Whenever we imagine medieval battles we often think of knights and soldiers charging into battle while brandishing their sword and shield. The sword and shield became so well known that people started to look at it as being cliché, and started to think that other more exotic weapons, like chains, maces, and two handed axes were more potent in battle. But the truth is, a sword and shield, in terms of offensive and defensive potency, cannot be beat. There are other weapon combinations that might have more offense or more defense than a sword, but none that have the same powerful combination of both.
Within the standard sword shield combination, the sword acts as both an offensive and defensive weapon, slashing at the enemy while also having the capacity to parry oncoming attacks. The shield is mostly used for defense, and a strong shield combined with a smart wielder can block even the most powerful bludgeoning attack (which would have an advantage over a sword alone). The shield can also be used for offense, as the sword parries an attack from the opponent, the wielder can use the shield to bash or push the opponent backwards. Because of this, the sword and shield, while standard and cliché, is near unbeatable in melee combat to this day.
Unlike a broadsword, short sword, or side sword, the rapier features a thin blade that is used for thrusting rather than slashing. The rapier acts as a piercing weapon, and was as a lightweight combat alternative to other swords during the 16th and 17th centuries. The rapier features a complex hilt that covers the hand and protects it from slashing weapons, while the blade is long and thin, and can be sharpened along its entire length or just at the tip. In addition, certain variations of the rapier exist, such as the estoc, which is a rapier without a cutting edge. The estoc is quite unique in that it was like a rapier, but intended to be used with both hands (though one handed estocs exist as well). Thus the estoc functioned more like a more precise rendition of the long spear than a sword. While estocs weren’t weapons of finesse, rapier swords were. The rapier was preferred by sword masters. Rapiers were often utilized in duels, and were renowned as a blade that could provide offense and defense without requiring a companion sword or shield.
Today, most European fencers still train with rapier like swords, and the swords that most people imagine in fencing competition are thrusting swords like the rapier. Rapier fencing is in stark contrast to other fencing techniques such as Kendo, which relies on a slashing weapon.
Over the past weekend the historical movie, Elizabeth-The Golden Age, was shown on a premium movie channel. I have seen the film at least four times. The music is outstanding and inspiring; Cate Blanchett did a remarkable job of portraying the controversial monarch. One of the most picturesque scenes was the young Elizabeth, wearing full armor, addressing her army to inspire them to greatness against the Spanish invaders. Who knows if Elizabeth I really straddled a stead, wore battle armor and carried a sword and lance when she stood before her army? Historical documents report that she did indeed wear armor. Perhaps she did make the inspiring speech that in part resulted in England’s prevailing during this dark time . They soundly defeated the invading Spanish army and naval fleet. They became the most dominating and progressive country in Europe. This action alone led to the British Empire. Their leader was a young, female Queen, the daughter of Henry VIII’s second murdered wife, Anne Boleyn.
During her time history reports that Elizabeth took a backseat to no one. She ruled her country with a firm hand, opened its Parliament and helped to enact laws that led to the resurgent European nation. We need Elizabeth I today “to kick some butt.”
Despite being extinct for hundreds of years, the horse riding, jousting, sword wielding knights of old are still widely celebrated today. Knights are a popular theme in some of the most famous stories of the ages, including tales like A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, The Once and Future King, and The Sword in the Stone. These tales, while fanciful in nature, relate majesty and valor of these brave souls. The physical appearance of a knight is almost important as their mental fortitude. Knights carried swords, shields, lances, and wore suits of armor that were near impregnable. In fact the suits of armor knights wore were so sturdy that only massive amount of blunt trauma could cause the knight inside damage; slashing and piercing weapons would just glance off the armor. This made knights quite powerful on the battlefield, but because the armor was so heavy, the knights were also quite slow.
When not in armor, knights were guests at the tables of kings and lords, wearing well tailored clothing and medieval cloaks. Knights were the epitome of high class in the days of yore.
While cultures around the world were still using bows and arrows and throwing spears at each other, the Japanese were developing some of the most advanced warfare tactics in the world. Japanese swordsmen, called samurai, were some of the most feared warriors the world over. Despite being known as devastating warriors, samurai, in Japanese, means to serve. While some samurai were mercenaries, most were found to be in the service of a lord or even the emperor himself. It was a samurai’s duty to protect his lord at all costs. In some respects, samurai were like the knights from European nations of old. Japanese weapons were well balanced and deadly, representing superior craftsmanship. Japanese armor, which the samurai wore into battle, was just as durable and resilient as the suits of armor worn by crusaders of old.
The samurai were known to wear masks and helms with menacing horns, designed to strike terror into the hearts of their enemies. On the battlefield, the samurai fought like demons, which caused many of the samurai legends that still exist today.
An old French legend passed down from generation to generation relates how the Main Gauche, or left hand dagger could have been born. A noble family of the thirteenth century had lost prestige, and had drifted to near the poverty level, because the male offspring were inept at the tasks that added prestige to a family—military expertise. The family was unable to provide the crown support with its wars with the English, because they could not wield a sword effectively. They were all left-handed, and the sword they used did not adapt well to the left hand. Lefties were often frowned upon in Medieval Europe, because they were too odd. Everyone, called them the stupid, “Main Gauche.” In French the word means, left hand.
