Crusades. knight's sword

By the 10th century, all the lands in Europe belonged to a few of the richest feudal lords. Huge hordes of impoverished knights roamed Europe, plundering other people's possessions. The rich lands of the Middle East attracted many. The reason for the invasion was the capture of Jerusalem by the Turks - holy city for Christians. The idea of ​​liberation of Christian shrines was supported by the church. In the summer of 1096, the crusader knights set out on their first campaign. The scattered forces of the Muslims could not resist their pressure, and already in 1099 Jerusalem was taken along with part of the east coast. mediterranean sea. Then the failures began. The rallied Muslims began to win back their lands in Asia Minor. The second and third crusades ended in failure, and in 1187 Jerusalem was surrendered. The next four crusades did not bring success. After the death of the French king Louis IX during the eighth campaign (1270), the knights no longer came to the East.

Armament of the Europeans of the period crusades changed, because I had to adapt to the eastern battle tactics. Instead of heavy scaly armor, the knights donned mail armor, which was lighter and more maneuverable. The chain mail reached the middle of the thigh, had three-quarter sleeves and a chain mail hood. Later, pants, stockings and mittens made of chain mail mesh appeared. They also wore sweatshirts made of taffeta or leather, stuffed with tow or hair, under the chain mail to weaken the blow.

Warriors of the Orders of Hospitallers and Templars

had images of crosses on their cloaks

To protect from the heat, the knights used sleeveless white capes with heraldic symbols.

Crusader Shield

Large shields made it difficult to fight with eastern cavalry armed with light sabers, so over time they were replaced by small triangular shields.

All the knights who participated in the campaigns to the East,

called crusaders

The crusades required a lot of weapons, so they began to make more inexpensive swords, making blades by welding iron and steel strips (the core was made of soft iron, and the blade was made of steel).

Sword of the Crusades (reconstruction)

The Norman type sword was inferior in battle to the eastern saber, so its crosshair was increased. As the armor became more reliable, an elongated long sword appeared, which was used to deliver strong stabbing blows with both hands.

Mounted crusaders during the first crusade wore a Norman helmet, which did not protect well from the powerful blows of the Saracen battle axes. The crusaders had to wear a second, larger size over a light helmet.

Pot helmets originally had a flat top,

and later - domed

In the middle of the XII century, came into fashion pot helmet . Its edges rested on the shoulders of the knight in order to soften the blows inflicted on the helmet.

November 27, 1095 Pope Urban II at Clermont Cathedral proclaims the First Crusade. The Crusades were bloody pursuits and required effective weapons. Today we will talk about the most popular military weapon of the crusaders.

SWORD
The most noble and common weapon of the knights was, as you know, the sword. In battle, the life of a knight often depended on the strength and flexibility of the sword. At the same time, the length of the blade or the mass of the sword were not the main characteristics that determine the force of the blow. The main parameter is the location of the center of gravity and balancing.
The average length of the blade was about a meter, and a wide groove ran along almost the entire length, disappearing about 2.5 cm from the rather sharp tip of the blade. Many blades bear large iron capital letters, often of a religious nature; for example, HOMO DIE, or NOMINE DOMINI, or corrupted versions of these words.
Around the year 1000, a new type of sword appeared - a long, thinner one, with a narrow and shallow groove, disappearing about 20 cm from the tip of the blade. The average length of such swords is about 13 cm longer than the swords of the previous type.
The sword was placed on the altar during the vigil before the knighting, the blade was placed on the shoulder of the knight during the ceremony of initiation, the sword hung from the tomb when the knight died. In The Song of Roland, the dying hero desperately tries to break Durendal's blade against a stone in order to prevent any unworthy person from using this sword after the death of its master. If any knight threw a shadow on the order of chivalry, his sword was broken in front of him by a servant.

Photo: Global Look Press

BATTLE AX

It was always difficult to hit a warrior protected by armor with a sword, so for close combat the knight used a Norman battle ax and a war hammer, which could pierce armor and knock weapons out of the hands of the enemy. In addition, a powerful blow from a battle ax could literally cut the enemy in half, to the very saddle.
After the First Crusade, the knightly militias were armed with battle axes, which differed in blade configuration from the Norman ones. It is assumed that new form the blade was borrowed from the eastern peoples.

