This was a two-handed infantry flail, actually the most famous and widely used type of flail found in Europe, and the only type of flail that seems to have played a significant role in European history. Invented by the Czechs, this design became widely popular due to the spectacular military success of the Bohemian Hussite rebellion of 1420-1434. Before this period relatively few flails show up in the European archaeological record or in Medieval art. The classic “ball and chain” type flail of innumerable fantasy films and RPG’s did exist, but was rare, and at least partly a Victorian (19th Century) invention. It was apparently a refinement of this Czech infantry flail for cavalry (single handed) use. Some single-handed examples remain in public and private collections, in both primitive and expensively / well-made variants (see Flail, Heavy).

Name	Size	Reach	Speed	Defense	Base Damage	Attack Types	Primary Attack Types	Armor Pierce	Grapple	Hardness	HP
Flegel	L	7	4	1	2-16	BP	BP	2	1	8	3

Czech Flegel, 15th Century


Czech style flegel, from the book of Armaments of Emperor Maximilian I, ~ 1500.


Fighting with non-weaponized flegel in the Feydal manuscript, circa 1512