Broadswords in service with the Russian army. Cavalry weapons - broadsword, a blade of the past centuries. Weapons of boarding teams.

The broadsword appears in Europe at the end of the 16th - the first half of the 17th century and, in fact, replaces the sword. It is also piercing and chopping, long (up to 90 cm, or even more) and wide (about 4 cm), with a double-edged blade, but, starting from the 18th century, one and a half or even one-sided sharpening is more typical.

The poet George Byron noted that he fenced with a Scottish broadsword "not badly".

The cross section of the blade is lenticular or rhombic, but unlike the same sword, most often without fullers. One of the distinguishing features of the weapon can be considered a hilt. It consisted of a handle with a pommel and a powerful guard, usually including a bowl and protective arms. True, more unusual options are also known.

Broadsword of Prince M. V. Skopin-Shuisky

For example, one of the first Russian broadswords belonging to Prince M.V. Skopin-Shuisky is kept in the State Historical Museum in Moscow. It has a non-standard handle for this type of weapon, more like a handle of a light saber, with a bend that forms a kind of support for the hand, and a cross instead of a guard.

One of the first Russian broadswords belonged to Prince M.V. Skopin-Shuisky

She, like the scabbard, was made in Persia (although the blade itself is in Europe) and is richly decorated with turquoise, silver and azure. Skopin-Shuisky received this beautiful and expensive weapon as a gift for the victory over False Dmitry II in 1610. A month later, the prince died: it is believed that he was poisoned by order of Vasily Shuisky, who did not like the growing authority of a distant relative.

Scottish broadsword

Like it or not, it is not known for certain, but with a high degree of probability it can be assumed that this broadsword hardly had time to participate in the battle. The combination of a long straight blade (the length of the blade of the Skopin-Shuisky broadsword was 86 cm) with an obviously “saber” handle seems exotic, even though the broadsword as a weapon, in principle, combines the qualities of a sword and a saber. Unlike the weapons of Skopin-Shuisky, the hilt of the classic broadsword completely protected the swordsman's hand. The most striking example of such a weapon is the very Scottish broadsword with which the aforementioned Lord Byron was fencing.

Scottish broadsword handle

The name of this weapon is often translated from English as “basket sword” or “mountain sword” (given that both the sword and the sword are in English language denoted by one word - sword). Both names, it should be noted, are quite fair, because one way or another they talk about some of the features of the weapon. The Scottish broadsword is really distinguished by its guard, made in the form of a basket.

It is more round than some European counterparts, and its arcs almost completely cover the hand. Moreover, for greater convenience and protection of the hand, apparently not only from external damage, but also from rubbing of the hand during the battle, a red fabric pad was placed inside the handle.

Scottish Highlanders used broadswords in the War of Independence

Therefore, the Scottish red-hilt broadsword is difficult to confuse with any other similar weapon in Europe. At the beginning of the 18th century, this weapon was one of the main ones in the struggle of the Scottish highlanders for independence, and since the middle of the century it has been in service with the highlanders' detachments as part of the British army. Interestingly, by the end of the same century, it gradually acquires the status of a ceremonial one, being one of the main parts of the costume of a Scottish warrior.

Russian broadswords

In Russia, the broadsword massively enters service under Peter I thanks to the unification carried out in the army. For example, at the beginning of the century, dragoons also used sabers, but after 1711 broadswords completely replaced them. Incidentally, in addition to own production foreign blades, in particular German ones, were also in honor.

In Russia, the broadsword massively enters service under Peter I

By the middle of the XVIII century, the dragoons have their broadswords, the cuirassiers have their own. For both, the wide and long blade remains practically unchanged - the differences appear mainly in the form of a scabbard or a hilt, which could be decorated in a baroque style with various ornate bows, sometimes even zoomorphic (for example, with an eagle's head). At the end of the 19th century, the use of heavy cavalry came to naught, and the sword came to replace the broadsword. However, like the Scottish, Russian broadswords later became part of the officer's ceremonial costume.

During the reign of Ivan IV in the Prut campaign of 1711, the Persian campaign of 1722 - 1723, the Russian-Turkish wars, in the seven-year war (1756 - 1763) against the aggressive Prussian kingdom. Then the Cossacks first appeared in the center of Western Europe. The crowning victory of the Russian army in this war was the capture of the capital of Prussia - Berlin. The Cossack regiments on the night of September 9-10, 1760, after the destruction of the twenty-thousandth German army near Potsdam, were the first to enter Berlin.

In June 1812, the Cossacks were the first to meet the French invaders with gunfire and heroically fought against Napoleon's army until they were completely defeated. After the capture of Paris in 1814, one of the first to enter the city was the Life Guards Cossack Regiment, which was the escort of Emperor Alexander I. deadly weapon in the hands of the Cossacks was a lance and a saber.

The saber acted, like a pike, on the move; hit and left. An example can be found in the memoirs of General Marbo, when he described the battle near Polotsk: “Mr. Fontaine's legs got tangled in stirrups. He tried to free himself with the help of several huntsmen who came to his aid, when suddenly the damned Cossack officer, flying at a gallop past this group, deftly leaned in the saddle and struck Fontaine with a terrible blow with his saber, gouged out his eye, touched the other eye and cut his nose!

A.K. Denisov describes a clash between a Tatar warrior, a mullah, “as seen from the attire”, armed with a pike (dart), and a Cossack officer F.P. Denisov, the narrator's uncle: “Not leaving Denisov in sight, the mullah galloped a little ahead and set off on him. Then Denisov, having parried the dart with a saber, from below raised a little higher than himself and with one swing to death cut down the Tatar. That is, a virtuoso possession of a saber is described, when a parrying blow turns into a smashing one.

