Malevus

Author: Alby Butler

  • Hwacha Weapon: One of the First Rocket Launchers in History

    Hwacha Weapon: One of the First Rocket Launchers in History

    The Hwacha weapon was an ancient Korean rocket launcher and an organ gun created at the beginning of the 15th century during the Joseon Dynasty. Called 화차 in Korean, it translates as “Fire Cart.” This rocket cart was frequently employed until around the middle of the 17th century. As an anti-personnel weapon, it may have been one of the first gunpowder-based weapons of its kind. The original design of the Hwacha dates back to the time of King Taejong of Joseon (1367–1422), but the weapon has been refined and improved upon through the years into a multiple rocket launcher.

    What Was a Hwacha Weapon?

    fired Hwacha Weapon

    The hwacha was a platform built to unleash a barrage of flaming arrows at the enemy army. It was hitched to wagons and rolling carts. One Hwacha platform might hold anywhere from 150 to 200 fire arrows, arranged in seven or more rows of fifteen arrows. The points of the fire arrows were hollow, and the shafts were capped with pipes. Gunpowder was placed in the pipes and tips, and a fuse was attached to each.

    Although it is now popularly referred to as “Hwacha,” back then the weapon was called “Hwageo,” which roughly means “fire carriage.”

    Origin of the Hwacha

    The Huo Che (“wasp nest”), which dates back to the Ming dynasty, was most likely the first rocket launcher in history. The Hwacha came in second in 1451.

    A stationary defensive variant of the Huo Che from the 14th century Chinese book Huolongjing.
    A stationary defensive variant of the Huo Che from the 14th-century Chinese book Huolongjing.

    During the Goryeo Dynasty, Choe Museon found that potassium nitrate could be mined from the ground and processed into powder. In his research, he developed the first version of the hwacha weapon in 1377. This invention went by the name “Juwha”. Korea’s very first rocket launcher.

    In contrast, the “Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty” and the “Taejong Annals” document the creation of the Hwacha in the ninth year of King Taejong’s reign which is 1401.

    “The fire cart is constructed with several dozen iron feathered arrows placed in copper barrels and carried on small carts. When ignited with gunpowder, it produces a fierce and powerful force capable of restraining the enemy.“

    The Annals of Taejong, Volume 18.
    Plans for the assembly and disassembly of a Hwacha weapon, 1474.
    Plans for the assembly and disassembly of a Hwacha weapon, 1474.

    Gun Kisogan, Yi Do, and Choe Haesan (the son of Choe Museon) were among the creators of this multiple missile launcher. Among them, Choe Haesan was a commander who inherited his father’s weaponmaking secrets; his father had developed the first version of this Korean war machine.

    More Than 100 Projectiles

    Hwacha Weapon: One of the First Rocket Launchers Ever: A Singijeon style variant.
    A Singijeon style variant. (Photo by JoshBerglund19, CC BY, edited from original)

    The inventors described a wagon filled with iron tubes used to launch numerous explosives. However, its usage in a military context at the time was limited. In 1592, Byeon Yijung drilled more than a hundred holes into the Hwacha, lit them on fire, and used them to fire the projectiles.

    These modifications were specifically made during the reign of King Munjong of Joseon. Before that time, the wooden launcher saw very little usage in real conflict, but that would change soon. This invention allowed a single man to carry 100 rockets in battle, and it could hit several enemies in a single attack.

    How Did a Hwacha Weapon Work?

    Hwacha Weapon - One of the First Rocket Launchers
    A Chongtong style variant. (Photo by Kang Byeong Kee, CC BY, edited from original)

    The fuses on the fire arrows had to first light the powder in the pipes. The arrows’ heads contained gunpowder, which would explode if the fuses burned long enough, hopefully in the vicinity of the opposing troops. However, the weapons were so evasive that the Koreans had to unleash barrages of shots in order to do any real damage.

    After the 1400s, both Korea and China started producing fire arrows, which is considered to be the beginning of the Hwacha era. The 3,000-foot range of the fire arrows was extraordinary when measured against the capabilities of any other weapon.

    Hwacha were notoriously inaccurate; hence, they were most effective against large groups of enemies at middle range.

    The shrapnel from the fire arrows could do substantial damage even if they weren’t aimed properly at their target. Even seasoned men would break and flee at the sight of the noise and light caused by the bursting arrows. This artillery weapon was assembled on the battlefield before use, like Lego bricks.

    It Changed the Course of History

    Joseon dynasty army with the Hwacha weapon during the Imjin War between 1592 and 1598.
    Joseon dynasty army with the Hwacha weapon during the Imjin War between 1592 and 1598.

    The Hwacha’s full capability emerged during the Imjin War, also known as the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598). Hwacha was most widely used during the 1592–98 Japanese invasion of Korea. The Japanese samurai usually moved in tight formations. As a result, the hwacha had no trouble hitting them. In the Battle of Haengju, 3400 Koreans and 40 hwacha defeated 30,000 Japanese.

    “Singijeon Hwachas” were hwachas built for the exclusive purpose of launching Singijeon fire arrow rockets. Together with the Turtle Ship—the first armored battleship in history also made by the Koreans—this rocket launcher changed the course of the invasion.

    Hwachas were not only employed as weapons but also as carts to convey supplies for the troops. Byeon Yijung helped Kwon Yul acquire 300 Hwachas, which he used with other weaponry to great effect at the Battle of Haengju in 1593. The Koreans used this weapon to fire intense arrow rockets at the Japanese. Hwachas were too heavy for a single person to move, so they were usually handled by a small team.

    Panokseons and other ships under Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s fleet utilized this kind of weaponry at the Battle of Noryang in 1598. This gun was effective in striking the sails of the enemy ships.

    How It Was Constructed

    Five distinct Hwachas variants were developed under the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897). The foundation of a Hwacha was a two-wheeled carriage, upon which was attached a Chongtong (small barrels) or Singijeon (fire arrow rockets). They functioned as an apparatus, often resembling a rack.

    Chongtong Variant

    Hwacha Weapon: One of the First Rocket Launchers. This is a Chongtong style Hwacha .
    A Chongtong style variant. (Photo by Kang Byeong Kee, CC BY, edited from original)

    The Chongtong (“gun tube”) version could shoot up to 200 bullets, arrows, or small projectiles in rapid succession from 50 primed barrels. In this design, each row included 4 arrows (4×50 arrows). For comparison, the Singijeon version could fire off a hundred Singijeon arrows in rapid succession.

    During the Imjin War, Byeon Yijung upgraded the Hwacha by attaching 40 Chongtong barrels to the cart and wiring their fuses together so that they could be fired in rapid succession. At the Battle of Cheongju and the Battle of Haengju, as well as aboard naval boats, Byeon Yijung’s Hwachas proved invaluable all the time.

    Singijeon Variant

    Hwacha Weapon: One of the First Rocket Launchers Ever: A Singijeon style variant.
    A Singijeon style variant. (Photo by Kang Byeong Kee, CC BY, edited from original)

    The size of the Singijeon fire arrows ranged from small to large. In the large version, the rocket arrows, each measuring 20 inches in length, were discharged from handguns through separate fuses. By calculating the length of the fuse, they exploded around the time they hit the target.

    Larger versions of these anti-personnel weapons were developed once it was discovered that many rockets could be fired from a single cart. These bigger anti-personnel weapons were designed to be moved around with the help of trolleys or even just regular old wheelbarrows with two wheels.

    The range of the large Singijeons was between 3,000 and 7,000 feet, but they were too large to be fired from a Hwacha. Thus, a smaller Singijeon arrow was designed. But it couldn’t explode like its bigger brothers since it was only an arrow with a black gunpowder bag attached to the end. It was often this small Singijeon that was shot from a Hwacha at a range of about 330 feet and was released in batches of 100.

    Why Hwacha Fell Out of Favor

    Because the rack placed on the Hwacha was cantilevered, rockets could be launched at an angle. The late Joseon kingdom relied heavily on the Singijeon variant to fight against Manchurian and Japanese invasions. The hwacha was a formidable weapon with great psychological effect, but it was also complicated to construct and operate.

    These rocket launchers had been phased out of service in favor of cannons and arquebuses by the time the first American and Russian missions landed in Korea. When bullets and artillery shells proved more effective than fire arrows, the hwacha were rendered obsolete.

    Based on a Chinese War Machine

    According to various sources, the true origin of the Hwacha could be based on the Chinese invention “Tu Huo Qiang.” Translated as “fire lance,” this weapon was one of the first true guns in history. It was a single-projectile weapon made from a moso bamboo tube that was filled with gunpowder.

    Due to the low explosive capacity of the gunpowder of the time, this gun produced more smoke and flames than anything else. Thus, it was primarily used for its shock effect rather than its lethality.

    Therefore, it’s not out of the question that the ancient Koreans knew how to create a new version of such a weapon, given China’s cultural and military hegemony over the region.

    Hwacha in Today’s Society

    Video Games

    • Video games such as Rise of Nations (2003), Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Warlords (2006), and Sid Meier’s Civilization V (2010) include Hwacha as a distinctive military unit for the Korean civilization.
    • In the video game Totally Accurate Battle Simulator (2019), this weapon fires 60 arrows in three seconds.
    • It is also featured in The Walking Dead: No Man’s Land (2015).
    • In the game Medieval II: Total War, such devices are used by the Mongols.
    • In the Korean MMORPG Black Desert, this artillery gun is also present at sieges.
    • In Ghost of Tsushima (2020), the Hwacha are used by the Mongols to attack the island of Tsushima. The player can also use this gun in battles.

    TV Shows and Movies

    In 2008, the TV program “MythBusters” attempted to recreate the Hwacha and investigate its veracity by conducting an experiment. The target was at 1500 feet (460 m), and they needed to see whether the weapon could hit it while firing 200 arrows at once.

    They tested three factors:

    • Can it send arrows over a distance of 500 yards?
    • Would the arrows explode on impact and have fatal consequences?
    • Can 200 arrows be fired simultaneously in a single shot?

