Knight's sword. Weapons of an entire era

A sword is a type of bladed weapon; it was used to inflict piercing, cutting or chopping wounds. Its basic design was simple and consisted of an oblong, straight blade with a hilt. A distinctive feature of the weapon is the established minimum length of the blade, which was about 60 cm. The type of sword had many variations and depended on time, region, and social status.

There is no reliable information about the date of the first sword. It is generally accepted that its prototype was a sharpened club made of wood, and the first swords were made of copper. Due to its ductility, copper was soon replaced by a bronze alloy.

The sword is undoubtedly one of the most authoritative and historically significant weapons of antiquity. It is commonly believed to symbolize justice, dignity and courage. Hundreds of folk legends were written about combat battles and knightly duels, and swords were an integral part of them. Later, writers, inspired by these legends, created the main characters in their novels in the image and likeness of the legends. For example, the story of King Arthur has been published countless times, and the greatness of his sword has always remained unchanged.

In addition, swords are reflected in religion. The nobility of edged weapons was closely intertwined with spiritual and divine meaning, which was interpreted by each religion and teaching in its own way. For example, in Buddhist teachings, the sword symbolized wisdom. In Christianity, the interpretation of " double-edged sword"is directly related to the death of Jesus Christ, and carries the meaning of divine truth and wisdom.

Identifying the sword with a divine symbol, the inhabitants of that time were in awe of the possession of such a weapon and the use of its images. Medieval swords had a cross-shaped handle in the image of a Christian cross. This sword was used for knighting rituals. Also, the image of this weapon has found wide application in the field of heraldry.

By the way, in historical documents that have survived to this day there is information about the cost of swords. Thus, the price of one standard tool was equal to the cost of 4 heads of cattle (cows), and if the work was performed by a famous blacksmith, the amount was, of course, much higher. A middle-class resident could hardly afford expenses of this level. The high price is due to the high cost and rarity of the metals used; in addition, the manufacturing process itself was quite labor-intensive.

The quality of a manufactured sword directly depends on the skill of the blacksmith. His skill lies in the ability to correctly forge a blade from a different alloy of metals, so that the resulting blade is smooth, light in weight, and the surface itself is perfectly smooth. The complex composition of the product created difficulties in mass release. In Europe, good swords began to be produced in large numbers only towards the end of the Middle Ages.

The sword can rightfully be called an elite weapon, and this is due not only to the previously listed factors. Its versatility in use and light weight set the sword apart from its predecessors (axe, spear).

It is also worth noting that not everyone can wield a blade. Those who want to become professional fighters have spent years honing their skills in numerous training sessions. It was for these reasons that every warrior was proud of the honor of possessing a sword.

hilt - a set of components: handle, crosspiece and pommel. Depending on whether the hilt was open or not, the degree of finger protection was determined;
blade - combat unit shotguns with a tapered end;
pommel - the top of a weapon, made of heavy metal. Served to balance weight, sometimes decorated with additional elements;
handle - an element made of wood or metal for holding a sword. Often, the surface was made rough so that the weapon would not slip out of the hands;
guard or cross - arose during the development of fencing art and made it possible to protect hands in battle;
blade - the cutting edge of the blade;
tip.

General differentiation of swords

Regarding the topic of determining the varieties of this weapon, one cannot ignore the scientific works of a researcher from England E. Oakeshott. It was he who introduced the classification of swords and grouped them by time periods. IN general concept Two groups of types of medieval and later swords can be distinguished:

Length:

short sword - blade 60-70 cm, fighters wore it on their belt on the left side. Suitable for close range combat;
a long sword - its wedge was 70-90 cm; in battles, as a rule, it was carried in the hands. It was universal for fights on the ground and on horseback;
cavalry sword. The length of the blade is more than 90 cm.

By weight of the implement and type of handle:

a one-handed sword is the lightest, about 0.7 - 1.5 kg, which makes it possible to operate with one hand;
bastard sword or “bastard sword” - the length of the handle did not allow both hands to be placed freely, hence the name. Weight about 1.4 kg, size 90 cm;
two-handed sword - its weight was from 3.5 to 6 kg, and its length reached 140 cm.

Despite the general classification of species, the sword is more of an individual weapon and was created taking into account physiological characteristics war. Therefore, it is impossible to find two identical swords.

The weapon was always kept in a sheath and attached to a saddle or belt.

The formation of the sword in antiquity

IN early era In antiquity, bronze steel was actively used in the creation of blades. This alloy, despite its ductility, is distinguished by its strength. The swords of this time are notable for the following: bronze blades were made by casting, which made it possible to create various shapes. In some cases, for greater stability, stiffening ribs were added to the blades. In addition, copper does not corrode, which is why many archaeological finds retain their beautiful properties. appearance up until today.