Broadsword, Saber, Saber.

Often, at first glance, it is difficult to distinguish a broadsword from a saber, a saber from a saber, and a saber from a broadsword.

In England it is a broadsword - a basket sword, in Italy it is a spada schiavona - a Slavic sword, and in the German countries in the period from the 16th to the 19th century, it had several names at once - reiterschwert - the rider's sword; kurassierdegen, dragonerdegen, kavalleriedegen - cuirassier sword, dragoon sword and just a cavalry sword.

In Western European broadswords, the hilt is usually asymmetrical with a highly developed arm protection in the form of a cross or a bowl with a whole system of arches. The length of the blade is from 60 to 85 cm. The appearance of the broadsword as a military weapon dates back to the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th centuries, when regular cavalry units appeared in Western Europe. From the 18th century armed with heavy cavalry.

European cavalry (especially heavy: cuirassiers and cavalry guards) have always gravitated towards stabbing weapons and were mainly armed with broadswords.

The impact energy of two oncoming horse lavas is large enough, so the rider just needs to point the tip at the enemy to inflict a terrible wound on him. At the same time, it is much more difficult to hit the enemy with a blow - delivered a little earlier or later, a chopping blow has neither the necessary accuracy nor strength. In addition, a blow requires two separate movements - a swing and a strike, and a thrust - one. When struck, the rider opens himself, and holding the broadsword for an injection, on the contrary, closes himself.

The broadsword has been known in Russia since the 16th century. Since 1711, broadswords have completely replaced sabers in Russia (this is in the regular army, and Russian Cossacks, Caucasian highlanders, Tatars, Bashkirs and Kalmyks always used chopping weapons). These weapons were produced not only in Russia, but also imported from abroad, mainly from Germany. The opinion that cuirassiers - these "knights of the XIX century" had very heavy broadswords is not entirely accurate. The Russian broadsword of the 19th century, as a rule, was even lighter than the cavalry saber.

A special cult of piercing blades existed in France, where they were used as a dueling weapon and every self-respecting person simply had to master the techniques of fencing with a sword.

Saber (Hungarian - czablya, from szabni - cut; sabre) - chopping, chopping-cutting or piercing-cutting-cutting (depending on the degree of curvature of the blade and the device of its end) melee weapons with a curved blade, which has a blade on the convex side , and the butt - on the concave. Hangs on the belt with the blade down.

The saber appeared in the East and became widespread among the nomads of Eastern Europe and Central Asia in the 7th - 8th centuries. Mongolian and Arab horsemen successfully fought with their curved sabers both light cavalry and heavily armored knights. Moreover, captured Asian sabers were worth their weight in gold, and by no means for their appearance, but just for their fighting qualities. Not a single Eastern warrior was seen with either a two-handed sword or a captured broadsword. “In the whole East, I don’t know a single people who would have anything like broadswords,” wrote General Mikhail Ivanovich Dragomirov, a well-known Russian military theorist of the 19th century, “where the enemy did not refuse the dump, but looked for it for use on horseback - chopping weapons were always preferred to stabbing ones.

In the XIV century. elman appears on the saber (a thickening of the saber blade in the upper part of the blade, could be honed). The saber acquired the properties of a predominantly chopping weapon. The most characteristic sabers of this type were Turkish and Persian.

Due to the guard, the balance moved closer to the hilt, due to the yelmani - vice versa.

In Russia, the saber has been known since the 9th century, in the Novgorod land the saber came into use later - approximately from the 13th century, and from the 14th century. became the dominant type of weapon (in Western Europe - from the end of the 16th century). In the XV - XVII centuries. the soldiers of the Russian local cavalry, archers, Cossacks were armed with sabers. From the 18th century in the European and Russian armies, the saber was in service with light cavalry personnel and officers in other branches of the military. In 1881, in the Russian army, the saber was replaced by a saber and was preserved only in the guard, as a parade weapon, as well as for some categories of officers to wear out of order.

But in fact, the era of edged weapons ended much earlier - already in the Crimean War of 1853-1856, wounds with cold weapons accounted for only 1.5% -3% of the total. A little later, during the Russian-Turkish campaign, or rather, by 1877, when the battle of Plevna took place, this figure fell to 0.99%. And so it is all over the world, with the exception of the expeditionary colonial corps waging war with the native population: the loss of the British from edged weapons in India reached 20%, and in Egypt - up to 15%. Nevertheless, this percentage was not discounted, planning the rearmament of the cavalry by the beginning of the First World War.

Checkers appeared in the regular Russian army in 1834 (in the Nizhny Novgorod Dragoon Regiment)

Historically, a saber was indeed a knife at first - in the 16th century, such a podsaadashny, “knocked up” knife was common among Russians, which had a number of features that make it similar to a saber. It is noteworthy that initially the checker was used as an auxiliary weapon (always came after the saber), before the disappearance of armor and the need for such weapons, checkers only complement swords and sabers. But even cuirasses disappear, and in the 19th century, the saber is the “main belt” bladed weapon, and this puts forward other requirements for it than for a knife. With the spread firearms and with the disuse of armor, the saber replaced the saber, first in the Caucasus, and then in Russia, while the saber itself underwent significant changes: it became longer and more massive, and received a bend.

