Slavic sword from the times of Kievan Rus. What was he like? Bastard sword - types and description

Mein Herz mein Geist meine Seele, lebt nur für dich, mein Tod mein Leben meine Liebe, ist nichts ohne Dich // Shadow Troublemaker

The information that will be discussed below does not relate to reality in any way. computer games, where anything is possible, even swords the size of a man.
Some time ago, I wrote a story based on LoS, which featured swords. According to my plan, a boy of 8-9 years old should not have lifted it due to the gravity of the sword. I suffered for a long time, wondering how much an ordinary knight’s sword weighs, and is it really impossible for a child to lift it? At that time, I was working as an estimator, and the documents included metal parts much larger than the sword, but weighing an order of magnitude less than the intended figure. And so, I went to the wide expanses of the Internet to look for the truth about the medieval knight’s sword.
To my surprise, the knight’s sword did not weigh much, about 1.5-3 kg, which shattered my theory to smithereens, and the heavy two-handed weapon barely weighed 6 kg!
Where do these myths about the 30-50 kilogram swords that the heroes swung so easily come from?
And myths from fairy tales and computer games. They are beautiful, impressive, but have no historical truth behind them.
The knight's uniform was so heavy that the armor alone weighed up to 30 kg. The sword was lighter so that the knight would not give his soul to God at all in the first five minutes of actively swinging the heavy weapon.
And if you think logically, could you work for a long time with a 30-kilogram sword? Can you even lift it?
But some battles lasted not five minutes, and not 15, they stretched out for hours, days. And your opponent is unlikely to say: “Listen, Sir X, let’s take a break, I completely swung my sword,” “Come on, I’m no less tired than you. Let's sit under that tree."
And especially no one will say: “Battle! Stop! One-two! Whoever is tired, raise your hands! Yes, clearly. The knights can rest, the archers can continue.”
However, try to work with a 2-3 kilogram sword in your hands for half an hour, I guarantee an unforgettable experience.
And so, gradually, we came to the already existing information about medieval swords, recorded by historians as a fact.

The Internet led me to the land of Wikipedia, where I read the most interesting information:
Sword- a bladed weapon consisting of a straight metal blade and handle. The blades of the swords are double-edged, less often sharpened only on one side. Swords can be chopping (Old Slavic and Old Germanic types), cutting-stabbing (Carolingian sword, Russian sword, spatha), piercing-cutting (gladius, akinak, xiphos), piercing (konchar, estok). The division of double-edged cutting and piercing weapons into swords and daggers is quite arbitrary; most often the sword has a longer blade (from 40 cm). The weight of the sword ranges from 700 g (gladius) to 6 kg (zweihander, flamberge). The weight of a one-handed chopping or stabbing sword ranged from 0.9 to 2 kg.

The sword was an offensive and defensive weapon of a professional warrior. To wield a sword required long training, years of practice and special physical training. A distinctive feature of the sword is its versatility:
- used by both foot and horse warriors;
- chopping blows with a sword are particularly powerful, especially when chopping from the saddle, both against unarmored warriors and warriors in armor (there were enough holes for striking in early armor and the quality of the armor was always questionable);
- piercing blows of a sword can pierce a cuirass and a mirror if the quality of the sword exceeds the quality of the armor;
- by striking the helmet with a sword, you can stun the enemy or kill him if the sword pierces the helmet.

Often mistakenly referred to as swords various types curved bladed weapons, in particular: khopesh, kopis, falcata, katana ( japanese sword), wakizashi, as well as a number of types of straight bladed weapons with one-sided sharpening, in particular: skramasax, falchion.

The appearance of the first bronze swords dates back to the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. e., when it became possible to make blades larger size than daggers. Swords were actively used until the end of the 16th century. In the 17th century, swords in Europe were finally replaced by swords and broadswords. In Rus', the saber finally replaced the sword by the end of the 14th century.

Swords of the Middle Ages (West).

In Europe, the sword became widespread in the Middle Ages, had many modifications and was actively used until the Modern Age. The sword changed at all stages of the Middle Ages:
Early Middle Ages. The Germans used single-edged blades with good cutting properties. A striking example is scramasax. In the ruins of the Roman Empire, spatha is the most popular. The battles are fought in open space. Defensive tactics are used extremely rarely. As a result, the cutting sword with a flat or rounded tip, a narrow but thick cross, a short hilt and a massive pommel dominates in Europe. There is practically no narrowing of the blade from the handle to the tip. The valley is quite wide and shallow. The weight of the sword does not exceed 2 kg. This type of sword is usually called Merovingian. The Carolingian sword differs from the Merovingian sword mainly in its pointed end. But this sword was also used as a chopping weapon, despite the pointed end. The Scandinavian version of the ancient Germanic sword is wider and shorter in length, since the ancient Scandinavians practically did not use cavalry due to their geographical location. Ancient Slavic swords were practically no different in design from ancient Germanic ones.

