In honor of the holiday, let us recall 7 types of weapons of the Russian warrior. There are three known swords that are attributed to Russian princes. But, nevertheless, he also existed with us, not without reason in Russian epics the acquisition of the sword or the possession of it was furnished with special reverence. After the conspirators killed the prince, one of the assassins took this sword for himself. In the future, the weapon was never mentioned anywhere else.
The name of Ilya Muromets is familiar to every Russian person from childhood from fairy tales and epics. In modern Russia, he is considered the patron saint of the Strategic Missile Forces and the Border Service, as well as all those whose profession is associated with military labor. Interestingly, in the late 1980s. scientists examined the relics. The results of this examination surprisingly coincided with the legends about this Russian hero. Based on the analysis of the remains, it was established that this man had a heroic build and had a height of 177 cm (in the XII century, a man with such growth was a head taller than those around him).
The sword, of course, is brand new, but it is not just a dummy sword. It is made by forging several layers of metal and corresponds in shape to the swords of that time. The multi-layered structure of the sword material is especially clearly visible on the lobe that runs along the blade from the hilt to the point. On the Internet, you can find a variety of versions about this - from making it in Zlatoust to creating it in Kiev by Russian and Ukrainian craftsmen.
Sword of the prince of Pskov Dovmont
By the end of the 12th century, the average weight of swords increased to 2 kg. But this is average. Vitaly you are right. This is an error, the total length of the sword is 103.5 cm. Fixed. In the mail that comes to editorial e-mail, the same question is often encountered. In fact, there is no reason to attribute this sword to Svyatoslav. Yes, it is a very ornate sword. Yes, he is a contemporary of Svyatoslav. However, nothing confirms that it was Svyatoslav who fought with this sword.
Prince Vsevolod Mstislavich was the grandson of Vladimir Monomakh and the nephew of Yuri Dolgoruky. All these events took place in the distant XII century. But the sword that is attributed to him is a one and a half-handed sword of the Gothic type. Quite a XIV century. Previously, this type of weapon simply did not exist! There is also a nuance. The sword contains the inscription "Honorem meum nemini dabo" - "I will not give my honor to anyone."
The legendary researcher and collector of swords, Ewart Oakeshott, points out that swords of the Gothic type were used as early as the end of the 13th century, but they entered widespread use in the 14th century. It is also believed that the sword of Prince Boris was hanging in the room of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky.
Of course, Alexander Nevsky had a sword, and, most likely, not even one. Perhaps it is even one of those swords that are in our museums, in storerooms or on display cases. Above is a sword of a transitional type, from Carolingian to Romanesque.
Very little is known about the cult of the sword in Ancient Russia; it was not as pronounced as, for example, in medieval Japan. The Old Russian sword did not differ much from the swords of Western Europe, one might say, did not differ at all. It is often claimed that the first Russian swords were with a rounded edge or did not have it at all, I think such statements do not deserve attention at all.
In the Icelandic sagas, warriors committed suicide by throwing themselves on the edge of the sword - “he stuck the hilt of the sword into the ice and fell on the edge”. The swords owned by the ancient Russians can be roughly divided into iron, steel and damask. Swords from damask steel are also divided into two groups: cast damask and welded damask.
Only a select few could forge the best swords, damask steel is very capricious, no sword is like another. Before starting to forge a new sword, the blacksmith brought sacrifices to Svarog, and the priests consecrated this sacrament and, only then, it was possible to start work.
Not only in size and weight, but also in the finish of the handle. The hilt of the sword was finished with either colored or precious metals, as well as enamel or niello.
Apparently, the real sword of Prince Vsevolod fell into disrepair from time to time or was lost. With the sword of Prince Dovmont, not everything is simple either. We have already mentioned the sword of Prince Svyatoslav in the article "History of the sword: Carolingian blow". In short, this is a Caroline type sword, very well preserved and rich in workmanship.
In the mail that comes to editorial e-mail, the same question is often encountered.