MAIN DIFFERENCES

So, if we take as a basis some average samples of a broadsword, saber and checkers, the conclusions follow:

The broadsword is an ideal weapon for stabbing with the possibility of chopping. This is a weapon with a long straight (or slightly curved) blade. The center of gravity is maximally shifted to the hilt, for virtuoso fencing and accurate injection. The maximum protection of the hand, the hilt of the broadsword consists of a handle with a head and a guard.

The saber is a piercing-cutting-cutting weapon. The center of gravity is located at a considerable distance from the hilt. Mandatory protection of the hand, the hilt has a handle with a lanyard and a cross with a crosshair (oriental sabers) or another guard (European sabers).

Often, in European sabers, to enhance the piercing properties, the middle line of the handle is directed to the point - the handle is somewhat bent in the direction from the butt to the blade.

It is extremely inconvenient to apply precise stabbing blows with a checker due to the peculiarities of balancing, the lack of an emphasis for the brush and a weak point, which was often not sharpened at all.

Before us is a fairly typical example of a checker action (according to ethnographic records of the 19th century):

“... After some time, Pachabgozhev returned. The young man followed his wife and, hiding behind one half of the gate, as soon as Pachabgozhev appeared in them, rushed at him, but, having missed, instead of Pachabgozhev he hit the other half of the gate and cut it in two, like fresh, freshly squeezed cheese. Pachabgozhev, quickly turning around with his saber already drawn, cut the young man in half from the shoulder. Then, calmly wiping his saber and putting it in its sheath, he put the horse in the stable ... "

The cavalry attack in those decades was scattered, fleeting. One hit. On a grand scale, with a pull, at full gallop. And then - at full speed. And fencing with the enemy, even if this blow did not reach the goal (in those conditions, it is by no means more difficult to miss with a saber or broadsword than with a saber), you still won’t have to: he is already far away, you have already been separated by the course of the battle ...

In 1881, under the leadership of Lieutenant General A.P. Gorlov, an armaments reform was carried out in order to establish a single model of edged weapons for all military branches. The Caucasian blade was taken as a model for the blade, "which in the East, in Asia Minor, among the Caucasian peoples and our local Cossacks, is highly famous as a weapon that has extraordinary advantages when cutting." Cavalry, dragoon and infantry sabers, as well as cuirassier broadswords, were then replaced with single dragoon and Cossack sabers of the 1881 model. This was the first attempt to scientifically substantiate the choice of edged weapons. The problem with this checker was one - it was developed for two mutually exclusive purposes: for cutting and injections.

Our checker cuts badly:

Due to the slight curvature, in which all the advantages of curved sabers are lost;

Due to improper fit of the handle. To give the checker piercing properties, the middle line of the handle is directed to the point - for this, the handle had to be slightly bent in the direction from the butt to the blade. Which led to the loss of some good cutting properties of the weapon.

Our checker pricks unsatisfactorily:

To give it cutting properties, it is made curved, which delays its penetration;

Due to the significant weight and the distance of the center of gravity from the hilt.

Almost simultaneously with the publication in 1905 of the book "Cold Weapons" Fedorov wrote a report to the artillery committee - "On the change of checkers of the 1881 model." In it, he put forward specific proposals for its improvement.

Based on these proposals, several variants of experimental drafts were made with different positions of the center of gravity and a modified curvature of the handle. Soon, prototypes of these checkers were transferred for testing to military units, in particular, to the Officer Cavalry School.

Knowing nothing about Fedorov's theoretical considerations, the cavalrymen had to choose the best sample by practical testing on the vine and effigies of its chopping and piercing qualities.

Blades with a modified center of gravity were introduced (20 cm, 17 cm and 15 cm instead of the existing 21.5 cm). At the same time, the blades were lightened by 200 g and shortened from 86 cm to 81 cm. Some of the blades were made with standard handles, and some with a corrected slope.

All cavalrymen unanimously approved sample number 6, with a center of gravity of 15 cm from the hilt and a modified handle.

Another advantage of the checkers was its relative cheapness, unlike the saber, which made it possible to make this weapon massive. This was facilitated by the ease of use of checkers in battle. The usual saber technique consisted of a good knowledge of a couple of simple but effective strokes, which was very convenient for quickly training recruits.

Construction charter Soviet army 1951 prescribed only a few strokes. From left to right: chopping down to the right, chopping to the right and a half-turn saber thrust to the right

To deliver blows, injections and rebounds (defense), the rider had to stand on the stirrups and shift the emphasis to his knees. It was possible to chop an equestrian enemy with only one trick on the command “To the right - CUT!”. For 8-10 steps before the enemy, the right hand with the saber was retracted to the left shoulder, after which, with a quick movement of the hand with a simultaneous turn of the body in the direction of the blow, it was necessary to strike at shoulder height from left to right. To introduce army order, so that the blow was carried out uniformly, all left-handers were retrained to the right hand, and not only in the Russian and Red armies.

The other two blows (down to the right and down to the left) were intended to defeat the enemy on foot. To do this, it was necessary to move the body to the right (left) forward 8-10 steps before the infantryman and at the same time move the hand with the saber up above the head, and then deliver a strong blow, describing a circle with the saber.

To inflict an injection, it was necessary to stretch the right hand with the saber in the direction of the enemy, turning the hand in the hand slightly to the left; the blade of the blade should be facing upwards to the right, and the point should be at the point of injection. After inflicting an injection with a downward movement of the hand, it was required to release the blade.