    First, they saw that rocket arrows could actually be launched that far, and then the team saw that, with the correct amount of gunpowder, they could provide fatal power. Finally, the MythBusters were able to manufacture a working Hwacha and fire 199 out of 200 arrows at once, which all landed near the target. All three factors were confirmed, proving its historical accuracy.

    The arrows’ shape allowed them to fly beyond the target, yet they all landed inside a narrow region. Had a large army been there, the attack would have been devastating. This confirmed the historical reports.

    This rocket launcher is shown in the seventh episode of the eleventh season of AMC’s The Walking Dead, “Promises Broken.”

    In the movie “Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones” (2002), the Battle of Geonosis used the IG-227 Hailfire-class droid tank, which slightly resembles the Hwacha.

    References

    1. Featured Image: Kang Byeong Kee, CC BY 3.0, edited from original.
    2. Firearms (washington.edu)
    3. Huolongjing – Google Books
  • Lorica Hamata: The Roman Chainmail Used For 600 Years

    Lorica Hamata: The Roman Chainmail Used For 600 Years

    The term “lorica” meant body protection in ancient Rome, and “hamata” was the name of the chainmail made of interlocking rings. The lorica hamata was the 1/4-type chainmail armor used by the Roman soldiers between c. 200 BC and c. 400 AD. In this type of mesh armor, 1 ring connects to 4 others, and rivets are used to fasten these rings (hence the root term “hamatus” or “hooked”). A lorica hamata was basically chainmail protection consisting of two main parts: a shirt and a neckline for fastening.

    About 35,000–40,000 rings made up the armor and the rings could hardly rust thanks to the constant friction between them.

    History of the Lorica Hamata

    Lorica Hamata roman armor

    The Gallic Celts invented the lorica hamata before the Romans. The Latin League’s (793–338 BC) armed forces were reorganized after the disastrous conquest of Rome (about 390 BC). During this time, the armor used by the Celtic enemies, ring chainmail, was adopted in place of the traditional bronze cuirasses.

    Lorica, quod e loris de corio crudo pectoralia faciebant; postea subcidit gallica e ferro sub id vocabulum, ex anulis ferrea tunica

    “Lorica ‘corselet’, which they made chest-protectors from rawhide thongs; later, a Gallic corselet made of iron fell under the same name, an iron shirt made of rings.”

    Varro, On the Latin Language (De lingua latina libri) Book V, 24:116.

    The ancient Romans used this armor for the first time in the conquest of Hispania which began in 218 BC. As shown by the oldest reliable pictorial testimony, all Roman soldiers were in chainmail in 168 BC without exception. It was reserved for the wealthiest of Roman fighters. They favored this armor for so long due to its superior protection and low upkeep requirements.

    roman soldiers with Lorica Hamata armor, spears, and oval scutum shields

    Several variants of this armor existed, each tailored to a certain unit and its missions. Therefore, there could be a variety of scout, cavalry, and spearman variants. In the first few decades of the first century, the lorica hamata was gradually phased out in favor of the lorica segmentata. This is the most easily recognized Roman armor by most people.

    Historians, however, disagree on whether or not the lorica segmentata really became as common as was formerly thought and for how long. What is known for sure is that in the latter decades of the Empire, the lorica hamata was once again the standard armor, but it seems that certain legions in Africa and Asia never ceased wearing it.

    How Good Was It?

    lorica hamata chainmail roman armor. Battle of Magnesia, 190 BC.
    Battle of Magnesia, 190 BC.

    The primary purpose of the lorica hamata was to absorb the impact of strikes and thrusting movements. However, its design made it vulnerable to stabbing motions, which could cause the rings to separate. Since the rings on their own were insufficient to withstand the force of a blow, a subarmalis, made up of multiple layers of linen and/or felt, was worn beneath the armor. It’s likely that these layers were padded, possibly with materials like sheepskin.

    Additionally, an extra layer of chainmail was frequently added over the harness, specifically on the shoulder area, to better absorb impacts. Overall, it wasn’t great at absorbing blows from heavy objects or blocking the arrows, but it was durable, adaptable, and would last for decades when not neglected. In later periods of the empire, Germans and Persians also used the lorica hamata. This armor was further used in medieval Europe and Byzantium.

    Features of the Lorica Hamata

    Lorica Hamata Roman armor

    Around 35,000–40,000 rings made up the lorica hamata and the rings could hardly rust due to the constant friction between them. The average lorica hamata weighed anywhere between 20 and 28 lb (9–13 kg). The armor was made of bronze and iron, with rings in a diameter of 0.2–0.3 inches (5–9 mm) and 0.04–0.08 inches (1–2 mm) in thickness.

    The Romans modeled the lorica hamata’s fastening system after that of Greek “linen armor,” such as the gambeson and linothorax. This happened around the time when the Romans conquered Greece and the Levant in the 1st century BC.

    a roman legionary in the lorica hamata chain mail armor

    They simply upgraded their lorica hamatas with U-shaped neckline armor that went around the chest, shoulders, and upper back. The uniform side of the U was fastened in the upper back, while its split arms crossed over the shoulders and fastened at their tips on the chest (sometimes with a fibula or brooch).

    However, the shoulder pads frequently did not stay in place because the undergarments worn beneath this chain mesh for added comfort were more unstable than the Greeks’ linen. When this armor slid down the arms, the shoulders became exposed. It often continued to slide down the torso in the heat of a battle and blocked the arms at the end.

    Thus, extra side clips have been added to the lorica hamata to secure these shoulder pads in place. A piece of cloth or leather was also used to reinforce the neckline. This reinforcement doubled the underside of the neckline and folded over the top by 0.80 or 1.20 inches (2 or 3 cm). A seam held together the fold of the lining, the mail fabric, and the lining itself.

    Derivatives

    The Gallo-Roman statue of an ancient soldier is known as the Warrior of Vachères with lorica plumata
    The Warrior of Vachères with lorica plumata. (Image: Daniele Giannotti, Flickr)

    Evidence suggests the existence of derivatives of lorica hamata. Among them, most people are familiar with the lorica plumata. One example of this armor can be seen in the statue of a Roman Gaul soldier with a large oval parma shield and Celtic torc necklace.

    The Gallo-Roman statue of an ancient soldier is known as the Warrior of Vachères, and it dates from the late 1st century BC to the early 1st century AD (the reign of Augustus). He is wearing chainmail, which is believed to be the lorica plumata. Gauls were the fierce enemies of Rome, even giving birth to the Murmillo gladiators.

    Evolution

    The development of a more secure way for fastening the lorica hamata.
    The development of a more secure way for fastening the lorica hamata. (File, CC BY-SA 3.0)

    The development of a more secure way for fastening the lorica hamata went as follows:

    • (1) An “open” neckline is seen in the first image. You slip it on top, then fold down the shoulder pads and secure them.
    • Later designs are shown in the next two images where new attachments for the shoulder pads are seen (2). The two shoulder pads are secured with a leather strap. (3) A rivet in the middle of the chest keeps this strap in place.

    The next three images depict the additional development over time.

    • (4) Lower on the chest are the rivets for the retention strap.
    • (5) Instead of using straps to fasten the neckline, now rivets are used.
    • (6) The strap is finally replaced with a metal attachment. This piece is partially riveted to the chest. There is now a hook at the end of each shoulder arm. The hook for the arm is attached to a button.

    Replacement of the Lorica Hamata

    Lorica hamata remained almost unchanged in this form until the 5th century AD. It lost popularity in the 5th century and was supplanted by simpler and, most importantly, cheaper ring armor (unlike mail armor, the rings were not connected).

    The ancient Roman blacksmiths increased the lorica hamata’s length under Julius Caesar. This armor started just above the hips, grew to nearly the knees, and then returned to its original size again.

    The length of the sleeves also varied in size. The first versions did not have sleeves. But later, a few inches of short sleeves were introduced. After that point, sleeve lengths changed based on local trends and cultural preferences. For instance, the Roman legionaries in Syria started wearing lorica hamatas with long sleeves.

    lorica hamata, roman cavalry
    Roman cavalryman. (Illustrated by Adam Hook, Internet Archive)

    The practice of securing shoulder pads with metal attachments expanded widely by the late 1st century AD. The padding on the shoulder blades also seems to be missing. Around this period, some horse riders started using lorica segmentata shoulder pads instead of the traditional Greek neckline.

    Nonetheless, the lorica hamata has been 1/4-type chainmail armor throughout its history (where 1 ring connects to 4 others).

    Attachments to the Lorica Hamata

    Centurion wearing a subarmalis or thoracomachus under a lorica hamata.
    Centurion wearing a subarmalis or thoracomachus under the lorica hamata. A Roman centurion in Pompey’s time. (Photo by Medium69, CC BY-SA 3.0)

    The lorica hamata attachments used by the legionnaires varied according to personal preference and the level of threat they faced.

    Light tunics worn over chainmail were documented throughout the Roman Near East; thus, it’s safe to assume that surcoats were also used in these regions. While heavy tunics were occasionally worn in the winter, it is known that sutcoats were used in northern Gaul and on the Germanic borders.

    Some mesh sleeves could be either permanently attached or easily removed which protected both the arms and legs. It was not uncommon to see the Greek greaves worn alongside the lorica hamata.

    roman soldier wearing Lorica Hamata and focale scarf
    Focale scarf.

    There are bas-reliefs depicting the use of metal plates to secure the front of the neckline. Also, a scarf (focale) was almost always worn with any Roman armor, including the lorica hamata. It was to protect the neck from the chafing of the armor. This was necessary since Roman armor usually had wide neck openings, which posed significant risks of injury.

    Under the lorica hamata was a gambeson called the subarmalis or thoracomachus, which had been worn since Augustus’ time (r. 27 BC–14 AD). Optios and decurions (Roman cavalry officer) wore this gambeson as a mark of status, elaborately ornamented.

    Manufacturing

    The iron wire used to make the lorica hamata’s rings. This iron wire has been made by driving an iron ingot through a die with holes of progressively smaller sizes. This production method has been the case since at least the 8th century AD.

