapon

Harrison, Robert. The song of Roland. New York, NY, Signet Classic Printing, 2002.