Broadswords, rapiers are a logical continuation of the development of medieval swords. In general, individual swords of the XV-XVI centuries, according to some characteristic features can be considered as broadswords. This is especially true for the presence of developed guards, which include interlaced rings and temples. In the future, this will develop into a basket guard, which has an English or Scottish broadsword, an Italian schiavona, an atyl - an Indian broadsword.
The term broadsword itself comes from the Turkish word pala, which can be translated as a sword or dagger. In European states, broadswords received a wide variety of names. So, the British had broadsword - basket swords, the Italians had spada schiavona - Slavic swords, and the Germans in different periods of the 16th-19th centuries had several names at the same time:
- In the XVI-XVII centuries - reiterschwert - these were the swords of horsemen;
- In the XVIII-XIX centuries, based on the appointment military units, in which they were used - kurassierdegen, dragonerdegen, kavalleriedegen - cuirassier swords, dragoon swords, as well as cavalry swords.
So, broadswords are a kind of chopping-piercing long-bladed weapons. They have wide double or single-edged blades and developed guards, usually in the form of wicker baskets. Broadsword blades are much wider and heavier than those of rapiers or later swords.
Broadsword design
Like all swords, broadswords have two main parts - the blade and the hilt. The most curious and structurally complex are broadsword hilts, equipped with basket guards. All hilts of these types stand out from the universal details inherent in all of them.
They consist of:
- pommel;
- Rear killon crosspieces;
- Crosspieces;
- Guard rings protruding below the crosses (they have only early weapons, such as the Scottish broadsword and schiavona);
- Front killon crosspieces.
Blades were conditionally divided into three parts:
- Strong parts of the blades;
- The middle parts of the blades;
- Weak parts of blades and points.
Broadswords with basket guards
Early broadsword configurations with basket guards arose in the 16th century. Unlike other guards of that time, the arcs with rings turned into lattice baskets that completely covered the hands. There are changes in the forms of guards from typical, round, rapier ones to more flattened ones. Old Swedish inventories defined these weapons as "basket hilts in the form of horse muzzles."
Despite the basket guards, these varieties of early broadswords are very similar to other forms of swords. In those days, they all had rather long parrying arches of the crosses. Some hilts had characteristic divisions into two parts, similar to bastard swords.
Since the 17th century, broadswords with basket guards have been divided into three different categories. One category can be called general, and the other two are regional, which includes: the Venetian schiavon and the Scottish broadsword. The most famous representatives general category Walloon broadswords (Walloon swords) and mortuary swords (from the English mortuary swords), known on the mainland as haudegen - haudegens, are considered (according to some sources they were defined as combat swords).
Walloon broadsword
Walloon broadswords gained great popularity in the central and northern European states. Apparently, they became the main prototypes for the subsequent formation of combat statutory cavalry blades. They are easily distinguished from broadswords with basket hilts, and have characteristic features:
- The guards have wide two-piece front shields connected to the pommel with the help of side protective arms;
- The rear killons of the crosses are bent down to the points, at the ends they have extensions of spherical shapes;
- The front killons pass into the front protective arms connected to the pommel, which in almost all Walloon broadswords have spherical shapes.
Deceased Sword
Most Haudegen blades have only one blade. There are no crosses on the hilts, and the baskets are pronounced and equipped with protective shields. This weapon was mainly distributed in England in the 17th century when the civil war was going on. Many basket guards were decorated with pictures of the beheading of King Charles I. That is why the English Howdegens later became known as "deceased swords".
Scottish broadsword
Apparently the most famous regional representative is the Scottish broadsword. It is often mistakenly referred to as a claymore. The most diverse versions of it quickly spread throughout Britain.
The spread of the Scottish broadsword is associated with military clashes that often took place in Scotland in the 18th century. Regular English troops and Scottish highland clans fought.
It is striking that most Scottish broadswords have red linings inside the guards, and the blade, as a rule, is very wide, long with a double-edged blade.
Schiavona
Schiavons were less regionally distributed than Scottish broadswords. They met only in Venice. At first, the term gli schiavoni was used to refer to the swords of the Doge's guards. Later, Venetian-style basket-hilted swords were called that.
There are significant differences in quality and finish between different examples of schiavon. So, some are extremely simple and functional, while the rest had excellent chasing and brass inlay.
Broadswords of statutory forms
By the end of the 17th century, all European armies began to arm themselves with authorized weapons, characteristic of different types of troops. The broadsword becomes the signature weapon of heavy cavalrymen such as cuirassiers and dragoons. By the 19th century, the armies of some states were armed with several models of broadswords. In addition to guards cuirassier broadswords, army cuirassier broadswords, dragoon and other broadswords, an officer's broadsword also appeared. All of them basically had heavy single-edged blades with well-defined points, designed for powerful thrusting.
Cuirassier broadsword
The manufacture of such broadswords was mass-produced by all major European centers. All parameters were strictly regulated by the charters, so a considerable number of these weapons have come down to us. As a result, with the word "broadsword" many imagine the actual cuirassier weapon of the 19th century.
