Medieval Weapons

When many of us think of Roman gladiators, we immediately revert to the glorified role these figures play in Hollywood movies. The truth of the matter, however, is that the life of a gladiator was not as glamorous as the films depict, and most of the warriors met an early death. In a recent NPR podcast there was a story highlighting a new archeological discovery: a massive burial site for Roman gladiators in Northern England. (Gladiators used to go on tour).

Although they can’t be certain the burial site was exclusively for Rancient roman swordsoman gladiators, several signs seem point to that conclusion. One arm on each of the skeletons had much more muscle than the other, which is probably due to the constant swinging and training with ancient Roman swords. There is evidence of a lion or tiger bite on one of the soldiers, both of which are foreign to the area and were used in gladiator battles. Finally, a hammer had damaged many of the skulls, a tactic used to disorient the gladiators.

An early Crusader who had just arrived in the Holy Land viewed a band of Saracens from a distance.  He was so impressed with the curved sword that they wielded that he attempted to locate his own.  Naturally the Saracens were not anxious to trade with the enemy, so he was forced to use his own straight blade crusader sword.  The image that the Crusader saw is the picture that the western world still holds of the Islamic warrior—a turbaned soldier with a curved blade sword.

However straight bladed swords were also used by Islam during the Crusades.  The stereo-type exists, because the Prophet Mohammed likely carried a curved weapon.  There are relics which are preserved in the armory of the Sultans in the Topkai Palace in Istanbul that substantiate that he possessed a Scimitar.  There are two swords that are associated with Mohammed at the armory.  One of the swords is a narrow blade and is slightly curved.  The hilt and scabbard of the weapon are embellished with precious stones and gold.  The period that he utilized the blade would have been 560-632. 

We have written about western swords with names in this blog.  Islamic warrior’s swords also had names.  The famous sword mentioned above was ‘Dhu’l Faqar’.  Mohammed wielded this weapon at the battle of Badr in 624.  Legend recounts that the sword was cloven in two near its point, and this is how it has  been depicted ever since.  It was bequeated to Ali, son-in-law to Mohammed.  He served as Caliph from 656 to 661.

The Scimitar as well as being a beautifully formed sword, it also is very balanced and easy to handle.  Collectors and reenactors appreciate the sword.  Also it is so easy to wield that it is also used today in exotic belly-dancing.

The legend prevails that Rome ascended with the fall of Troy.  Aenas, the famed Trojan, escaped the destruction of Troy and made his way to Italy where he married a princess.  They bore two sons,  Romulus and Remus; the boys were left to die by the Tiber river.  A she-wolf saved them.  They decided to consecrate a city by the river where the miraculous she-wolf saved them.  They fought over the name of the city and Romulus son and thus began the powerful city-state of Rome.

Many historical events and persons of the ancient past are often shrouded in legend and they make great stories.  Whatever the origins of Rome, it became one of the most powerful states that ever existed under the sun.

The Legionnaire was the foundation of the Roman army.  The Legions of the early Roman army were an outstanding group, formidable in battle and in all areas of seige warfare.  They were also excellent engineers; they built roads, bridges, and water systems for the empire.

They were professional soldiers who served with each other often for twenty years.  They fought very hard for the empire, but they were more dedicated to their legion than to the state.  The system worked well for Rome, because each Legionnaire fought his heart out for his comrades  They were prohibited from marrying, so their loyalty was to their fellow soldiers  After service of twenty years, they were allowed to retire with a pension and an allotment of land.  Perhaps they married at this late stage of life.

They had the finest weapons of the day.  They often made changes to make them more efficient.  They wore a breast plate armor called lorica segmentata.  It was made of iron strips that were held in place by leather strips.  This replaced the solid breastplate which restricted movement.  They wore an iron helmet with a peak to prevent blows to the head.  They carried a colorful shield made of wood and metal.  The Roman foot soldier carried three weapons.  They carried a 7 foot javelin which is now referred to as a pilium.  By their side was also a pugio ( small dagger) and a two foot short sword (gladius).  On their feet they wore sandals with hobnails on the bottom.  With this equipment they conquered most of the ancient world.