WAR HAMMER

Crusaders often used hammers of various shapes as weapons. Turning into foot soldiers, the knights armed themselves with hammers instead of spears. The length of the hammer handle was approximately 90 cm. The hammer, like an ax, could pierce the enemy's armor.

The bow is the most ancient weapon for ranged combat. Immediately after the Tatar-Mongol invasion in Europe, detachments of archers armed with bows began to be created. In the drawings in old books you can see knights with short bows. In order to successfully resist the Muslims in the crusades, the knights had to line up a line of archer warriors in front of their vanguard.

Photo: swordmaster.org

CROSSBOW

The mechanical principle of throwing weapons was known in the ancient world and was used by the Romans in special throwing machines used in the siege of fortresses. In the XI century, hand-held throwing devices appeared - crossbows, and in 1139 this weapon in the Christian army was banned by the pope for use in Europe. Crossbows could only be used in battles with Muslims.
Although the use of crossbows was anathematized by Pope Innocent II at the Second Lateran Council in 1139, as well as by many later edicts, these easel bows became one of the most important weapons of the Middle Ages, especially in the hands of well-trained mercenaries.
The English king Richard I created entire units of foot and horse crossbowmen who successfully fought in the ranks of the crusaders. It is widely believed that Richard I received the retribution of fate by dying from a wound inflicted by an arrow from a crossbow, since Richard himself actively used this weapon in the troops.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

A SPEAR

The spear remained the main weapon of the mounted warriors. In the 11th century, it was usually held at arm's length and quite often raised above the shoulder, as can be seen in the Bayeux tapestry. When there was a great need for this, the spear could be thrown, as at Hastings, when it was necessary to make gaps in the wall of Anglo-Saxon shields so that the cavalry could break into these gaps. Little by little, a new method became popular - to hold the spear under the arm, that is, pressed to the right side with a grip right hand directly in front of the shoulder. This gave the grip a lot more rigidity, now it was not the power of the right hand that was invested in the blow of the spear, but the inertia of the movement of the rider and horse. It can be seen from the poetic descriptions that before the battle the spear was held more or less upright, with the back of the spear resting on the front of the saddle. The spear was taken at the ready only immediately before the blow. In order to make it easier to keep balance while holding the spear, and also, perhaps, to direct the shield towards the enemy, the rivals, where possible, approached each other with their left side; while the spear passed over the neck of the horse. The cavalry spear now invariably had a simple and very sharp leaf-shaped tip. The old spear, with wings, was now used only by infantry and hunters.

Mounted warriors in the background Photo: Wikimedia Commons

POLEX

The Polex was one of the most popular weapons for foot combat. From period illustrations, written descriptions, and a small number of surviving specimens, we can see that the poleax appears in various forms: sometimes with heavy ax blades, like those of a halberd, and sometimes with hammer-shaped heads, often with a curved spike behind.
All poleaxes seem to have had a spike on the top of the weapon, and many also had a spike on the lower end of the shaft. In addition, the shaft was often equipped with metal strips, called langets, descending from the head of the weapon down the sides of the shaft and designed to protect it from cutting. Some samples also had rondels to protect the hands. The essential difference was that the "heads" of the poleks were assembled on pins or bolts, while the halberds were solid forged.

Gottfried of Bouillon with poleax Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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The battles that marked the period of the Crusades were extremely bloody and more than brutal. The problem of cruelty was aggravated by the practical absence of medicine, as well as the lack of sanitation methods, as well as undeveloped tactics. When it comes to the Middle Ages, it means knights and crusades...

The weapons used in the battles of the Crusades were almost as infernal as any military tool that was then available.

Think about it - it is not surprising that the expression " get into the middle ages» still strikes some people with fear.

The warriors of the crusades, for 200 years - from the end of 1000 to the middle of 1200 - were a mixed composition of peasants, mercenary soldiers and knights, and their combinations of weapons reflected the ways in which each could master his own weapons.

Peasants often had simple weapons - mostly tools used in agriculture(usually axes and clubs, as well as some derivatives based on them), because they could not afford such a luxury as a sword. Knights had more expensive swords as well as armor, while other knights used bows and arrows and spears.

So what were the deadliest weapons found during the Crusades during the Middle Ages?