Modern reconstruction of a cavalry spatha of the 2nd century.
High Middle Ages. There is a growth of cities and crafts. The level of blacksmithing and metallurgy is growing. Happening Crusades and civil strife. Leather armor is being replaced by metal armor. The role of cavalry is increasing. Knightly tournaments and duels are gaining popularity. Fights often take place in close quarters (castles, houses, narrow streets). All this leaves an imprint on the sword. The cutting and piercing sword reigns. The blade becomes longer, thicker and narrower. The valley is narrow and deep. The blade tapers towards the tip. The handle lengthens and the pommel becomes small. The cross becomes wide. The weight of the sword does not exceed 2 kg. This is the so-called Romanesque sword.

Late Middle Ages. Expansion into other countries is underway. Combat tactics are becoming increasingly diverse. Armor with a high degree of protection is used. All this greatly influences the evolution of the sword. The variety of swords is colossal. In addition to one-handed swords (ruknik), there are one-and-a-half-handed (one-and-a-half-handed) and two-handed swords (dvuruchnik). Piercing swords and swords with wavy blades appear. A complex guard, providing maximum protection for the hand, and a “basket” type guard are beginning to be actively used.

And here is what concerns myths and legends regarding the weight of swords:

Like any other weapon that has a cult status, there are a number of myths and outdated ideas about this type of weapon, which sometimes often appear even in scientific works to this day.
A very common myth is that European swords weighed several kilograms and were mainly used to concuss the enemy. The knight hit his armor with his sword like a club and achieved victory by knockout. Weights of up to 15 kilograms or 30-40 pounds are often quoted. These data do not correspond to reality: surviving originals of straight European fighting swords range from 650 to 1400 grams. Large “Landsknecht two-handed swords” are not included in this category, since they were not the classic sword of a knight, but represented the final degradation of the sword as a personal weapon. Average weight swords was therefore 1.1-1.2 kg. If we take into account that the weight of combat rapiers (1.1-1.4 kg), broadswords (up to 1.4 kg) and sabers (0.8-1.1 kg) was also generally not less than one kilogram, then their superiority and “grace”, so often mentioned by fencers of the 18th and 19th centuries and supposedly the opposite of the “heavy swords of antiquity,” is more than doubtful. Modern rapiers, swords and sabers intended for sports fencing are not “lightweight” copies of combat originals, but items originally created for sports, designed not to defeat the enemy, but to score points according to the relevant rules. The weight of a one-handed sword (type XII according to Ewart Oakeshott's typology) can reach somewhere around 1400 grams with the following parameters: blade length 80 cm, width at the guard 5 cm, at the end 2.5 cm, thickness 5.5 mm. This strip of carbon steel is simply physically incapable of weighing more. Only with a blade thickness of 1 cm can it reach three kilograms, or with the use of heavy metals as the blade material - which in itself is unrealistic and impractical. Such swords are unknown to either historians or archaeologists.

If a simple knight's sword did not have the weight that was attributed to it in many legends, maybe the two-handed sword was that dinosaur in the camp of the knight's weapon?

A special variety of straight swords, sharply limited in their purpose and method of use, were giants weighing 3.5-6 kg with blades 120-160 cm long - two-handed swords. They can be called swords among swords, because those techniques of possession that were desirable for shorter versions were the only ones possible for a two-handed sword.

The benefit of two-handers was their ability to pierce solid armor (with such a length of the blade, its tip moved very quickly, and the weight provided greater inertia) and long reach (A controversial issue - a warrior with a one-handed weapon had almost the same reach as a warrior with a two-handed sword. This occurred due to the impossibility of full rotation of the shoulders when working with both hands). These qualities were especially important if a footman fought against a horseman in full armor. The two-handed sword was used mainly for duels or in broken formations, as it required a large amount of space to swing. Against a spear, a two-handed sword gave a controversial advantage - the ability to cut the shaft of an enemy’s spear and, in fact, disarm him for a few seconds (until the spearman pulls out the weapon stored for this case, if any) was negated by the fact that the spearman was much more mobile and agile. With a heavy two-handed sword (for example, a European slasher) it was more likely to knock the tip of a spear to the side than to cut it.

Two-handed weapons forged from refining steel, including “flaming blades” - flamberges (flamberges), mainly acted as weapons for mercenary infantry of the 16th century and were intended to fight knightly cavalry. The popularity of this blade among mercenaries reached such an extent that a special bull of the Pope declared blades with several curves (not only flamberges, but also swords with shorter “flaming” blades) to be inhumane, not “Christian” weapons. A warrior captured with such a sword could be cut off right hand or even kill.

By the way, there was nothing magical in the flamberge’s wavy blade - the curved edge had better cutting properties and when hit, a “saw effect” was obtained - each curve made its own cut, leaving petals of flesh in the wound that died and began to rot. And besides, with glancing blows, the flamberge caused more damage than a straight sword.

What is it? It turns out everything we knew about knight's swords not true?
True, but only partial. It was impossible to control a very heavy sword. Not every warrior had the strength of Conan the Barbarian, and therefore one must look at things more realistically.

More details about the swords of that era can be found at this link.

