Viking Age Swords Compared to Later Medieval Ones
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- Опубліковано 12 січ 2025
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Video recorded by Christian Stickel.
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"If the design changes, that means the context has changed."
that alone was worth the price of admission. Thank you. :)
You are welcome.
This might be the most underrated channel on UA-cam right now. Thank you, Roland. Subscribed.
Thank you. I have a feeling that, because I have decided to not monetize my videos to keep them ad-free, my channel is not promoted by YT in the same way as those related ones which do support Google's business. I much rather leave it to viewers to decide if they wish to give something back to support my work: www.patreon.com/Dimicator I am grateful for YT providing this platform, but creating attractive content should be enough of a contribution on my part. We all pay with our personal data anyway.
You are exactly right, I did too.
Roland have you researched fighting styles from other Ancient Kingdoms and can you see if there are any resemblance between Kingdoms far and between?
P.S. I am very glad that you have made this channel, saw a old video of you once and thought it would be great to see more and know I find all this stuff, it really makes me happy. This is by far the most grounded work of ancient sword fighting I have seen. You must be a genius that have inherited some fighting skills from old dna ;)
I love these videos. The medieval era was so much more advanced than people give it credit for, and this kind of stuff is so interesting to watch.
"There's no need to look. The leg is off."
That actually comes from a rather amusing ambush fight in Njall's Saga when three warriors are preparing to ambush one. He sees them lying in wait and runs, leaps across a small stream and, as the impact of his leap keeps him skidding down the slope he slices open the head of one warrior who had not yet donned his helmet. Returning up the slope he sliced off a second man's leg below the knee.
The third man didn't bother putting up a fight after that and helped his wounded comrade away from the scene.
Thanks for the additional info.
I was just watching a guy recreating a burger from sponge bob, then a guy making 18th century potted meat, and now I'm learning about viking swords.
I don't think youtube knows what its doing but thats ok.
Find more exclusive content here: www.patreon.com/Dimicator . Info on sword & shield classes: www.patreon.com/posts/shield-classes-7155643
Man that really helps you understand what's going through their mind at the time of designing and how that influences the style of combat...Better yet the combat style and lessons learned through combat influencing design...This still happens today. I've noticed a ton of changes to our tech, gear, and weapons from things we were up against in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan..Its a constantly changing eb and flow as the enemy adapts we adapt and it almost creates a cycle..After many years of fighting we start seeing old tactics and weapons being used again and the cycle starts again
Context is everything. Without research into historical combat requirements and their means to respond to them, there is no chance we could understand historical arms combat technique.
Stumbled on this channel and I’m glad I did!
Thank you
I don't even remember clicking on this video. It was just a tab i had open, maybe autoplay from something else. But I'm glad i found it. Very nice to hear someone else articulate concepts that I've had difficulty expressing. Sub definitely earned.
PrivateZim, happy you like it.
Completely stumbled on your channel by pure luck...so glad I did! Probably the most intelligent demonstration of Viking era swords compared to Medieval that I've ever seen. Thank you so much for sharing what you know! Subscriber for life...
Most excellent. Thank you for your kind feedback.
Love your videos man. Without you I wouldn't have additional knowledge of sword fighting
Most excellent. Glad you find it useful.
Extremely thankful for this video. Without your extensive experience, we would not know the why on the changing sword design through the ages.
Thank you for your kind words.
Thanks a lot man! This is fascinating stuff. Thanks for posting to bring sword nerds and history buffs around the globe into this awesome live research discussion.
You are very welcome. I am delighted to read that you enjoyed this.
I think I speak for quite a few others in saying that I'd love to see some full speed sparring using these types of techniques at some point. It'd be fascinating to watch!
Yes, same here. But free application of any martial arts technique requires according skill first, or else it is just intuitive bashing and fooling around - and there is enough of that all over the internet already! From my experience with buckler fencing ( ua-cam.com/play/PL_hVs5MjWFV36nbhrEc9NbwDXLzxMi4mI.html ), I have a good idea of what I expect competent Viking sword & shield fighting to look like. When we get closer to this, there will be free play videos, too. Working on it.
''più pressione'', seems very at comfort while switching from english to italian to german
When you go from watching video's about good make-up for dark skin to videos about Viking and medieval swords and won't leave that side of UA-cam. I ain't mad at it though. This stuff is weird but interesting and kind of soothing. *Subscribes.*
Your videos are amazing and very instigating, Roland!