For example, in the Adygea Republic, during excavations of one of the mounds, a sword was found, which is considered one of the most ancient and dates back to 4 thousand BC. According to ancient customs, during burial, personal valuables were placed in the mound along with the deceased.

The most famous swords of that time:

the sword of hoplites and Macedonians “Xiphos” - a short weapon with a leaf-shaped wedge;
the Roman weapon “Gladius” - a 60 cm blade with a massive pommel, effectively delivered piercing and slashing blows;
ancient German “Spata” – 80-100 cm, weight up to 2 kg. The one-armed sword was widely popular among the German barbarians. As a result of the migration of peoples, it became popular in Gaul and served as the prototype for many modern swords.
“Akinak” is a short piercing and cutting weapon, weighing about 2 kg. The crosspiece is made in a heart shape, the pommel is in the shape of a crescent. Recognized as an element of Scythian culture.

The rise of the sword in the Middle Ages

The Great Migration of Peoples, the seizure of Roman lands by the Goths and Vandals, the raids of barbarians, the inability of the authorities to govern a vast territory, the demographic crisis - all this ultimately provoked the fall of the Roman Empire at the end of the 5th century and marked the formation of a new stage in history. World history. Humanists subsequently gave it the name “Middle Ages.”

Historians characterize this period as “dark times” for Europe. The decline of trade, the political crisis, and the depletion of land fertility invariably led to fragmentation and endless internecine strife. It can be assumed that it was these reasons that contributed to the flourishing of edged weapons. Particularly noteworthy is the use of swords. The barbarians of Germanic origin, being outnumbered, brought with them the Spata swords and contributed to their popularization. Such swords existed until the 16th century; later, they were replaced by swords.

The diversity of cultures and the disunity of the settlers significantly reduced the level and quality of martial art. Now battles took place increasingly in open areas without the use of any defensive tactics.

If in the usual sense, combat equipment war consisted of equipment and weapons, then in the early Middle Ages, the impoverishment of handicrafts led to a shortage of resources. Only elite troops owned swords and rather meager equipment (chain mail or plate armor). According to historical data, armor was practically absent during that period.

A type of sword in the era of the Great Invasions

The different languages, cultures, and religious views of the Germanic settlers and the local Romans invariably led to negative relations. The Romano-German conflict strengthened its position and contributed to new invasions of Roman lands by France and Germany. The list of those wishing to take possession of the lands of Gaul, alas, does not end there.

The Huns' invasion of Europe under the leadership of Attila was catastrophically destructive. It was the Huns who laid the foundation for the “Great Migration,” mercilessly crushing the lands one after another, the Asian nomads reached the Roman lands. Having conquered Germany, France along the way, Northern Italy, the Huns also broke through the defenses in some parts of Rome's border. The Romans, in turn, were forced to unite with other nations to maintain the defense. For example, some lands were given to the barbarians peacefully in exchange for an obligation to guard the borders of Gaul.

In History, this period was called the “Era of Great Invasions.” Each new ruler sought to make his contribution to the modifications and improvements of the sword; let’s look at the most popular types:

The Merovingian royal dynasty began its reign in the 5th century and ended in the 8th century, when the last representative of this family was dethroned. It was people from the great Merovingian family who made a significant contribution to the expansion of the territory of France. From the middle of the 5th century, the king of the French state (later France), Clovis I, pursued an active policy of conquest in the territory of Gaul. Great value paid attention to the quality of tools, which is why swords of the Merovingian type arose. The weapon evolved in several stages, the first version, like the ancient German spatha, did not have a point, the end of the blade was uncut or rounded. Often such swords were lavishly decorated and were available only to the upper classes of society.

Main characteristics of the Merovingian weapon:

blade length -75 cm, weight about 2 kg;
the sword was forged from different types of steel;
a wide fuller of small depth ran on both sides of the sword and ended 3 cm from the tip. The appearance of a fuller in the sword significantly lightened its weight;
the hilt of the sword is short and has a heavy pommel;
the width of the blade almost did not narrow, which made it possible to deliver cutting and chopping blows.

The well-known King Arthur existed precisely in this era, and his sword, possessing unimaginable power, was Merovingian.

The Vikings of the noble Carolingian family came to power in the 8th century, dethroning the last descendants of the Merovingian dynasty, thereby ushering in the “Viking Age,” otherwise known as the “Carolingian Era” in France. Many legends were told about the rulers of the Carolingian dynasty at that time, and some of them are known to us to this day (for example, Pepin, Charlemagne, Louis I). IN folk legends The swords of kings are also most often mentioned. I would like to tell one of the stories that is dedicated to the formation of the first king Pepin the Short of the Carolingians:

Being short, Pepin received the name "Short". He became famous as a brave soldier, but people considered him unworthy to take the place of king because of his height. One day, Pepin ordered to bring a hungry lion and a huge bull. Of course, the predator grabbed the bull’s neck. The future king invited his mockers to kill the lion and free the bull. People did not dare to approach the ferocious animal. Then Pepin took out his sword and cut off the heads of both animals in one fell swoop. Thus, proving his right to the throne and winning the respect of the people of France. So Pepin was proclaimed king, dethroning the last Merovingian.