1. Mace or club

A mace is a type of club with a ball-shaped formation at its top. When it comes to length, it fluctuates between two or three feet (60 to 91 cm). The handle was made of wood, while the spherical pommel was usually made of iron.

The pommel could be smooth and round, or have flanges. Although the mace was an infantry weapon, it was used by some of the cavalry. However, the mace of the cavalryman had a little more long handle, such that the rider can reach his enemy.

The purpose of using the mace was to crush the bone of the enemy with a strong blow from the heavy mace. A single blow from a mace could easily shatter the base of a person's skull. Many maces also had flanges to inflict additional damage when hitting the shoulders or body.

While the pommel of the mace shattered the bone, the flanged mace could be used to penetrate flimsy armour, crushing the bones underneath and causing a violent internal bleeding at the victim.

2. Dart (or spade)

Darts and pikes may be simple in design, but they have proven to be effective close combat weapons for thousands of years.

The length of the dart is from six feet (1800 mm), while the length of the pike was somewhat longer - up to 9 feet (up to 2430 mm). The purpose of using the javelin in combat was to keep the enemy at bay by piercing them, or if the infantryman in question had extra javelins or a free hand with a shield, he could throw it at the enemy.

Throwing spears were used not only against infantry, but also against cavalry units - and very effectively.

The purpose of using lances for cavalry and infantry is to pierce, not tickle. A good pike in the hands of a trained person could pierce flesh and shatter bone, killing with one blow.

3. Arrows for a bow

An arrow fired from a bow provided an unpleasant blow to the enemy. Arrows used against cavalry were made with arrowheads to penetrate armor, while arrows used against poorly protected infantry were serrated to make removing them from the body the most difficult task.

The people who fought at the Battle of Dorylaeum in 1097 during the First Crusade learned of this when they fought the Seljuk Turks, who fired volley after volley of arrows, in their confrontation.

Although the Crusaders won the battle, the victory came at a heavy price and they learned a valuable lesson about enemy tactics.

The purpose of using archery arrows is to hit the enemy from afar. However, many crusaders will soon learn to place mail as additional protection under their main armour. In this case, the arrows, as most historians say, did not pass through the chain mail and did not harm the warrior.

Although killing is the main goal, many forget that maiming in those days was quite enough to defeat the enemy. However, if the archer could not kill or maim his enemy, he could be a significant nuisance, and could also simply mock the opponent by firing his arrows at him.

4. Trebuchet - " scales with yoke»

Trebuchet (or " oar with yoke”) is a siege machine, first developed and used in Ancient Rome and preserved in Western armies, which took their continuity from Ancient Rome.

Trebuchet was used in all early European wars as well as during the First Crusade. Some historians claim that the Trebuchet was developed in China and adopted from there by the Islamic armies, but at present, the validity of this theory is in serious doubt.

Trebuchet was a kind of catapult, and it required many men to use it to work because of it. huge size and weight.

The amount of power needed to send projectiles to the appropriate range required each vehicle to have a team of over 100 men pull on a dozen ropes that would generate enough force to send a 130-pound (59 kg) projectile up to 500 feet ( up to 152 meters).

The purpose of the Trebuchet was to weaken and destroy the fortress walls. This machine could not only fire stone projectiles, but also incendiary ones. While stone was meant to crush and destroy walls, incendiary projectiles were thrown over castle walls or city walls to set buildings on fire.

Of course, if one wanted to inflict special suffering on the defenders, one could start a plague, for this they simply loaded the bodies of plague victims and sent them through the walls, as the Mongols did at Caffa in 1347.

5. Battle ax

The medieval battle ax was used to great effect during the Crusades. What made the battle ax beloved by some Crusader-era fighters was that, being close in size to a sword, the battle ax was cheap to use and required limited skill - much like the use of a mace.

The battle ax was either light, when it could be used with one hand, or two-handed. The length of the battle ax blade was approximately 10 inches (24.5 cm) from the top and bottom points. In addition, battle axes, in the Middle Ages, evolved into battle axes. Where two axes were located on one handle.

This made the battle ax so destructive that not only could it crush the bones of a man in armor, but it could also be wielded with one hand. In addition to cutting off enemy limbs, it has also been used by physicians to amputate patients (albeit with no guarantee of success).

