<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><mads xmlns="http://www.loc.gov/mads/" xmlns:mods="http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.loc.gov/mads/
mads.xsd"><authority><topic authority="http://AATesaurus.cultura.gencat.cat/aat/getty_en">pollaxes</topic></authority><related type="narrower"><topic>berdyshes</topic></related><related type="broader"><topic>staff weapons</topic></related><related type="broader"><topic>axes</topic></related><variant type="other"><topic>polaxes</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>pole-axes</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>poleax</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>poleaxes</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>pollaxe</topic></variant> <note xml:lang="en"><![CDATA[ European staff weapons featuring a head with an axlike blade balanced behind by either a sharp, slightly curved fluke or a flat, ridged hammerhead, a short spike surmounting the staff, and metal reinforcement protecting the upper part of the staff, with a rondel just below it as a hand guard. They were popular in foot combat in both warfare and tournaments in the 15th and 16th centuries. ]]></note></mads>