The third born son of this unfortunate family had no hope at all because of the law of primogeniture or the rights of the firstborn son. The only job he could find was a lowly task of feeding the animals of a noble who lived near his family. He realized that the had to come up with some solution to this problem, or he eventually would be forced to sell himself into slavery. He was also one of the Main Gauche fools of the family.
While watching the animals, he had a lot of time to think and ponder his sad situation. He began amusing himself by carving a knife with his sword barn. It was sharp and it was designed for his Main Gauche hand. Although he was more adept with his left hand, he had been taught swordmanship with a master before his father had fallen to his lowly state. He always had a sword and several hand-carved left hand daggers in his possession as he guarded the horses of the great nobleman.
He was eventually employed to keep the animals of the upper- tier noble all day and night. Because of his willingness to submit to a lowly position, he was able to eat, so he was not forced to roam the streets for food.
One night a band of outlaws invaded the barn. They felt there was nothing to fear because the poor Main Gauche boy was guarding the animals. The thugs felt there would be no problem in getting away with some of the finest horses in France.
Five men assaulted the barn. First the Main Gauche boy grabbed his sword. The marauders easily deflected his blows. He ran near the wall of the barn and was ready to give up his life, but suddenly he drew one the hidden Main Gauche daggers from under his shirt. The first man fell and the others were slow in reacting because they were attempting to lead out the horses.
The agile lefty felt powerful for the first time in his life. He drew one dagger after the other, and while the horses trampled and he stabbed with all his might, the barn became awash with the blood of the outlaws.
The Main Gauche boy won. What happened to the boy after this is only heresay. Many relate that he joined the Crusaders and became an assassin.
In medieval times, there were dozens of different kinds of armor that were worn by soldiers, knights, and mercenaries. With each improvement in armor quality, there was a bit of a tradeoff for maneuverability. However, a trained soldier could learn to maneuver while wearing heavy armor, making them some of the deadliest foes on the battlefield. Medieval armor starts at leather and moves up to full plate. Leather armor, the most common armor, was made of hardened pieces of leather, and could protect against slashing weapons in close combat but not much else. The next step up, studded leather, had metal studs covering the leather, which provided added protection but not a lot. From studded leather armor moved to ringmail and chainmail. This armor was made up of several hundred links of chain or rings, and provided the protection of metal with better movement than full plate. Plate armor is what most knights wore, and is as its name implies, is comprised of hardened plates of metal. This armor provides maximum protection, and sometimes, knights would also wear a chainmail hauberk underneath plate armor which would make them near indestructible. In fact, to defeat a knight in full plate armor, one would often have to tire them out or find a way to strip their armor.
There are several types of rapier swords that gained prominence in the Renaissance period of history. No gentleman’s education was complete without an intense study of swordplay with these popular swords. The Italians were pre-eminent in teaching the art of dueling or fencing. Every court in Europe felt that they should have an Italian fencing master, and most did.
The narrow pointed blades of the rapier were designed as thrusting weapons. One of the best known rapiers of the Renaissance era was the swept hilt rapier, which had elaborate curves. This blade was popular in almost every country. Very often these swords were very decorated with jewels set in a hilt of gold, silver and brass. They were a symbol of the wealth of the carrier. Often the swept hilt rapiers had two quillons rather than the single one of the earlier Renaissance.
Early in the seventeenth century the cup hilt rapier appeared. The plate-like cup provided additional protection for the hand. This type of sword is often seen in Hollywood films, such as Captain Blood and Robin Hood. It is often referred to as the “Spanish” rapier. This sword is the forerunner of the modern fencing weapons of today.
A cruder form of the cup hilt rapier was called the Spanish bilbo. These weapons were used by pirates in the Caribbean; a replica of such weapons can be seen in the movie of the same name, Pirates of the Caribbean.
Excalibur, the sword King Arthur received from The Lady of the Lake, is one of the most well known swords the world over. While there are several other weapons mentioned in legend, Excalibur is the most well known. Based on Welsh legend, the Excalibur was often said to possess magical powers. The Excalibur sword has appeared in hundreds of different sources of contemporary media and fiction. Excalibur is a weapon of great power that appears in video games, it’s also often referenced in popular fiction, and most if not all films based in the time of King Arthur make mention of Excalibur at some point or another. In England, there are several historical locations that pay tribute to Excalibur, and while the real sword might have never existed, the mythology that surrounds it is quite palpable.
Some have suggested that the legend of Excalibur is based on Norse mythology, which has several swords and weapons of legend including Gram, a sword that Sigurd used to defeat the dragon Fafnir.
When it comes to hand to hand weapons, there are three distinct types of damage; some of which work better than others depending on the circumstances. Slashing damage, the most common type of damage, is caused by short swords, long swords, halberds, and most axes. This kind of damage works well against simple armor, but it can be difficult for it to penetrate heavy armor or a shield. Piercing damage is the second type, common to objects like rapiers and javelins. This type is good for slipping through the cracks of armor with a precise attack. The final type is blunt, common to clubs, morning stars, and objects like the spiked mace. Because of the force behind blunt objects, they force a defender to recoil from the attack, which makes them ideal for hammering down shields. Understanding these types of damage one can imagine how warriors of ancient times fought each other. In a time before ranged weapons, like the crossbow and musket, were common, understanding these weapons allowed warriors to succeed in dire circumstances.