The heavy-headed mace

The heavy-headed mace (topuz, kijača) is a side weapon for striking and throwing. It consists of a round head and a wooden shaft, frequently plated and decorated. Croats started using the heavy-headed mace quite early: the first written records of it can be found in a document dating from 892 and written by Duke Mutimir. In the Middle Ages it was used by most of the European militaries for close combat.