I just don't know how 10 people can click on the dislike button of an excellent (and free) video like this!
Thank you for your appreciation, Bernardo.
In Actis Esto Volucris, to each his own. Skallagrim certainly knows way more about gaming than I ever will.
For the sake of my viewers, I will address "In Actis Esto Volucris"'s rather rude and very ill-informed post in more detail:
The first cruciform swords with crossguards that are considerably longer than late spatha type swords as favoured by early medieval Scandinavians and Slavs are to be seen in the Utrecht Psalter, dated to 821. They were widespread in the Christian realms of Western Europe by the 10th century. The old spatha type had completely been given up by the Franks/Germans by then. This is also true for the Anglo-Saxons, although there were some special developments of hilt shapes. At any rate, cruciform swords were in use for some 300+ years before the first helmets with notable face protection were developed and almost 600 years before plate armour was fully developed by the early 15th century, which is also the time when the first combat manuals appear, which the poster "In Actis Esto Volucris"' refers to when he mentions techniques for armoured single combat, such as half-swording or the "mordschlag".
I have no idea of the expertise of the UA-camr he mentions and if indeed this gentleman suggested that longer crossguards where developed for 15th century duelling techniques. At any rate, it is obvious to anybody who is less ignorant than Mr. "In Actis Esto Volucris"' that this hypothesis is a feeble one.
Your orthography is lacking, little angry man.
whats so laughable is Actis Estos lack of self realization. He wants to throw names, cry, and throw a fit. Yet he thinks he can call A professional, educated, and polite man a "girl", because he doesnt like what is being explained to him. Ha.. little man indeed. Bravo Roland.
Very interesting. I have often wondered why Viking swords had such a small cross-guard.
You are an excellent teacher Roland!
Thank you.
Nice. I was pretty impressed by the accuracy of the presentation, even if the exactly mechanical knowledge behind the dynamics of the sword isn't there. I didn't want to comment, but the Rage Against The Machine melody convinced me. You Sir deserve a like, and I will be looking out for your channel.
Cool.
Great vid, as past warrior, the demostated reasons & thought behind the actions
I just found your channel
with this video and subscribed. Excellent.
Happy you like it.
Wonderful video, as always.
Thank you very much.
Amazing video! It's always entertaining to explore the intricacies of how material culture was designed in times long past; if anything, studies like this show us how our ancestors weren every bit as intelligent and cunning as we are today
Absolutely.
Very well explained and demonstrated. I learned something new today! Thank you!
Excellent!
My good luck to u sir, may ur channel succeed byond imagination, subbed
I recommend people look up bronze age swords. For several of them the hilts are shaped more like Viking swords. I always thought the bronze age warriors were loath to parry with their more fragile swords and would rely more on shields. This could support my little theory. It's also a very good video and provided some new information for me.
Excellent.
Where did this demonstration take place? I like this guy.
www.geschichtspark.de/
Your videos are awesome! So you loosen the grip of the sword a little bit to use its full momentum. The sword can not fly away because of the almost straight pommel bar which provides a safty lock. Is this grip change also to avoid a "broken wrist position"? It looks as if you had a more like pistol grip position after the blow.
Happy you like my work. Yes, a pistol grip comes naturally with arm and hand extension. An over extended wrist is never a good thing, of course. To understand the mechanics I advocate, think of cracking a whip or cutting down flowers with a willow twig, like children do. Same with a full sword blow: power is achieved by acceleration. Tensing up for too long would slow it down.
I live pretty close to Bärnau and love their shows. Great channel by the way.
I will be back soon. You are welcome to come by: www.geschichtspark.de/events/schwertseminar-mit-roland-warzecha-3/
Awesome info Roland
I am glad you find it useful.
The reason the crossguard is shorter and the pummel as a kind of guard on it on 9th century swords they where about equal length. is to have leverage behind the shield.
You re living the dream, man!
Sometimes, yes.
But the real question is, can you throw the pummel?
Very interesting and informative. Thanks.
You are welcome.
I would love to take a class like this on Viking age combat or even later medieval combat it would be good exercise and extremely educational. The only sword I've played around with has been a Scottish Claymore and holy shite I could barely maneuver it it was so heavy!
