Medieval Weapons

The definition   of The Hand and a Half or Bastard Sword according to A Glossary of the Construction, Definition and Use of Arms and Armor,  is a long, straight blade of the 15th century with a plain cross guard, long grip and rounded pommel.  This sword was ordinarily used with one hand, but the grip was long enough to allow it to be grasped with two to three fingers of the left hand if it was desired to give extra weight to the blow.

Actually according to Swords and Hilt Weapons this Bastard Sword made its appearance in the mid twelfth century.  Perhaps these early Hand and a Half Swords were produced for the Plantaganet family, or a well known family who always desired a little extra power on the blade. 

One of the most famous Bastard Swords that is preserved belonged to Henry IV of England.  It was made for him by Herman van Cleve, a goldsmith.  This Medieval Sword was obviously ceremonial in nature, because of its rich detail of gold forget-me-nots, which was Henry’s symbol before he ascended the throne.  If you are interested in an entertaining  description of Henry IV, Shakespeare provides a lively account  in his plays, HenryIV, parts I and II.  If you desire to be a Renaissance man with a sword and combat skills, try adding a little literacy to the mix also.

Speaking of the Renaissance, this is the period that saw the greatest popularity of the Bastard Sword.  Plate armour became very sophisticated with metal of various sizes being attached to a reinforced heavy fabric  jacket.  In combat against this type of armor, the thrusting sword was favored over the cutting sword.  The mounted knight of the early Renaissance  was armed with two swords, one on the front or side of his saddle and the other on his hip.  Both of these weapons were Bastard or Hand and a Half Swords.

These swords were used extensively in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.  Their use continued until the seventeenth century.

If you are interested in a Bastard Sword in your LARP or historical reenactment, there are many different price ranges of these replica swords.  If you have the big bucks, why not have a custom Hand and a Half weapon made especially for you.  One of the most talented swordsmiths  is Michael “Tinker” Pearce.  Also, Pearce has done design work for CAS/Hanwei, and if you can’t afford a custom sword, the CAS/Hanwei “Tinker” Sword is an outstanding well balanced weapon.  Who doesn’t need a little extra power in the blade?

Many pagan cultures played a very important role in Christmas celebrations from Medieval Europe until December 25, 2008.  Their rituals may have been reworked and glossed to fit our present day interpretation of the holiday, but the fact remains that the Vikings, Romans, Anglo-Saxons and other ancient cultures played a very significant role in the Christian celebration. 

The Romans which are so influential in anything of any consequence in the Medieval and post Roman occupation of the European world also put their stamp on the Christian holiday.  In Rome pagans celebrated three important Roman festivals, Saturnalia (December 17-23), the Kalends (January 1-5), and Dues Sol Invictus, which we celebrate as the twelve nights of Christmas.  This celebration to the sun was December 25.  The citizens would light bonfires, decorate buildings with evergreens as  encouragement for the sun to return. 

If the Vikings had seen pictures of Santa Claus cruising the skies in a sleigh pulled by reindeer, they probably would have assumed he was catching a ride with Thor, the Norse god of thunder.  According to Viking traditions, Thor’s personal transport was a flying wagon pulled by a team of horned goats.  The ancient Viking god, Odin, also brought gifts to good little Viking boys and girls.

The Roman Church designated December 25 as the  date of the birth of Christ in the fourth century.  Some early Christians did not celebrate Christmas, because they felt that the celebration had too many pagan practices.  In Roman occupied England the Catholic church banned mumming (masquerades) and wassailing (Anglo-Saxon for good health) as pagan practices, but the common people still celebrated with enthusiasm.  When the Vikings invaded, they would reinvigorate pagan practices.  In the rural areas pagan traditions remained very strong.  When the Roman troops were recalled in the fifth century, it was very common that Thor and Christ were worshipped side by side.

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! 

One of the most important archaeological finds in the research of the Anglo Saxon culture was the discovery of a mound in a cemetery overlooking the Deben River near the Suffolk coast in England.  The relics and weapons found in the tomb forced a revision of long held notion that the Anglo Saxons were a primitive and simple people.  These intricately designed early weapons have been the pattern weapons for many collectible swords and amor of the modern day. 