Pepin's follower was Charlemagne, under whom the French state received the status of an Empire.

Wise politicians famous family continued to strengthen the position of France, which naturally affected weapons. The Carolingian sword, otherwise known as the Viking sword, was famous for the following:

blade length 63-91 cm;
one-handed sword weighing no more than 1.5 kg;
lobed or triangular pommel;
sharp blade and sharpened point for chopping blows;
deep bilateral valley;
short handle with a small guard.

Carolingians were mainly used in foot battles. Possessing grace and light weight, it was a weapon for noble representatives of the Vikings (priests or tribal leaders). Simple Vikings more often used spears and axes.

Also, the Carolingian Empire imported its swords to Kievan Rus and contributed to a significant expansion of the weapons arsenal.

The improvement of the sword at every historical stage played a significant role in the formation of a knight's weapon.

3. Romanov (knight's) sword

Hugo Capet (aka Charles Martell) is the abbot, the first king elected following the death of the last descendant of the Carolgins in the 8th century. It was he who was the progenitor of a large dynasty of kings in Frankish Empire- Capetians. This period was marked by many reforms, for example the formation of feudal relations, a clear hierarchy appeared in the structure of the board. New changes also gave rise to conflicts. At this time, the biggest events took place religious wars, which began with the First Crusade.

During the reign of the Capetian dynasty (approximately the beginning - mid-6th century), the formation of the knightly sword, also known as the “weapon sword” or “Romanesque”, began. This sword was a modified version of the Carolingian, and met the following characteristics:

blade length was 90-95 cm;
significant narrowing of the edges, which made it possible to deliver more accurate blows;
reduced monolithic pommel with rounded edge;
a curved handle measuring 9-12 cm, this length enabled the knight to protect his hand in combat;

It is worth noting that the listed changes to the components of the hilt made it possible to fight while riding a horse.

Popular knight swords:

Gradually, the weapon evolved from one-handed spathas to two-handed swords. The peak of popularity of wielding a sword with two hands occurred during the era of chivalry. Let's look at the most famous types:

“” is a wavy sword with a flame-shaped blade, a kind of symbiosis of a sword and a saber. Length 1.5 meters, weight 3-4 kg. He was distinguished by his particular cruelty, because with his bends he struck deeply and left lacerated wounds for a long time. The church protested against the flamberge, but nevertheless it was actively used by German mercenaries.

Chivalry as a Privilege

Chivalry arose in the 8th century and is closely related to the emergence of the feudal system, when foot soldiers were retrained as mounted troops. Under religious influence, knighthood was a titled noble status. Being a good strategist, Charles Martell distributed church lands to his compatriots, and in return demanded horse service or payment of a tax. In general, the vassalage system was rigidly and hierarchically structured. In addition, obtaining such land limited human freedom. Those who wanted to be free received the status of vassal and joined the ranks of the army. In this way, the knightly cavalry was assembled for the Crusade.

To obtain the desired title, the future knight began training from an early age. By about the age of seven, his warriors needed to master and improve fighting techniques; by the age of twelve, he became a squire, and by the time he came of age, a decision was made. The boy could be left at the same rank or knighted. In any case, serving the knightly cause was equated with freedom.

Knight's military equipment

The progressive development of handicrafts contributed not only to the modernization of tools, but also to military equipment in general; now such attributes as protective shields and armor appeared.

Simple warriors wore armor made of leather for protection, and noble troops used chain mail or leather armor with metal inserts. The helmet was constructed on the same principle.

The shield was created from durable wood 2 cm thick, covered with leather on top. Sometimes metal was used to enhance protection.

Myths and speculation about swords

The history of the existence of such a weapon is full of mysteries, which is probably why it remains interesting today. Over the course of many centuries, many legends have formed around the sword, some of which we will try to refute:

Myth 1. The ancient sword weighed 10-15 kg and was used in battle as a club, leaving opponents shell-shocked. This assertion has no basis. Weight ranged from approximately 600 grams to 1.4 kg.

Myth 2. The sword did not have a sharp edge, and like a chisel it could break through protective equipment. Historical documents contain information that the swords were so sharp that they cut the victim into two parts.

Myth 3. Poor quality steel was used for European swords. Historians have established that since ancient times, Europeans have successfully used various metal alloys.

Myth 4. Fencing was not developed in Europe. A variety of sources claim the opposite: for many centuries, Europeans have been working on fighting tactics, in addition, most techniques are focused on the dexterity and speed of the fencer, and not on brute strength.