You are most welcome to attend any of my classes. Regarding sword weight: Of course one has to use a training tool that allows for developing the correct mechanics, so a wooden sword would be a good option for a beginner. Like in archery: Starting with too heavy a draw weight will not allow for developing skill. Strength comes over time.
fascinating insight... great video!
Glad you find it educating.
Hi Roland, I'm curious who made your Viking age sword? I'm part of a Viking reenactment group in Australia and am looking for a replacement for a much shorter blade.
Warmest regards
Hart
The sword was made by Arno Eckhardt, alas, he doesn't make swords anymore. You could approach his former apprentice Mario Arlt, though. He is the one who shortened the grip on my Viking sword. Here is his FB profile: facebook.com/mario.arlt.9
Roland Warzecha thank you for the information
You are welcome.Hope it helps.
+Hart buy from this website kult of athena
Thanks for the video. You cover the topic very well, which makes me think you might be up to covering a similar topic that nonetheless seems to be much more difficult - Migration Era Swords vs Viking Era Swords. They're obviously very similar, but the differences don't seem to have the same sort of neat functional explanation you give here - or do they? It'd make a great video. Again, thanks.
Thanks for the suggestion. If ever I come up with some plausible insight, I will, of course, share it.
Interesting and well explained! In two different languages!
I want a pair of boots like that. How do I make that happen?
Order quality hand-made boots from vegetable tanned leather here: www.reenactment-bedarf.de/html/stiefel.html
you can exchange money for boots
Every time he's about to sheath his sword, and doesn't, take a shot.
Too many swords to handle!
Does it have sense, to use a medieval sword with a viking shield?
You could do this. Center-gripped round shields are still depicted on a relief in Alsace dated to 1130. So such shields may have still been used, e.g. in duelling contexts. However, the top heaviness and the stubby fittings of early medieval swords work better with such shields. Long crosses may get in your way when the sword is sliding along and around your shield edge, plus, because of the support shield, earlier swords (and axes!) provide a better sense for your point.
Cool, thanks for the answer! Thanks for all the amazing content you provide us with :D
You are most welcome.
Plus I think I'm not wrong if I say that rounded shield (but smaller) are still used in 14th century by Eastern fighter.
Any though about that ?
SkeulIz, this is correct. Alas, oriental arms and armour is not my field of expertise. One would have to closely look at the design of such shields and the weapons used in conjunction, and at the context of action, as well as considering cultural implications (codes of honour etc.). This may sound like a major task - and I would expect it to be!
Please tell me where one finds such glorious garments?
I have made mine mostly myself, save for the linen shirt which is based on the Viborg shirt and was custom made by a Russian tailor.
Could it be possible, that this "Viking"-technique was also used by Celts? Because their sword design has many similarities with the Early Medeival sword, hasn´t it?
I've been looking for a channel that actually show you how the swords were used one against another.
There is an abundance of such content on the internet, including my channel. As with all media content, I find some of some of the available material quite good, but most of it is very superfluous.
would a kite shield with center grip works? I'm wondering if I can use horizontal centergrip to my kite shield (dunno about vertical/diagonal though). I mean compared to the other strap configuration, a horizontal centergrip kite shield is quite similar to horizontal strapheld kite shield in terms of hand position
There are numerous period sources that show a center gripping method with the kite shield: facebook.com/266934476773420/photos/a.326095754190625.1073741858.266934476773420/940660632734131/?type=3&theater But there is nothing to suggest a wooden handle and a hand opening in the shield board as on earlier round shields. Wherever one can see the inside, it is clear that there is a strap arrangement instead: facebook.com/266934476773420/photos/a.344361789030688.1073741867.266934476773420/962175723915955/?type=3&theater
I see, wooden handle is basically didn't exist (or rarely exist) on a kite shield back then. guess I'm gonna just put some strap on it, gonna look at some of the strap configuration then.
dunno why but I just love the feeling of solid wooden handle on a shield. guess I'll just have to make a centergrip round shield for the next project.
thanks of the response :D
You are welcome. Good luck with your shield project.
could you describe how and why you held that kite shield? i have never seen it done that way. Also why kite shields have bosses when they are not centergrip. Thank you for your time.