The Roman Legionnaire was powerful, dedicated to his legion, and a very effective fighting machine.  The colorful Roman soldier is a popular character for reenactors or even with the individual that desires a unique Halloween costume.

There are many of us out there who do not have the ability to sword fight in games or reenactments.  However, we are very interested in the ancient historical past, and have spent years collecting it.

My husband and I have always loved the Age of Chivalry.  We love it so much that we collect replica relics from the Medieval time.  We have pieces of the past lying all around our house.

We have so many beautiful collectible swords that a visitor to our house once inquired if we were planning an overthrow.  Not only do these beautiful replicas from the past have a wonderful story to share with visitors, but they make great decorative accents.

In our bookshelves you will also find striking battle helmets from the Medieval age.  Our den is a showplace for colorful Medieval shields.

Our children grew up with this passion of ours and they, too, surprisingly are fans of history.  They take a more vigorous approach by participating in western martial arts.  Obviously this historical influence carried over to their careers, one is a successful archeologist and the other is a history professor at a major university.

So, you see, you do not have to slay a dragon or rescue a damsel in distress to participate in a wonderful and educational hobby.

Whip and gross are two synonyms of the word, “flail.”  The word is most likely Old English that originated before the 12th century.  Then in the 15th century the word gained a more active meaning–to strike with as if wielding a flail.   An old legend that has been passed down through the years tells of the discovery of this versatile tool and weapon.

One of our earliest ancestors by the name of Aunine, a boy, not yet grown was sent on a errand by his widowed Mother to find food for his family.  He had two sisters and a younger sickly brother.  His father was killed in an accident involving his tribe’s attempt to kill a large moose for food. 

 Aunine’s father, Ashwon, was stationed at the front of the hunting party and was to attempt to strike the large animal with a spear in order to cripple it and make it easier for the others to kill.  Ashwon  flailed the spear at the charging bull,  but the mighty animal just kept charging; the poor man fell and was trampled to death.  The next hunter in line for the kill was Pauha, the tribal chief’s son.  The angry moose killed him and the other hunters  ran for their lives. 

Shonse, the clan chieftain,  blamed Ashwon for the death of his son.  He had no other sons,  and was aged and very resentful of his fate.  In a fit of anger he banned Ahwon’s family from the tribe.  Aunine, his mother, two sisters and his brother who could barely walk were forced to leave the village and find a cave away from the safety of the tribe. 

For months they struggled to survive; Aunine was capable of killing smaller animals for food, but he had not yet reached the age to have been on a large animal hunt with the other men of the tribe.  Winter was coming on and they needed provisions for the long cold that would soon ensue. 

While hunting, Aunine heard a fearful growl behind him.  He quickly sought the nearest tree in order to determine the danger that was near.  He saw a large bear running  toward him.   He realized that the tree would offer no safety, so he was able to jump from the tree to a large boulder.  But the bear kept coming at a pace that Aunine could not believe possible  for such a large creature.   When the bear reached the crevice of the rock, Aunine knew that he must do something.    With trembling hands he located a stone that had sharp points on its surface; he tied the stone to his wood hunting knife with leather from his foot coverings.  Then the bear was on him; he felt its claws in his stomach; its fowl breath was in his face.  He knew it was over for him just as it had been for his father.  He took his one chance and brought the crudely made weapon to the bear’s head.  The bear screamed and blood covered Aunine’s whole body, but the animal had stopped its attack.  Aunine suddenly realized that he was safe.  He had won; the bear was dead.  The banished family had also won; they had more than enough food and clothing for the winter.  Aunine had discovered an implement that would serve him in battle, hunting, fishing and threshing.  The flail was born.

The polearm is one of the oldest and most versatile of weapons throughout the ages. The modern definition of a polearm is a weapon with a blade or pointed tip attached to a long shalf. Prehistoric man likely was the first to use a sharpened long stick to slay his dinner, or his neighbor. 

Rome also developed a very effective polearm.  The pilium, a very sharp spear, was used effectively against the Celts.  The development of this weapon was one of the reasons Rome was successful in conquering a large part of the world.