Despite different versions the emergence and development of the sword in history, one fact remains unchanged - its rich cultural heritage and historical significance.

Antique edged weapons leave no one indifferent. It always bears the imprint of remarkable beauty and even magic. It feels like you are stepping back into the legendary past, when these items were used very widely.

Of course, such weapons serve as an ideal accessory for decorating a room. An office decorated with magnificent examples of ancient weapons will look more impressive and masculine.

Objects such as, for example, medieval swords become of interest to many people as unique evidence of events that took place in ancient times.

Antique edged weapons

The weapons of medieval infantrymen are similar to a dagger. Its length is less than 60 cm, the wide blade has a sharp end with blades that diverge.

Mounted warriors were most often armed with daggers a rouelles. This antique weapons It's getting harder and harder to find.

Most terrible weapon of that time there was a Danish battle ax. Its wide blade is semicircular in shape. The horsemen held it with both hands during the battle. The axes of the infantrymen were mounted on a long shaft and made it possible to perform piercing and slashing blows and pull them out of the saddle equally effectively. These axes were first called guizarmes, and then, in Flemish, godendaks. They served as the prototype of the halberd. In museums, these antique weapons attract many visitors.

The knights were also armed with wooden clubs filled with nails. The combat whips also had the appearance of a club with a movable head. A leash or chain was used to connect to the shaft. Such weapons of knights were not widely used, since inept handling could do more harm to the owner of the weapon than to his opponent.

Spears were usually made of very long lengths with an ash shaft ending in a pointed leaf-shaped iron. To strike, the spear was not yet held under the armpit, making it impossible to ensure an accurate strike. The shaft was held horizontally at leg level, extending about a quarter of its length forward, so that the enemy received a blow to the stomach. Such blows, when the battle of the knights was going on, were greatly amplified by the rapid movement of the rider and brought death, despite the chain mail. However, it was difficult to handle a spear of such length (it reached five meters). it was very difficult. To do this, remarkable strength and dexterity, long-term experience as a rider and practice in handling weapons were needed. When crossing, the spear was carried vertically, putting its tip into a leather shoe that hung near the stirrup on the right.

Among the weapons there was a Turkish bow, which had a double bend and threw arrows over long distances and with great strength. The arrow hit the enemy two hundred steps away from the shooters. The bow was made of yew wood, its height reached one and a half meters. The tail part of the arrows was equipped with feathers or leather wings. The iron of the arrows had different configurations.

The crossbow was very widely used by infantrymen, since, despite the fact that preparing for a shot took more time compared to archery, the range and accuracy of the shot was greater. This feature allowed it to survive until the 16th century, when it was replaced by firearms.

Damascus steel

Since ancient times, the quality of a warrior's weapons has been considered very important. Metallurgists of antiquity sometimes managed, in addition to ordinary malleable iron, to obtain durable steel. Swords were mainly made from steel. Due to their rare properties, they personified wealth and strength.

Information about the production of flexible and durable steel is contacted by Damascus gunsmiths. The technology for its production is shrouded in an aura of mystery and amazing legends.

Wonderful weapons made from this steel came from forges located in the Syrian city of Damascus. They were built by Emperor Diocletian. Damascus steel was produced here, reviews of which went far beyond the borders of Syria. Knives and daggers made from this material were brought back by knights from the Crusades as valuable trophies. They were kept in rich houses and passed from generation to generation, being a family heirloom. Steel sword made of Damascus steel has always been considered a rarity.

However, for centuries, craftsmen from Damascus strictly kept the secrets of making a unique metal.

The mystery of Damascus steel was fully revealed only in the 19th century. It turned out that the original ingot should contain alumina, carbon and silica. The hardening method was also special. Damascus craftsmen cooled hot steel forgings using a stream of cool air.

Samurai sword

The katana was released around the 15th century. Until she appeared, the samurai used the tati sword, which was much inferior in its properties to the katana.

The steel from which the sword was made was forged and tempered in a special way. When mortally wounded, the samurai sometimes handed over his sword to the enemy. After all, the samurai code says that weapons are destined to continue the path of the warrior and serve the new owner.

The katana sword was inherited according to the samurai will. This ritual continues to this day. Starting at the age of 5, the boy received permission to wear a sword made of wood. Later, as the warrior’s spirit gained strength, a sword was forged for him personally. As soon as a boy was born into the family of ancient Japanese aristocrats, a sword was immediately ordered for him from a blacksmith's workshop. At the moment when the boy turned into a man, his katana sword was already made.

It took a master up to a year to make one unit of such weapons. Sometimes it took ancient craftsmen 15 years to make one sword. True, the craftsmen were simultaneously making several swords. It is possible to forge a sword faster, but it will no longer be a katana.