Bosses on kite shields appear occasionally up until the end of the 1100s. They are traditionally believed to have been ornamental only. However, we have found out with earlier shields that you can use a boss to control an opposing shield edge in shield binds. So there may indeed have been purposes we do not fully understand yet. That particular shield strapping is based on a French relief from the late 12th century. In close combat in ground fighting, shields were employed in various ways, one of which is to extend the shield edge further in according situations (usually to both close attack lines and gain control of the opposing shield): facebook.com/266934476773420/photos/a.326095754190625.1073741858.266934476773420/895545833912278/?type=3&theater Note that you could hold this shield with a center-grip, too: facebook.com/266934476773420/photos/a.326095754190625.1073741858.266934476773420/940660632734131/?type=3&theater
Thank you!
You are most welcome.
That was very interesting. Subbed!
Interesting. Thanks.
You are welcome.
Do you think a sword balanced like a norse sword would lend itself well to SCA beat-each-other-with-a-stick fighting? That cast blow looks like it delivers a great amount of power to the end of the blade
I am not familiar with SCA fighting, but I understand it is conducted with rattan sticks. Fighting with sharp swords does not easily compare to it.
Im curious what type of medieval arming sword that was, Ive never seen one with what appears to be a semi circle gaurd along the blade. Is it for binding? Does anyone know what its called so I can look into this further?
Take a look here: facebook.com/266934476773420/photos/a.281067525360115.1073741834.266934476773420/643363142463883/?type=3&theater
Where can I purchase traditional European clothes like what Roland is wearing?
Mine I made myself or had them custom made. A good living history market is a good start or track down according vendors on the net. Consult quality online groups before you buy anything.
This guy always reminds me of the wizard that falls from the sky in morrowind.
This was beautiful!
Thank you, my pleasure.
You seem to use the swords as thrust weapons more than slashing weapons, do you believe this was more common than the swinging ,cutting motion, as shown in the movie "13th worrior"
The historical combat treatises seem to suggest so.
Good job, this is a good video.
thank yew. i get the point.
LOL! There's always one in every crowd.
Do you know where I can find information on Viking age group fighting?
What do you mean? There are many modern combat sports that are related to the Viking Age, and according groups exist all over the world. The systems and tactics used are eclectic and home-bred, and the fighting is usually limited by safety precautions, of course. If you are asking about actual historical sources: Welcome to my world! Alas, there is hardly anything, save for a few references like terms for two or three formations, that lack any specific description of their nature. In fact, I agree with Dr William Short who thinks that formation fighting as such was alien to the Viking mindset. In a sense, the raiders of the early Viking period could be considered the last heirs of Germanic martial heritage, and confined themselves to hit-and-run attacks. The larger Scandinavian hosts that ravaged e.g. the British Isles from the mid-9th century onwards did pretty much the same, only on a larger scale. Early medieval Scandinavians had no means of siege warfare, and it seems that they avoided large scale battles, most of which they lost when they were enforced upon them.
Interesting, thanks for the quick responce!
You are welcome.
What about when you throw your pommel at your opponent to end him rightly?
The arming sword (type XIV?) you are using in this video (and quite a few of your other videos) is it a one off custom job or can it be purchased online?
Looks like an Albion Sheriff. Though the flap (leather?) where the handle joins the blade appears to be custom. (To help stop water from entering the scabbard when the sword is in it?)
You can order it here: www.albion-swords.com/swords/albion/nextgen/sword-medieval-sherriff-typexiv.htm The crossguard chape I made myself: facebook.com/pg/Dimicator-266934476773420/photos/?tab=album&album_id=281067525360115
Sherratt Pemberton, yes, it is the Albion Sherriff. The crossguard chape I made myself. Such chapes appear around 1300, and then they are all over the place. Scabbards, in turn, had been good enough to keep blades dry and clean in preceding millenia, so it is unlikely that rain ever was much of a problem. Plus, your cloak would protect the complete sword (including the hilt!) against foul weather anyway. Cleaning a blood-stained weapon would have been a standard job after fighting, so any historical swordsman would have had a routine of wiping off smear and moisture from his balde. There seems no need for a leather chape in this regard. Read on possible reasons for crossguard chapes here: facebook.com/266934476773420/photos/a.281067525360115.1073741834.266934476773420/643363142463883/?type=3&theater
Yeah this explains why my Viking sword wouldn't cut as I tried to swing it as hard as I could like a club
Like cracking a whip: If you tense up too much, you slow yourself down.
thanks for the advice
You are welcome.