Few other types of weapons have left such a mark in the history of our civilization. For thousands of years, the sword was not just a murder weapon, but also a symbol of courage and valor, a warrior’s constant companion and a source of pride. In many cultures, the sword represented dignity, leadership, and strength. Around this symbol in the Middle Ages, a professional military class was formed and its concepts of honor were developed. The sword can be called the real embodiment of war; varieties of this weapon are known to almost all cultures of antiquity and the Middle Ages.

The knight's sword of the Middle Ages symbolized, among other things, the Christian cross. Before knighting, the sword was kept in the altar, cleansing the weapon from worldly filth. During the initiation ceremony, the weapon was presented to the warrior by the priest.

Knights were knighted with the help of a sword; this weapon was necessarily part of the regalia used during the coronation of crowned persons of Europe. The sword is one of the most common symbols in heraldry. We see it everywhere in the Bible and the Koran, in medieval sagas and in modern fantasy novels. However, despite its enormous cultural and social significance, the sword primarily remained a melee weapon, with the help of which it was possible to send the enemy to the next world as quickly as possible.

The sword was not available to everyone. Metals (iron and bronze) were rare, expensive, and it took a lot of time and skilled labor to make a good blade. In the early Middle Ages, it was often the presence of a sword that distinguished the leader of a detachment from an ordinary commoner warrior.

A good sword is not just a strip of forged metal, but a complex composite product consisting of several pieces of steel of different characteristics, properly processed and hardened. European industry was able to ensure the mass production of good blades only towards the end of the Middle Ages, when the importance of edged weapons had already begun to decline.

A spear or battle ax was much cheaper, and it was much easier to learn how to use them. The sword was a weapon of the elite, professional warriors, and definitely a status item. To achieve true mastery, a swordsman had to train daily, for many months and years.

Historical documents who have come down to us say that the cost of a sword of average quality could be equal to the price of four cows. Swords made by famous blacksmiths were much more valuable. And the weapons of the elite, decorated with precious metals and stones, cost a fortune.

First of all, the sword is good for its versatility. It could be used effectively on foot or on horseback, for attack or defense, and as a primary or secondary weapon. The sword was perfect for personal protection (for example, on trips or in court battles), it could be carried with you and, if necessary, quickly used.

The sword has a low center of gravity, which makes it much easier to control. Fencing with a sword is significantly less tiring than swinging a club of similar length and weight. The sword allowed the fighter to realize his advantage not only in strength, but also in agility and speed.

The main drawback of the sword, which gunsmiths tried to get rid of throughout the history of the development of this weapon, was its low “penetrating” ability. And the reason for this was also the low center of gravity of the weapon. Against a well-armored enemy, it was better to use something else: a battle axe, a hammer, a hammer, or a regular spear.

Now we should say a few words about the very concept of this weapon. A sword is a type of bladed weapon that has a straight blade and is used to deliver cutting and piercing blows. Sometimes the length of the blade is added to this definition, which should be at least 60 cm. But short sword sometimes it was even smaller; examples include the Roman gladius and the Scythian akinac. The largest two-handed swords reached almost two meters in length.

If a weapon has one blade, then it should be classified as a broadsword, and a weapon with a curved blade should be classified as a saber. Famous Japanese katana not actually a sword, but a typical saber. Also, swords and rapiers should not be classified as swords; they are usually classified as separate groups edged weapons.

How does a sword work?

As mentioned above, a sword is a straight, double-edged bladed weapon designed to deliver piercing, slashing, slashing and stabbing blows. Its design is very simple - it is a narrow strip of steel with a handle at one end. The shape or profile of the blade changed throughout the history of this weapon, it depended on the fighting technique that prevailed in a given period. Combat swords of different eras could “specialize” in cutting or piercing blows.

The division of bladed weapons into swords and daggers is also somewhat arbitrary. We can say that the short sword had a longer blade than the dagger itself - but drawing a clear line between these types of weapons is not always easy. Sometimes a classification is used based on the length of the blade; in accordance with it, the following are distinguished:

• Short sword. Blade length 60-70 cm;
• Long sword. The size of his blade was 70-90 cm, it could be used by both foot and horse warriors;
• Cavalry sword. The length of the blade is more than 90 cm.

The weight of the sword varies within a very wide range: from 700 grams (gladius, akinak) to 5-6 kg (large sword such as flamberge or slasher).

Swords are also often divided into one-handed, one-and-a-half and two-handed. A one-handed sword usually weighed from one to one and a half kilograms.

The sword consists of two parts: the blade and the hilt. The cutting edge of the blade is called the blade; the blade ends with a point. As a rule, it had a stiffener and a fuller - a recess designed to lighten the weapon and give it additional rigidity. The unsharpened part of the blade adjacent directly to the guard is called the ricasso (heel). The blade can also be divided into three parts: the strong part (often it was not sharpened at all), middle part and the point.

