Archive for October, 2008
The middle ages is a period that will always intrigue even the generation x-ers. Most romance novels choose the medieval period as the setting for romance.
I don’t blame the authors because there is something about knights in medieval shields that make for perfect heroes. The maidens are attractive as well in their gowns with petticoats. It is no surprise that these novels make it big and sell millions.
Halloween is fast approaching. For sure, everyone will be hopping from one costume party to another. One costume that never runs out of style come Halloween is the costume of a knight.
Boys who don’t want any of the gaulish stuff would always prefer coming as a gallant knight with a medieval sword. It’s easier to dress up as a knight, especially when no scary make-up is needed.
A buckler is a small battle shield. It originated in France and the word is taken from the old French word, “boucle,” which translates as “fist of metal.” This is a very appropriate description of this little weapon that is capable of so much. The “little shield that could ” is often called a boss in English-speaking countries.
Pictures of ancient armies very often show the attackers holding a small shield. The Spartans did not use a full size shield. Historical pictures show the Roman army with boss shields that allow flexibility in using a sword. Roman gladiators often used a small shield for protection. The Saracens obviously used this economical shield in hand-to-hand combat during the crusades.
The use of the buckler is very well understood as it is the most versatile of any weapon. Often the buckler was equipped with a spike in the center which served as a stabbing weapon. It could also deflect thrusts and blows from the opponent’s sword. Protection for the sword hand is vital in a hand-to-hand combat situation; the little shield is effective in this role. The “boss” was also used as a metal boxing glove. The face of the shield or the rim could break a jaw or ribs.
The buckler is often used today in European martial arts to deflect blows from the longsword. It is also an economical alternative to the larger shield if you are considering joining the fight or attending a Faire.
The longsword is a European sword used during the medieval and Renaissance eras. Longswords are also sometimes called bastard swords, greatswords or hand-and-a-half swords. The Scottish claymore is sometimes referred to as a longsword. The longsword was developed because plate armor replaced chainmail, so a longer and heavier sword was needed to penetrate the armor. The longsword is usually held in both hands although sometimes it may be used single-handed. This sword is used for striking, cutting and thrusting. This sword was not used as often in medieval combat as the lighter swords were much easier to handle.
The longest of these swords was the zweihander whose length was up to 6 feet. This sword was used by the landsknechts who came from the Holy Roman Empire or an area that is now modern-day Germany. These swords were also used to break up infantry formations by attacking pikes and halberds. Today the longsword is the most popular weapon used by European martial artists. If you are interested in obtaining further information on medieval martial arts, I suggest that you visit the Tinker Swords website. Michael Tinker Smith has also published a book which has a very thorough description of medieval swords. You can download this book from this website.
The early medieval army was composed of about one-third mounted knights, a few professional soldiers, and the rest were peasants who were conscripted for the battle. The soldiers wore whatever they had available; most were clothed in a leather jerkin with iron rings. They carried a battle shield for better protection.
At the beginning of the Thirteenth Century, armor became more advanced. Knights could not armor themselves,because the armor was so cumberson. The squires and pages lifted and placed the various pieces of mail on their master. The typical knight wore steel-mail hose on his legs. On his upper body the first layer of clothing to protect from the steel hauberk was made from felted hair or quilted cotton. That particular garment is now referred to as a gambeson. The next upper body mail article was the riveted steel hauberk, and it often extended to mid thigh or below his knees. This armor could weigh between 19 to 60 pounds, dependent upon the amount of money the knight could give the craftsman. The lighter pieces naturally were more expensive. The hauberk was subject to rust, so a game was devised to rid the corrosion from the article. Sand and vinegar were placed in a bag with the chainmail and it was tossed back and forth between the soldiers. This protection was insufficient to protect from the sword, lance, flail, mace and axe. Later in the century a chainmail coif was developed to protect the head.
For today’s reenactor there are numerous pieces of replica chainmail. Riveted, butted, and aluminium chainmail is available, depending on your role in the reenactment event. Riveted is the most desirable for battle knights and soldiers. Butted will sometimes suffice if it is from a reputable manufacturer. For the costumer aluminum and butted light stainless steel are very realistic appearing and economical. Make your choice and join the battle or at least the festivities.
Swordplay had a very significant role in defining the Medieval Chivalric Code of Honor subscribed to in the Middle Ages in Medieval Europe. I assume that this occurred because should people be civil while trying to wound or kill the other, they would be the same in everyday life. Literature idealizes the knight who wielded the sword against evil. The embodiment of the Chivalric ideal was so strong that the sword of the user also took on these noble characteristics, and was given a name by the bards and poets of this time.
The most famous of the named swords was King Arthur’s Excalibur. The story is told of young Arthur who extracted the sword from the stone when others could not do so. Arthur was of noble lineage and imbued with princely qualities, therefore, he was able to attain the great sword and be crowned King. He reigned in the idyllic Camelot, and with the magnificent magical sword was able to defeat all enemies and give his subjects an almost perfect life.
Tennyson, the English poet, described the spectacular weapon as sparkling with diamonds, topaz lights, and jacinth work of sublest jewelry. The replica of Excalibur is one of the most popular of the collectible swords.
Camelot decayed because of the imperfections of men. However, Excalibur lives on somewhere in the universe, and is only waiting for Arthur to return and again claim the regal sword. Alfred Lord Tennyson in “Morte d” Arthur” describes Excalibur’s fate after the death of Arthur. The sword was thrown into the lake by one of Arthur’s knights.
“So flash’d and fell the brand Excalibur
But ere he dipt the surface, rose an arm
Cloth’d in white samite, mystic, wonderful,
And caught him by the hilt, and brandish’d him
‘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.
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.
The most famous version of the Bowie Knife was designed by Colonel James “Jim” Bowie and was presented to blacksmith James Black in the form of a carved wooden model in December of 1830. Black produced the knife ordered by Bowie although its common use refers to any large sheath knife with a clip point.
This knife became famous as the knife used by Bowie at the Sandbar fight, which was the famous 1837 due between Bowie and several men. In this battle Bowie was stabbed and beaten half to death but managed to win the fight.