Going to battle, the samurai removed all the decorations that were on it from the katana. But before meeting with his beloved, he decorated the sword in every possible way, so that the chosen one would fully appreciate the power of his family and masculine wealth.

Two-handed sword

If the hilt of a sword is designed to require a grip with only two hands, the sword in this case is called two-handed. The length of the knights reached 2 meters, and they wore it on the shoulder without any sheath. For example, Swiss infantrymen in the 16th century were armed with a two-handed sword. Warriors armed with two-handed swords were given a place in the front rows order of battle: they were given the task of cutting and knocking down the spears of enemy warriors, which were of great length. As military weapons two-handed swords did not last long. Since the 17th century, they have played the ceremonial role of an honorary weapon next to the banner.

In the 14th century in Italian and spanish cities began to use a sword that was not intended for knights. It was made for city residents and peasants. Compared to a regular sword, it had less weight and length.

Now, according to the classification existing in Europe, a two-handed sword should have a length of 150 cm. The width of its blade is 60 mm, the handle has a length of up to 300 mm. The weight of such a sword ranges from 3.5 to 5 kg.

The biggest swords

A special, very rare type of straight sword was the great two-handed sword. It could weigh up to 8 kilograms and be 2 meters long. In order to control such a weapon, a very special strength and unusual technique was required.

Curved Swords

If everyone fought for themselves, often falling out of the general formation, then later on the fields where the battle of knights took place, other battle tactics began to spread. Now protection in the ranks was required, and the role of warriors armed with two-handed swords began to be reduced to organizing separate centers of battle. Being practically suicide bombers, they fought in front of the line, attacking the spearheads with two-handed swords and opening the way for the pikemen.

At this time, the sword of knights, which had a “flaming” blade, became popular. It was invented long before and became widespread in the 16th century. Landsknechts used a two-handed sword with such a blade, called flamberge (from the French “flame”). The length of the flamberge blade reached 1.40 m. The 60 cm handle was wrapped in leather. The blade of the flamberges was curved. It was quite difficult to operate such a sword, since it was difficult to sharpen a blade with a curved cutting edge well. This required well-equipped workshops and experienced craftsmen.

But the blow of the flamberge’s sword made it possible to inflict deep cut wounds, which were difficult to treat given the state of medical knowledge. The curved two-handed sword caused wounds, often leading to gangrene, which meant that the enemy’s losses became greater.

Knights Templar

There are few organizations that are surrounded by such a shroud of secrecy and whose history is so controversial. The interest of writers and historians is attracted by the rich history of the order and the mysterious rituals performed by the Knights Templar. Particularly impressive is their ominous death at the stake, which was lit by the French Knights, dressed in white cloaks with a red cross on the chest, are described in a huge number of books. For some, they appear as stern-looking, impeccable and fearless warriors of Christ, for others they are two-faced and arrogant despots or arrogant moneylenders who have spread their tentacles throughout Europe. It even got to the point that they were accused of idolatry and desecration of shrines. Is it possible to separate truth from lies in this mass of completely contradictory information? Turning to the most ancient sources, let's try to figure out what this order is.

The order had a simple and strict charter, and the rules were similar to those of the Cistercian monks. According to these internal rules, knights must lead an ascetic, chaste life. They are required to cut their hair, but they cannot shave their beard. The beard made the Templars stand out from total mass, where most aristocratic men were shaven. In addition, knights had to wear a white cassock or cape, which later turned into a white cloak, which became their business card. The white cloak symbolically indicated that the knight had exchanged a dark life for service to God, full of light and purity.

Templar sword

The sword of the Knights Templar was considered the most noble among the types of weapons for members of the order. Of course, the results combat use depended largely on the skill of the owner. The weapon was well balanced. The mass was distributed along the entire length of the blade. The weight of the sword was 1.3-3 kg. The Templar sword of the knights was forged by hand, using hard and flexible steel as the starting material. An iron core was placed inside.

Russian sword

The sword is a double-edged melee weapon used in close combat.

Until approximately the 13th century, the edge of the sword was not sharpened, since it was used primarily for chopping blows. Chronicles describe the first stabbing blow only in 1255.

They have been discovered in the graves of ancient people since the 9th century, however, most likely, these weapons were known to our ancestors even earlier. It’s just that the tradition of definitively identifying the sword and its owner dates back to this era. At the same time, the deceased is provided with weapons so that in another world it continues to protect the owner. In the early stages of the development of blacksmithing, when the cold forging method was widespread, which was not very effective, the sword was considered a huge treasure, so the thought of burying it never occurred to anyone. Therefore, discoveries of swords by archaeologists are considered a great success.