The hilt includes a guard (in medieval swords it often looked like a simple cross), a handle, and a pommel, or pommel. The last element of the weapon is of great importance for its proper balancing, and also prevents the hand from slipping. The crosspiece also performs several important functions: it prevents the hand from sliding forward after striking, protects the hand from hitting the enemy’s shield, the crosspiece was also used in some fencing techniques. And only as a last resort did the crosspiece protect the swordsman’s hand from the blow of an enemy’s weapon. So, at least, it follows from medieval fencing manuals.

An important characteristic of the blade is its cross-section. Many variants of the section are known; they changed along with the development of weapons. Early swords (during barbarian and Viking times) often had a lenticular cross-section, which was more suitable for cutting and slashing. As armor developed, the rhombic section of the blade became increasingly popular: it was more rigid and more suitable for thrusting.

The sword blade has two tapers: in length and in thickness. This is necessary to reduce the weight of the weapon, improve its controllability in battle and increase the efficiency of use.

The balance point (or equilibrium point) is the center of gravity of the weapon. As a rule, it is located a finger's distance from the guard. However, this characteristic can vary quite widely depending on the type of sword.

Speaking about the classification of this weapon, it should be noted that the sword is a “piece” product. Each blade was made (or selected) for a specific fighter, his height and arm length. Therefore, no two swords are completely identical, although blades of the same type are similar in many ways.

An invariable accessory of the sword was a sheath - a case for carrying and storing this weapon. The sword sheath was made from various materials: metal, leather, wood, fabric. At the bottom they had a tip, and at the top they ended at the mouth. Typically these elements were made of metal. The sword scabbard had various devices that made it possible to attach it to a belt, clothing or saddle.

The birth of the sword - the era of antiquity

It is unknown when exactly man made the first sword. Wooden clubs can be considered their prototype. However, the sword in the modern sense of the word could only arise after people began to smelt metals. The first swords were probably made of copper, but this metal was quickly replaced by bronze, a stronger alloy of copper and tin. Structurally, the oldest bronze blades were not much different from their later steel counterparts. Bronze resists corrosion very well, which is why today we have a large number of bronze swords discovered by archaeologists in different regions of the world.

The oldest sword known today was found in one of the burial mounds in the Republic of Adygea. Scientists believe that it was made 4 thousand years BC.

It is curious that before burial with the owner, bronze swords were often symbolically bent.

Bronze swords have properties that are in many ways different from steel ones. Bronze does not spring, but it can bend without breaking. To reduce the likelihood of deformation, bronze swords were often equipped with impressive stiffening ribs. For the same reason, it is difficult to make a large sword from bronze; usually such weapons had relatively modest dimensions - about 60 cm.

Bronze weapons were made by casting, so there were no particular problems in creating blades of complex shapes. Examples include the Egyptian khopesh, the Persian kopis and the Greek mahaira. True, all these samples of edged weapons were cutlasses or sabers, but not swords. Bronze weapons were poorly suited for piercing armor or fencing; blades made of this material were more often used for cutting rather than piercing blows.

Some ancient civilizations also used a large sword made of bronze. During excavations on the island of Crete, blades more than a meter long were found. They are believed to have been made around 1700 BC.

They learned to make swords from iron around the 8th century BC, and in the 5th century they had already become widespread. although bronze was used along with iron for many centuries. Europe switched to iron more quickly because the region had much more of it than the tin and copper deposits needed to create bronze.

Among the currently known blades of antiquity, one can highlight the Greek xiphos, the Roman gladius and spatha, and the Scythian sword akinak.

The xiphos is a short sword with a leaf-shaped blade, the length of which was approximately 60 cm. It was used by the Greeks and Spartans, later this weapon was actively used in the army of Alexander the Great; the warriors of the famous Macedonian phalanx were armed with the xiphos.

The Gladius is another famous short sword that was one of the main weapons of the heavy Roman infantry - legionnaires. The gladius had a length of about 60 cm and the center of gravity was shifted towards the handle due to the massive pommel. These weapons could deliver both slashing and piercing blows; the gladius was especially effective in close formation.

The spatha is a large sword (about a meter long) that apparently first appeared among the Celts or Sarmatians. Later, the Gauls' cavalry, and then the Roman cavalry, were armed with spatami. However, spatha was also used by foot Roman soldiers. Initially, this sword did not have an edge, it was a purely chopping weapon. Later, spatha became suitable for stabbing.

Akinak. This is a short one-handed sword, which was used by the Scythians and other peoples of the Northern Black Sea region and the Middle East. It should be understood that the Greeks often called all the tribes roaming the Black Sea steppes Scythians. Akinak had a length of 60 cm, weighed about 2 kg, and had excellent piercing and cutting properties. The crosshair of this sword was heart-shaped, and the pommel resembled a beam or a crescent.

Swords from the era of chivalry

The “finest hour” of the sword, however, like many other types of edged weapons, was the Middle Ages. For this historical period, the sword was more than just a weapon. The medieval sword developed over a thousand years, its history began around the 5th century with the advent of the German spatha, and ended in the 16th century, when it was replaced by the sword. The development of the medieval sword was inextricably linked with the evolution of armor.