Nice video, subbed.
where is this
I love that hat, did you make it or buy it? if you made it, can you make a video on it, and if you bought it where? I really like fur hats right now and this one is also sorta a helmet, it looks great! or is that a helmet? I can't tell what the material is on top, it sorta reminds me of a similar Mongol helmet.
Dear Preußisch Jäger, happy you like my felt hat. If you would browse the comments, you would find all the answers to your questions. For your convenience, I answer once again: I picked up the hat from a Hungarian craftsman/vendor at some re-enactment market many years ago. I cannot tell you where or how to acquire one. The silver point is based on a find from Birka and I purchased it here: www.reenactors-shop.de/en/jewelry-and-fibulas/vikings/other-viking-jewelry/cap-top-birka-925er-silver.html
wow thanks for the answer, its a great hat! that silver point however seams to cost a fortune!
You are welcome. By the way, that is not a fortune for silver granule decoration on a silver point. It is a very fair price. But, of course, a luxury item.
thanks for the reply
Sure, no problem.
Clever man, good point.
Happy it makes sense to you.
Ich bin höchst beeindruckt von Ihrem Level in Englisch. Soetwas sieht man nur selten
Dankesehr, das freut mich zu hören.
Going to be honest this dude seems like he knows what he is talking about...
I prefer the Viking sword to the single hand medieval sword. I also prefer Viking style spears to most others. Maybe it's DNA, one of my ancestors was a Norman who served at Hastings 1066. Thank you for this valuable video, subscribed. The early Viking sword has something in common with the Cossack saber, all attack concept, no real guard. Spanish sword fighting also has the overhead rotational blow, in Philipino Kali it's called a redondo
Happy you like the video. The lack of a guard, or rather its relative shortness with spatha type swords and sabers originate from very different contexts of action, namely shield fighting on the ground with the former and fighting from horseback without a shield with the latter. I do not think they easily compare.
I watched this video once, then I've watched it again. I rarely do that.
Cool.
Insightful!
Happy it makes sense to you.
Subscribed.
guter Mann
Dankesehr.
this is highly interesting!
Interesting, subscribed!
What is that hat called?
I don't think there's a single name, but a Nordic/Rus hat would do.
Thanks. I like the look of it.
No such hats have survived completely. Only the silver tips show up in the archeological records. Some examples have been excavated in a Viking context in Björkö/Birka in Sweden. They seem to originate from the East and comparable examples have been found in Russia, too, where the so-called Rus was dominated by a ruling class that originated from Sweden. Interestingly, Icelandic Sagas make reference to a "Russian hat" that was given to an Icelandic hero by the Norwegian King, alongside other gifts. Flashy Eastern gear was very popular with dandy Vikings, as East European style belt sets adorned with dozens of belt mounts in some Viking graves attest to.
So you are a dandy Viking at heart, too!
One could say that the medieval sword is a much more self-contained weapon, more universal, capable of both defense, offense and more agile swordplay rather than a viking sword, which is centered around its attack capability.
Mozoto Of course, once the shields shrunk in size it's logical that the swords took over part of their job.
I wonder why the shields shrunk though, possibly to cavalry becoming more prevalent, especially in Normandy?
BoarhideGaming I think the prevalence of cavalry is definitely part of it, another possibility is the advancement of armor. As armor became more complex and full plate was able to be made, there was less need for a larger shield to protect more of the body. However I am by no means an expert so take my words with a grain of salt.
Jay Ruud We see a development towards smaller shields long before plate armor came around, but better/more available chain mail might be partial cause, yeah.
Not an expert either
It is true that the medieval sword is better suited for blade-on-blade fencing. But let us not forget that the cruciform sword was still being used in conjunction with a shield for at least another 500 years after its first appearance. Here is a video of mine that addresses possible reasons for the changes in shield and sword design: ua-cam.com/video/FrzOHN2rzE8/v-deo.html
The viking age was in the middle ages... So whats the difference? Is it
scandinavian and northern slavic swords against middle european swords?
Or swords from the middle of the middle ages against swords from another
part of the middle ages? Or is it just fighting style? With the "medieval" sword you made more langes Messer/Buckler stuff...