    The metal rings of the lorica hamata chainmail Roman armor, a replica of the 2nd century species.
    The metal rings of the lorica hamata chainmail Roman armor, a replica of the 2nd century species.

    However, forging an ingot through a die with a single puncture directly generated the finished iron wire in Roman times. Using a single die was significantly more finicky since the wire would break as it was moved around. The iron wire was difficult and cost more coins than cheaper ring armor.

    After Julius Caesar’s death, there was a power struggle between Mark Antony and Augustus, which led to the development of a new type of Roman armor called lorica segmentata. This new armor provides clues regarding the production time of the lorica hamata. According to historical accounts, a lorica segmentata required around 70 hours to produce with ready-use iron. This gives us roughly three times as much production time for lorica hamata since it is made of complex wire.

    Lorica Hamata chainmail Roman armor
    Lorica Hamata chainmail Roman armor

    The most commonly used type of lorica hamata was the traditional 4:1 riveted variety. The spinnerets or spinning mills were a thing at the time, but the rings were often flattened and riveted, since this is what we learn from both historical sources and relics. Some of the examples, however, seem to be constructed of “open” ring armor (where rings are not connected).

    Some lorica hamatas with 4:1 mesh were also made with a welded ring. In this variant, the 4 rings held together by the central ring were not riveted but welded. Only the central ring was riveted. This probably lowered the cost.

    Decoration

    The Roman legionaries had their armor and weapons adorned with elaborate designs. Even though this trend peaked with parade weapons, it also included battle equipment.

    One or more rows of bronze rings have been seen lining the bottom of the lorica hamata on the remains of some pieces recovered in rivers around the world. This embellishment is reminiscent of what was seen on Indian parade chainmail from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

    The fibulas (brooch) were used to seal several lorica hamata on the chest, as was mentioned above. This fibula had two arms that met in S form. The entire structure had the shape of a U or twisted lyre, with two arms joined at their bases by an axis. It was common practice to adorn this flat surface. The whole fibula could be chiseled and gilded, and this was the status of rank among Roman legionaries.

    The complexity and quantity of a person’s armaments in the Roman army served as one indicator of their wealth and status.

    References

    1. Featured image: Photo by Frila, This file is licensed under the Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
    3. Chainmail armor repair. Gallery images: Roland zh, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Sica Sword: An Ancient Weapon of Gladiators and Assassins

    Sica Sword: An Ancient Weapon of Gladiators and Assassins

    The sica sword was an ancient Balkan weapon used by Thracians, Dacians, and Illyrians. It had a curved blade and was relatively short, falling between the categories of a long knife and a short sword. The sica sword, a curved saber-like double edged weapon, is often associated with the Thracian peoples of Roman antiquity due to its presumed links to their origin and employment of the weapon. So-called “Thraex” gladiators specifically used the sica sword.

    OriginThracian
    Type:Saber
    Period:Roman antiquity
    Users:Thracian, Celtic, and Illyrian warriors, gladiators
    Length:Blade: 10–18 in (25–45 cm), Total: 16–24 in (40–60 cm)
    Features:The blade bends 45 degrees at the tip from the handle.

    In the evolution of the Latin language, the word “sica” evolved to mean the dagger used by political plotters, assassins, and other hired murderers.

    Purpose of the Sica Sword

    a thraex-roman-gladiator-with-a-sica-sword
    Thraex with sica.

    According to one controversial theory, the sica sword was made to circumvent an opponent’s shield and attack the enemy from behind or side. Most Italic people and other ancient Romans at the time often wielded scutum shields.

    These were the large, red shields with a shield boss, known for their use by the Roman army. Murmillo gladiators also utilized the scutum shields, and they were pretty much impenetrable.

    sica sword
    (Image)

    The only way for a thraex gladiator to defeat a murmillo was to circumvent his scutum, and the sharply bent blade of the sica sword was suitable for that. They often combined this short sword with the parma shield.

    These large daggers were beautifully decorated to represent the spiritual and creative virtues of their wielders.

    According to another theory, this shape was designed to distribute the energy of a slashing blow, similar to the kukri knife which was designed without taking into account the use of shields. The fact that the species from earlier eras had a more pronounced bending in comparison to later ones supports this.

    Fighting Style

    A thraex with a sica sword against a murmillo with a scutum.
    A thraex with a sica sword against a murmillo with a scutum. Artist: Vasily Golubev

    The sica sword was only employed in a combat manner comparable to that of the kama weapon, with the curved, concave side facing downward. It could readily amputate limbs in the hands of a trained user.

    The Roman legionaries were understandably terrified of it, which prompted improvements to their protective gear.

    In the hands of a master, every strike with this sword was a fatal strike. With the curve pointing downwards, the tip could have easily snagged into the enemy’s helmet. After that, Thracian would move the blade upwards and slash across the enemy’s face, killing the person.

    Origin of the Sica Sword

    The sica had its origins in Illyria but was subsequently employed across the Balkans and even by the Romans.

    Sica Sword

    It is believed that the Hallstatt culture was responsible for creating the sica sword. The Urnfield culture of the 12th century BC (Late Bronze Age) gave rise to the Hallstatt culture, which dominated Western and Central European archaeological sites from the 12th to the 6th centuries BC.

    This culture is known for using various long daggers or short swords.

    This culture is often connected with people who spoke Proto-Celtic. The etymology of this sword’s name lies in the word tsikā. From Proto-Indo-European ḱey– (‘to sharpen’), presumably through Illyrian, the word tsikā (from which Proto-Albanian thikë, ‘knife’) emerged.

    History of the Sica Sword

    Thrace Mosaic Medallion with a thraex gladiator and a sica sword.
    Thrace Mosaic Medallion with a Thraex gladiator and a sica sword. (Carole Raddato, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped from original)

    The word ‘sica’ was often used in ancient Rome to refer to curved weapons like sabers and long daggers. The size of this weapon was between 16–24 in (40–60 cm) with a 1.2 in (3 cm) width. In the 2nd century AD Zliten mosaic, a Roman gladiator is seen wielding this sword.

    The blade of a sica was sharpened on the inside rather than the outside, similar to the sickle and the yatagan. This short sword also featured a sharp tip. However, the Romans had more experience and skill with their gladius swords.

    Many short, curved swords were common among Mediterranean cultures. But the Romans saw the sica as uniquely Illyrian and the weapon of choice for contract killers.

    During the time of the Thracians

    Sica sword on the belt of a Dacian warrior, Manching Museum in Germany.
    Sica sword on the belt of a Dacian warrior, Manching Museum, Germany. (Image: Wolfgang Sauber, CC BY-SA 3.0)

    Horsemen of the Thracian peoples, such as the Dacians, Getae, Moesians, etc., frequently used the sica sword from the late Hellenistic period onward, but the Dacians in particular. The Thracians were notoriously agile warriors who prioritized speed above protection and possessed some of the best riders in history. This Thracian sword was a staple of their military and culture.

    According to Valerius Maximus (a 1st-century Latin writer), a Thracian mercenary’s sica sword struck the consul Publius Licinius Crassus Dives Mucianus, killing him during the battle between Rome and the Kingdom of Pergamon in 130 BC.

    Their sizes might be either lower or greater than 16–24 inches (40–60 cm) in these regions. Even though all sica swords look roughly the same from the end of the 3rd century on, there’s still some variety in the handle’s form and the blade’s curve and thickness.

    sica sword species from various areas.
    Species from various areas.

    The rhomphaia was another comparable Thracian weapon, characterized largely by its larger blade and grip, which required both hands to use.

    After the Dacian monarch Decebalus was defeated in Trajan’s Dacian Wars and committed suicide with a sica sword in 106 BC, this cold weapon seems to have faded from these regions. This scene is depicted in the 113 AD Trajan’s Column located in Rome, and the weapon can be seen in this depiction.

    Clement of Alexandria (c. 150–215 AD), writing around the start of the 3rd century, still gives the Thracians credit for creating a long, curved dagger but calls it a harpe sword instead. Nonetheless, this weapon was not ideal for thrusting but was fairly powerful for slashing and chopping.

    Among the Ancient Romans

    sica sword and roman Thraex gladiator
    Artist: Mark Beerdom

    Over time, the name ‘sica’ came to refer to any bladed weapon having a pronounced curvature. One example of this was the curved kopis knife used by the Thracians, the Celts, and the Illyrians. However, it could also refer to the sword used by the so-called Thraex gladiators.

    As Cicero (106–43 BC) attests, the name also came to refer to a short dagger, which was utilized by political plotters. The sicarius (‘assassin’), a kind of ancient contract killer, and the Sicarii, a group of Jewish activists who fought against the Romans, both took their names from this weapon. Their similar-shaped weapons were called ‘Sicarii dagger.’

    In Roman jurisprudence, the sica sword was considered a dishonorable weapon where strict distinctions were made in such matters.

    Initially designed to pursue political murders, the Roman legislation that established homicide as a crime in 82 BC at Sulla’s insistence was also dubbed Lex Cornelia de sicariis.

    Why Sica Sword Was an Effective Weapon

    Even though the bend reduced its thrusting force, this weapon could still be used effectively as a thrusting weapon by swinging it with the pointed end in front.

    There were several reasons why the Sica sword was so powerful as a weapon. Its distinctive curved blade enabled forceful slicing and chopping actions. Because of its curved shape, it was effective at beheading foes.

    Its recurved blade made it usable as a rather big kukri or a Dacian falx and rhomphaia.

    Because of the blade’s design, the sword could be used like a shotel (an African curved sword) to hook around a shield and control it. The sword’s reduced length made it more manageable and quicker to move than longer weapons.

    The precision swings of this weapon allowed gladiators and other combatants to surprise their opponents in the most unexpected ways. Because of its small weight, it could be used repeatedly without wearing the user out.

    All in all, this ancient, large Balkan dagger or sword was a rather effective weapon for slicing and cutting. Many of its features made the sica sword a very powerful weapon in the hands of trained soldiers.