The collapse of the Roman Empire was marked by the decline of military art and the loss of many technologies and knowledge. Europe plunged into dark times of fragmentation and internecine wars. Battle tactics were significantly simplified, and the number of armies was reduced. In the Early Middle Ages, battles mainly took place in open areas; opponents, as a rule, neglected defensive tactics.

This period is characterized by almost complete absence armor, unless only the nobility could afford chain mail or plate armor. Due to the decline of crafts, the sword is transformed from the weapon of an ordinary soldier into the weapon of a select elite.

At the beginning of the first millennium, Europe was in a “fever”: it was Great Migration peoples, and barbarian tribes (Goths, Vandals, Burgundians, Franks) created new states in the territories of the former Roman provinces. The first European sword is considered to be the German spatha, its further continuation is the Merovingian type sword, named after the French royal dynasty Merovingian.

The Merovingian sword had a blade approximately 75 cm long with a rounded tip, a wide and flat fuller, a thick cross and a massive pommel. The blade practically did not taper to the tip; the weapon was more suitable for delivering cutting and chopping blows. At that time, only very wealthy people could afford a combat sword, so Merovingian swords were richly decorated. This type of sword was in use until about the 9th century, but already in the 8th century it began to be replaced by a Carolingian type sword. This weapon is also called the Viking Age sword.

Around the 8th century AD, a new misfortune came to Europe: regular raids by Vikings or Normans began from the north. These were fierce fair-haired warriors who knew no mercy or pity, fearless sailors who plied the expanses of the European seas. The souls of the dead Vikings were taken from the battlefield by golden-haired warrior maidens straight to the halls of Odin.

In fact, Carolingian-type swords were produced on the continent, and they came to Scandinavia as military booty or ordinary goods. The Vikings had a custom of burying a sword with a warrior, which is why a large number of Carolingian swords were found in Scandinavia.

The Carolingian sword is in many ways similar to the Merovingian, but it is more elegant, better balanced, and the blade has a well-defined edge. The sword still remained expensive weapons, according to the orders of Charlemagne, cavalrymen must be armed with them, while foot soldiers, as a rule, used something simpler.

Together with the Normans, the Carolingian sword also entered the territory Kievan Rus. There were even centers on Slavic lands where such weapons were made.

The Vikings (like the ancient Germans) treated their swords with special reverence. Their sagas contain many stories about special magical swords, as well as about family blades passed down from generation to generation.

Around the second half of the 11th century, the gradual transformation of the Carolingian sword into a knightly or Romanesque sword began. At this time, cities began to grow in Europe, crafts developed rapidly, and the level of blacksmithing and metallurgy increased significantly. The shape and characteristics of any blade were primarily determined by the enemy’s protective equipment. At that time it consisted of a shield, helmet and armor.

To learn to wield a sword, the future knight began training with early childhood. At about the age of seven, he was usually sent to some relative or friendly knight, where the boy continued to master the secrets of noble combat. At the age of 12-13 he became a squire, after which his training continued for another 6-7 years. Then the young man could be knighted, or he continued to serve with the rank of “noble squire.” The difference was small: the knight had the right to wear a sword on his belt, and the squire attached it to the saddle. In the Middle Ages, the sword clearly distinguished a free man and knight from a commoner or slave.

Ordinary warriors usually wore leather armor made from specially treated leather as protective equipment. The nobility used chain mail shirts or leather armor, onto which metal plates were sewn. Until the 11th century, helmets were also made of treated leather, reinforced with metal inserts. However, later helmets were mainly made from metal plates, which were extremely difficult to break through with a chopping blow.

The most important element of a warrior’s defense was the shield. It was made from a thick layer of wood (up to 2 cm) of durable species and covered with treated leather on top, and sometimes reinforced with metal strips or rivets. This was a very effective defense; such a shield could not be penetrated with a sword. Accordingly, in battle it was necessary to hit a part of the enemy’s body that was not covered by a shield, and the sword had to pierce the enemy’s armor. This led to changes in sword design in the early Middle Ages. Typically they had the following criteria:

• Total length about 90 cm;
• Relatively light weight, which made it easy to fencing with one hand;
• Sharpening blades designed to deliver an effective cutting blow;
• The weight of such a one-handed sword did not exceed 1.3 kg.

Around the middle of the 13th century, a real revolution took place in the armament of the knight - plate armor became widespread. To break through such a defense, it was necessary to inflict piercing blows. This led to significant changes in the shape of the Romanesque sword; it began to narrow, and the tip of the weapon became more and more pronounced. The cross-section of the blades also changed, they became thicker and heavier, and received stiffening ribs.

Around the 13th century, the importance of infantry on the battlefield began to increase rapidly. Thanks to the improvement of infantry armor, it became possible to dramatically reduce the shield, or even abandon it altogether. This led to the fact that the sword began to be taken in both hands to enhance the blow. This is how the long sword appeared, a variation of which is the bastard sword. In modern historical literature it is called the “bastard sword.” Bastards were also called “war swords” - weapons of such length and weight were not carried with them just like that, but taken to war.