People want to know how much the sword of Prince Alexander Nevsky weighs. Alas, everything is not simple here.There are three known swords that are attributed to Russian princes. These are the Carolingian sword of Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich, the Gothic sword of the Prince of Pskov Dovmont and the one and a half-handed sword of another prince of Pskov - Vsevolod. Let us 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 fell into disrepair from time to time or was lost. It was then that he was replaced with the best sword, the most worthy of the memory of the Grand Duke.
Sword of the prince of Pskov Dovmont
With the sword of Prince Dovmont, not everything is simple either. Let's start with the fact that Prince Dovmont himself is a very interesting person. He was expelled from the Baltic States, where he reigned and found a new home in Pskov. Under his leadership, the Pskovites defeated the Teutonic Order in the battle at the knightly castle Rakvere - this battle is also called the Rakovor battle.
The legendary researcher and collector of swords, Ewart Oakeshott, points out that swords of the Gothic type were used at the end, but they entered widespread use precisely in the 14th century.
And here the situation is "50 to 50". In principle, Dovmont could wield such a sword, but then it should be one of the very first swords of its type. And if this turns out to be true, then we have one more 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, very revered in the ancient Russian squads.
It is also believed that the sword of Prince Boris was hanging in the room of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. After the conspirators killed the prince, one of the assassins took this sword for himself. In the future, the weapon was never mentioned anywhere else.
But what about the sword of Prince Alexander?
It is unknown to science. However, don't give up. Now we will decide everything.
Of course, Alexander Nevsky had a sword, and, most likely, not even one. Perhaps it is even one of those swords that are in our museums, in storerooms or on display cases. Another thing is that we do not know him "by sight".
But we can use the deductive method of old Holmes. 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 XIII century.
This is the time of the Romanesque sword.
Above is a sword of a transitional type, from Carolingian to Romanesque. Below is a Romanesque sword. He has a long, thin guard that guards the warrior's hand, and a dol, which is noticeably shorter than the blade itself.
Consequently, the sword of Prince Alexander Nevsky, as a typical weapon of its time, also had to weigh about a kilogram and a quarter.
When the conversation turns to the warriors in Russia, the imagination immediately draws the mighty epic heroes in chain mail and with swords in their hands. Damask swords were appreciated not only by Slavic knights, but also far beyond the borders of Russia. They were highly durable, could cut silk scarves on the fly, and almost doubled without breaking.
Damask sword IX-X centuries.
Modern scholars divide Slavic swords of the 9th-11th centuries into several types, but basically the weapon differed in the shape of the handle and crosspiece. The blades were made almost the same: 90-100 cm long, 5-4 cm wide and the handle, and about 4 mm thick. Towards the end, the blades narrowed. Along the canvas on both sides there were valleys, which are mistakenly called "bloodletting". The dales served to lighten the weight of the sword, but over time they disappeared.
Handles of Slavic swords.
Not all warriors received swords. Not everyone could afford this type of weapon because of its high cost. In addition, the possession of a sword required certain professional skills. In Russia, blades of the 10th century weighed up to 1.5 kg.
Damascus steel drawing.
Damask swords, which were mentioned by epic storytellers, came to Russia from Damascus. Bulat is a special type of steel with a carbon content of more than 1% and its uneven distribution in the metal. The high strength of damask steel was truly amazing. Its blades could cut through iron and steel. And if you bend a product made of damask steel, then it did not even think to break. Everything would be fine, only the peculiarities of the Russian climate did not fit. During severe frosts, it was unusable.
Damask blades.
Slavic masters found a way out. They took rods of iron and damask steel, twisted them together and forged, then folded, cut lengthwise and forged again. And so many times. The resulting steel allowed swords to be made thin while maintaining strength. Such blades easily cut through chain mail and armor, usually made of lower grade metal.
Sheath of a Slavic damask sword.
Modern experts note that such technologies for making blades testify to the extraordinary skill of blacksmiths of the 9th-11th centuries. Therefore, one should not think that our ancestors could only make “simple iron objects”.
Handles with ornaments.
To determine how good a sword is, the customer first listened to the ringing that emanated from the blade after clicking fingers on it. The higher the sound, the better the damask was considered. Then you had to put the sword on your head and pull it to your ears by the ends. Good blades did not bend or break. In the end, whoever wants to get a blade, tried it for sharpness. Usually, a thick nail was cut with a sword or a strip of cloth was thrown onto the blade, while it was cut.