Signature blows of the Cossacks and Caucasians were applied from the bottom up, for example, to the elbow of an attacking enemy. This was facilitated by the special arrangement of the harness of the Cossack horses: for example, the stirrups were tied with a belt under the body of the horse, allowing the rider to hang sideways almost to the ground. When horse lava approached, the infantryman was instructed to raise a rifle above his head with both hands, defending himself from a statutory blow from above. The Cossack feigned the beginning of such a blow, then abruptly hung from the horse and, with a strong blow from below, literally broke the soldier into two parts. This technique alone is enough to fear the Cossacks like the plague.

Unknown Russia

The evolution of armor and tactics has led to the fact that heavy sword knightly cavalry became less effective. Gradually, the sword became shorter and narrower, this was required so that they could not break through the armor, but cut through and stab the joints. In addition, the sword became unnecessarily heavy for cutting through the formation of infantry in close formation, a lighter, but at the same time agile weapon was required.

So the cavalry broadsword appeared on the scene, further development knight's sword. A heavy straight or slightly curved blade, with one-sided or one-and-a-half sharpening, about a meter long, which was convenient to operate in close cavalry formation. Broadsword - a weapon of heavy cavalry, appeared in the late Middle Ages and left the scene only at the beginning of the twentieth century. Moreover, these blades are still the ceremonial and ceremonial weapons of a number of states.

The birth of the broadsword and service on land

In the late Middle Ages, many types of weapons and armor evolved. Armor became more complex and stronger, bows and crossbows were replaced by muskets and arquebuses. Combat tactics also became more complicated.

The attacks of heavy armored cavalry were opposed by close ranks of infantry armed with pikes and halberds. Firearms appeared in the ranks. Horsemen needed lighter and more controllable weapons than swords and pikes.

The term broadsword is associated with the Turks. No wonder it is believed that his ancestor was the konchar, a long and narrow East European sword that could come from the Caucasus. In translation "PALA" means a dagger.

But to compare it and the scimitar - the weapon of the Turkish Janissaries, is incorrect. The scimitar was created as a kind of knife, a response to the demands of the sultans not to carry weapons in Peaceful time.

The broadsword is a continuation of the evolution of the sword.

It is necessary to distinguish between the earlier eastern blades, which were narrow swords with a simple crosshair and an inclined, for the convenience of cutting, a handle, and later Western European broadswords with a closed basket guard.

The appearance of the first samples of broadswords in Western Europe dates back to the 16th century; they appeared in service with the Hungarian hussars. Unlike later hussars, this was a plate cavalry, considered at that time the best in Europe.

Then came mercenaries-reiters from the German principalities, and later dragoons. Their armament consisted of a broadsword and a pair of saddle pistols, from which they fired before attacking in mounted formation.

It should be borne in mind that the broadsword, unlike the sword, made it possible to use not only direct chopping blows, but also more cunning feints and injections, in addition, the broadsword fencing technique takes one hand, the second hand remained free, often there was a daga in it - a dagger for the left hand or a pistol .

In addition to the Caucasus, similar blades also appeared in Britain; among the Scots, traditional claymore swords began to displace a shorter and narrower sword with a crosshair and a basket covering the hand.

The Scottish broadsword is lighter than a sword, it better protected the warrior’s hand due to a more developed guard, made it possible to use a “fisted” round shield, while claymores, for the most part, were two-handed weapons.

Under Peter I, this weapon massively enters Russia as a weapon of dragoons and cuirassiers. As a rule, these are custom-made blades from Solingen (Germany), but a small percentage were also forged by Russian craftsmen.

At the same time, the broadsword entered service with some dragoon regiments. In pre-Petrine times, broadswords were also known in Russia as the weapons of foreign hired officers from the regiments of the new system. However, one of the most famous examples of this type of weapon belonged to Skopin-Shuisky, the famous commander of the Time of Troubles.

In the 19th century, broadswords gradually give way to lighter swords, but still remain in service with heavy cavalry - cuirassier regiments, horse guards wore them as the main weapon until the start of the First World War. It was after it began that they gave way to lighter cavalry.

Sea broadsword

In addition to arming the cavalry, broadswords also showed themselves perfectly at sea. During the boarding battles that the renaissance was famous for. It was the boarding broadsword that earned universal respect and became part of the parade uniform of sailors in many countries.

Including Russia, the naval broadsword was part of the dress uniform of the imperial fleet Russian Empire, and then transferred to the USSR Navy, the last mention of naval broadswords is dated 1940, then they were the authorized weapons of cadets of naval schools.

Naval broadswords did not bypass Great Britain and Germany either. It was these heavy straight blades that were part of the dress uniform of fleet officers.

These blades take their history from the hot boarding battles of the 16-17th centuries, in those days broadswords combined the functions of an ax and a saber. Convenient for use in narrow and cramped spaces of cabins and decks, you can stab and cut, the weight of the blade enhances the blow, and the blade inflicts terrible wounds.

The modern version of this weapon - the naval broadsword, the officer's one, originates precisely from the blood-drenched decks of ships of the late 17th century.
The boarding broadsword also had its own varieties, so the blade was called a scallop, which had a guard in the form of a shell.

What is the broadsword made of

It is a slashing and piercing weapon with a straight blade. Like other edged weapons, the broadsword consists of a blade and a hilt. The blade has a slight bend or is absolutely straight, tapering towards the tip, it can have 1-3 fullers. Sharpening is most often on one side, but there were also one-and-a-half and less often double-sided sharpening.

