It was used with great success as an infantry weapon from the end of the Middle Ages until the 17th century. The use of this weapon in infantry battles, which resulted in victories facing troops with heavy cavalry, reshaped the composition of the armies and once again gave vital importance to the infantry.
Its fame was so deserved that many elite troops or corps of the nobility carried it in "ostentatious" versions, with some military corps still using it these days in public events and military parades as a ceremonial weapon. Currently, the Vatican Swiss Guard uses this weapon not only ceremonially, but they are also trained to use it as a combat weapon.
The soldier who armed himself with a halberd was called a halberdier. This is also the name given to the soldier who guards the honor of the kings of Spain. It is an elite body of the Spanish Royal Guard, who are direct custodians of the Royal Persons, to whom they guard and protect on foot.