    Thraex gladiators also made use of wooden sica swords for training, along with wooden rudis and rhomphaia swords:

    Similar Weapons

    • Kopis: A Greek sword with a forward-curving blade, designed for chopping and slashing attacks.
    • Falcata: A sword with a single-edged, curved blade originating from the Iberian Peninsula, known for its chopping and slashing capabilities.
    • Kukri: A curved Nepalese knife used as both a tool and a weapon, known for its effectiveness in chopping and slashing.
    • Machete: A large, heavy knife with a broad blade, often used for cutting vegetation and as a weapon in various cultures.
    • Scimitar: A curved sword commonly associated with the Middle East and North Africa, known for its slashing capabilities.
    • Khopesh: An Egyptian sword with a curved blade, used for chopping, slashing, and hooking.

    References

    1. The Illyrians – John Wilkes, 1996 – Google Books
    2. Illyrian warfare – Wikiwand
    3. The Book of the Sword – Google Books
  • Pauldron: History of a Crucial Plate Armor

    Pauldron: History of a Crucial Plate Armor

    The pauldron was an integral aspect of plate armor. It was a kind of shoulder and upper arm protection for soldiers. Protecting the wearer’s chest and head, pauldrons remained an integral part of plate armor throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It was developed in the 15th century to replace the smaller spaulders.

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    Because unlike pauldrons, the armpit was exposed while wearing spaulders. A limited number of pauldrons extended to encompass not only the armpit but the upper back and chest as well.

    History of Pauldron

    Shoulder Armor in the 13th Century

    Attempts to better protect the shoulder region of the knights led to the invention of the first shoulder armor around 1275. Ailettes were the first armor specially created for this.

    They were fastened to the breastplate with leather straps and intended to cover the shoulder and neck, although they were not especially sturdy and frequently slipped in combat.

    Pauldron armor

    By the end of the 1300s, shoulders were covered with scales or transversely joined laminar plates to enhance the ailettes. One example of the latter is called lorica segmentata (derived from lorica hamata) which was popular among Roman legionaries.

    Used first around 1270, this design was already pretty similar to the spaulder. However, even this evolution was inadequate, since the bottom of the arm still remained exposed when the arm was lifted to attack.

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    Pauldron in the 15th Century

    From the 15th century forward, the front and back of shoulder armor were widened to better shield the wearer’s armpits. Thus, the first pauldron was designed. These widened extensions were known as the rear and front wings.

    The first pauldrons were made of a single piece of plate. But they quickly gave way to more flexible versions that provided better freedom of movement. The front wing that led to the chest was the most crucial element of a pauldron. It was common practice to experiment with a variety of widths and lengths for the front wings.

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    A magnificent plate armor of the German Pienzenau family with a pauldron and a round rondel, c. 1550, from a tomb in Lower Bavaria.
    A magnificent plate armor of the German Pienzenau family with a pauldron and a round rondel, c. 1550, from a tomb in Lower Bavaria.

    Since the lance was carried in the armpit region with the right arm, the wings on the right arm were often thinner, shorter, and cut concavely.

    This was because a large pauldron would have hindered the movement of the weapon arm. On the other hand, they were substantially longer and broader on the left arm since this side was shielded and not used for carrying weapons.

    Another part of the pauldron was the rondel and besagew. They were specifically developed for the pauldron to protect the armpit (rondel) and steady the jousting lance (besagew). They could be moved around to cover the gap between the armpit and breastplate. They also came in various shapes and sizes.

    The rondels started out square and lobbed, but were later shaped into disks. They stayed as part of pauldrons until the late 16th century. When lances fell out of favor about 1580, their absence led to a gradual enlargement of the front wings at the locations that had been shrunk to accommodate the lances.

    When the aventail was no longer worn, the back wings of a pauldron enlarged to absurd proportions. On Italian armor, they became so big that they overlapped at the rear to reinforce the rather weak back portion of the armor. The Italian armor also included a small and narrow frontal wing.

    Pauldron and gauntlet of Manfredi of Faenza, c. 1580.
    Pauldron and gauntlet of Manfredi of Faenza, c. 1580. Victoria and Albert Museum, CC BY 4.0.

    The research suggests that this was because Italians disliked movement restrictions brought on by their preferred fencing technique.

    For instance, the Italian lansquenets, who are known to wield large swords like spadone, did not wear pauldrons. They rather placed a protective attachment on the gorget (a steel or leather collar around the throat), which protected the armpits, shoulders, and upper half of the arm.

    There was a clear distinction between noble and mercenary armor during this period. While mercenaries favored the above design, nobles persisted in perfecting their pauldrons.

    Once tournaments rolled around, the pike and the lance were once again a menace to the knights. Their shoulder armor could be destroyed or badly damaged with a single blow from the long sword or a war hammer.

    The solution was to start attaching vertical armor to the edges of the wings. They came in lower and higher forms, and some of them extended over the shoulder. They deflected spearpoints and other projectiles from attacks.

    Pauldron in the 16th Century

    The pauldrons with vertical wings gradually faded away again by the middle of the 16th century. The forewings were now mostly above the shoulder. In most cases, the pauldrons were fastened to the gorget; in others, they were secured to the iron shoulder straps or the pauldron straps.

    In the 16th century, additional shoulder pieces were employed to significantly reinforce them for jousting armor. By screwing on an additional second pauldron, they were greatly strengthened. And they protected not just the shoulder but also the left side of the helmet, the face, and part of the chest. The right shoulder was once again smaller to make room for the lance.

    The elbow caps on the left arm were expanded significantly, and sometimes even a second cap was put on, known as a double cap. The left side of the plate armor, including the left pauldron, was fortified more often than the right since that’s where the opposing lance tended to strike.

    The existing caps were expanded by broadening their top edge since they were fairly small to begin with. Some of these caps were so large that they went over the top portion of the arm. Armor destined for jousting tournaments often included these extraordinary reinforcements.

  • Mongolian Armor: What Did the Mongols Wear?

    Mongolian Armor: What Did the Mongols Wear?

  • Vambrace: A European Armor of Asian Origin

    Vambrace: A European Armor of Asian Origin

    A vambrace was a personal protective gear of the Middle Ages, part of an armor that protected the hands from the wrists to the elbows. The most basic, first vambraces belonged to the splint armor. Just like the armor, it had metal plates fixed to a leather or cloth foundation. The earliest vambrace was discovered in a Scythian (a proto-Turkic tribe) grave from the 4th century BC.

    Construction

    A 19th-century depiction of an Eastern European vambrace by Viskovatov A.V. (1801--1892).
    A 19th-century depiction of an Eastern European vambrace by Viskovatov A.V. (1801–1892).

    Vambraces (or “forearm guards”) were made of leather, iron, and copper, similar to the other protective medieval gears like the breastplate, elbow guard, bracer, gauntlet, and poleyn (knee guard).

    The full-metal vambraces, said to have originated in West Asia, eventually superseded the splint armor variant. The tubular vambraces were the most advanced of all.

    The elbow (upper) and forearm (lower) plates of such a version were quite curved. These two plates could be fastened together using straps and buckles.

    An aventail, vambrace, and poleyn by Viskovatov A.V. (1801--1892)
    An aventail, vambrace, and poleyn by Viskovatov A.V. (1801–1892)

    Vambrace vs. Bracer

    • The word “vambrace” (also known as “lower cannons”) is used to refer to the complete “sleeve armor” whereas the portion of the armor that extends from the wrist to the elbow is referred to as just “bracer“.

    History of the Vambraces

    Central Asia and India

    A decoration on a shield found in the remains of a small castle on Mount Mugh indicates that tubular vambraces were in use in Iran as early as the 8th century. During this time, there were battles between Turks, Chinese, Sogdians, Arabs, Khwarezmians, and Persians for control of this area.

    Only during the first half of the 15th century did vambraces with familiar styles emerge. They quickly gained popularity, first in the Indian and other Islamic armies. The plates that made up these vambraces could be secured by straps and chainmail or they could be hinged.

    By the 16th century, some vambraces included two or three plates that rested on the arm instead of only one. Occasionally, specimens from these areas began to have distinctive traits. Al-Ashraf Qansuh al-Ghuri’s vambraces from the 15th century appeared to be made up of two pieces of chainmail and cloth.

    In 1711, Indians used vambraces consisting of iron and bronze plates with an inner plate to distribute pressure more evenly throughout the rings of chainmail. More elaborate variations, which covered the dorsal side of the hand as well as the fingers, began to vanish around the 15th century for some reason.

    Western Europe

    Vambrace for left arm, c. 1380–1400, steel, copper alloy.
    Vambrace for left arm, c. 1380–1400, steel, copper alloy.

    Artifacts from the Vendel Period (540–790 AD) in Swedish history have been discovered that are consistent with European strap-type vambraces.

    They found usage in Kievan Rus’ as well. Probably sewed with an overlap onto a cloth base, these vambraces had a succession of long, thin, somewhat curved iron plates measuring about 12 by 0.4 inches (30 by 1 cm).

    Vambraces first appeared in Europe due to an influx of ideas from the East. Arm protection plates initially emerged in the early 1200s, followed by tubular vambraces in the 1250s and 1260s, and finally hinged vambraces in the first part of the 1300s. The findings from Bornholm in Denmark are the oldest (14th-century) examples of this style to be discovered.

    The use of plate armor to protect the limbs began in Europe as a result of the refinement of vambraces and greaves. The first vambraces in Europe were developed to fill the gap between the elbow guard and the plate glove, or gauntlet.

    Eastern Europe

    Articulated tubular vambraces with hinges were utilized as a distinct piece of armor in Eastern Europe, just as they were in West Asia. Their basic construction was similar to that of medieval Rus’ vambraces called “bazubands.”

    Sometimes they were used together with a lining or chainmail gauntlets. Noblemen typically paired a mirror with their vambraces since they were a symbol of wealth and social status at the time. Their vambraces were embellished with engravings, silver, gold, and valuable stones.

    They were also occasionally made out of Damascus steel. The mounted troops of Muscovite Rus’ often wore them, and with a cuirass, they were standard issue for Polish cavalrymen.