6. Sword

Of all the variety of weapons, for causing significant damage to the human body during the Middle Ages, the sword was considered the most prestigious. At that time, many men could not afford a knight's sword, first of all, it was used by the noble and rich.

For example, the most famous sword is Excalibur - the sword of King Arthur. Viking swords are also famous, such as the Ulfberht. Of course, over time, much more men, especially those equipped with swords; however, over time, the sword was also considered to be the royal weapon.

However, the problem of swords in that period was the number various designs. The average crusader sword (or European sword) for a long period was 30 inches (76 cm) long and about 2 inches (5 cm) wide at the hilt.

What made the sword so popular was that it was a symbol of power. While his design suggests power and great significance, the judgment he could inflict on an enemy was the most devastating.

The sword was designed to do three different things, smash, penetrate and slice. Of course, it depended on the blade of the sword. In any case, the three functions of the sword gave it a greater advantage over other weapons of the time.

If he could not crush his enemy with a single blow (knocking him down or breaking his arm or leg), they could try to cripple the enemy where there was no armor. If this failed, they knocked him down, and also beat him in vulnerable places of the body, such as: armpits, groin and knee joint.

Although the sword probably killed the least during the Crusades, it did greatest influence, because it was a symbol of conquest.

7. Knight's spear

I take my hat off to whoever can withstand a knight's spear. Yes, all of the listed weapons can kill if used correctly, but of all the weapons mentioned, they either crush, or chop, or cut, or pierce. In many cases, the victim survives or dies shortly thereafter, within a few days.

The name of the word " a spear" comes from the word lancea - " dart» Roman auxiliary or throwing percussion weapons. Although according to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the word " a spear may be of Iberian origin. Also the entomology of the word λόγχη (lónkhē or " a spear”), has Greek roots for the terms “ dart" or " a spear».

The spear in the original sense was light throwing weapons, or a dart. English verb to actuate: toss, toss, toss" comes from the term (old French), as well as from the rarer or poetic lance - " a spear».

The 17th century term means that this weapon is definitely a spear, not as a thrown weapon, but as used as a blow by heavy cavalry, and especially in knightly tournaments. A thrusting spear used by infantry is commonly referred to as " spear».

During the periods of classical and medieval warfare, the spear became the leading weapon in cavalry units, and was unsuitable for throwing or for repeated blows, unlike the similar weapon of the pike family commonly used by infantry.

Spears were often fitted with a plate, a small round plate, to prevent the hand from sliding up the base of the spear during impact. Although the spear was known as a military and sporting weapon used by European knights, it was also widely used in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa wherever there are suitable mounts.

As a secondary weapon, the lancers of the medieval period also carried swords or maces for hand-to-hand combat, as the spear was often a disposable weapon. Assuming that the spear remained intact after the initial impact, it (unlike the pike) was too long at 9 to 14 feet (2740 mm to 4267 mm), heavy and clumsy to be effective against the enemy in close combat.

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

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

Around the two-handed swords of the Middle Ages, thanks to the efforts mass culture, there are always the most incredible rumors. Look at any art picture of a knight or a Hollywood movie about those times. All the main characters have a huge sword, reaching them almost to the chest. Some endow the weapon with a pood weight, others with incredible dimensions and the ability to cut a knight in half, and still others claim that swords of this size could not exist as a military weapon.

Claymore

Claymore (claymore, claymore, claymore, from the Gallic claidheamh-mòr - “big sword”) is a two-handed sword that has become widespread among the Scottish highlanders since the end of the 14th century. Being the main weapon of the foot soldiers, the claymore was actively used in skirmishes between tribes or border battles with the British.

Claymore is the smallest among 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. This design made it possible to effectively capture and literally pull out of the hands of the enemy any long weapon. In addition, the decoration of the horns of the bow - breaking through in the form of a stylized four-leaf clover - has become hallmark, 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 it was used quite effectively in any combat situation.

Zweihander

Zweihänder (German Zweihänder or Bidenhänder / Bihänder, “two-handed sword”) is a weapon of a special division of landsknechts, consisting of a double salary (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, he was notable for the 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 limited use. The fighting technique was quite dangerous: the owner of the zweihander acted in the forefront, pushing away (or even completely chopping) the shaft of enemy lances and spears. Owning this monster required not only remarkable strength and courage, but also considerable skill as a swordsman, so that mercenaries received double salaries not for 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 zweihander did not have a scabbard - he was worn on the shoulder like an oar or a spear.