I have now edited the title. Thanks for pointing out its former imprecision. I hope you find it less misleading now.
Hmm, die gleichen Fragen werden wieder kommen. Zumindest die fundierten. Aber ich habe keine Lust auf diese Diskussion, die daraus entstand das ein Kanal in dieser Kategorie sich weigert gerechtfertigte Fragen zu beantworten. Und ich habe ja meine Antwort in den Comments bekommen. Ich finde es aber schade das dies mein Eindruck von einem eigentlich interrassenten Kanal, nach anschauen eines (meines ersten) Video, ist. Dann wird dieser spezielle Bedarf meinerseits halt weiterhin nur von den uralten Gladiatores Videos befriedigt.
In english: Whatever...
are these Swords Aluminium? they dont sound like steel. they have a higher pitch
No. Blunt steel training swords. But I noticed that when fencing with sharp swords, there is almost no ring at all. So the clinging of swords is due to most people using blunts.
Roland Warzecha i believe that sharpened swords used for HEMA and such are heat treated a bit differently. to better survive the combat. a blunted sword may actually offer more vibration due to its heat treat.
It is more a matter of how well your sword is peened. Anyway, here is a good lecture by swordmaker and expert Craig Johnson on how historical swords were made: ua-cam.com/video/b6CzBY7FX8g/v-deo.html
My sword is not the longest sword, but it is not a short sword
It is not the oldest sword, but it is not a new blade
It is not the noblest blade, but it is not an ignoble blade...
But I think it is the right blade to knock your sodding block off! ---Kalevala, slightly paraphrased.
Why did the Viking weapons and fighting style fall out favour in Europe in favour of the medieval weapons and methods?
Apparently they did no longer match combat requirements of the day which was an increasing use of disciplined formations, armour and horsemen. Viking armament was mainly developed for a different military context: Raids, guerilla warfare, small scale skirmish, duelling.
Danke SchwertMeister Warzecha!
Bittesehr, gern geschehen.
Well an experienced Viking wouldnt hit like that allowing the opponent to use his crossguard. It's hard to imagine. But would rather go for the leg, head or arms. Inexperienced / poorer Viking warriors would have used a spear or an axe. Cheaper to make.
Fascinating. Thanks for posting. Just about to attend our local medieval festival (abbeymedievalfestival.com/) and have friends in the Viking reenactors, looking forward to telling them about your channel.
Only a German laughs at someone's leg getting cut off and the guy looking for it. Holy shit you guys are insane
It is an Icelandic story, 13th century.
A "medieval" sword? You mean arming sword, or knightly sword. But I guess more more people understand when you refer to it as a "medieval" sword. But technically, a viking sword is also a medieval sword. Medieval times lasted from late 5th to late 15th centuries.
Well, the term "knightly sword" is even more misleading, not to say it is plain wrong, as clearly, such swords were not reserved for knighthood alone. "Arming sword" is no more specific a term and almost as debatable. Definitions and sub-divisions of historical periods also vary. There is by no means a consensus in the academic world, as regional developments differed greatly. Plus, the very term "Middle Ages" is a condescending 19th century creation - but we do not want to go there in YT comment section, do we?. At any rate, I went for a catchy and simple title that would work for most.
I have now edited the title. Thanks for pointing out its former imprecision.
Umm, so... Why does he wear a Turkic/Mongolic headwear(börk, to be exact) while doing and telling viking stuff? Anyone?
The hat is based on 10th century finds from Birka, Sweden. Oriental dress was fashionable with many Scandinavians who had established trade routes to the Black Sea region and ultimately to Byzantium.
Interesting! Turks and Mongols were wearing that way way before than 10th century, as Chinese records states.
Cool
Very interesting.
Vakker sverd. Jeg pleier å foretrekke en senere periode sverd, og normalt for to hender, men en flott leksjon likevel.
Yup Vikings knew there stuff. That's why they dominate the world, and still do.
uhm....you are aware that the entire viking era is part of the medieval period yes? its like saying roman gladius compared to antique ones. it doesnt make sense
Yes, thank you. I have edited the title.
wow that was a swift response, i am impressed. Rest of the video is a great job =) I appreciate the editing and well i guess you have another subscriber =)
there is no way a sword would just lop off a leg with such a weak blow. come on now
What was the purpose of this meeting?