Bastard sword led to the emergence of new fencing techniques - the half-hand technique: the blade was sharpened only in the upper third, and its lower part could be intercepted by the hand, further enhancing the piercing blow.

This weapon can be called a transitional stage between one-handed and two-handed swords. The heyday of long swords was the era of the late Middle Ages.

During the same period, two-handed swords became widespread. These were real giants among their brothers. The total length of this weapon could reach two meters and weight – 5 kilograms. Two-handed swords were used by infantrymen; they did not have sheaths made for them, but were worn on the shoulder, like a halberd or a pike. Disputes continue among historians today as to exactly how these weapons were used. The most famous representatives of this type of weapon are the zweihander, claymore, spandrel and flamberge - a wavy or curved two-handed sword.

Almost all two-handed swords had a significant ricasso, which was often covered with leather for greater ease of fencing. At the end of the ricasso there were often additional hooks (“boar’s tusks”), which protected the hand from enemy blows.

Claymore. This is a type of two-handed sword (there were also one-handed claymores) that was used in Scotland in the 15th-17th centuries. Claymore means "great sword" in Gaelic. It should be noted that the claymore was the smallest of the two-handed swords, its overall size reached 1.5 meters, and the length of the blade was 110-120 cm.

A distinctive feature of this sword was the shape of the guard: the arms of the cross were bent towards the tip. The claymore was the most versatile “two-handed weapon”; its relatively small dimensions made it possible to use it in various combat situations.

Zweihander. The famous two-handed sword of the German Landsknechts, and their special unit - the Doppelsoldners. These warriors received double pay; they fought in the front ranks, cutting down the enemy's peaks. It is clear that such work was mortally dangerous; in addition, it required great physical strength and excellent weapon skills.

This giant could reach a length of 2 meters, had a double guard with “boar tusks” and a ricasso covered with leather.

Slasher. A classic two-handed sword, most often used in Germany and Switzerland. The total length of the slasher could reach up to 1.8 meters, of which 1.5 meters was on the blade. To increase the penetrating power of the sword, its center of gravity was often shifted closer to the tip. The weight of the sledge ranged from 3 to 5 kg.

Flamberge. A wavy or curved two-handed sword, it had a blade of a special flame-like shape. Most often, these weapons were used in Germany and Switzerland in the 15th-17th centuries. Currently, flamberges are in service with the Vatican Guard.

The curved two-handed sword is an attempt by European gunsmiths to combine the best properties of a sword and a saber in one type of weapon. Flamberge had a blade with a number of successive curves; when delivering chopping blows, it acted on the principle of a saw, cutting through armor and inflicting terrible, long-lasting wounds. The curved two-handed sword was considered an “inhumane” weapon, and the church actively opposed it. Warriors with such a sword should not have been captured; at best, they were killed immediately.

The flamberge was approximately 1.5 m long and weighed 3-4 kg. It should also be noted that such a weapon was much more expensive than a regular one, because it was very difficult to manufacture. Despite this, similar two-handed swords were often used by mercenaries during the Thirty Years' War in Germany.

Among the interesting swords of the late Middle Ages, it is also worth noting the so-called sword of justice, which was used to carry out death sentences. In the Middle Ages, heads were most often chopped off with an ax, and the sword was used exclusively for beheading members of the nobility. Firstly, it was more honorable, and secondly, execution with a sword brought less suffering to the victim.

The technique of beheading with a sword had its own characteristics. The scaffold was not used. The condemned man was simply forced to his knees, and the executioner cut off his head with one blow. One might also add that the “sword of justice” had no edge at all.

By the 15th century, the technique of wielding edged weapons was changing, which led to changes in bladed edged weapons. At the same time, firearms are increasingly used, which easily penetrate any armor, and as a result it becomes almost unnecessary. Why carry a bunch of iron on you if it can't protect your life? Along with armor, heavy medieval swords, which clearly had an “armor-piercing” character, are also becoming a thing of the past.

The sword becomes more and more a piercing weapon, it tapers towards the tip, becomes thicker and narrower. The grip of the weapon changes: in order to deliver more effective piercing blows, swordsmen grasp the cross from the outside. Very soon special arches appear on it to protect the fingers. This is how the sword begins its glorious path.

At the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th centuries, the sword guard became significantly more complex in order to more reliably protect the fencer’s fingers and hand. Swords and broadswords appeared in which the guard looked like a complex basket, which included numerous bows or a solid shield.

Weapons become lighter, they gain popularity not only among the nobility, but also among a large number of townspeople and become an integral part of everyday costume. In war they still use a helmet and cuirass, but in frequent duels or street fights they fight without any armor. The art of fencing is becoming significantly more complex, new techniques and techniques are appearing.

A sword is a weapon with a narrow cutting and piercing blade and a developed hilt that reliably protects the fencer’s hand.

In the 17th century, the rapier evolved from the sword - a weapon with a piercing blade, sometimes even without cutting edges. Both the sword and the rapier were intended to be worn with casual clothing, not with armor. Later, this weapon turned into a certain attribute, a detail of the appearance of a person of noble origin. It is also necessary to add that the rapier was lighter than the sword and gave tangible advantages in a duel without armor.