Flamberg

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

By the 14th-16th centuries, the achievements of metallurgy led to the fact that the chopping sword became practically useless on the battlefield - it simply could not pierce 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 up with the concept of a wave blade that has a series of successive anti-phase 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 ​​the 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 the flamberg did not heal for a very long time. Some commanders sentenced captured swordsmen to death solely for wearing similar 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 arches. The center of gravity of the weapon often shifted to the tip - this increased the penetrating power of the sword.

In battle, such weapons were used by unique warriors, who usually had no other specialization. Their task was to break up the enemy's battle formation, swinging huge blades, overturning the first ranks of the enemy and pave the way for the rest of the army. Sometimes these swords were used in the battle with the cavalry - due to the size and mass of the blade, the weapon made it possible to very effectively cut 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 specimens were award or ceremonial. Sometimes weighted replica warblades were used for training purposes.

estok

Estoc (fr. estoc) is a two-handed stabbing weapon designed to pierce knightly armor. A long (up to 1.3 meters) tetrahedral blade usually had a stiffener. If the previous swords were used as a means of countermeasures against the cavalry, then the estoc, on the contrary, was the rider's weapon. Riders wore it on the right side of the saddle, so that in case of loss of a peak, they had an additional means of self-defense. In equestrian combat, the sword was held with one hand, and the blow was delivered due to the speed and mass of the horse. In a skirmish on foot, the warrior took it 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.

And now let's look at the biggest 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 of them at once, he also bends coins using his thumb, forefinger and middle finger.

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

Pierre Gerlofs Donia (Pier Gerlofs Donia, West Frisian Grutte Pier, circa 1480, Kimswerd - October 18, 1520, Sneek) was a Frisian pirate and independence fighter. Descendant of the famous Frisian leader Haring Harinxma (1323-1404).
Son of Pier Gerlofs Donia and Frisian noblewoman Fokel Sybrants Bonya. He was married to Rintze Sirtsema (Rintsje or Rintze Syrtsema), had from her a son, Gerlof, and a daughter, Wobbel (Wobbel, born in 1510).

On January 29, 1515, his court was destroyed and burned by soldiers from the Black Gang, landsknechts of the Saxon duke Georg the Bearded, and Rintze was raped and killed. Hatred for the murderers of his wife prompted Pierre to take part in the Geldern War against the powerful Habsburgs, on the side of the Duke of Geldern, Charles II (1492-1538) from the Egmont dynasty. He made a treaty with the Duchy of Guelders and became a pirate.

The ships of his flotilla "Arumer Zwarte Hoop" dominated the Zuiderzee, causing great damage to the Dutch and Burgundian shipping. After capturing 28 Dutch ships, Pierre Gerlofs Donia (Grutte Pier) solemnly declared himself the "King of Frisia" and headed for the liberation and unification of his native country. However, after he noticed that the Duke of Guelders did not intend to support him in the war of independence, Pierre terminated the union treaty and resigned in 1519. On October 18, 1520, he died in Grootzand, a suburb of the Frisian town of Sneek. Buried on the north side of Sneek's Great 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 their weight varies in the region of 3-4 kg.

sources

Sword - is a kind of cold weapon, they inflicted piercing, cutting or chopping wounds. Its basic design was uncomplicated and was an oblong, straight blade with a hilt. Distinctive feature tools is the established minimum length of the blade was about 60 cm. The variety of the sword represented many variations and depended on time, region, and social status.

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

The sword is undoubtedly one of the most authoritative and historically significant weapons of antiquity. It is believed that it symbolizes justice, dignity and courage. Hundreds of folk legends were made about combat fights and knightly duels, and their swords were an integral part. Later, writers, inspired by these legends, in their novels created the main characters in the image and likeness of legends. For example, the story of King Arthur has been published an infinite number of times, and the greatness of his sword has always been unchanged.

In addition, swords are reflected in religion. The nobility of edged weapons was closely intertwined with the 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 the "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 tool and the use of its images. medieval swords had a cruciform handle in the image of a Christian cross. With such a sword, a knighthood ceremony was performed. Also, the image of this weapon was found wide application in the field of heraldry.