The sheath had a different look and device, from leather (with metal rings), to wood and metal.

The handle for holding, as a rule, had a slightly curved shape with a developed pommel, this was done for the convenience of cutting. For decoration, various types of wood or metal were used, often the handle was wrapped around wire made of precious metals - silver or gold. The handle of combat samples was simply covered with leather.

The Scottish broadsword had an interesting finish, its crosspiece and guard were upholstered with red cloth.

The handle of the broadsword consists of the following parts:

• pommel (often called "apple"), the final part of the handle, ending in an almond-shaped or round metal piece;
• killon of the crosspiece of the back, located closest to the fighter, which is a curved metal part, going, as a rule, upwards;
• directly the crosspiece separating the blade and the handle;
• rings of the guard, or otherwise the cross, protecting the fighter's hand, located below the cross, are not present on all types this weapon;
• killon crosses in the front.

The metal for the broadsword blade can vary significantly. So, mass army broadswords were made of high-quality, but ordinary steel. Often, after big battles, local peasants collected them and forged them into agricultural tools.

Individual custom-made broadswords were forged from Damascus or damask steel. Accordingly, the prices for different types of broadswords were strikingly different from each other.

Broadsword varieties

Since this blade was distributed throughout the world, many of its modifications are known. The Scottish broadsword, already mentioned above, gained fame.

It has also become widespread. By the way, in Western European literature, many researchers put equality between broadswords and swords.

The thin sword known to most appears later, and in the early samples these types of weapons were very similar, slightly differing in blade width and handle. The guard of a cavalry sword is distinguished by two, less often by one shield on the guard, connected to the pommel.

Walloon blades, common in the German lands, are, in fact, the basis for the authorized cavalry samples of a later time.

The sword of the deceased, otherwise called the haudegen, was most widely used in England during the Civil War of the 17th century. The model got its romantic name because of the frequent image on the guards of the head, according to a common version, it belonged to Charles I, the king who was executed during the revolution.

However, it is often found on samples created before the execution. Among other features, both single-edged and double-edged blade sharpening, as well as the missing cross, despite the fact that the basket is installed on the handle, are noted.

In Venice, the Doge's personal bodyguards, and then the representatives of the nobility, met the schiavona. This variety of the blade in question was distinguished by the special grace of the guard.

However, it is on the example of the schiavone that one can see the difference between cheap, simple and practical swords and the rich inlaid works of the Italian arms masters.

Statutory broadswords, massively forged in large arms factories in Europe, did not indulge the owners with some special beauty of finish or a well-balanced balance.

Mass production in the industrial cities of Solingen and Klingenthal, Liege and Toledo, Birmingham and Sheffield, as well as from 1815 in Zlatoust, broadswords were stamped by the thousands.

The owners often tidied up the samples, remade the handle more conveniently or grinded the blade for better balance, but this was a personal matter for each fighter.

The sea blade, otherwise called the scallop or duzeggi, was excellent for boarding combat. In conditions of close ship crossings, an abundance of wooden partitions and weapons, the heavy boarding broadsword had a huge number of fans.

The product could equally well break down the door and cut through the enemy's boarding lance. Unlike more elegant sabers and swords, such blades could compete on equal terms with boarding axes. The broadsword of the sea, the officer was part of the dress uniform in many fleets.

Use of broadswords

The wide distribution of this type of blades made it possible for broadswords to participate in all battles and battles from the moment of their appearance until the 19th century. Most wide application this model was received in the wars of the 18th century, when cavalry attacks decided the fate of many battles.

During the Napoleonic Wars, the broadsword begins to be displaced different kind sabers, however, heavy cavalry - cuirassiers, horse guards and dragoons continue to successfully use straight blades.

Austerlitz, Borodino, Waterloo and other battles are known for the deadly attacks of heavy cavalry, which crushed regiments thanks to armor and weapons. You should not drop the famous Scottish broadsword, it was with him that the officers of the Heindeler regiments attacked.

The development of firearms models of weapons, a change in tactics and the rejection of the massive use of edged weapons made the broadsword an exclusively ceremonial addition to a warrior.

The exception is "Mad Jack" Churchill, the prime minister's namesake. A British Army officer went on the attack with a broadsword during the Norwegian campaign in 1940.

True, a year later he also managed to shoot a German sergeant major from a bow in France. This episode was the last fact of the use of weapons that had more than 500 years of history.

Broadsword cultural footprint

Like other types of weapons, the hero of the article can be found on the pages artwork. Probably the most Full description broadsword in fiction is found in the pages of the British writer Bernard Cornwell in his series about the adventures of Marksman Sharpe.

Main character books, throughout almost the entire series of books, it is the cavalry broadsword, a parting gift from his commander, who wears it.

There are many places in literature where the Scottish broadsword is also found, as a symbol of faith and devotion to the Motherland.

In many artistic and documentary works, both of the past centuries and of the present, one can find a mention of this iconic weapon. It is possible that in the museums of the world there is a Russian broadsword of the cuirassier regiment, forged by an unknown master.

Video

And I fenced not badly, especially with a Scottish broadsword

Poet Lord Byron

Among the great variety of European bladed weapons, the broadsword occupies a special place. It can be called a real long-liver. Having appeared at the beginning of the 16th century, the broadsword continued to be used until the First World War, while the 19th century is traditionally considered the period of the greatest popularity of this weapon - the era of dashing hussars and brave cuirassiers. Broadswords are still used as ceremonial weapons, for example, they are armed with officers of the Scottish regiments of the British army. In the Soviet Union, until 1975, the so-called cadet broadsword existed as an official item of equipment, which cadets of the Navy were required to wear outside the walls of their educational institutions.

by the most famous view This weapon is the mountain or Scottish broadsword - it is also a Scottish basket sword - glorified in their works by Byron and Walter Scott.