This significant discovery was made in 1939.  Up to this point in history the poem, “Beowulf,” was the only historical evidence that perhaps a more sophisticated Anglo Saxon culture existed.  From Beowulf there is a quote that in a sense describes the grave that the archaeologists found.

“Upon the headland the Geats erected a broad high tumulus plainly visible to distant seamen….within the barrow they placed collars, brooches and all the trappings which they had plundered from the treasure hoard.  They buried the gold and left that princely treasure to the keeping of the earth, where yet it remains….”

The name Sutton Hoo is taken from the site where the tomb was found.  Many rumors and mysteries surround this burial place of the ancients.  It was rumored that Henry VIII’s representatives dug and found treasure at Sutton Hoo. Elizabeth I’s magician, John Dee, also sought treasure there.

What had not been plundered was still very magnificent.  In the earth there was an impression of the ghost ship which was elegant and long.  The wood had rotted over time, but the metal fasteners of the ship were still in place.  Inside the ship the magnificent regala which obviously belonged to a a mighty warrior or King was found.  The treasure consisted of an intricately designed battle helmet, a ceremonial sword with gold and garnet fittings, a whetstone, a stand, spears, a battle axe and a shield with bird and dragon figures.

Still there is no precise evidence to indicate if this place was indeed a burial site.  Soil tests have been inconclusive.  But in 1979 evidence of a coffin was found in the ship.  Who knows for certain about this Sutton Hoo Man?

Kids love dressing up and can often spend an entire day trying on new outfits and putting on fashion shows. Parents should understand that playing dress up can also be a learning opportunity for a child. That means that each time a child tries on a new outfit their parent might give them a quick history lesson.Dressing up can make learning fun for kids. It’s so easy for children to become restless and bored when trying to learn from a book. Next time your child dresses up in, say, one of those battle helmets from the Middle Ages, talk to them about who was king during that time and how helmets protected soldiers during battle.

Since the beginning of time, rivalry and the desire for domination have existed in our society.  An early Biblical account relates the murder of Abel by his brother, Cain.  He likely used his own body or a simple rock as the weapon.

In order to survive prehistoric man developed tools that were initially constructed for killing animals for food and clothing.  Crude axes were built of wood and stone.  In the end these weapons were used to conquer neighbors and settle disputes.  In this simple manner families were conquered and alliances formed.

After many years of small conquests, finally in 2500 B.C. the first organized armies of record appeared in Mesopotamia, which is now modern day Iraq. There were several surviving artifacts of these ancient people.  One of the most important and informative was an inscribed pillar known as the Stele of Vultures which depicts an army of men, wiedling spears, axes, daggers and javelins.  These ancient weapons were probably constructed of bronze.  Also shown on the Stele of Vultures was the early military tank–a two-man chariot pulled by donkeys.

Also surviving these ancient warriors was a finely constructed battle helmet.  It was constructed of a gold and silver alloy and such an outstanding piece of armor was probably worn by the ruler.

I have often wondered if there are LARP societies that reenact these ancient historical events.  Prehistoric man would obviously be fun in the sun.  If reenactors utilized chariots, these could be developed using wagons that are boxed in.    If you know of these societies, I would appreciate hearing from you.
 

A rapier is a slender, sharply pointed sword with a long blade and a complex, sometimes embellished hilt primarily used for thrusting attacks in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries.  The hilt of the rapier is made to protect the hand that wields it.  Also called a hilt rapier, this thrusting sword was called other things as well due to the tendency of sword masters of the time using description of a sword’s function as a method of naming it.

It is thought that the rapier began to develop in Spain around the year 1500 as a type of dress sword for civilians and duels.  It became increasingly fashionable over time in Europe among the wealthier classes, but always had its detractors. With its long reach, the rapier allowed for fast reactions suitable for civilian combat in the 16th and 17th centuries.  Military-style swords for cutting and thrusting purposes continued to evolve to meet battlefield needs, and rapiers continued to change with the times as well, becoming lighter and shorter and eventually succumbing to the widespread use of the smallsword in the 1700s.