First Slavic swords archaeologists are divided into many types, differing in handle and cross. Their blades are very similar. They are up to 1 m long, up to 70 mm wide at the handle, gradually tapering towards the end. In the middle part of the blade there was a fuller, which was sometimes mistakenly called a “bloodletter.” At first the doll was made quite wide, but then it gradually became narrower, and in the end it completely disappeared.

The dole actually served to reduce the weight of the weapon. The flow of blood has nothing to do with it, since stabbing blows with a sword were almost never used at that time. The metal of the blade was subjected to special processing, which ensured its high strength. The Russian sword weighed approximately 1.5 kg. Not all warriors possessed swords. It was very much in that era expensive weapons, since the work of making good sword was long and difficult. In addition, it required enormous physical strength and dexterity from its owner.

What was the technology used to make the Russian sword, which had well-deserved authority in the countries where it was used? Among the bladed weapons high quality For close combat, it is especially worth noting damask steel. In this special form steel contains carbon in an amount greater than 1%, and its distribution in the metal is uneven. The sword, which was made from damask steel, had the ability to cut iron and even steel. At the same time, it was very flexible and did not break when it was bent into a ring. However, damask steel had a big drawback: it became fragile and broke in conditions low temperatures, therefore it was practically not used in the Russian winter.

To obtain damask steel, Slavic blacksmiths folded or twisted rods of steel and iron and forged them many times. As a result of repeated execution of this operation, strips of strong steel were obtained. It was this that made it possible to make fairly thin swords without losing strength. Often strips of damask steel were the basis of the blade, and blades made of steel with a high carbon content were welded along the edge. Such steel was produced by carburization - heating using carbon, which impregnated the metal and increased its hardness. Such a sword easily cut through the enemy’s armor, since it was most often made of lower-grade steel. They were also capable of cutting the blades of swords that were not so skillfully made.

Any specialist knows that welding iron and steel, which have different melting points, is a process that requires great skill from the master blacksmith. At the same time, archaeological data confirms that in the 9th century our Slavic ancestors possessed this skill.

There was an uproar in science. It often turned out that the sword, which experts classified as Scandinavian, was made in Rus'. In order to distinguish a good damask sword, buyers first checked the weapon this way: from a small click on the blade, a clear and long sound is heard, and the higher it is and the purer the sound, the higher the quality of the damask steel. Then the damask steel was tested for elasticity: would it warp if the blade was applied to the head and bent down to the ears. If, having passed the first two tests, the blade easily coped with a thick nail, cutting it without becoming dull, and easily cut through thin fabric that was thrown onto the blade, it could be considered that the weapon passed the test. The best swords were often decorated with jewelry. They are now the target of numerous collectors and are literally worth their weight in gold.

As civilization develops, swords, like other weapons, undergo significant changes. At first they become shorter and lighter. Now you can often find them 80 cm long and weighing up to 1 kg. Swords of the 12th-13th centuries, as before, were more used for slashing, but now they also gained the ability to stab.

Two-handed sword in Rus'

At the same time, another type of sword appeared: two-handed. Its weight reaches approximately 2 kg, and its length reaches 1.2 m. The technique of fighting with a sword is significantly modified. It was worn in a wooden sheath covered with leather. The scabbard had two sides - the tip and the mouth. The scabbard was often decorated as richly as the sword. There were cases when the price of a weapon was much higher than the value of the rest of the owner’s property.

Most often, a prince’s warrior could afford the luxury of having a sword, sometimes a wealthy militiaman. The sword was used in infantry and cavalry until the 16th century. However, in the cavalry it was considerably replaced by the saber, which is more convenient on horseback. Despite this, the sword is, unlike the saber, a truly Russian weapon.

Romanesque sword

This family includes swords from the Middle Ages up to 1300 and later. They were characterized by a pointed blade and handle handle longer. The shape of the handle and blade can be very diverse. These swords appeared with the emergence of the knightly class. A wooden handle is placed on the shank and can be wrapped with leather cord or wire. The latter is preferable, since metal gloves tear the leather braid.

5 most formidable two-handed swords of the Middle Ages October 9th, 2016

After we've discussed it, let's find out something closer to reality.

Thanks to the efforts of popular culture, the most incredible rumors always swirl around two-handed swords of the Middle Ages. Look at any art picture of a knight or a Hollywood film about those times. All the main characters have a huge sword, reaching almost to their chest. Some endow the weapon with a weight of pounds, others - with incredible dimensions and the ability to cut a knight in half, and still others even argue that swords of this size could not exist as military weapons.

Claymore

Claymore (claymore, claymore, claymore, from the Gaulish claidheamh-mòr - “ big sword") - a two-handed sword that received widespread among the Scottish Highlanders from the end of the 14th century. Being the main weapon of infantrymen, the claymore was actively used in skirmishes between tribes or border battles with the British.