    This set (cuirass and vambrace) first arrived in other European nations in the 17th century, thanks to Poland’s cultural impact. The vambrace’s extended upper half would sometimes reach beyond the wearer’s elbow for extra protection.

    Russia

    A 17th-century Russian infantryman with bardiche, vambrace, chainmail armor, and a saber or shashka.
    A 17th-century Russian infantryman with bardiche, vambrace, chainmail armor, and a saber or shashka. (Image)

    Influenced by the Turkic nations to the east, the Rus’ began using and making tubular vambraces with hinges about the year 1200. Vambraces from the Sahnovka village in the Middle Dnieper area and the Gomel area are among the archaeological artifacts that have been linked to the Mongol invasions of Kievan Rus’.

    The only real difference between these and subsequent vambraces was that the latter were not curved as much. They were adorned with gold and valuable stones and were crafted from steel, red bulat steel, and iron.

    China and Mongolia

    Vambraces were also part of late Chinese and Mongolian defensive arsenals, also known as khuiag or kuyak. Two curved metal plates and a metal elbow guard were sewed onto cloth to form this plate armor. There were either buttons or buckles to secure them.

    Japan

    kote (armored sleeve) vambrace

    The kote (籠手, armored sleeve) vambrace, originally designed for the left hand, was first introduced in Japan in the 1200s. It was a thick fabric sleeve with connected plates that covered the back of the hand, the forearm, and the outside portion of the arm from the elbow to the wrist. The practice of covering both arms with vambraces in Japan dates back to the 13th century. Later kotes used chainmail for further protection at the elbow.

    References

    1. Featured image: Fedor Grigoryevich Solntsev (1801–1892), Antiquities of the Russian State.
    2. Russian infantryman artwork: Russland, Polen und Livland bis ins 17. Jahrhundert : Schiemann, Theodor, 1847-1921 – Internet Archive
    3. Vambraces from the Sahnovka village: TRUE HISTORY SHOP
  • Rondache: A Shield Where You Can Attach a Sword to It

    Rondache: A Shield Where You Can Attach a Sword to It

    The Rondache was a type of curved shield used by European cavalry in the Middle Ages and subsequently by infantry in the Renaissance. It included a lightweight wooden frame with metal nails, overlays, and a central shield boss for reinforcement. A Rondache shield was usually spherical, although it sometimes narrowed toward the base. Between the years 1100 and 1700, European countries developed a wide variety of Rondaches. This cold weapon was also known as the “roundel” shield.

    Design of the Rondache

    A Medieval infantryman with rondache in a drawing by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.
    A Medieval infantryman with Rondache in a drawing by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.

    The Rondache was a lenticular shield that was held in both hands and worn on the arm with the help of straps and a handle. This was the standard shield used by children learning to fight or in actual duels. The buckler shield was thought to be the Rondache’s ancestor.

    A 24-inch-long (60 cm) Italian Rondache shield was barely wide enough to cover the arm, but it was still larger than the buckler and the targe. Unlike them, it was not held in the fist but rather strapped to the forearm.

    The iron blade fastened to the shield’s edge was the greatest feature of a Rondache, making this medium-sized shield a formidable weapon.

    rondache shield

    Having a defensive tool and an extra edged weapon in one hand gave fighters who used the Rondache shields a decisive edge in battle. It was not uncommon for Rondaches to come with a concealed blade that could be pulled out with the assistance of a spring.

    Its planks were composed of light wood and tied together with sinews or ropes; its exterior was leather or metal; and the edges of the shield were packed with nails in a circular pattern. This shield was rarely used on horseback except in East and Eastern Europe.

    Most Rondache shields usually measured 20–24 in (50–60 cm) across. However, there were smaller variants, and they were largely utilized for foot combat. At one point, their diameter was cut even further to roughly 12 in (30 cm).

    Rondache Shield’s History

    Infantryman of the Spanish army with a rondache shield and short sword, c. 1500s.
    Infantryman of the Spanish army with a Rondache shield and short sword, c. 1500s. (CC0, Wikimedia)

    Round shields have always been in use, from the period of the Ancient Romans (see Parma Shield) and their contemporaries until modern times in the 17th century.

    During the Carolingian Empire (800–888), most shields were typically rounded and constructed of light wood covered with parchment and metal blades on the orle (a metal reinforcement protecting the edge of a wooden shield) and on the domed outer face, with an umbo (a point, cone, or cap jutting from the center of a shield) in the center.

    The legs and rivets on this umbo were typically iron, and the facings and orle were both crafted from extremely thin sheets of brass that were delicately embossed and hammered.

    Buckler shields were so much more effective than conventional shields that, by the end of the 10th century, Italians and Spaniards had developed a comparable but larger shield for use in battle, the Rondache.

    It is believed that the Spanish conquerors of Peru utilized this iron-and-leather shield in the 16th century. National Archaeological Museum (Madrid).
    It is believed that the Spanish conquerors of Peru utilized this iron-and-leather shield in the 16th century. National Archaeological Museum (Madrid). (Image: Angel M. Felicísimo, CC BY-SA 4.0)

    The Saracens under Saladin (1137–1193) used it often throughout the Crusades and the holy wars, as did the Persians, because it was easier to handle this shield with a bow, particularly when mounted.

    By the late 11th and early 12th centuries, it was common for round shields like Rondache, with or without an umbo, to be ornamented with a lavish orle.

    In the 15th century, the Rondache shield was common among infantrymen in northern Italy. This type of Rondache was both a composite weapon and a shield made out of many other components.

    In the 16th century, the fashion returned to larger and highly decorated shields, like the armor of the time, but they were mostly decorative.

    Advantages of the Rondache

    As weapons became more lethal throughout history, shields became heavier and more durable. At one point, a shield was never deemed complete without passing a test where it could withstand a shot from an arquebus at one hundred paces. Some shields were as heavy as 22 lb (10 kg) at this time.

    However, the Rondache’s quality as a fighting weapon stemmed from the fact that it was compact, lightweight, and required little room to launch a strike.

    It was built with wood that was 0.2 in (0.5 cm) thick, ribbed steel that was 0.04 in (1 mm) thick, and 0.06 in (1.5 mm) thick iron reinforcements. The shield probably weighed 2.2 lb (1 kg) at most.

    Anecdotally, in the 17th century, manufacturers produced bulletproof shields (weighing 11 lb; 5 kg) and gun shields (shields with embedded handguns).

    Disadvantages

    The 1536 fencing manual "Opera Nova" includes a depiction of rondache and a sword against spears.
    The 1536 fencing manual “Opera Nova” includes a depiction of a Rondache and a sword against spears. (CC0)

    The Rondache shield was less dynamic in battle since it was not held in the traditional fist grip but rather tied to the forearm using a shield harness.

    However, strikes to the weapon arm and other forms of active shield action still happened. During an assault, larger shields like this were often held at an angle on the left side of the torso, protecting the sword hand.

    The primary strategy with this shield was to try to block the enemy’s weapon with the front edge of the shield without blocking one’s own vision. Troops equipped themselves with such round shields when participating in close combat against polearms or while facing enemy shooters.

    As a result of the shield’s widespread popularity in Italy, early conquistadors frequently used the rodela, the Spanish and Portuguese namesake for the Rondache.

    The greater thickness and more prominent curvature distinguished the later variants of this Renaissance shield. The bullets from early weapons were better deflected by the later models, and they were in fact bulletproof under certain conditions.

    Rondache with an Iron Gauntlet

    lantern rondache shield

    A Rondache was always used with a short sword or side-sword. And it was worn on the arm with straps and a handle. The round Rondache was sometimes fastened to an iron gauntlet. The shield’s circumference was additionally notched to trap the enemy’s swords.

    The boiled leather or iron construction and optional blade attachment on this shield were both meant to catch and break the enemy’s sword. This variant never exceeded 12 in (30 cm) in diameter.

    When a blade was attached to this gauntlet, it protruded 20 inches (50 cm) from the edge of the shield. It was common practice to attach additional blades and spears to the Rondache shield and its gauntlet (similar to a Russian “tarch”). And many of these blades were serrated, like the flamberge sword.

    The Lantern Rondache Shield

    The lantern rondache shield of Archduke Ernest of Austria, before 1571, inv. no. A 384.
    The lantern Rondache shield of Archduke Ernest of Austria, before 1571, inv. no. A 384.

    The idea of attacking their enemies at night had always fascinated the Italians and the Spaniards, so they created shields with a circular aperture on top for hiding lanterns. This type of shield was known as the lantern shield.

    The aperture, which could be opened or closed with a circular latch, would let the lantern’s light through in a flash, like a tactical light.

    In the 16th century, the lantern shield emerged, a hybrid of the earlier Rondache shield, the vambrace (forearm guard), and the knight’s gauntlet. Special notches lined the perimeter of this Rondache to absorb some of the force of a strike.

    Attachments for a sword and a lantern could be found on the inside of these shields. The lantern had a slit that could be opened with a cable to let light out. The left hand was the traditional location for the lantern Rondache shield.

    According to German-origin historian Pavel Pavlovich von Winkler (1866–c. 1937), the lantern shield was still seen in the trenches during the 19th century:

    “In the trenches, fighters still use the Rondache, which has a unique design and forms a kind of bracer. A gauntlet for the left hand is attached to the disk, and beneath the gauntlet, a rapier is fixed to the shield, protruding 50 cm [20 in] beyond its edge. The shield’s circumference is notched to deflect blows. On the inner side of the disk, near the edge, a lantern is attached, and its light passes through a hole; the latter can be opened and closed at will using a round latch. This Rondache undoubtedly dates back to the early years of the 17th century.”

    In Popular Culture

    • The Rondache shield is a sort of medium-sized shield that appears in many games in the Dark Souls series.
    • Rondache is a paladin shield in the famous video game series Diablo.
    • This shield is also featured in the Pathfinder (2018) video game.

