Medieval Weapons

When I was a kid, one of my favorite movies was “American Ninja.” The movie is about a boy who was adopted by a Filipino man and shown the way of the Ninja. One of the weapons that the titular hero had was throwing stars to battle the enemies with ninja swords and renaissance daggers. “American Ninja” inspired me to take up martial arts and now I teach a self defense class for women and children at a local community center in my town.  Whenever I speak to my students about my inspiration, I always go back to that movie.

Earlier this week, they presented me with a thank you plaque with the movie poster framed and throwing stars in a glass case. It was a very sweet gesture and I can’t help but think that a dream of mine - to be a skilled martial artist and someone who helps people for a living - was spawned by a movie.

I was first introduced to the Society for Creative Anachronism while away at school. Though my college didn’t have many participants, I learned more about SCA through two friends at another school. They would detail their weekly training practices and preparations for the next big battle. As fascinating as weapon training was, I became more interested in the elaborate costumes participants used to clothe themselves during battle.

Every detail from the hauberk down to daggers is thoughtfully researched by the hardcore participants. For instance, a wealthier persona (player) might use a stiletto dagger, while someone who was adept with their left hand might carry a main gauche (French for “left hand”). There are eating daggers made with black antler or white bone handles. There are even bodice daggers for the ladies that can be sewn into a bodice or corset! The level of detail put into developing and clothing a character is amazing!

When most people think of the Renaissance, they contemplate the reemergence of the arts, literature and intellectual pursuits. And while these elements were certainly at the core of the Renaissance, war was still commonplace. To that end, a variety of armor and weaponry emerged during this era.

Although all of these innovations are now antiquated, they still can serve as unique décor items. A helmet or suit of armor is the perfect accent piece for a den or home library. Simple pieces, such as a Renaissance dagger our doublet, can be placed upon a mantle or as an accent piece on a coffee table.

  Though the technique of two-weapon fighting went out of style as single blade weapons and techniques evolved, it is still a central part of the history of fencing.  Two-weapon, or dual wield, combat was common in the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance period in Europe.  There are a number different weapons that were wielded in the off-hand.  The Main Gauche (French for left hand) was a small parrying dagger, while the notched sword breaker was a longer dagger that was designed to catch the blade of an opponent’s sword.  There are several myths about heroes and warriors wielding two swords of equal size, but these are often exaggerated, as a consistent technique for wielding two heavy weapons just doesn’t exist. 

Though modern fencing is now based around a primary weapon, there are still a few fencing schools that allow the use of two weapons.  The main exception is Japanese kendo where two weapons of different size are still allowed in competition; though this is rare.

‘Caesar was stabbed with twenty-three dagger thrusts and uttered not a word, but only a groan at the first stroke, though some have related that when Marcus Brutus rushed at him, he said in Greek,”You, too, child?”"  This is how Suetonius the author of “The Life of Caesar”describes his death.  Nero, the most evil of Roman Emperors stabbed himself in the throat with a dagger. 

This hidden weapon has resulted in the death of the unsuspecting friend, husband, or statesman.  The sharp stab is a startling blow, because it came from a woman’s bosom, or from a friend’s hand.   In Caesar’s case the daggers came from most of those he thought he could trust.  From ancient ages to the present day the knife or dagger is a popular weapon.

In Rome and Greece the short sword was the weapon of choice.  In the Medieval and Renaissance eras the dagger was used to penetrate plate armor.  One of the most well known daggers, the stilleto, was developed particularly for this purpose.

During the late Renaissance period, a different style of sword fighting developed in Europe.  The dagger was held in the left hand and the sword in the right with the dagger being used to deflect sword thrusts.  One of the most well know of these left handed daggers is the Main Gauche.

The scissors dagger is a utilitarian weapon that can be used to cut and make clothes or to just as easily stab an unsuspecting soul.  This weapon was usually concealed in a woman’s bra.

The dagger plays an important role in reenactment today, especially the Renaissance.  These replica weapons can be purchased as appropropiate for the role in your reenactment.  Battle daggers are available as well as daggers that cannot be sharpened.  The dagger is a more economical choice if you are just getting started in LARP.