In subsequent centuries, the length and weight of the sword changed depending on the change in the weight of the armor. Then the sword was replaced by other types of weapons.
Claymore (claymore, claymore, claymore, from the Gaulish claidheamh-mòr - "big sword") is a two-handed sword that has become widespread among the Scottish highlanders since the end of the XIV century. As the main weapon of the infantry, claymore was actively used in clashes between tribes or border battles with the British. Claymore is the smallest of all its brethren. 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. Its distinctive feature was the characteristic bend of the arches of the cross - downward, 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 bow's horns - punching in the form of a stylized four-leaf clover - became a distinctive sign by which everyone easily recognized the weapon. In terms of size and efficiency, claymore was arguably the best two-handed sword. It was not specialized, and therefore it was used quite effectively in any combat situation.
Zweichander
Zweichander (German Zweihänder or Bidenhänder / Bihänder, "two-handed sword") is a weapon of a special unit of landsknechts, who are on double pay (doppelsoldner). If the claymore is the most modest sword, then the Zweihander really was distinguished by its impressive size and in rare cases reached two meters in length, including the hilt. In addition, it was notable for a double guard, where special "boar fangs" separated the unsharpened part of the blade (ricasso) from the sharpened one.
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 as a lever (or even completely chopping off) the shaft of the enemy pikes and spears. To possess this monster required not only remarkable strength and courage, but also considerable skill of a swordsman, so that the mercenaries did not receive double salaries for their beautiful eyes. The technique of fighting with two-handed swords bears little resemblance to the usual blade fencing: such a sword is much easier to compare with a reed. Of course, the Zweichander did not have a scabbard - it was worn on the shoulder like an oar or a spear.
Flamberg
Flamberge ("flaming sword") is a natural evolution of the regular straight sword. The curvature of the blade made it possible to increase the lethality of the weapon, however, in the case of large swords, the blade came out 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 thrusting weapon, and therefore, curved blades were not suitable for it. By the XIV-XVI centuries. / bm9icg \u003d\u003d\u003d\u003e ekam achievements in metallurgy led to the fact that the cutting sword became practically useless at all on the battlefield - it simply could not penetrate hardened steel armor with one or two blows, which played a critical role in massive battles. The gunsmiths began to actively seek a way out of this situation, until they finally came to the concept of a wave blade, which has a series of successive antiphase bends. Such swords were difficult to manufacture and were expensive, but the effectiveness of the sword was undeniable. Due to a significant reduction in the area of \u200b\u200bthe striking surface, upon contact with the target, the destructive effect was greatly enhanced. In addition, the blade acted like a saw, cutting through the affected surface. The wounds inflicted by flamberg did not heal for a very long time. Some generals sentenced captured swordsmen to death solely for carrying such weapons. The Catholic Church also cursed such swords and branded them as inhumane weapons.
Espadon
Espadon (French espadon from Spanish espada - sword) is a classic type of two-handed sword with a four-sided cross-section of the blade. Its length reached 1.8 meters, and the guard consisted of two massive bows. The center of gravity of the weapon was often shifted to the edge - this increased the penetrating power of the sword. In battle, such weapons were used by unique warriors who usually did not have any 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 battle with cavalry - due to the size and mass 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 the heavier specimens were award or ceremonial. Weighted warblade replicas were sometimes used for training purposes.
Estok
Estok (fr. 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 the previous swords were used as a means of countermeasures against cavalry, then the estok, on the contrary, was the weapon of the rider. Riders wore it on the right side of the saddle in order to have an additional means of self-defense in the event of a loss of the peak. In equestrian combat, the sword was held by one hand, and the blow was delivered due to the speed and mass of the horse. In a skirmish on foot, the warrior took him in two 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.
The sword is a murder weapon with a touch of romance. In the hands of fearless warriors, a silent witness to terrible battles and the change of eras. The sword personified courage, fearlessness, strength and nobility. Enemies feared his blade. With the sword, brave warriors were knighted and crowned persons were crowned.