By the way, in historical documents that have survived to our time, there is information about the cost of swords. So, the price of one tool of standard equipment was equal to the cost of 4 heads of cattle (cows), and if the famous blacksmith did the work, the amount was certainly much higher. A resident of the middle class, could hardly afford the costs 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 laborious.

The quality of the made sword directly depends on the skill of the blacksmith. His skill lies in the ability to correctly forge a blade from a different metal alloy, so that as a result the blade is even, the weight is light, and the surface itself is perfectly even. The complex composition of the product created difficulties in mass production. In Europe began to produce good swords large stream 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 factors listed earlier. Versatility in use and light weight favorably distinguished the sword from its predecessors (axe, spear).

It is also worth noting that not everyone is given to own a blade. Those wishing to become professional fighters have honed their skills for years in numerous training sessions. It is for these reasons that every warrior took pride in being honored with a sword.

1. hilt - a set of components: handles, crosses and pommel. Depending on whether the hilt was open or not, the degree of protection of the fingers was determined;
2. blade - the warhead of a gun with a narrowed end;
3. pommel - the top of the tool, made of heavy metal. It served to balance the weight, sometimes decorated with additional elements;
4. handle - an element made of wood or metal to hold the sword. Often, the surface was made rough so that the weapon did not slip out of the hands;
5. guard or cross - arose during the development of fencing and allowed to secure hands in battle;
6. blade - the cutting edge of the blade;
7. point.

General delimitation of swords

Regarding the subject of determining the varieties of this tool, one cannot ignore the scientific works of the researcher from England E. Oakeshott. It was he who introduced the classification of swords and grouped them according to time periods. AT general concept two groups of types of medieval and later swords can be distinguished:

By lenght:

• a short sword - a blade of 60-70 cm, the fighters wore it on their belts on the left side. Suitable for combat at close range;
• long sword - its wedge was 70-90 cm, in battles, as a rule, they were carried in their hands. It was universal for fights on the ground and on horseback;
• cavalry sword. Blade length over 90 cm.

According to the weight of the gun and the type of handle:

• one-handed sword - the lightest, about 0.7 - 1.5 kg, which makes it possible to control with one hand;
• one and a half 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 is from 3.5 to 6 kg, and the length reached 140 cm.

In spite of general classification species, the sword is rather an individual weapon and was created taking into account the physiological characteristics of the war. In this connection, it is impossible to meet two identical swords.

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

The formation of the sword in the era of antiquity

In the early era of 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, stiffeners were added to the blades. In addition, copper does not corrode, so many archaeological finds preserve the beautiful appearance up until today.

For example, in the Adyghe Republic, during the excavation of one of the burial 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, along with the deceased, his personal valuables were placed in the barrow.

The most famous swords of that time:

• the sword of the hoplites and Macedonians "Xifos" - a short tool with a leaf-shaped wedge;
• the Roman tool "Gladius" - a 60 cm blade with a massive pommel, effectively inflicted piercing and chopping blows;
• ancient German "Spata" - 80-100 cm, weight up to 2 kg. The one-handed sword was widely popular among the Germanic 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-shaped form, the pommel is in the form of a crescent. Recognized as an element of Scythian culture.

The heyday 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 the barbarians, the inability of the authorities to manage 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 world history. He was subsequently given the name "Middle Ages" by the humanists.

Historians characterize this period as "gloomy times" for Europe. The decline of trade, the political crisis, the depletion of the fertility of the land 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. Of particular note is the use of swords. The barbarians of Germanic origin, being in a numerical advantage, brought the Spata swords with them 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 have reduced the level and quality of martial art. Now the battles took place more and more often 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. Swords and rather meager equipment (chain mail or plate armor) were owned only by elite troops. According to historical data, there was practically no armor at that time.

A kind 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 attitudes. The Romano-Germanic conflict strengthened its position and contributed to new invasions of the Roman lands from 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 led by Attila was catastrophically destructive. It was the Huns who laid the foundation for the "Great Migration of Nations", ruthlessly crushing the lands one after another, the Asian nomads reached the Roman lands. Having conquered Germany, France, Northern Italy on their way, the Huns also broke through the defenses in some parts of the border of Rome. The Romans, in turn, were forced to unite with other peoples to maintain defense. For example, some lands were given to the barbarians peacefully in exchange for the obligation to protect the borders of Gaul.