I mean... the man wears ancient, nomadic Hungarian style clothing, yet he teaches sword-stuff :D
The dress is based on 10th century finds from Birka, Sweden, Hedeby in northern Germany (then Danish) and from Viborg, Denmark. Apparently, east European dress was popular with some Scandinavians.
Thanks! Good to know this.
You are welcome.
I do not buy the explanation. It doesn't take into account that in viking era wars, fighting inside a shieldwall was the most common way. Crossguards were disadvantage under These conditions. In the middle ages, the role of the Warriors changed. This Leads automatically to different conditions in the battlefield: the single combat knight vs Knight became the aim. Nö need ansonsten want for shieldwalls any more. Consequently, the crossguard became usefull. So: basically, Social developments fostered the Development.
I generally agree that novel combat requirements impact weapon design. But there are two assumptions in your reasoning that you will find hard to back up by period sources: 1. The alleged prevalence of shield wall fighting. 2. The prevalence of single combat in later periods.
But if you can, I would be interested in the according evidence.
Roland Warzecha , just a look at history: wherever phalanx type armies fought, they used swords without crossguards. Wherever Single combat was the Code of war, crossguards apear.
Example of later Times: Poitiers .
I would really like to experiment in this! 😀
There certainly is a direct correlation of shield use and sword shape. However, you are grossly over-simplifying things. For instance, the Bayeux Tapestry which was made in about 1080 is one of the few medieval sources showing actual large scale battle, including battle arrays. In contrast to your hypothesis, all swords are of fully developed cruciform shape with long crossguards. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux_Tapestry
Roland Warzecha You are right with the tapestry. But that is exactly a weak proof. E.g. The kite form shields are very unpractical gor cavalry use. And we know that harolds mein actually used round shields. So some questions remain. So basically, what i am saying is: there are other things that influence the development of sword Design than man vs man combat.
I am offering a more elaborate hypothesis in this video, which is based on my lecture at the 2012 Sword Conference at Freiburg University: ua-cam.com/video/FrzOHN2rzE8/v-deo.html
I came out a litte bit smarter. Well done!
Cool.
Google translated:
Sorry, but...
1. The Viking shield is not strong enough and easily breaks through with a sword. Keep him close to the body - a fatal mistake.
ua-cam.com/video/xEVhOucgXlY/v-deo.html
2. It is highly undesirable to hold the sword with a relaxed brush. This leads to a multiple weakening of the impact and the probability of losing a sword when struck.
3. A sword is much more convenient to prick than chop. A wide pommel does not prevent this, even on the contrary. Is there a way.
Original text:
Извините но...
1. Щит викингов недостаточно прочен и легко пробивается мечом. Держать его близко к телу - фатальная ошибка.
2. Держать меч расслабленной кистью крайне нежелательно. Это приводит к многократному ослаблению удара и вероятности потерять при ударе меч.
3. Мечом намного удобнее колоть, чем рубить. Широкое навершие не мешает этому, даже наоборот. Есть способы более удобного удержания меча с широким навершием, чем вами показанный.
Where do you draw your conclusions from?
From personal practice and last year's scientific analysis. It has not yet been translated into English, since the publication has just started to be published.
As for the thrusting of the sword and the penetration of the shield, there is a video on my channel. Strikes at different angles, in different ways.
A target, similar to a heavy shield (Roman or Greek), withstands almost any blows. Target - an analogue of a light shield, such as a shield of Vikings, breaks through an injection easily.
Из личной практики и проведённого в прошлом году научного анализа. Он ещё не был переведён на английский, так как публикация ещё только начала выходить в печать.
Что касается колющих ударов мечом и пробиваемости щита - на моём канале есть видео. Удары под разными углами, разными способами.
Мишень, аналогичная тяжёлому щиту (римский или греческий), выдерживает почти любые удары. Мишень - аналог лёгкого щита, такого как щит викингов, пробивается уколом легко.
And what is your conclusion as to what this light weight construction was designed for in terms of combat application?
If you mean a shield, low strength is compensated for by a fist to hold the shield away from the body.
Moreover, a weapon that has broken through a shield can get stuck in it, you can
even use it to disarm the enemy, with some skill. (This we will check soon)
Also, a light shield gives an advantage for long transitions over long distances and it is more mobile in combat.