    References

    1. The Neo-Assyrian Shield Evolution, Heraldry, and Associated Tactics – By Fabrice De Backer · 2016 – Google Books
    2. Ancient Weapons: The Story of Weaponry and Warfare Through the Ages – By Will Fowler · 1999 – Google Books
  • Yatagan Sword: The Most Fearful Sword of the Janissaries

    Yatagan Sword: The Most Fearful Sword of the Janissaries

  • Chigiriki Weapon: A Weighing Tool Turned into a Weapon

    Chigiriki Weapon: A Weighing Tool Turned into a Weapon

    Chigiriki (契木) is a kind of martial arts weapon characterized by a hardwood stick (oak, for example) with an iron chain and weight attached to its tip. Chigiriki-jutsu refers to the subset of Japanese budo (“martial way”) utilizing this weapon. In chigirikis, there are chains that are simply attached to the end of the stick, and other chains are housed in a cavity within the stick. In this version, the chain swings out, and the weapon works like a flail. This design is also known as a swinging cane. Weights can be used to strike an opponent or wrapped around an object to block motion.

    What is Chigiriki?

    An Edo period (1603–1867) long chigiriki with a long chain.
    An Edo period (1603–1867) long chigiriki with a long chain.

    The chigiriki is one of the brandishing-stick (furi-zue) weapons in martial arts that has chained sticks. Also known as a shinobi-zue weapon, this cane is designed for stealth (shinobi means “ninja” in Chinese). You can use them as a blow gun, a breathing tube, or to conceal other weapons like shuriken.

    The chigiriki was a weapon used in feudal Japan (1185–1603). It was similar to a jitte with a chain attached to a metal or wooden ball or weight. At one time, there was little distinction between police officers and ninjas, and both groups employed the chigiriki.

    The weapon is also known as the “Japanese flail.”

    the Chigiriki

    In all likelihood, the chigiriki was designed to take the place of either the sai or the jitte. Because of their limited effectiveness, these weapons were often used in pairs. Even if the opponent’s weapon became stuck in the chigiriki’s chains (“claws”), combat could still go on because the chain was so flexible.

    The Size of a Chigiriki

    A chigiriki’s size changes depending on its user. This weapon typically measures about 2 feet (60 cm) in length, but it can also reach 4 feet (120 cm).

    Chigiriki

    When it is 4 feet (4 shaku) in length, the weapon stands nearly chest-high. Hence the moniker, “Chikiriki,” which means something like “chest-cutting wood.”

    When the weapon has a wooden handle that’s around 2 ft (60 cm) long, the metal chain is also 2–2.3 ft (60–70 cm) in length, and there is a spiked ball at the end of the chain.

    Chigiriki was historically a typical weapon for fighting in rural communities alongside regular staff. This can be understood by the Japanese idiomatic expression “a chigiriki at the end of a fight.”

    The chain can also be whatever length the user likes. Some are as long as the user’s forearm.

    Origin of the Chigiriki Weapon

    A water vendor with a carrying pole by Harunobu Suzuki.
    A water vendor with a carrying pole by Harunobu Suzuki.

    However, before the use of chigiriki as a fighting weapon, it was actually used for much more subtle purposes. In everyday life, the chigiriki with a chain weight attached was used to measure the weight of a carrying pole worn on the shoulder while transporting heavy objects. It was also used as a weighing scale to measure the weight of goods.

    At some point, the tool was adapted for use in martial arts. This was probably a result of the lack of weapons available to the locals at the time. In cases of civil war, the Japanese people often improvised their daily tools into weapons.

    This is actually the origin of many Japanese martial art weapons, which initially began as tools for everyday life, such as the bo staff or the tonfa.

    Its Past is Murky

    An Edo period (1603–1867) long chigiriki with a long chain.
    An Edo period (1603–1867) long chigiriki with a long chain.

    The chigiriki is a weapon used in a specific style of martial arts, although its roots in history are not certainly known. However, there is evidence to suggest that the weapon was first used in China around the 8th century.

    The Heian period (794-1185) in Japan is when it was first recorded. The term “chigiriki-jutsu” was first used to describe its application in the 16th century.

    Similar to the kusarigama (a chained kama weapon), this flail weapon never developed into its own separate school but rather became integrated into broader forms of martial arts. Its length varied depending on the practitioner, just like the jo staff.

    In Combat

    the chigiriki weapon

    The use of chigiriki in battle allows for the following:

    • Attacking or entangling an opponent (even from a distance of 10 ft, 3 m).
    • Parrying blows.
    • Capture or immobilize the opponent’s weapon.

    When this weapon struck the target, it could kill or deafen the person.

    The Chigiriki 契木 or “Japanese Flail” by Sengoku Studies戦国研究, YouTube.

    What Does Chigiriki Mean?

    Even though the word “chigiriki” is Japanese, its exact meaning is obscure today. The term may be a combination of two different Japanese words or have some other meaning in Japanese culture. Its literal meaning was probably lost at some point in history, suggesting that it was a tool of ancient times.

    A Typical Chigiriki in Kiraku-ryu

    Rod length5 shaku 7 sun 2 bu5’7.7″ (1.72 m)
    Chain length2 shaku 5 sun 4 bu2’5.9″ (76 cm)
    Thickness1.3 bu1.57″ (4 cm)
    Overall weight360 monme3 lb (1.35 kg)

    Schools of the Chigiriki Weapon

    Numerous schools adopted the chigiriki weapon, including Araki-ryu, Kiraku-ryu, Sasako-ryu, Mubyoshi-ryu, Hatada-ryu, Tsutsumi Hōzan-ryu, Kagami Shinmeichi-ryu, Toda-ryu, and Hatsumi Kenrikata Ichi-ryu, to name a few. The weapon seems to have been especially common in the Nen-ryu and Chujo-ryu schools.

    Araki-ryu (荒木流) koryu (古流) (ko – old, ryu – school) is an ancient martial art developed in the early 1570s by Araki Mujinsai Minamoto. Chigiriki-jutsu contains most of the techniques often used with this weapon.

    References

    1. Old School – Essays on Japanese Martial Traditions by Ellis Amdur, 2014 – Google Books
    2. Classical Weaponry of Japan – Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts by Serge Mol, 2003 – Google Books
    3. Ancient Chinese Weapons A Martial Artist’s Guide by Jwing-Ming Yang – 1999 – Google Books
  • Tanbo: When Drumsticks Turned Into a Weapon

    Tanbo: When Drumsticks Turned Into a Weapon

  • Tonfa Weapon: An Iconic Japanese Weapon

    Tonfa Weapon: An Iconic Japanese Weapon

    • The tonfa, originating in China or Indonesia, is a versatile martial arts weapon.
    • Modern police forces in the US and Europe use tonfa batons for crowd control.
    • Originally adapted from millstone handles, tonfas are balanced for striking efficiency.
    • It is part of Okinawan kobudo and its origins in agricultural tools reflect Okinawan resourcefulness in self-defense.

    The tonfa is a striking, cold weapon used in martial arts and by the police. It is typically made of wood for martial arts but may also be made of polymer to be used by the police. The tonfa weapon is a 20- to 24-inch (50–60 cm) long stick or truncheon with a handle (tsuka) that is perpendicular to the shaft (yoka). The vertical handle is attached to the shaft around the quarter mark of its length. This ancient martial arts weapon is also body armor in the way it covers the forearm.

    Tonfa
    Type:Blunt object, farm weapon
    Origin:Chinese, Ryukyuan, or Indonesian
    Utilization:Mostly civilian, seldom military
    Length:20 to 24 inches (50 to 60 cm)
    Weight:1 to 2.2 lb (0.45 to 1 kg).

    This weapon is known as a Tonfa (トンファー), Tuifa (トゥイファー), or Tunkuwa (トンクワァ) in Okinawan Kobudo.

    Origin of the Tonfa Weapon

    tonfa weapon

    Although there is some debate among experts, most assume that tonfa originated in either China or Indonesia. A hooked sword dating back to the Qin and Han dynasties is credited by certain Chinese authors as the inspiration for this weapon.

    Jwing-Ming Yang claims it is only an iteration of a crutch (it is called Kuai, 枴 or 拐, in Chinese which means hanger, crutch, or walking stick).

    But two of the most prominent hypotheses propose that the tonfa weapon was either adapted from a Chinese martial technique called sai that was taken to the Ryukyu Islands (“Southwest Islands”) and shrunk into a new weapon or that it was developed from a millstone.

    But in the eyes of the Chinese, the origin of the tonfa can also be traced to the crutch. Both of these theories base themselves on a ban on weapons in Okinawa instituted by Shō Hashi (d. 1439) after the island’s civil war inspired the construction of this weapon.

    Daoist immortal Li Tieguai with a cane or crutch under a Pine, Ming dynasty, 1499.
    Daoist immortal Li Tieguai with a cane or crutch under a Pine, Ming dynasty, 1499.

    However, it is speculated that these limitations encouraged people to resort to the unusual use of agricultural equipment as weapons. And it is more frequently claimed that the wooden handle of a millstone, a well-liked agricultural tool, served as inspiration for the tonfa.

    Numerous variants, tonfa-inspired weapons, and characters that wield tonfas can be found in works of fiction like manga and anime today.

    How Do You Use the Tonfa Weapon?

    tonfa weapon fighter

    In a tonfa, a small vertical handle is affixed to one end of the about 18 to 20 in (45–50 cm) long pole to serve as a grip. These weapons often come in pairs and are held individually. Each weapon weighed from 1 to 2.2 lb (450 to 1 kg).

    This weapon’s delicacy lies in the way it balances flexibility with strength, allowing its user to gauge the force of both incoming and outgoing blows. Pairing two tonfas together has proven to be the most effective way to use them. The weapon calls for excellent hand-eye coordination and a steady center of gravity.

    tonfa weapon

    Cover your arms and elbows while holding the grip portion (honte-mochi style), block the strikes like in karate, stand your ground, thrust forward, or utilize your free hand or kick.

    If you turn the long end of the shaft toward your adversary, you can also use this weapon like a club (gyakute style).

    Half-rotating the weapon by turning the wrist allows for rapid switching, and you can also strike your opponent by using the momentum of this rotation.

    tonfa weapon

    Furthermore, the grip can also be turned towards the opponent and used in a kamajutsu fashion by handling the shaft (tokushu-mochi style). It’s an attacking and defensive weapon designed specifically for use against sword-wielding foes.