In history, this period was called - "The Age of the Great Invasions." Each new ruler sought to contribute to the modifications and improvements of the sword, consider 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 kind was overthrown from the throne. It was the people from the great family of the Merovingians who made a significant contribution to the expansion of the territory of France. From the middle of the 5th century, the king of the Frankish state (later France) - Clovis I led an active policy of conquest in the territory of Gaul. Great importance was attached to the quality of the tools, which is why the swords of the Merovingian type arose. The tool evolved in several stages, the 1st 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.

The main characteristics of the Merovingian tool:

• blade length -75 cm, weight about 2 kg;
• the sword was forged from different grades of steel;
• a wide dol of shallow depth passed on both sides of the sword and ended 3 cm from the point. The appearance of a fuller in the sword greatly facilitated its weight;
• the hilt of the sword is short and with 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, which has unthinkable power, was Merovingian.

The Vikings of the noble Carolingian family came to power in the 8th century, overthrowing the last descendants of the Merovingian dynasty from the throne, thereby initiating the "Viking Age", otherwise called the "Carolingian Era" in France. Many legends were made 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 tales, swords of kings are 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 the king because of his height. Once, Pepin ordered to bring a hungry lion and a huge bull. Of course, the predator grabbed the neck of the bull. The future king offered his scoffers to kill the lion and free the bull. People did not dare to approach the ferocious animal. Then Pepin drew his sword and cut off the heads of both animals with one stroke. Thus, proving his right to the throne and winning the respect of the people of France. So Pepin was proclaimed king, overthrowing the last Merovingian from the throne.

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

The wise politicians of the famous family continued to strengthen the position of France, which naturally affected the 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;
• deep bilateral fuller;
• short handle with a small guard.

Carolingian, mainly used in foot fights. Possessing grace and light weight, he was a weapon for noble representatives of the Vikings (priests or leaders of the tribes). Simple Vikings 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.

Sword perfection on each historical stage, played a significant role in the formation of knightly weapons.

3. Romanovsky (knight's) sword

Hugo Capet (aka Charles Martel) is an abbot, the first king elected as a result of the death of the last descendant of the Karolgins in the 8th century. It was he who was the progenitor of a large dynasty of kings in the Frankish Empire - the 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 have also given rise to conflicts. At this time, the largest religious wars took place, which originated with the First Crusade.

During the reign of the Capetian dynasty (approximately the beginning - the middle of the 6th century), the formation of a knightly sword, also known as the “sword for armament” or “Romanesque”, originates. Such a sword was a modified version of the caroling, and met the following characteristics:

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

It is worth noting that the listed changes in the components of the hilt made it possible to fight in a position on horseback.

Popular knight swords:

Gradually, the weapon evolved from one-handed spats to two-handed swords. The peak of the popularity of two-handed swordsmanship came in the era of chivalry. Consider the most known species:

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

Knighthood as a privilege

Chivalry arose in the 8th century and is closely connected with the emergence of the feudal system, when foot warriors were retrained into cavalry 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 tax payment. In general, the system of vassalage was rigidly and hierarchically structured. In addition, obtaining such land limited human freedom. Those who wanted to be free received the status of a vassal and joined the ranks of the army. Thus, the knightly cavalry was assembled for the Crusade.

To get the desired title, the future knight began to train from an early age. By about the age of seven, his warriors to master and improve the technique of fighting, by the age of twelve he became a squire, and by the age of majority a decision was made. The boy could be left in the same rank or knighted. In any case, serving the cause of chivalry was equated with freedom.

Knight's military equipment

The progressive development of handicrafts contributed not only to the modernization of guns, but also to military equipment in general, now such attributes as a protective shield and armor have appeared.

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

The shield was made of 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 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. Such an assertion has no basis. Weight ranged from about 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. For European swords, poor quality steel was used. Historians have found that since ancient times, Europeans have successfully used various metal alloys.

Myth 4. Fencing was not developed in Europe. A variety of sources argue the opposite: for many centuries, Europeans have been working on combat tactics, in addition, most of the techniques are focused on the agility and speed of the swordsman, and not on brute force.

Despite various versions of the origin and development of the sword in history, one fact remains unchanged - its rich cultural heritage and historical importance.