One-and-a-half swords, or swords with a hand and a half handle, existed from the Renaissance (13th century) to the late Middle Ages (16th century). In the 17th century, swords were replaced by rapiers. But swords are not forgotten and the brilliance of the blade still excites the minds of writers and filmmakers.
Types of swords
Longsword - long sword
The handle of such swords is three palms. With both hands grasping the sword hilt, there were a few centimeters left for one more palm. This made difficult fencing maneuvers and sword strikes possible.
The bastard or "bastard" sword is a classic example among bastard swords. The handle of the "bastards" was less than two, but more than one palm (about 15 cm). This sword is not a longsword: neither two, nor one and a half - not for one hand and not for two, for which he received such an insulting nickname. The bastard was used as a weapon of self-defense, and was perfect for everyday wear.
I must say that they fought with this bastard sword without using a shield.
The appearance of the first copies of one-and-a-half swords dates back to the end of the 13th century. One-and-a-half swords were of different sizes and variations, but they were united by one name - swords of war. This blade was fashionable as an attribute to the saddle of a horse. One-and-a-half swords were always kept with them on trips and hikes, in order to protect themselves from an unexpected enemy attack in case of anything.
With a fighting or heavy sword with a long sword in battles, they inflicted strong blows that did not give the right to life.
Bastard, had a narrow, straight blade and was indispensable for thrusting blows. The most famous representative among the narrow bastard swords is the blade of the English warrior and the prince who participated in the 14th century war. After the death of the prince, the sword is placed over his grave, where he remains until the 17th century.
The English historian Ewart Oakeshott studied the ancient battle swords of France and classified them. He noted gradual changes in the characteristics of one-and-a-half swords, including the length of the blade.
In England, at the beginning of the 14th century, a "large fighting" bastard sword appears, which is worn not in the saddle, but on the belt.
Specifications
The length of a one-and-a-half sword is from 110 to 140 cm, (weighing 1200 and up to 2500) Of these, about a meter of the sword is a part of the blade. The blades of one and a half swords were forged in various shapes and sizes, but they were all effective in delivering various crushing blows. There were the main characteristics of the blade, according to which they differed from each other.
In the Middle Ages, the blades of one and a half swords are thin and straight. Referring to Oakeshott's typology: gradually the blades stretch and thicken in cross section, but become thinner at the end of the swords. The handles are also modified.
The cross-section of the blade is divided into biconvex and diamond-shaped. In the latter version, the central vertical line of the blade provided hardness. And the features of forging swords add options to the section of the blade.
One-and-a-half swords, whose blades had valleys, were very popular. A dol is a cavity extending from the crosspiece along the blade. It is a delusion that the valleys were made like a bloodstream or for the easy removal of a sword from a wound. In fact, the lack of metal in the middle of the center of the blade made the swords lighter and more maneuverable. The dales were wide - almost the entire width of the blade, to more numerous and thinner ones. The length of the dollars also varied: the full length or by a third of the total length of the bastard sword.
The crosspiece was lengthened and had bows to protect the hand.
An important indicator of a well-forged bastard sword was its precise balance, distributed in the right place. One-and-a-half swords in Russia were balanced at a point above the hilt. The marriage of the sword was necessarily revealed during the battle. As soon as the blacksmiths made a mistake and shifted the center of gravity of the longsword upward, the sword, in the presence of a deadly blow, became uncomfortable. The sword vibrated as it struck the opponent's swords or armor. And this weapon did not help, but hindered the soldier. A good weapon was an extension of the hand of war. Blacksmiths skillfully forged swords, correctly distributing certain zones. These zones are the knots of the blade, and when positioned correctly, ensured a quality bastard sword.
Shield and bastard sword
Certain fighting systems and varied styles made sword fighting akin to an art, rather than chaotic and barbaric. Various teachers taught bastard sword fighting techniques. And there was no more effective weapon in the hands of an experienced warrior. With this sword, no shield was needed.
And all thanks to the armor that took the blow on itself. Chain mail was worn before them, but it was not able to protect the war from the blow of cold weapons. Light plate armor and plate armor began to be forged in massive quantities by blacksmiths. There is a misconception that the iron armor was very heavy and it was impossible to move in it. This is partly true, but only for tournament equipment, which weighed about 50 kg. Military armor weighed less than half, it was possible to actively move in them.