Claymore is the smallest among all its brothers. This, however, does not mean that the weapon is small: the average length of the blade is 105-110 cm, and together with the handle the sword reached 150 cm. distinctive feature there was a characteristic bend in the arms of the cross - downwards, towards the tip of the blade. This design made it possible to effectively capture and literally pull out any long weapon from the enemy’s hands. In addition, the decoration of the horns of the bow - pierced in the shape of a stylized four-leaf clover - became a distinctive sign by which everyone easily recognized the weapon.

In terms of size and effectiveness, the claymore was perhaps the best option among all two-handed swords. It was not specialized, and therefore was used quite effectively in any combat situation.

Zweihander

The Zweihander (German: Zweihänder or Bidenhänder/Bihänder, “two-handed sword”) is a weapon of a special unit of landsknechts who are on double pay (doppelsoldners). If the claymore is the most modest sword, then the zweihander was indeed impressive in size and in rare cases reached two meters in length, including the hilt. In addition, it was notable for its double guard, where special “ boar tusks“The unsharpened part of the blade (ricasso) was separated from the sharpened part.

Such a sword was a weapon of very narrow use. The fighting technique was quite dangerous: the owner of the zweihander acted in the front ranks, pushing away with a lever (or even completely cutting) the shafts of enemy pikes and spears. To own this monster required not only remarkable strength and courage, but also significant swordsmanship, so the mercenaries did not receive double pay for their beautiful eyes. The technique of fighting with two-handed swords bears little resemblance to conventional blade fencing: such a sword is much easier to compare with a reed. Of course, the zweihander did not have a sheath - it was worn on the shoulder like an oar or spear.

Flamberge

Flamberge ("flaming sword") is a natural evolution of the ordinary straight sword. The curvature of the blade made it possible to increase the lethality of the weapon, but in the case of large swords, the blade was too massive, fragile and still could not penetrate high-quality armor. In addition, the Western European school of fencing suggests using the sword mainly as a piercing weapon, and therefore curved blades were not suitable for it.

By the 14th-16th centuries, advances in metallurgy led to the fact that the chopping sword became practically useless on the battlefield - it simply could not penetrate armor made of hardened steel with one or two blows, which played a critical role in mass battles. Gunsmiths began to actively look for a way out of this situation, until they finally came to the concept of a wave blade, which has a series of successive anti-phase bends. Such swords were difficult to manufacture and expensive, but the effectiveness of the sword was undeniable. Due to a significant reduction in the area of the damaging surface, upon contact with the target, the destructive effect was increased many times over. In addition, the blade acted like a saw, cutting the affected surface.

The wounds inflicted by the flamberge did not heal for a very long time. Some commanders sentenced captured swordsmen to death solely for carrying such weapons. Catholic Church She also cursed such swords and branded them as inhumane weapons.

Slasher

Espadon (French espadon from Spanish espada - sword) is a classic type of two-handed sword with a tetrahedral cross-section of the blade. Its length reached 1.8 meters, and the guard consisted of two massive arches. The center of gravity of the weapon often shifted to the tip - this increased the penetrating ability of the sword.

In battle, such weapons were used by unique warriors who usually had no other specialization. Their task was to, waving huge blades, destroy the enemy’s battle formation, overturn the first ranks of the enemy and pave the way for the rest of the army. Sometimes these swords were used in battles with cavalry - due to the size and weight of the blade, the weapon made it possible to very effectively chop the legs of horses and cut through the armor of heavy infantry.

Most often, the weight of military weapons ranged from 3 to 5 kg, and heavier examples were awarded or ceremonial. Sometimes weighted replicas of combat blades were used for training purposes.

Estoc

Estoc (French estoc) is a two-handed piercing weapon designed to pierce knightly armor. A long (up to 1.3 meters) tetrahedral blade usually had a stiffening rib. If previous swords were used as a means of countermeasures against cavalry, then the estok, on the contrary, was the weapon of the horseman. Riders wore it on the right side of the saddle so that in case of loss of the pike they would have an additional means of self-defense. In horse fighting, the sword was held with one hand, and the blow was delivered due to the speed and mass of the horse. In a foot skirmish, the warrior took it in both hands, compensating for the lack of mass with his own strength. Some examples of the 16th century have a complex guard, like a sword, but most often there was no need for it.

Now let's look at the largest combat two-handed sword.

Supposedly this sword belonged to the rebel and pirate Pierre Gerlofs Donia known as "Big Pierre", who, according to legend, could cut off several heads at once, and he also bent coins using his thumb, index and middle fingers.