The most common myths about swords

The sword is the most iconic weapon invented by man. Interest in it continues today. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions and myths associated with this type of weapon.

Myth 1. The European sword was heavy; in battle it was used to inflict concussion on the enemy and break through his armor - like an ordinary club. At the same time, absolutely fantastic figures for the mass of medieval swords are voiced (10-15 kg). This opinion is not true. The weight of all surviving original medieval swords ranges from 600 grams to 1.4 kg. On average, the blades weighed about 1 kg. Rapiers and sabers, which appeared much later, had similar characteristics (from 0.8 to 1.2 kg). European swords were convenient and well-balanced weapons, effective and convenient in battle.

Myth 2. Swords do not have a sharp edge. It is stated that against armor the sword acted like a chisel, breaking through it. This assumption is also not true. Historical documents that have survived to this day describe swords as sharp weapons that could cut a person in half.

In addition, the geometry of the blade itself (its cross-section) does not allow sharpening to be obtuse (like a chisel). Studies of the graves of warriors who died in medieval battles also prove the high cutting ability of swords. The fallen were found to have severed limbs and serious chop wounds.

Myth 3. “Bad” steel was used for European swords. Today there is a lot of talk about the excellent steel of traditional Japanese blades, which are supposedly the pinnacle of blacksmithing. However, historians absolutely know that the technology of welding various types of steel was successfully used in Europe already in antiquity. The hardening of the blades was also at the proper level. The technologies for making Damascus knives, blades and other things were also well known in Europe. By the way, there is no evidence that Damascus was a serious metallurgical center at any time. In general, the myth about the superiority of eastern steel (and blades) over western steel was born back in the 19th century, when there was a fashion for everything eastern and exotic.

Myth 4. Europe did not have its own developed fencing system. What can I say? You should not consider your ancestors more stupid than you. The Europeans waged almost continuous wars using edged weapons for several thousand years and had ancient military traditions, so they simply could not help but create a developed combat system. This fact is confirmed by historians. To this day, many manuals on fencing have been preserved, the oldest of which date back to the 13th century. Moreover, many of the techniques from these books are more designed for the dexterity and speed of the fencer than for primitive brute strength.

Claymore (claymore, claymore, claymore, from the Gaulish claidheamh-mòr - “big sword”) is a two-handed sword that became widespread among the Scottish highlanders since 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: average length the 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 most 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” separated the unsharpened part of the blade (ricasso) 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 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 XIV-XVI centuries. /bm9icg===>ekam, 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 towards the tip - this increased the penetrating ability of the sword. Such weapons were used in battle unique warriors, usually having 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 weight military weapons ranged from 3 to 5 kg, and heavier specimens 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 two hands, compensating for the lack of mass own strength. Some examples of the 16th century have a complex guard, like a sword, but most often there was no need for it.

HOW MUCH DID THE KNIGHT WEIGH?
Historians and researchers of the Middle Ages I. Flyade and G. Lenz write that the word “knight” comes from the German “ritter”, and it, in turn, from the word “reiter”, i.e. "rider". This rider in full gear weighed... 170 kg!
In the 11th-16th centuries, plate tournament armor - and tournament armor was more massive than combat armor - weighed about 40 kg. Combat, Milanese work, consisting of 6 parts - about 30 kg. All other weapons, including the spear - maximum 20 kg. What can you say about horse armor? Specimens of Polish and German armor preserved in museums around the world, which included a breastplate, a breastplate, and plates that protected the eyes and neck, weigh about 20 kg.

So, if you add up all the above numbers, you get 65-70 kg. Plus the weight of a massive saddle is 15 kg. If we assume that the knight weighed 80-90 kg, then in the end we have 160-170 kg. This is exactly the weight the knight's horse carried.

The horses on which the knights fought battles or performed in tournaments resembled today's heavy trucks in appearance, and were not at all similar to the cavalry horses of later times.

Knight's horses were bred in special stables, which were managed by marshals. It was a court rank, which only became a military rank in the 17th century. A good strong horse was worth an entire village with 100 peasants, and fighting knight armor with weapons they cost the same as 2-3 horses, or even more. In Budapest, in the Knights' Hall of the Royal Museum, samples of knightly weapons are exhibited. For example, a Czech battle ax from the 14th century is only 114 cm long, but not every man can lift it and hold it above his head. Two-handed sword of a German knight of the 15th century, the so-called. “The Crucifixion of Christ”, weighs 16.6 kg and has a length of 170 cm. The knight did not go on a campaign alone. He was followed by a squire (he was carrying a two-handed sword tied to a horse), two archers, a foot spearman and two servants. This detachment was called a “spear”. A large knight's castle could display up to 10 or more such “copies”.

WHAT POWERPOSSESSEDKNIGHT?