Если вы имеете в виду щит, низкая прочность компенсируется кулачным хватом, позволяющим держать щит далеко от тела.
Более того, пробившее щит оружие может застрять в нём, можно даже использовать это для обезоруживания противника, при некотором навыке. (это мы будем проверять в скором времени)
Также, лёгкий щит даёт преимущество при длительных переходах на большие расстояния и он более подвижен непосредственно в бою.
I agree. We have recently conducted an experiment, applying a late medieval disarm technique to the Viking shield. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/video/VgUDDdQWA4Q/v-deo.htmlm50s
Vikings lived in medieval age, 8-11 century, while medieval is about 5-15 century. Viking sword is medieval itself.
There is no consensus in academia on definitions of the duration of and the criteria for the medieval period, which, by the way is an artificial 19th century term to begin with. A more specific and precise title of the video should have been: "Early medieval late spatha type swords compared to high medieval cruciform swords". Would that have made you happier?
No, In Scandinavian countries, academia considers the viking age as a subset of of the iron age, and not part of the medieval age. You have to understand that northen Europe, never had heavy Roman influence, hence there is not the abrubt change over after 500 CE, as there was in most of western/central Europe. Also if you just look at a roman spatha and a viking sword you see the similarities, and how one (spatha) birthed the other (viking sword) in a repsonse to the former.
I have now edited the title. I hope you find it less misleading now.
@Dachi No the vikings did not live in the medieval age. The viking age is just a continuation of the iron age in scandinavia, hence it can be considered a iron age sword. In fact the medieval age did not start in scandinavia until after 1050ish. This has to do with the lack of direct influence from the roman and christian world until the turn of the millenia. Yes there was indirect influence via trade and other travelers, but there was no direct influence in the way the countries were goverened until after they were christianized and hence a wider adoption of european ideas became widespread in scandinavia.
Also you have to understand that the viking sword is a continuation of the roman spatha, they share a lot of similar traits, like rounded tip, lack of crossguard, and used with a round shield. The spatha comes into being as first a roman cavalry sword, itself influenced by gallic longswords. The spatha is longer then the gladius which was the main armament of the citizen soldiers, but in late antiqutiy with the gradual barbarization of the roman army we see the heavy infantry adopt the spatha, and replacing the square scutum with the round shield. The germanic tribes bordering the roman empire carries this developement northward via trade and tribal connections, to scandinavia, where it eventually leads to the development of viking sword. So calling the viking sword a medieval sword is just plain wrong, as it is an iron age/classical age sword.
Thanks for this additional and detailed information, Himmelganger.
Aren't viking swords technically medieval swords? Great video though!
That depends on definition and terminology, which is not consistent.
I have now edited the title. I hope you find it less misleading now.
Where is the historical evidence for these 'throw-strikes'? It seems like a plausible theory but how can it possibly be anymore than that? In my mind anyone who tells you 'the truth' of Viking fighting style is lying, simply due to the complete lack of written evidence. Much can be guessed from weapon designs and so forth, but not known for certain as we can with the many things of the medieval era.
While personally, I would be more hesitant to imply that someone is a liar, you are of course right: this is but a plausible hypothesis at best that may be replaced by a more plausible one any time - just like I did with many of my conclusions in the past repeatedly. Hence I wrote elsewhere:
"All we can do is:
- Learn the concepts that make martial arts work (a huge effort for each individual to begin with!)
- Closely examine extant original weaponry with a practitioner’s eye.
- Research historical context as thoroughly as possible (which includes comparison to related contexts that are better documented).
Apparently, conclusions would likely change with every single new source or insight that is being discovered or revealed. Plus, work never stops and is unlikely to ever provide the full picture. (None of which will keep me from continuing my work!)"
Thank you for taking the time to personally answer my comment. I can really appreciate that sort of dedication. As I already mentioned, the ideas presented in this video all makes sense - and actually, I did not imply that you personally were a liar. I only said that people claiming they know "the truth" about viking combat lie - but luckily we have just agreed about the uncertainty present when talking about combat of this era. Personally, I would put more emphasis into making this clear, in every single video regarding viking combat, as the common viewer might not know of this uncertainty and possibly could end up in a conflict when confronted with someone of a different opinion. That, however, is your choice. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the video and learned a thing or two. Keep up the good work!
schade das es nicht auf Deutsch gesprochen wird