It is likely that the last time a Scottish broadsword was used in a real battle was in December 1941. During Operation Archery, British Army Lieutenant Colonel John Churchill (nicknamed Mad Jack) went on the attack with this weapon. This officer liked to repeat that "an officer who goes into battle without a sword is armed incorrectly." Churchill was generally a big fan of historical weapons. Judging by the facts of his biography, he always carried his officer's broadsword with him, and during the fighting in northern France in 1940, he managed to shoot a German sergeant major from a large English bow ...

Now we should define the subject of our story. A broadsword is a kind of blade cold weapon, a chopping-piercing type, with a straight and long blade, the dimensions of which reached 100 cm. The broadsword could have a double-sided sharpening, but usually it was one-sided or one-and-a-half. The cross section of the blade of the broadsword is rhombic or lenticular, as a rule, it has no valleys. Another feature of this weapon is a massive and developed guard, which could include a shield, protective arms, a cup or a basket. The broadsword differed from the sword in a heavier and more massive blade.

The handle of cavalry broadswords often had a bend towards the blade. This made it possible to inflict more powerful chopping (almost saber) blows.

Throughout its history, the broadsword was primarily a horseman's weapon, although it could, of course, also be used in infantry combat. The wide distribution of the broadsword is associated with the appearance of numerous regular cavalry, as well as the gradual abandonment of massive heavy armor. This weapon also found its use in the navy - as early as the 16th century, the so-called boarding broadsword appeared, which was in service almost until the end of the 19th century.

The Early History of the Broadsword: Mongolia, the Caucasus, and India

The era of the birth of the broadsword is traditionally considered the end of the 16th - the beginning of the 17th century. However, weapons resembling it in all respects existed among the nomadic Turkic peoples as early as the middle of the 6th century, except that it could not “boast” of a complex and elaborate guard.

Specialized swords for chopping with a long straight single-edged blade were generally popular in the East. In equestrian combat, they had an advantage over ordinary swords, as they weighed less. Yes, and this weapon cost less, because it was easier to manufacture. Eastern broadswords often had a handle with a characteristic bend. Such weapons were very popular in the Mongol-Tatar army in the XIII and XIV centuries.

If we talk about later periods, then blades, in all respects resembling broadswords, were most common in the Caucasus and the Middle East. Unlike Western European broadswords, these weapons, as a rule, had a weak protection of the fighter's hand, which most often consisted of an ordinary cross.

Unique Ottoman broadsword with a flaming blade

In northeastern India, a broadsword called Kunda or Khanda was made. He had a straight single-edged blade up to 80 cm long with some expansion towards the end, often without a pronounced point. At the same time, like the classic European broadsword, Kunda had a hilt with a developed hand protection, which consisted of a bowl and a wide arc. Such blades were often made of damask steel, and for their decoration were used valuable breeds tree and precious metals. Therefore, they were not very cheap.

In the late Middle Ages in India, another type of broadsword, the Firangi, became widespread. This Indian broadsword had a one-and-a-half sharpening and a complex basket hilt.

Broadsword of Western Europe: the heir of knightly traditions

The European broadsword - however, like the sword - is a descendant of the long knightly sword of the Middle Ages, a heavy and versatile weapon, suitable for both equestrian and foot combat. The broadsword is the brainchild of the European Modern Age, the era of the beginning of the formation of mass professional armies on the continent. Knights, of course, were very formidable and combat-ready guys, but there were few of them. Therefore, already in the middle of the 16th century, their place began to be taken by reiters - heavily armed cavalry mercenaries. Elitism once again yielded to mass character ...

The creation of mass regular armies, as well as the further improvement of firearms, leads to some simplification of the protective equipment of a warrior. A similar trend was observed in relation to the weapons of an ordinary warrior.

The original weapon of the Russian cavalry of the war of 1812 - broadsword and sabers

It is believed that the first broadswords began to be used by the Hungarian hussars in the second half of the 16th century. They had this weapon in addition to the saber. Very quickly, the broadsword practically replaced the sword in Western Europe.

Here we should pay attention to one important feature. Throughout its history, the broadsword has been an exclusively military weapon, designed for the terrible whirlwind of a real fight, and not for "noble" fencing. In this regard, the broadsword can be called the antipode of the Breter sword or the parade saber. For its time, the broadsword on the belt was a kind of sign not of a court dude, but of an experienced "front-line soldier" who managed to sniff gunpowder. It could be seen in the Scottish highlanders, the "iron-sided" Lord Protector Cromwell, and later in the cuirassiers of the Napoleonic wars.

The broadsword was not very suitable for virtuoso swordsmanship, which, as a rule, has no place in a real battle. Therefore, it is absolutely no coincidence that defenses when using this weapon were often taken with the left hand - with the help of a bracer or a small shield (highlanders used such until the 18th century). In an individual duel against a skilled swordsman, a fighter with a broadsword did not shine much.

Venetian schiavona in all its glory

Further evolution of the European broadsword

The evolution of the broadsword can be traced by changes in the hilt of this weapon. Broadsword guards of the 16th century already had arches and rings that securely closed the hand, but despite this, they still look very much like the hilts of ordinary swords that existed during this period.