Various types of this weapon gained prominence in the Medieval and Renaissance eras in Europe and elsewhere.  They were a means of dealing with cavalry; the foot soldier’s reach was extended to allow him to attack a mounted opponent while avoiding the blade of the knight’s sword. 

The classic models of the European polearms were the pike and the halderb. First appearing in the l4th century the halderb was a very versatile weapon.  It was usually a little over 5 feet long and had a spiked top that was useful for keeping mounted knights at bay.  It also had a hook that could be used to pull him from the saddle, and an axe head that could penetrate his armor.

The pike was a simple spear like weapon that had a metal head attached to a wooden shaft.  It came into use in the twelfth  century as a defensive weapon again cavalry.  The Swiss, however, turned the simple spear into an offensive weapon by employing a phalnx-like infantry formation.  From this formation they were able to use pikes as long as 22 and a half feet.  This strategy employing a simple spear allowed them to become the premier fighting force of the fourteenth century. 

In other parts of the world, the spear or pike was also widely used.  Samurai warriors are most often associated with the sword, but in battle they were supported by foot soldiers who used the yari (spears).  Perhaps the greatest spearmen in history are the Zulu warriors of Southern Africa.  Their military units, called impis, were armed with the short assegai spear.  They were able to conquer most of the region in the early nineteenth century.

The common soldier was the part of the military that used the polearm.  From prehistoric times to today, these are the warriors that shape our world.

On Tuesday the world will celebrate the most famous of the Irish holidays.  Most will wear green, party with green beer and feast on corned beef and cabbage.  The airways will be filled with the exotic music of Enya, Clannad, and the many other Irish musicians that produce the unique flowing sound that screams Ireland.  Most everyone is aware of where Ireland is today, and what the country encompasses, but from where did this spirited, talented and renown people evolve?

Several Celtic burial sites have been excavated that reveal something of these hardy people.  A rich princely grave was found in Hochdorf in Baden-Wurttemberg.  This Celtic chieftain was found with a gold band around his neck, a gold armlet, a belt and shoes embellished with gold and an exquisite gold dagger.  The couch he rested on was made of bronze, embossed with ritual dance figures, some of them wielding swords.   Another Celtic settlement was unearthed at La Tene on the edge of Lake Neuchatel in Switzerland.  The settlement was typical of a rich civilization which probably lasted from about 500 B.C. until the first century B.C.  Some of the weapons that were found there related the Celtic genius for sophisticated curvilinear design and fantastic abstraction on natural themes.  These Celtic swords were some of the most elegant weapons of any age.  The sword often had a human head on the pommel, and sophisticated carving on the handle.  Further attesting to the imagination and creative genius of these early Celts, the scabbard for these early swords was brilliantly decorated with dragons, bird pairs, triskele and other geometric designs, floral and animal motifs. 

These were the swords that carried the Celts north into Britain and Belgium.  In 390 Celts from Gaul invaded Italy and sacked Rome,  the capital of the fledgling Roman Republic.    The Greek historian Polybius, described the Celts at the battle of Telamon in 225  BC,  says: ‘Very terrifying too were the appearance and the gestures of the naked warriors in front, all in the prime of life, and finely built men, and all in the leading companies richly adorned with gold torques and armlets.’    Another Greek historian Dionysius of Halicarnassus spoke of the fighting style of the Celts, ‘they would raise their swords aloft and smite after the manner of wild boars, throwing the whole weight of their bodies into the blow like hewers of wood or men digging with mattocks, and again they would deliver crosswise blows aimed at no target, as if they intended to cut to pieces the entire bodies of their adversaries, protective armour and all……’ Celtic society was heroic and tribal, and the exploits of these great warriors were celebrated in poetry and song, echoes of which survive in epics, such as the Ulster Cycle,  Tain Bo Cuailgne (The Cattle Raid of Cooley).

The Celts annihilated the Roman army of the Latin League.  The complete defeat of the Latins forced the Romans to adapt or go under.  The Celts with their superior swords and better conditioning led to the major changes that Rome made that resulted in the Empire.  They copied the short sword of the Celts( gladius), developed the pilium (pole arm) and scutum (body shield). Some historians have asserted that the Celts were paid to leave Rome.  Had the Celts not willingly left the Republic, then perhaps the Tiber would run green tomorrow.

