Medieval Weapons

Today we think of dragons as abstract mythical creatures - hardly a pressing concern when real dangers exist around every corner. In the Middle Ages, however, myth and superstition were as good as reality. People had a tendency to believe whatever they heard, no matter how fantastical the story might be. When Crusaders returned to England from their exploits in the Holy Land, they brought with them a whole new brand of tales.

They claimed that in ancient times England had been a dangerous place where dragons roamed free. By the time St. George came on the scene, all of the dragons save one had been slain. Still the kingdom was living in fear of the last remaining dragon, and George set out in with his medieval weapons and armor to vanquish it. When he did, he was celebrated as a hero. Even though none of this ever happened, people were uneducated and gullible during the Middle Ages.

The Middle Ages were one of the darkest periods in world history - rife with disease, poverty and human cruelty. The previously enlightened civilizations of Rome and Constantinople—and their legendary armies of soldiers in Roman armor—had fallen victim to the bubonic plague, rampaging barbarian hordes and dangerous superstition. Few people could be said to enjoy life during this era: kings and land barons had it pretty good, but what about all the illiterate peasants forced to grind out a subsistence lifestyle?

Monks and other members of the clergy were often the only ones afforded a chance to learn. Of all the people alive in Europe between 700 and 1100 AD, most were unable to read and write. Monks and some enlightened kings were the rare exception, and they kept the light of logic and reason burning for future generations.

During college, I lived a bit of a double life. There was the side that everyone saw - the friend who went out to bars on weekends and played pick-up games of basketball a few times a week. But then there was the gaming side. I would spend hours at a time playing videogames. You could name any role-playing game from the last five years on any platform, and I’ve probably played it and beat it.

Recently I’ve decided not to hide my passion for fantasy games any longer and frequented sword and armor sale events online and in person. I outfitted my apartment with tons of fantasy paraphernalia, including posters, figurines, and replica swords. My friends sometimes jokingly refer to me as the Dungeonmaster, but I couldn’t be more proud of the way the decorations turned out. Most guys my age lack any semblance of design sense, so who are they to judge?

Every year I am left at a loss as to what to be for Halloween; if you go with a stereotypical costume you simply blend into the crowd, and if you getup is too far-out, you may ostracize yourself. One of the happy middle grounds is to take a run-of-the-mill costume to the next level, which is exactly what I decided to do last year.

I have a certain affinity for the medieval period—The Sword in the Stone is one of my favorite films—so I decided to go as a knight. Naturally I pulled out all of the stops—from a heavy sword and shield to wearable armor. The costume had just the effect I was looking for; it garnered compliments without being too extravagant.

Exotic and historical items intrigue certain people.  They comb shops big and small and near and far to find unique mementos from the past or simply extraordinary pieces.  There are those who collect war relics and memorabilia such as soldier hats, dog tags, uniforms, boots and personal accounts of past battles. Others are into medieval weapons and armor.  Some have a fascination for glass figurines with their smooth sparkle and see-through simplicity. The privileged few who have the resources—and the means to do so—acquire and restore antique works of art and ornate furniture.
 
The Internet is a great place to find one-of-a-kind items.  Shops with their matching merchandise are plentiful, and can be accessed at your convenience, anytime of the day. The fun lies in the hunt.  Get started by typing in the item you covet in the search box, press enter, and presto!  A list of sites greets you right away and invites you to explore.

Does your child hate history and think that its study is a waste of time?  Most young children cannot understand the reasoning behind studying something that occurred many years ago.

All children seem to love a particular movie or game that has a historical significance, such as The Lord of the Rings, Excalibur, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, or whatever holds your child’s attention.  My first venture into attempting to teach my child the value of history was the story of King Arthur and his great sword, Excalibur.

Although this is an allegory and a legend that owes its birth to a poet who wrote the story for Eleanor of Aquitaine, an early Queen of England, it certainly has relevance in this day and time.  The magic of an ordinary young boy, Arthur, possessing the power to pull a beautiful jeweled sword from a stone, and in doing so, becoming the King of his country will hold a young child’s attention.

To make the story more entertaining, I bought a replica Excalibur sword.  It was made of a material that was safe for a child.  The name of the maker of this sword type of sword is Denix.  Now latex swords, shields and even helmets are available for purchase.

There are many lessons that a child can take from the story of Camelot.  However, there are some lessons that are too mature for a youngster.  I read to my son selected stories from Sir Thomas Malory’s edition of Le Morte D’Arthur.  There are now many volumes that are directed toward a child.

Readers of this blog are probably asking what do these three things have in common?  Footballs are pigskin balls that young men use to play a popular game.    Lances and swords on the other hand are ancient weapons that were utilized in many wars of the past.