    To stop a fleeing person, the “baton throwing” method teaches students to hurl the tonfa in a boomerang fashion toward their legs. This method is highlighted in the 1982 drama series “T. J. Hooker.” Karate was especially responsible for spreading this weapon across the American martial arts community.

    History of the Tonfa Weapon

    tonfa weapon

    Tonfa (also known as tuifa or tongwa in martial arts) has a long and storied history in Japan, but its modern development is inextricably tied to Okinawa Island, located south of the Japanese main islands.

    Tonfa is also one of the Eighteen Arms of Wushu and is widely practiced in southern China and Southeast Asia. This weapon has become well-known outside of Japan because of its innovative design, unconventional method of usage, and exceptional effectiveness in close combat.

    King Shō Hashi united the three Okinawan kingdoms under the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1409 and banned peasants and other residents from owning or using weapons out of fear of an uprising. After two centuries, in 1609, the regime once again took the weapons away from the people.

    It’s Time to be Imaginative

    tonfa weapon

    The ban forced the locals to develop a system of warfare that would enable them to defend themselves against intruders using only their bare hands. Okinawa-te (“Okinawan hand”) was born in this way, and it is the progenitor of karate (kara-te, “empty hand”).

    Farmers, however, were also resourceful enough to repurpose common agricultural implements into lethal weapons. Kobudo tradition holds that the tonfa, like most of the weapons it employs, has agricultural origins. The tonfa was originally the handle (crank) of a millstone that was used to grind grains, and the farmers turned it into a fighting tool.

    Ryukyu islanders fought Japanese samurai with tonfas, similar to the jo or bo staffs.

    It was simple to remove this crank from the millstone and wield it as a weapon, protecting one’s forearm by grasping it with the yoka (the long portion of the weapon). Lunging with the shorter portion of the shaft, striking with the other end (yoko nage), or rotating the weapon with a quick wrist movement were all common methods of attack.

    tonfa and sai
    Tonfa and sai.

    The tonfa is considered a weapon in Okinawan kobudō (i.e., Ryukyu kobujustu), along with the sai (a weapon with the metal head of a fork) and the nunchaku (a flail weapon).

    The territory of the former Ryukyu Kingdom continued to be the main area for the use of the tonfa weapon even after Japan annexed the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1879 and turned it into the Okinawa Prefecture.

    Design of the Tonfa Weapon

    tonfa weapon

    In modern kobudo dôjô, the tonfa weapon has a red wood handle and a circular or square cross-section. It’s 20 in (50 cm) long and has a side handle that’s about a third of the way up.

    Different people have different ideal sizes, but once gripped, the weapon should stick out around 1.2 in (3 cm) over the elbow. The cross-section of the weapon is often round, square, or trapezoidal.

    When handled improperly or with improvised tactics, the tonfa may cause severe harm or broken bones; hence, it must be treated as a weapon at all times by the law.

    Because of the tonfa’s adaptability, law enforcement currently uses it in a number of nations, including Italy, the United States of America, Canada, Finland, Germany, and Switzerland.

    Western Tonfa is Different

    tonfa weapon

    As can be seen in the above image, the weapon’s original form is more like a square pillar. However, the weapon’s adaptability led to a cylindrical form in places like the United States and Europe, creating the variant called the “tonfa baton.” When it is used as a baton, it is called a “side-handle baton” or “T-baton.”

    Practicing the tonfa necessitates a high level of finger, wrist, elbow, and arm flexibility, strength, and agility in order to achieve a high level of technical proficiency and a certain degree of dexterity.

    Tonfa in Popular Culture

    Movies and TV Shows

    • In Spiritual Kung Fu (1978), Jackie Chan fights a group of monks using more than 6.5 feet (2 m) long staffs, representing the Sixteen Arhats, while wielding a pair of tonfas.
    • Diaz – Don’t Clean Up This Blood, a 2012 Italian-French-Romanian historical drama film features the tonfa weapon.
    • In the Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation TV series, Michelangelo uses this weapon instead of the nunchakus he used in previous versions.
    • Raphael uses this exact weapon in the TV series Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and it was his boyhood weapon in the comics.

    Video Games

    • Players of the Left 4 Dead 2 video game get access to the tonfa as a melee weapon option.
    • The tone phase is a technique used by Talim in Soulcalibur.
    • In Mega Man Zero 3, Zero wields a pair of tonfas with energy blades. By pushing adversaries, breaking certain blocks, and bouncing on the ground, he can go to locations he couldn’t before.

    Weapons Similar to the Tonfa

    These weapons below share at least a few characteristics with the tonfa weapon:

    • Police baton: A police officer’s baton is a cylindrical weapon used for self-defense and to subdue offenders. It has a side handle, designed like a tonfa for improved grip and control. A typical kind of baton used by law enforcement is the PR-24, which is longer and has a side handle.
    • Yawara stick: A short, portable weapon used for striking and joint locking, the yawara stick is often constructed of wood or metal.
    • Nunchaku: Two sticks are linked together with a chain or rope to form this ancient Okinawan weapon known as nunchaku.
    • Sansetsukon: A sansetsukon is a three-section staff that looks like a tonfa but has two extra prongs. It’s a common component in many forms of martial arts.

    Martial Art Schools That Use the Tonfa

    • China: Shaolin Temple, Sun Bin Quan, Pak Mei Pai, etc.
    • Japan and Ryukyu: Karate (especially early Karate known as “Tang Soo Do”), Ninjutsu schools.
    • Thailand: Traditional Muay Thai style
    • Philippines: Arnis, the traditional martial arts of the Philippines.

    Tonfa as Police Equipment

    Many martial arts professionals from Okinawa have come to the United States as part of the various waves of immigration from Asia. They were especially Japanese karate practitioners. The American police utilized a cylindrical stick called a tanbo (a type of jo or bo staff) of 25 in (65 cm) in length, 1.2 in (3 cm) in diameter, and 1.1 lb (500 g) in weight until the 1970s.

    Some police officers modified their standard-issue baton by adding a side handle to the middle third of the baton using a hexagonal screw, drawing inspiration from the tonfa used in Okinawan kobudo training.

    Thus, the first police tonfa baton was created, but its whole construction had to be rethought to reveal its full potential. And unlike the original version used in kobudo, the baton was not intended to be employed in pairs.

    Police tonfa designers responded by mandating a new covering made of lightweight, shock-absorbing materials. The United States police agency settled on a polycarbonate alloy covering a 24 in (60 cm) long pole that was injected in a single piece and weighed about 1.5 lb (700 g) after extensive testing and trial and error.

    The United States’ police forces emphasize defensive tonfa skills against bladed weapons, with a concentration on disarming the opponent. For those without martial arts training, the technique of temporarily releasing the hold and spinning the weapon to attack is commonly overlooked.

    In the United States and Europe, the tonfa baton is an offensive and defensive weapon used to quell riots and incapacitate attackers. Striking, thrusting, sweeping, and grappling are just some of the many methods that can be mastered with this device, which leads many to feel it is very practical and efficient.

    Laws and Enforcement

    In the United States, carrying a tonfa or any other weapon on duty requires training from a law enforcement organization. For instance, the Monadnock Baton PR-24 STS is listed as the standard baton in the New York City Police Department’s Patrol Guide section “204-09 16 ‘Baton (Side Handle),” and only properly trained personnel who have graduated from the police school are permitted to carry them.

    The material also specifies the following details:

    • Police officers employed after December 1988 may only carry PR-24 STS.
    • Police officers employed by December 1988 and not trained in tonfa are permitted to carry straight batons no longer than 24~26 inches and 1.5 inches in diameter.
    • The straight baton may be made out of either false acacia, hickory, American holly, or rosewood.
    • Even for those qualified to carry a straight baton, individuals who have received tonfa training at the police academy must carry a tonfa.

    The tonfa is a category D weapon in France. Without proper paperwork and a valid reason, you can’t carry this weapon there, just like in Germany. Since the ordinance of 2000 did not permit the concealed carry of firearms by municipal police, telescopic batons remained illegal until 2013. When on duty, French police officers must get special permission to use this weapon instead of the more common truncheon. Because the weapon is considered dangerous, particularly for the head.

    Due to its association with shock-crushing cold weapons, the use of tonfa in combat or self-defense is also illegal in Russia. The German Bundeswehr (armed forces) and police have long used this martial arts weapon in the baton role.

    A Shift from Tonfas to Batons

    Police officers still frequently use tonfas today. However, there has been a shift in recent years toward telescopic batons, which are both easier to hide and more convenient to carry. The aim is to strike fear into the hearts of its potential victims with the mere sight of the weapon.

    Another factor is the public’s growing mistrust of law enforcement as a result of high-profile episodes of police brutality, such as the “Rodney King beating” that prompted the Los Angeles riots and similar occurrences around the United States.

    Since 2007, the Los Angeles Police Department and other agencies have begun using the Pelican Light 7060 Tactical Flashlight, a handheld, small, high-intensity illumination device measuring only around 8 in (20 cm) in length, instead of the flashlight formerly used for nighttime patrols.

    The preceding “Streamlight” and “Maglite” tactical weapon lights were also strong blunt weapons, inspiring the same mistrust as the tonfa, and thus they were phased out. The current generation of flashlights is not designed to be used as a blunt weapon, but their bright beams of light may briefly incapacitate targets like would-be attackers.

    The martial arts tonfa is often crafted from red oak and other similarly thick and durable woods. However, law enforcement personnel frequently use batons made of synthetic materials, such as polycarbonate and particular metals, that offer exceptional impact resistance.