In the romantic times of knights and kings, men went to war with swords and shields. A knight’s shield is his emblem of power and protection. These are made by craftsmen with the knowledge that this is often the only thing that separates the user from certain death.

Many shields are actually intricate works of art. That is because they carry the emblems of the army they belong to, or the nobleman’s crest. Displaying a medieval knight’s shield, such as the crusader shield is one great way to decorate your home and greet your guests. This will definitely be a good conversation piece for your parties. It is also said that these can help ward off or deflect bad luck from your home.

The Greek city-states were intensely competitive in sports as well as warfare.  Inner-city wars were almost continuous, and this wasteful behavior weakened the whole country.  This spirit was described in Homer’s Iliad when Achilles’ father Peleus urged him always to try to excel all other men.  This competitiveness was to be desired in sports,  artisitic and vocational endeavors but was chaos with the continuous warfare among the states.

This state of affairs resulted in each city state building up its military strength, and the result was what has been termed the “hoplite revolution”.  The hoplites were heavily armed infantry.  The body-armour of the hoplite consisted of a breastplate or cuirass (Chalcis), a helmet with nose and cheek guards (first seen at Corinth), and greaves-all of which were constructed of bronze.  The Greeks learned these techniques from the east as China was the first civilization to develop the technique of bronze metal.  The most vital protection of this Greek infantry was a round or elliptical round shield (Argos) secured to the left arm.  They carried a short, straight iron sword (Chalcis) and a nine foot long thrusting spear.

The hoplites fought in a phalanx which is a close, tight mass of soldiers eight lines deep.  They pursued the battle by shoving (othismos), and every man was responsible for protecting his neighbor.  This form of fighting eliminated the hero of the battle which Homer praised.  The age of ego was left in the past of ancient Greece, and the state was the major commitment to the hoplite warrior.

There are a number of Greek reenactment groups all over the world.  If you were inspired the movie, “300″, joining a Greek reenactment group may be just the thing for you.  Reenactment groups are a great way to meet people with interests like yours, and it is also an important in looking at the past, so we may navigate better in the future.  It’s also just plain fun! 

Man has always attempted to protect the valuable head from injury.  Obviously the importance of the head was recognized even in prehistoric times.  The caveman used the skins from his animal kills and placed the animal head over his own.  He at least looked menacing to his enemies.  This was adequate during the stone age, but when weapons became more substantial, the animal head was very little protection.  During the Stone Age man learned to sharpen the tips of spears by subjecting the the weapon to a hot fire.  These spears could easily pierce the head and heart with only animal skin protection for the body.

Our prehistoric ancestors then turned to the carcasses of animals and fish to afford a more substantial protection.   Bones were used to build a more secure battle helmet that was not so easily penetrated by a sharp spear or axe.   This was necessary because too many of the brave cave warriors had been knocked senseless by a spear to the head.

A more substantial battle helmet became  necessary around 3000 to 3500 BCE when bronze smelting was developed in China.  Bronze was a misnomer because 90% of the metal was copper, but by the next millennium bronze was the most dense metal the world had ever seen.   Not everyone had access to the knowledge to develop bronze at the same time, therefore, those who did not possess the knowledge to produce the metal were overwhelmed by their more astute neighbors.

Bronze battle helmets were worn by the hoplite Greek army during many famous confrontations.  King Leonidas wore a bronze helmet with a horsehair crest  when they confronted the Persian Emperor Xerxes and the overwhelming Persian army in August 480 BCE.  The place of this battle was called Thermopylae.  It was one of the most courageous battles of the Greek democracy.

In the ancient ages of our world how knowledge spread was a very vital part of whether a culture, city-state or a nation survived.  If an enemy knew the composition of metal smelting and they confronted a nation who was still wearing helmets of walrus tusk, the outcome was inevitable.  At one time the one who had the best weapons and technology won, but is it still true today?

At one time in our existence the  most formidable chariot won the battle.  The number of soldiers involved in a battle was key to success.  The best bomb was vital in the end of World War II.  What is the winning element today?