According to legend, this sword was brought to Friesland by the German Landsknechts; it was used as a banner (was not a battle one); captured by Pierre, this sword began to be used as a battle sword

Pier Gerlofs Donia (W. Frisian. Grutte Pier, approximately 1480, Kimsvärd - October 18, 1520, Sneek) - Frisian pirate and independence fighter. Descendant of the famous Frisian leader Haring Harinxma (Haring Harinxma, 1323–1404).
Son of Pier Gerlofs Donia and Frisian noblewoman Fokel Sybrants Bonga. He was married to Rintsje or Rintze Syrtsema, and had a son, Gerlof, and a daughter, Wobbel, born in 1510.

On January 29, 1515, his court was destroyed and burned by soldiers from the Black Band, landsknechts of the Saxon Duke George the Bearded, and Rintze was raped and killed. Hatred of his wife's murderers prompted Pierre to take part in the Gueldern War against the powerful Habsburgs, on the side of the Gueldern Duke Charles II (1492-1538) of the Egmont dynasty. He entered into an agreement with the Duchy of Geldern and became a pirate.

The ships of his flotilla "Arumer Zwarte Hoop" dominated the Zuiderzee, causing enormous damage to Dutch and Burgundian shipping. After the capture of 28 Dutch ships, Pierre Gerlofs Donia (Grutte Pier) solemnly declared himself “King of Frisia” and set a course for liberation and unification home country. However, after he noticed that the Duke of Geldern did not intend to support him in the war of independence, Pierre terminated the treaty of alliance and resigned in 1519. On October 18, 1520, he died in Grootsand, a suburb of the Frisian city of Sneek. Buried on the north side of the Great Sneek Church (built in the 15th century)

Here it is necessary to make a remark that the weight of 6.6 is abnormal for a combat two-handed sword. A significant number of them vary in weight around 3-4 kg.

sources

Is the one antique item, which is still revered today due to its power and military value. The sword was an integral part of the heavily armed European warrior. In accordance with this knight's sword is rightfully considered a symbol of the Middle Ages and, in general, the Western military world of the past.

You can call it like two lives knight's sword. The first life was the most important and related directly to what the knights were born for - to bring good to the world. Sacred rites were performed over the swords: they were consecrated, liturgies were served with them, the best swords were under the altars in monasteries, and the swords themselves were given names. And if you needed to pray, you could stick it in the ground and get some kind of altar with a cross. For a knight, the sword was a symbol of courage, honor, and strength. And even the expression “breaking a sword” meant defeat.

The second life of the sword was not as idealistic as it was meant to bring destruction. And here it has competitors, functional qualities, performance, advantages and disadvantages. had competitors such types of weapons as the morning star and the coin. True, this applied to foot combat. The fact is that only certain swords (two-handed heavy swords) can cut through shields and chain mail. The shield and chain mail were enough to protect against sword strikes. The chain mail protected well from glancing blows, and the shield from sliding and piercing blows. It's another matter if we're talking about about the cavalry. Since the speed of mounted warriors does not allow multiple blows with a sword, a single blow was decisive. The force of a horseman's blow is greater than that of an infantryman, and a piercing blow with a sword could pierce any armor. This made the sword an indispensable weapon for the cavalry, even more so than the spear, which broke in the middle of the battle.

The ancestors of the knights were rich horsemen of the 6th century, who could make themselves a spatha (double-edged long sword) with a short crosshair and a cone-shaped pommel, and their swords were the ancestors knight's swords.

By the beginning of the era of chivalry (X-XIII centuries), the blade became lighter, shorter and narrower. Since the 12th century, the number of varieties of swords has increased incredibly. The functional purpose is also changing. The role of the piercing blow over the slashing one is increasing. So the sword gradually appeared. During the times of chivalry one could meet knight's sword in several versions.

1. Flamberge. These swords were two-handed with wavy blades and blades that widened towards the tip. Their advantage is that the expanded tip provided a much stronger cutting blow, although it upset the balance, the wavy blade is designed to reduce the affected surface and enhance the specific destructive effect, the wavy blade is able not to get stuck in the enemy’s armor and, when pulled out, acts like a saw - it dismembers. This shape gave the sword the properties of a saber.

2. . This includes knightly swords from 1050-1300. The main characteristics are a pointed blade and an elongated handle with a lightweight pommel. The shape of their blade and handle was very diverse. They are closely related to the knights of the 12th century. The first hilts of such swords had a leather braid, but over time, starting from the 14th century, the braid began to be made of wire, since plate gloves quickly rubbed the skin.

3. . This type of sword includes one-and-a-half-handed (very rare) and two-handed swords, which were used in Scotland by mercenaries XV-XVII. The claymore is a straight, wide and double-edged blade, with a hilt long shaft and a disc or ball shaped pommel. The difference is the ends of the cross bent in the direction of the blade, at the end of which there are clover petals. The weight of the sword reached 2.5 kg, but there were specimens weighing 3.5 kg.
Knight's swords it was allowed to be worn by the free military class. The sword was not only a military weapon, but also part of the life of an entire era, which became famous for its virtues.