Judging by the annals and chronicles of those times - very considerable. For example, Cesare Borgia (son of Pope Alexander II) could cut off the head of a bull with a blow of his sword, and overturn a horse with a blow of his fist. The Polish knight Zawisza Pairny, the hero of the Battle of Grunwald in 1410, could squeeze the juice from an oak branch with his hand, throw a spear at a distance of 70 meters, and jump over a horse while wearing light armor. The German knight Konrad von Swan, according to a 16th-century chronicle, defending his castle for two hours without a break, struck the attackers with a huge two-handed sword, killing 19 people. Ruler Tzimisces, fully armed, leaning on a spear, could jump over four horses placed side by side, and also lifted a horse onto his shoulders and ran with it up to 50 meters.

In the Louvre there is a spear of the famous French knight of the 14th century Maurice de Gillaume, with which, according to legend, he killed 176 people in battles with the British over 10 years. The spear weighs 19 kg and has a diameter of 7 centimeters. The Russian prince Bobrok could cut a horse in half with a Tatar saber. A skilled medieval English archer could use a combat bow (170 cm long) with a yard arrow (91 cm) to pierce a knight's armor from 300 meters. The Saracen leader and talented military leader Salah-Ad-Din (Saladin) fought with two Damascus sabers at the same time, and once in a battle with the crusaders he chopped up 9 knights in armor, cutting them from the collarbone to the thigh.

These are the glorious knights that used to be!

LIKE KNIGHTSDID YOU FIGHT?

Always on horseback. Knights fought on foot only in duels “on trampled ground” or on lists: one on one or group against group. The crusaders’ favorite formation before battle was the wedge, or “pig,” as the Slavic warriors called it. The tip of the wedge consisted of 5 to 35 knights, each subsequent row increased by 5-10 people. Each wedge had from 200 to 350 horsemen. IN major battles The crusaders formed 9 wedges, which made up three battle lines. This is how Henryk Sienkiewicz described the knights of the 14th century: “Well, what brave Germans! The knight will bend down to the pommel of his saddle, point his spear, and before the battle, one will rush at the whole army, like a hawk at a flock. Which knights are the best? The English and Scots are the best shooters with bows and crossbows; they can pierce a shell with a person inside, and can hit a pigeon within a hundred paces. The Czechs and Serbs fight with fear like axes. As for the two-handed sword, the German will not yield to anyone. A Swiss can easily split a helmet with an iron hammer; but there is no better knight than from French soil. This one fights both on horseback and on foot, with spears, swords or axes.”

In the mail that comes to the editorial e-mail, the same question often appears.

People want to know how much the sword of Prince Alexander Nevsky weighs. Alas, everything is not at all simple here.

There are three known swords that are attributed to Russian princes. This is the Carolingian sword of Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich, the Gothic sword of Prince Dovmont of Pskov and the one-and-a-half-handed sword of another Prince of Pskov - Vsevolod. Let's briefly touch on each of them.

Sword of Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich

In a word, there is a substitution. Apparently, the real sword of Prince Vsevolod became unusable over time or was lost. It was then that it was replaced with the best sword, the most worthy of the memory of the Grand Duke.

Sword of Prince Dovmont of Pskov

Not everything is simple with Prince Dovmont’s sword either. Let's start with the fact that Prince Dovmont himself is very interesting personality. He was expelled from the Baltic states, where he reigned and found a new homeland in Pskov. The Pskovites, under his command, defeated the Teutonic Order in the battle of the knightly castle of Rakvere - this battle is also called the Battle of Rakovor.

The legendary researcher and sword collector Ewart Oakeshott points out that Gothic-type swords were used at the end of the century, but they came into widespread use in the 14th century.

And here the situation is “50/50”. In principle, Dovmont could have wielded such a sword, but then it must have been one of the very first swords of its type. And if this turns out to be true, then we have another reason for national pride.

Sword of Prince Boris, brother of Gleb

Even in ancient Russian literature, the sword of Prince Boris is mentioned - this refers to the holy martyrs Princes Boris and Gleb, highly revered in the ancient Russian squads.

It is also believed that the sword of Prince Boris hung in the room of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. After the conspirators killed the prince, one of the killers took this sword for himself. Subsequently, the weapon was never mentioned anywhere else.

But what about the sword of Prince Alexander?

It is unknown to science. However, you don't have to give up. Now we'll decide everything.

Of course, Alexander Nevsky had a sword, and most likely not even one. Perhaps this is even one of those swords that lie in our museums, in storerooms or on display cases. Another thing is that we don’t know him by sight.

But we can use old Holmes' deductive method. So, first let’s remember when Alexander Nevsky lived.

Dates of his life: May 13, 1221 - November 14, 1263. In other words, the middle of the 13th century.
This is the time of the Romanesque type sword.

At the top is a sword of a transitional type, from Carolingian to Romanesque. Below is a Romanesque type sword. It has a long thin guard that protects the warrior’s hand, and a fuller that is noticeably shorter than the blade itself.

Consequently, the sword of Prince Alexander Nevsky, as a typical weapon of its time, should also have weighed about a kilogram and a quarter.