Archive for November, 2008
Since the beginning of time, men have protected the body from stones, weapons and any flying objects. The first armor was likely developed by an early relative of the Geico caveman. There is an old story written on the side of a cave that relates how Agon, a bumbling idiot in the eyes of his cavemen friends, became the rock star of the whole territory. Agon was smaller than most men of his tribe, and he was clumsy. He had taken a wife from his own tribe, but another enemy tribe came into his cave and stole her. He took another wife and they also kidnapped her. He could keep nothing. If he killed an animal for food, his enemies rushed in to steal it. He was the laughing stock of his world. No woman would live with him because he was so inept at everything, and she knew he could not protect her.
Agon grew despondent over his situation. He needed help with hunting and the gathering of food. His animal skin clothing was torn, and he was practically naked. The women helped the men with these tasks, and no woman wanted Agon for her husband. One day he managed to kill a large animal for food. He was pulling the animal back to his cave on a piece of wood when he was overpowered by an enemy tribesman. He was knocked to the ground and the man grabbed the dead animal. Agon was furious and he quickly rose to his feet, he picked up the transporting wood with both hands and ran toward the fleeing man. He jumped as far as he could and with his weight on the wood, he managed to knock the thief to the ground. He then tried to crawl away and Agon again used his body against the wood. This time the man did not move; blood poured from his head and face. Agon seized his animal and returned to his tribe.
Agon told his story, but no one believed him. He told them where he had left the man. He begged the elders of his tribe to confirm his story, so they went out in search of the thief. They found him lying where Agon had left him. By this time he had regained consciousness. He told the elders the story of how Agon had utilized the wood in a strange way and had become as strong as a bull. The elders were so impressed that they rewarded Agon with the wife of his choice. They used it to protect from the stones that were hurled at them as well as using it in close battle with enemies. The wood became a protective weapon or the first use of armor.
Collecting is a great hobby. Establishing a collection of your favorite items allows you to always be surrounded by the things you love most. Many people enjoy amassing items such as collectible knives and swords, while other like antique guns and rifles.But if collecting weaponry is your passion then you should make sure to take some safety measures when children are in the house. First of all, it’s important to store weapons up high and out of kids’ reach. Secondly, guns should never be kept loaded.
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.
In early the earliest of Medieval epics, ”Beowulf”, which recently was made into a movie, money meant very little. The old English word for cash was “feoh”. Beowulf was promised treasures for finding and killing Grendel, a dragon. He dives into the monster’s lake, and his first concern was him men. He then asked that they send his property to his family. When Beowulf received his gifts for the feat he performed, the poet remarks “he had no reason to feel shame before warriors.” He had attained the important things to be esteemed by his fellow man–gleaming helmets, bright shields, stacked spears and chainmail. However great all these weapons were, the ultimate status symbol was his sword–which had its own life.
Charlemagne came to the throne in 768. He was the son of King Pepin and Big-foot Bertha (yes, this is what his mother was called). He was known as Charles the Great, and he was great in many ways—size, political acumen, ambition and prowess. He was 6’4″ tall which was much taller than most of the men of his time.He loved hunting and competitive games, which probably included a game akin to the joust, and he was the best of swimmers. His swimming pool would hold 100 bathers, because he loved the comraderie with all people. He also loved music, and collected Frankish ballads. He was the most powerful man of his time; he expanded the Frankish kingdom to include the Lombards, the Bavarians, and the Saxons. He was a remarkable man with many talents who relished every moment of his life, including his music, his friends, his games, but most of all he loved swordplay. He insisted that a young age his children be instructed in the use of a sword.
History and lore attribute three swords to the Emperor, Joyeuse, the Flamberge(”the flame-cutter”) and a sabre which is housed at the Kunsthistoriches museum in Vienna.Charlemagne’s swords were romanced in literature and legend as having a life of their own. His best known sword was called Joyeuse which means joy. Here is the description of the sword from the “Song of Roland” which is a an epic poem of the struggles of a young knight.
[Charlemagne] was wearing his fine white coat of mail and his helmet with gold-studded stones; by his side hung Joyeuse, and never was there a sword to match it; its color changed thirty times a day “
Joyeuse is almost a mystical blade that possessed magical powers. Many legends are told about this sword. Some say that it was buried with Charlegmagne. Other bards and story-tellers believe that Joyuese is somewhere in the mist of the lake with Excalibur, Arthur’s sword from Camelot. When Arthur returns, Charlemagne will return with him to assist in reestabling Camelot and and then both men will claim their magical swords.
The hero in the epic poem “The Song of Roland” also wielded a sword that was attributed to Charlemagne. Legend has it that Charlemagne gave a massive sword to Roland because of his brave service to the crown. Roland’s sword also had a life of its own like Excalibur and Joyeuse. The sword was named Durendal. At Roland’s tragic death he talked with the sword as if it were an intelligent being. Two centuries later this massive type of sword was later named the Flamberge by Egerton Castle who wrote a history of sword play.
Charlemagne because of his assistance to the pope, when he was incapable of protecting the Holy Roman Empire, was crowned Emperor of this realm. He was presented a magnificent sabre at his coronation. He was the first Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. This coronation sword is the only sword associated with Charlemagne that has been preserved. The “Saber of Charlemagne the Great” is a vital part of European history, being an important artifact in the Insignia of the Holy Roman Empire. The Medieval Sword is housed today in the Kunsthistoriches Museum in Vienna.
Charlemagne possessed the qualities of the ideal Medieval ruler. He was talented as a musician and bard. He was the first to collect the folk songs and folk lore of his time. He was a superb athlete. He had empathy for all people unlike some rulers of this age. He came to the aid of the church when other leaders would not. He was the true Renaissance man before the term was coined.