Not one blade of the bastard sword was used for attack, but also a guard as a hook, capable of knocking down the pommel.
Possessing the art of fencing, the soldier received the necessary base and could take up other types of weapons: a spear, a shaft, and so on.
Despite the apparent lightness of bastard swords, battles with him required strength, endurance and dexterity. The knights, for whom the war was everyday life, and swords were their faithful companions, did not spend a day without training and weapons. Regular exercises did not allow them to lose their warlike qualities and die during the battle, which went on without stopping, intensively.
Schools and techniques of the bastard sword
The most popular are German and Italian schools. The earliest manual of the German school of fencing (1389) was translated, despite the difficulties.
In these manuals, swords are depicted with both hands held by the hilt. Most of the tutorial was devoted to the one-handed sword section, showing the techniques and advantages of one-handed sword holding. It was portrayed as an integral part of the fight in armor, the technique of half a sword.
The lack of a shield gave rise to new fencing techniques. There were such instructions on fencing - "fencing books", with manuals from famous masters of this craft. Excellent illustrations and a textbook, considered a classic, left us in the legacy not only a fighter, but also a wonderful artist and mathematician Albert Durer.
But fencing schools and military science are not the same thing. The knowledge from fencing books is applicable for knightly tournaments and for judicial fights. In war, a soldier had to be able to hold a line, a sword and defeat enemies facing opposite. But there are no treatises on this topic.
Ordinary townspeople also knew how to hold weapons and a bastard sword as well. In those days, without weapons - nowhere, but not everyone could afford a sword. The iron and bronze that went into a good blade were rare and expensive.
A special technique of fencing with a bastard sword was fencing without any protection in the form of armor and chain mail. The head and upper body were unprotected from the blow of the blade, except for ordinary clothing.
The increased protection of the soldiers contributed to the change in fencing techniques. And with swords they tried to inflict stabbing, not chopping blows. The technique of "half-sword" was used.
Special welcome
There were many different techniques. During the fight, they were used and, thanks to these techniques, many fighters survived.
But there is a technique that is surprising: the half-sword technique. When a warrior, with one or even two hands, took hold of the sword blade, directing it at the enemy and trying to push it under the armor. The other hand rested on the hilt of the sword, giving the necessary strength and speed. How did the soldiers not wound their hand on the edge of the sword? The fact is that swords were sharpened at the end of the blade. Therefore, the half-sword technique was a success. True, you can hold a sharpened sword blade in gloves, but, most importantly, hold it tightly, and in no case let the blade "walk" in your palm.
Later, in the 17th century, Italian fencing masters focused on the foil and abandoned the bastard sword. And in 1612, a German manual was published with the technique of fencing with a bastard sword. This was the final guide to combat techniques using such swords. However, in Italy, despite the increased popularity of the rapier, fencing continues on the spadone (bastard sword).
Bastard in Russia
Western Europe exerted a great influence on some of the peoples of medieval Russia. The West influenced geography, culture, military science and weapons.
As a fact, in Belarus and Western Ukraine there are knightly castles of those times. A few years ago, on television, they reported on the discovery in the Mogilev region of a knightly weapon of the Western European model, dating back to the 16th century. There were few finds of one-and-a-half swords in Moscow and across Northern Russia. Since there, military affairs were aimed at battling the Tatars, which means that instead of heavy infantry and swords, another weapon was needed - sabers.
But the lands of Russia, western and southwestern, are knightly territory. A wide variety of weapons and one-and-a-half swords, Russian and European, were found there during excavations.
One and a half or two-handed
The types of swords differ from each other in their mass; different length of the hilt, blade. If a sword with a long blade and a hilt is easy to manipulate with one hand, then this is a representative of bastard swords. And if one hand is not enough to hold a bastard sword, then most likely it is a representative of two-handed swords. Approximately at the mark of the total length of 140 cm, the limit for the bastard sword comes. More than this length, it is difficult to hold a bastard sword with one hand.