Being very good at playing football entitles young men to many privileges.  Highschool football players are some of the most popular boys around.  At least that is the situation in the southern United States.  These athletes are even more revered in college.   It requires a certain toughness to play football, and it is likely one of the most dangerous sports.

In the Middle Ages, there were sports that nobles enjoyed watching as much as we enjoy football.  These were tournaments which were thrilling but potentially dangerous for the contestants just like football.  Christien de Troyes remarked in Yvain, or the Knight with the Lion, that “people are wont to rush up when they are eager to see swordplay.”

Some of the participants in this ancient sport were sons who would not inherit property or a title because they were not the first son.  Often they participated in tournaments to make money just like our professional footballs players today.  One of the most famous of these professional sword fighters was William Marsechal.  Because he was the most powerful man with a sword, he acquired a castle and land through a marriage to a wealthy noble woman.  Medieval times were not so different than the modern day. A powerful athlete often attracts money and beauty.

 Many times wealthy young men played the game just for love of the sport or to prove their superiority in arms.  The Plantagenets, a famous ruling family, of Medieval Britain participated in this dangerous sport.  Richard the Lionheart was an avid participant in swordplay games and also jousting.  He usually won.  His brother, Geoffrey, however, was not so lucky; he was killed in a tournament .  He suffered a broken neck when he was knocked from his horse with a lance.  Had he not been addicted to this dangerous sport, the Plantagenet line of ruling monarchs would likely have been much changed.  Richard, who became King of England was killed in a trivial skirmish at a very young age.  Geoffrey would probably have acceded to  the the throne at his brother’s death, and since he had children they would have been in line to rule the British Empire.

Things change but not dramatically.  Certainly we live in a different age; we play different games than the Medieval athlete.  The results of being great at a sport still apply.  Rewards are waiting for the “best of the best.”

For more than 500 years, the Roman Empire served as an example of what Western civilization could be. The poets, politicians, artists and merchants were the absolute best at their respective occupations, unmatched elsewhere in the world. Soon after the Empire was founded, Rome ushered in an era of piece and prosperity that allowed its citizens to enjoy tremendous wealth and privilege.

None of that would have been possible without Rome’s military prowess, of course. As early as the Punic Wars, which were fought against Hannibal and the Carthaginian Empire around 200 BCE, Rome set itself apart as a well-disciplined and technologically advanced war machine. Roman armor was distinctive for mixing protective capability with lightness and maneuverability.

When most people think of medieval armor, it’s probably a suit of metal armor that springs to mind. In fact, chain mail and heavy suits of armor were effective at protecting the body but they hindered mobility. Imagine trying to run around in the heat of battle wearing a creaky coat of armor. And forget about riding a horse – a process that requires flexibility and free range of motion.

Some have suggested that leather armor was not used in battle, but that is patently false. It makes sense that physical evidence of leather armor would be scarce because the material deteriorates over time – much quicker than a metal garment. This form of armor is still utilized for live-action role playing and war reenactments. Even though leather armor has outlived its practicality, it still makes for a handsome and evocative uniform.

The following description appeared in a 1997 calendar, entitled Medieval Women.  The calendar was published by the Workman Group and the title described the women as the following:  “The Strong, The Resilient, The Accomplished.” One of the writings from this calendar told the story of those Medieval women who went to war in full armor, bearing swords and pole arms just like their masculine brothers.

“During the 9th and 10th centuries, noblewomen were often directly involved in war.  Emma, granddaughter of the Capetian king Robert the Strong, headed the defenses of Laon in 927, and led a siege against Chateau Thierry in 933 that resulted in its surrender: Aethelflaed of Mercia ruled part of England from 911 to 918 and defended it from the Vikings.  The medieval custom of siege warfare, in which an attacking army tried to invade or starve out a walled fortress, frequently meant that noblewomen had to be left in charge while their warrior husbands were outside the walls, conducting the battles.

For later medieval queens, especially those married to kings of distant countries, survival could mean a great deal of military strife.  Margaret of Anjou, married to the simpleminded Henry VI of England in 1445 educated her young son in “nothing else but cutting off heads and making war.” After the young prince was killed in the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471, Margaret was put in the Tower of London for five years; she died in penury in 1482.

Average women might also expect to experience war; but they were often victims instead of warriors.  Joan of Arc, a peasant girl from a small town in France, broke the mold in the early 15th century by becoming a military leader.  She led the French army in several successful battles against the English army in the last stages of the Hundred Years’ War. When the English captured her in 1431, she was tried and burned for heresy.  Thomas Basin mourned her death his History of Charles VII:

“Joan was sent by God to save the kingdom and the people of France.”

Although wearable armor weighs from 35 to 60 lbs.,  the modern woman would look stunning in the ultimate Medieval costume.