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Warmatrix

War Matrix - Javelin

Prehistory 35000 BCE - 3500 BCE, Weapons and technology

Thracian peltast
Thracian peltast
A javelin is a light (0.5 - 1.0 kg) spear that can be thrown. Javelins have a range of about 40 - 50 meters or more, depending on their weight and the strength of the thrower. They carry substantial kinetic energy, hit a lot harder than for instance an arrow fired from a bow and can puncture shields and armor. A disadvantage is that their weight and size is substantial, so a javeliner can carry only a few.
Roman soldiers carried two javelins called pila. They used them in the opening phase of a battle, before closing in to melee range. Later models of the pilum had the points connected to the shaft by a narrow strip of metal that would break or bend when it hit the target, so that the missile could not be thrown back. Other well-known javelin-using troops were the Spanish Jinetes, Aragonese Almogavars and Medieval Welsh.
True javeliners used it as their main weapon, carrying more than just two. These soldiers were used as skirmishing troops, to harass the enemy and break their morale and cohesion. Javeliners wore little armor and carried small shields, relying on speed rather armor than for protection. Most were infantry, but many armies employed javelin cavalry too, increasing their speed and flexibility. Throwing from horseback is more difficult than from the ground, but the speed of the horse can add to the speed of the throw.
Javelin throwing as a sport survives until this day. It is part of the classic athletics.