Reiter broadsword with Walloon hilt

In the 17th century, the further development of the broadsword went in several directions, forming three groups, one of which can be conditionally called general, and the other two - regional:

• the Walloon broadsword and the Haudegen;
• Scottish broadsword;
• group of the Venetian schiavona.

Haudegen or Sword of the Dead. Such a strange name is associated with human head, the image of which was often applied to the hilt of this weapon. And since a significant part of these swords dates back to the period of the English Civil War, collectors of the 19th century believed that the royalists depicted the executed King Charles I on their weapons. Later studies refuted this assumption, but the gloomy name took root ...

The Walloon broadsword is most widely used in the countries of central and northern Europe. This weapon has a characteristic shield, consisting of two parts, which is connected to the pommel with shackles. The rear killon of the cross is bent towards the tip and ends with a spherical pommel. The front killon passes into a protective bow connected to the pommel.

Modern replica of Oliver Cromwell's Haudegen

The haudegen's hilt did not have a cross at all, but it had a well-defined basket and a protective shield. Most of these broadswords have a single-edged sharpening, although there are one-and-a-half and two-edged samples.

The Venetian schiavona had a very small distribution area, initially only the Doge's guard was armed with this broadsword. The main features of this weapon were a pommel shaped like a cat's head, as well as a guard with S-shaped arms. The fencer's hand was protected by a basket formed by oblique arcs.

Schiavona with scabbard. The "cat's head" of the pommel and the characteristic shape of the arcs are clearly visible.

Scottish broadsword, or what was the weapon of Rob Roy

The Scottish broadsword is, without a doubt, the most famous representative of this group of weapons. It began to be used at the beginning of the 17th century and very soon spread throughout England and Ireland. The Scottish broadsword is often referred to as a claymore, which is a mistake, because this is the name of the famous highlanders' heavy two-handed sword. True, it should be noted that in the 17th century, claymores that were outdated at that time were often reforged into broadswords.

Scottish broadsword in scabbard

The Scottish broadsword usually had a double-edged blade, the length of the blade was 70-80 cm, and its width was about 4 cm. The guard of the Scottish broadsword is lined with thick fabric or leather, which is also a feature of this weapon.

Statutory broadsword of the European armies

In the 17th century, the development and improvement of mass professional armies continued on the European continent. One of the components of this process is the unification of weapons, which is generally completed by the beginning of the 18th century. As a result, each branch of the military receives its “own” bladed weapon. So, for example, light cavalry received sabers, and broadswords were adopted for heavy cavalry.

Dragoon broadsword, late 18th century

Statutory broadswords were heavy, as a rule, single-edged weapons with a pronounced point, well adapted for a powerful thrusting blow. They were made in huge quantities, so a lot of copies of these weapons have survived to this day. The characteristics of authorized broadswords, as a rule, were strictly regulated.

In the second half of the 19th century, the broadsword in the cavalry was gradually replaced by the saber.

Broadsword in the Russian Empire

The oldest surviving example of this weapon in our country is considered to be a broadsword that belonged to Prince Skopin-Shuisky at the beginning of the 17th century. Today it is kept in the Moscow Historical Museum. This broadsword has a straight double-edged blade 86 cm long and a hilt with a simple cross, the arms of which deviate towards the tip. The handle of the weapon is curved, it forms a kind of stop for the brush. The broadsword is richly decorated with gold and silver chasing and precious stones. The sheath of the weapon is made in a similar style.

At the beginning of the 17th century, the broadsword of Skopin-Shuisky was rather a curious curiosity for Russia - today historians believe that he never went into a real battle. Broadswords became really mass weapons for the Russian army only during the reign of Peter I - only formed dragoon regiments received them. And in the 30s of the XVIII century, broadswords become the main melee weapons of Russian cuirassiers. By the middle of the same century, Russian broadswords become single-edged. By the end of the 18th century, the Russian army was already armed with army, dragoon, soldier, guard and officer broadswords.

Broadsword, Russia, Zlatoust, mid-19th century

At the beginning of the 19th century, the broadswords of the Russian army were unified and somewhat simplified. They remained in service with cuirassiers until 1881, after which they were used only as parade weapons.

Cadet naval broadsword model 1940

Throughout its history, the broadsword was not exclusively a land weapon; very quickly, its powerful potential was also seen in the navy. Already in the 16th century, the so-called boarding broadsword appeared, which was used during fights on ship decks. This weapon had a powerful blade up to 80 cm long, which could not only hit the enemy, but also cut a rope or cut through a wooden door. A distinctive feature of the boarding broadsword was a massive guard in the form of a shell, which, if necessary, could move the enemy in the jaw.

For centuries, the boarding broadsword was so popular that it is still part of the parade uniform of naval sailors in several countries.

In 1856, broadswords replaced cleavers and became official weapons Russian sailors. Two years later, midshipmen were also armed with them. As an accessory to the ceremonial uniform, midshipmen and officers of the Russian fleet wore a broadsword until 1917.

In the Soviet Union, they decided to revive such a tradition, and in 1940 the broadsword was introduced as equipment for cadets of naval schools. The naval cadet's broadsword was prescribed to be worn in all cases when the cadet was outside the educational institution or the ship. In 1958, broadswords were left only for assistants at the banner, as well as those on duty and orderlies. They say this happened because cadet broadswords began to be increasingly used in street fights. In 1975, the broadsword as an element of equipment in the Soviet fleet was completely abolished.