    References

    1. Tonfa – Karate Weapon of Self-Defense by Fumio Demura, 1982.
    2. Classical Weaponry of Japan Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts by Serge Mol, 2003.
    3. Weapons & Fighting Arts of Indonesia by Donn F. Draeger – 2012.
    4. The Ultimate Weapons Manual with Grandmaster by Ted Gambordella Master all the Martial Arts Weapons by Ted Gambordella, 1998.
  • Aspis: The Iconic Shield of the Ancient Greeks

    Aspis: The Iconic Shield of the Ancient Greeks

  • Lantern Shield: A Gauntlet Combined with Shield and Sword

    Lantern Shield: A Gauntlet Combined with Shield and Sword

  • Sword of Charlemagne: The Joyeuse Sword of the Frankish King

    Sword of Charlemagne: The Joyeuse Sword of the Frankish King

  • Karabela: A Polish Saber That Means Black Scourge

    Karabela: A Polish Saber That Means Black Scourge

    Karabela is a Polish saber with a crossguard and hilt in the shape of a bird’s (or eagle’s) head. The karabela’s handle can be gripped firmly and spun on the palm for arc cuts from the wrist. Karabela was indicative of the Polish landscape, and the ethno-cultural noble ideology called Sarmatism. This cold weapon with a curved blade stayed in use between the 17th and 18th centuries. Many examples that have survived to this day have rich hilt ornaments, which were often added at the sacrifice of usefulness in battle.

    Karabela
    Type of weapon:Saber
    Other names:Karabelė, Carabel
    Origin:Eastern Europe
    Utilization:Military and ornamental
    Length:Blade: 30-34″ (77–86 cm), blade: 5″ (13 cm)
    Weight:Around 2 lbs (1 kg)

    History of the Karabela

    the karabela sword
    A Polish specimen. (Image: Livrustkammaren (The Royal Armoury) / Samuel Uhrdin – CC BY-SA 3.0)

    Karabela was first documented in Poland around the end of the 15th century. The earliest records of the weapon date from the military campaign against the Turks and Vlachs that the voivodships of Kalisz and Poznan cities led in 1497–1498. It was a common weapon among the Cossacks, a community with Turkic and Slavic origins.

    The saber of Selim I, one of the first dated examples of a karabela, dates back to the early 16th century. Around the same period, the Ottoman Empire was also the birthplace of a unique style of this weapon.

    The karabela of Tsar Peter the Great, taken as loot during the Battle of Narva, 1700.
    The karabela of Tsar Peter the Great, taken as loot during the Battle of Narva, 1700.

    The weapon appeared in Poland and Ukraine at the same time, and it also made its debut in Persia in the late 16th century.

    During the 17th and 18th centuries, similar sabers were mostly employed by Balkan auxiliary soldiers in Turkish service, as well as in Russia, Moldavia, and Armenia. The Moroccan sabers (Nimcha, which have a smaller curved blade) were also quite similar.

    The Polish karabela was revolutionary because of its balanced blade and ergonomic grip, which allowed infantrymen to make arc cuts with the flick of their wrists. Despite their superficial similarity to Western sabers, other sabers can only be used for shoulder cuts.

    18th-century Ukrainian karabela.
    18th-century Ukrainian karabela. (Public Domain)

    There are many specimens of karabela today from the 17th and 18th centuries in the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw or the National Museum in Kielce.

    The blade length of this weapon varied between 30–34 inches (77–86 cm), with a blade curvature of 1.2 to 2.8 inches (30 to 70 mm). The length of its grip was often 5 inches (13 cm), with a small brass crossguard. There are examples embellished with miniature lion heads or ivories.

    Compared to the Other Sabers

    Karabela of the first half of the 17th century.
    Karabela of the first half of the 17th century.
    Karabela of the first half of the 17th century.
    Karabelas of the first half of the 17th century. (Public Domain)

    There were several different sorts of karabelas, including Polish, Turkish, Persian, Solingen, Italian, and Austrian.

    There are certain subtle functional characteristics that make the Polish variant superior to comparable sabers from other countries when it comes to cuts made with the wrist:

    1. The blade features a double-edged curved blade, clearly marked by a prominent fuller occupying one-third of the blade’s length.
    2. The blade or tang, expanding towards the pommel, is equipped with notches and rivets, ensuring a more secure grip.
    3. The curved head of the pommel allows for the hooking of the little finger.
    4.  The pommel noticeably expands, enabling rotation of the hilt in the palm.

    Usage of the Karabela

    The karabela's handle in the shape of an eagle's head.
    The weapon’s handle in the shape of an eagle’s head. (By Bastianow (Bastian) • CC BY-SA 4.0)

    Karabelas were optimized for arc cuts from the wrist in foot combat (types IIa and IIb) and swing cuts from the shoulder in equestrian combat. This edged weapon also allowed protective parrying maneuvers.

    When performing a cutting motion with the wrist, the thumb could rest comfortably on the rear of the karabela’s handle because of how the handle was designed.

    The thumb was placed along the edge of the hilt for use in shoulder cuts when mounted on a horse. Fencing with the karabela was made easier because of the pommel in the shape of a bird’s (eagle’s) head and a beak (at the end), which kept the weapon from slipping out of the hand.

    The saber’s curved head made it possible for the palm spin, in which the weapon spins on the palm of the hand.

    The Origin of the Name

    A karabela with a black handle probable of Polish origin.
    A specimen with a black handle probably of Polish origin. (Public Domain)

    The origin of the term karabela is a topic of speculation. However, the mainstream theory suggests that the name is a fusion of one Turkish “kara” (meaning “black”) and one Arabic term “bela” (meaning “scourge”), which means “black scourge.” The name is associated with the color of the handle of the first Turkish combat karabela, made of black horn.

    Considering the effect of Turkish weapons on Eastern European nations as well as the saber being a Turkic-Mongol weapon, this explanation makes the most sense.

    There is also an alternative theory with Latin or Italian roots. Some have speculated that the name was derived from the Latin terms for “precious” (cara) and “beautiful” (bella). The idea is that the weapons were often richly decorated.

    But there is more to it. According to Polish historians, the name comes from the Polish lord Karabela, who is credited with introducing the use of a small, ornamental saber as part of the official court costume. In another version, Carabel is an Italian man who presented the first karabela to the Polish royal court.

    But the name may have also been taken from places in Turkey, Crimea, Iraq, or Iran where these weapons were produced. One theory (according to Zygmunt Gloger) centers on the Iraqi city of Karbala. Among them is also the Turkish town of Karabel, in the vicinity of İzmir or the Karabel district in Crimea.

    According to the last theory, the name might be derived from an Indo-Slavic proto-word that is related to the Sanskrit term karavala, which meant “sword” or “scimitar.” It might also come from the Arabic “carab” (“weapon”).

    Characteristics of the Karabela

    A 18th-century Ukrainian nobleman, Semen Sulyma, with the karabela sword.
    A 18th-century Ukrainian nobleman, Semen Sulyma, with the karabela sword.

    According to their practical significance throughout history, three distinct classes of karabelas are identified:

    • Type IIa – mostly from the 17th and early 18th centuries; characterized by a broad blade with varied curvature and a fuller; and ergonomic handle that widens toward the pommel.
    • Type IIb – primarily circular blade, without a broadening blade, ergonomically flat handle, from the second half of the 18th century.
    • Type IIc: blades that are short and broad; ergonomic grip expanding toward the pommel; small, symmetrical crossguard with a downward curve; from the 17th and 18th centuries.

    Adorned Karabelas

    Polish Karabela, Hilt late 18th century, blade 17th century, formerly in a Museum Switzerland
    A Polish variant. Hilt, late 18th century; blade, 17th century; formerly in a museum in Switzerland

    The bird’s head hilt provided a great opportunity for goldsmiths to show off their skills on a karabela. Yet due to the impracticality of the hilt, the most elaborately adorned weapons were of little use in battle. But it was standard practice to adorn an older blade with a bulky and decorative frame.

    Materials including ivory, horn, bone, Damascus steel, gold, and inlaid wood were utilized to create an ornamented karabela.

    The House of Radvilos grinding business in Jankowice, near Naliboki, was active in the second half of the 18th century, and they created easily recognized and aesthetically pleasing karabela handles made of chalcedony and other semi-precious stones, frequently encrusted.

    Karabela in Culture

    A Fashion Weapon

    Various karabela weapons
    (By Thomas Quine, CC BY 2.0 / cropped from original)

    It wasn’t until the 18th century that the karabela became a “costume weapon” of the Polish aristocracy. Some of the reproductions even included elaborate embellishments of gold, silver, and gemstones. Having this weapon was almost synonymous with being a member of the aristocracy, and the curved blade was frequently carved with a statement befitting its wearer.

    In its lifetime, hundreds of thousands of decorative karabelas were manufactured in Poland.

    In Video Games

    • In Witcher 3: Wild Hunt DLC named Hearts of Stone, chieftain Olgierd von Everec is shown wielding a karabela.

    Karabela at a Glance

    What is a Karabela?

    The Karabela is a Polish saber with a bird’s (or eagle’s) head-shaped crossguard and hilt. It was in use between the 17th and 18th centuries and was indicative of the Polish landscape and Sarmatism, an ethno-cultural noble ideology. The weapon had a curved blade and was known for its balanced blade and ergonomic grip, allowing for arc cuts from the wrist. Many surviving examples have rich hilt ornaments.

    What are the different types of Karabelas?

    There are three distinct classes of this weapon identified based on their practical significance throughout history, IIa, IIb, and IIc.

    How was the Karabela used in combat?

    It was optimized for arc cuts from the wrist in foot combat and swing cuts from the shoulder in equestrian combat. It allowed for protective parrying maneuvers and had a handle design that facilitated comfortable gripping and thumb placement. The curved head of the pommel prevented the weapon from slipping out of the hand, and the weapon could be spun on the palm.

    What is the origin of the name Karabela?

    The origin of the term is speculative, but there are several theories. One theory suggests it is a fusion of the Turkish word “kara” (meaning “black”) and the Arabic word “bela” (meaning “scourge”), referring to the black handle of the first Turkish variants.

    References

    1. A Knight and His Weapons / Edition 2 by Ewart Oakeshott, 1998 – Barnes & Noble
    2. The Use of Medieval Weaponry by Eric Lowe, 2020 – Google Books
    3. Dzieje szabli w Polsce by Włodzimierz Kwaśniewicz, 1999 – Open Library