Broadsword, chopping - piercing edged weapons with a long blade of one- or two-sided sharpening, originated from a medieval sword. The name of the weapon has Turkish roots, and is translated as a sword or dagger.

First of all, the broadsword differs from its ancestor in a developed guard with bows and a protective cup, which in later types of these weapons, most often, has a basket shape. The main difference from the sword that appeared later is in a wider and thicker blade and, as a result, in a greater weight of the weapon. This is a fairly popular form of European swords of the late XV - early XVI century. Here are some popular broadswords of European countries of this period:

• spada schiavona (Spain, translated "Slavic sword");
• broadsword (England and Scotland, translated as "basket sword");
• reiterschwert (Germany from the 16th to the 17th centuries, translated as "horseman's sword");
• kurassierdegen (Germany of the 18th - 19th centuries, translated as "cuirassier sword");
• dragonerdegen (Germany of the 18th - 19th centuries, translated as "dragoon sword");
• kavalleriedegen (Germany of the 18th - 19th centuries, translated as "cavalry sword").

All these variants of cold weapons have characteristic features of the structure of the blade and handle and are identified as broadswords.

The main elements of the broadsword

In the structure of the broadsword, as well as in the structure of any other sword, two main elements can be distinguished, the hilt and the blade. Of these, the most interesting is the structure of the hilt with a complex guard of the basket type. Broadswords of this type are characterized by the presence of the following elements:

• Pommel, the final part of the handle;
• Killon of the cross of the back, a metal element of the handle, usually bent up;
• Cross, located between the blade and the handle;
• Killon crosses in the front;
• Blade;
• Point.

Guard rings, which protruded below the cross, are characteristic mainly of early broadswords. They are also found in the construction of Scottish broadswords, as well as Venetian schiavone.

Basket type guard

The first broadswords, the guard of which had a basket shape, date back to the 16th century. Protective arcs and rings, which protected the hand from enemy blows, in this type of melee weapons develop into a kind of lattice. The guard moves away from the cup-like shape typical of rapiers, becoming more flattened. According to inventory records of weapons found in ancient Swedish documents, such weapons are described as having a "basket hilt in the form of a horse's muzzle."

In general, the first broadswords that appeared in Europe did not differ much from other swords of that era. The only exception was the guard, which was a kind of lattice and protected the hand of the warrior holding it. In the 17th century, two regional branches, the Italian schiavona and the Scottish broadsword, emerged from among all the weapons of the general group of broadswords with a lattice guard. Let's consider these groups in more detail.

General group of broadswords

Among the most significant representatives of this group of edged weapons, it is worth mentioning the Walloon broadsword (its other name is the Walloon sword), as well as English version broadsword - a dead sword, the continental part of Europe called "haudegen".

The Walloon broadsword is a possible ancestor of the authorized combat broadswords of the cavalry units of the troops. It was most widespread in the countries of northern and central Europe. It differs from other representatives of this type of weapon in the structure of the front shield of the guard, which is quite wide and usually consists of two parts. Swords of this type, having a shield consisting of one part, are much less common. The shield is connected to the round pommel of the handle with the help of protective shackles. Another noticeable distinguishing feature is that the killon of the back of the cross has a rounded thickening at the end and is bent down. The killon of the front part goes into a protective bow.

The blades of the dead sword are usually sharpened on one side. The hilt of these broadswords does not have a cross. The guard of a pronounced lattice shape has a protective shield. During the period of their special popularity, during the civil war in England, the guards of these broadswords were decorated with images symbolically alluding to the execution of Charles I, who was beheaded during the revolution. From there they, according to one version, got their name, which is widely used to this day. This version is doubtful, since similar decorations are also found on broadsword baskets of the pre-revolutionary period.

Scottish group

Scottish broadswords are rather heavy weapons with a long and wide double-edged blade. Initially appearing in Scotland and becoming the hero of numerous battles between clans, as well as skirmishes with the English troops invading the country, this sword quickly became popular. Various variants of the Scottish broadsword existed in Ireland and England. The guards of these broadswords are basket-shaped, completely covering the fighter's hand, and are usually lined with red fabric from the inside. The guard, in comparison with other common broadswords, has taken on a more rounded shape. The pommel is flattened.

Venetian group

The Italian schiavons were very clearly divided into the ceremonial weapons of the nobility and the guards and the combat, functional weapons of ordinary warriors. The first was distinguished by the elegance and rich decoration of the guard basket. The second was a product of mass production and was often adjusted to the hand and re-sharpened by the warrior who directly owned it. This weapon was made only on the territory of Venice, and initially the name gli schiavoni referred only to the broadswords of the Venetian guards. Later it was assigned to all weapons with a similar guard structure.

Statutory armament of the cavalry

The end of the 17th century was marked by the fact that in the armies of European countries, regulations began to be introduced that assigned a certain type of weapon to each branch of the military. For heavy cavalry, the broadsword becomes such a statutory weapon.

For all branches of the cavalry troops, there were their own types of these swords: dragoon broadswords, cuirassier broadswords, even guards versions of this sword that differed from the general army options. They were united by the fact that they were heavy piercing-chopping blades with one-sided or one-and-a-half sharpening and a pronounced edge.

These weapons were mass-produced in most of the major weapons centers in Europe. Since the number of weapons produced was huge, and the details appearance and functional characteristics are strictly regulated by the type of troops for which they were intended, many typical samples of authorized weapons have been preserved. Thanks to this, a modern fan of edged weapons can imagine in detail, for example, a cuirassier broadsword of the 19th century.