By the end of the 19th century, broadswords were replaced by sabers in the cavalry of most states. The only exception was the Life Guards, in which these weapons have survived to this day.
If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.
The broadsword originated from a chopping sword, which won in equestrian combat due to its lower weight.
The very shape of the sword - a straight, double-edged blade, a cross on the hilt - not only was a Christian symbol, but also made this weapon perfectly adapted for combat.
sword evolution
Sword evolution (continued)
In the course of the development of defensive weapons and combat techniques, the shape of the sword changed, which ultimately led to the emergence of a new type of bladed weapon.
Broadswords appeared in Russia in the middle of the 17th century from Europe.
The broadswords of that time had powerful, wide double-edged blades typical of chopping weapons, as a rule, without fullers, lenticular or rhombic section; later - single-edged, with a butt and fullers.
From top to bottom: broadsword of ordinary heavy cavalry, model 1821 (Austria); cuirassier officer's broadsword of the French type (Prussia, second half of the 19th century); dragoon broadsword model 1815 (Baden, Germany); cuirassier broadsword sample 1819 (Prussia); broadsword of privates of the linear cavalry (France).
The handle of broadswords is most often set slightly at an angle to the blade, which makes them more convenient for cutting from a horse. The hilts were supplied with guards and several protective arches - front and side. The side arms were located on the outer side of the hilt and often were very spectacular, intricate weaves, sometimes decorated with some kind of heraldic figures.
The regular cavalry created in Russia in the 18th century was also armed with broadswords. Already since 1700, along with swords, sabers, etc., they were found among dragoons. In 1711, with the streamlining of dragoon weapons, broadswords became their mandatory attribute. The officer's broadswords differed from the soldiers' only in a gilded hilt.
From top to bottom: cuirassier officer's broadsword, model 1826 (Zlatoust, 1833); cuirassier officer's broadsword model 1826 (Solingen);
cuirassier officer's broadsword model 1810
In the second half of the 18th century, the blades of Russian broadswords were both double-edged and single-edged, and from the first decade of the 19th century only single-edged ones were used.
Broadswords of the 18th century had leather or wooden scabbards covered with leather, as well as a metal device (mouth, nuts with rings for harness belts, tip), simple or slotted, covering almost the entire surface of the scabbard.
In the same period as in Russia, in the 18th - early 19th centuries, there was a gradual unification of broadswords in the cavalry of European armies; single models were introduced both for regiments and for each type of cavalry: dragoon broadswords, cuirassier broadswords, etc.
Lancers, dragoons and cuirassiers of the Russian army
Cuirassiers got their name from the cuirass - a steel shell worn on the chest, and later on the back of the rider.
Heavy cavalry appeared in the Russian army in 1731, and the cuirassiers were immediately armed with broadswords.
The dragoons could different time armed with swords, broadswords or sabers, but the heavy cavalry always remained true to the broadswords.
Firearms spread more and more, and in 1862 the cuirassier regiments were turned into dragoon ones. Their weapons have changed. However, four cuirassier regiments were retained in the guard: Her Majesty Maria Feodorovna's Life Guards Cavalry Guard Regiment, Her Majesty's Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, His Majesty's Life Guards Cuirassier Regiment and Her Majesty's Life Guards Cuirassier Regiment.
Since the 1700s, the following types of broadswords have been in service with the Russian regular cavalry:
| Dragoon broadsword | officer | 1700s |
| Dragoon broadsword | officer | 1720s |
| Dragoon broadsword | soldier | 1750s 2 variants |
| Broadsword cuirassier | 1740s | |
| soldier | 1763 | |
| Broadsword cuirassier | 1760 | |
| Broadsword carabinieri | soldier | 1763 |
| Broadsword of the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment | second half of 1790s | |
| Dragoon broadsword | soldier and officer | 1798 |
| Broadsword army cuirassier | soldier and officer | 1798 |
| Broadsword cavalry guard | 1799 | |
| Broadsword cavalry guard | 1799 for wearing with a uniform | |
| Broadsword cavalry guard | 1802 | |
| Horse artillery broadsword | lower ranks | 1803 |
| Dragoon broadsword | soldier and officer | 1806 |
| Broadsword cuirassier | soldier and officer | 1810 |
| Broadsword cuirassier | soldier and officer | 1826 |
| Broadsword boarding sailor | 1856 |
In the field, due to combat expediency, the cuirassiers-guards acted as dragoons, but in parades and guards until 1917 they wore cuirasses and broadswords.
In the first of these regiments - the Life Guards Cavalier Guards of Her Majesty Maria Feodorovna - there was even a kind of broadsword cult. Melee weapons in Russia were called white weapons. For the same reason, the cavalry guards called their broadsword "white lady". Their regimental march was taken from the French opera The White Lady. The regiment even had its own ghost, which appeared on the eve of major troubles, and this ghost, of course, was also the White Lady.
Cuirassier officer's broadswords of the 1810 model
Chrysostom, masters V. and L. Shafa (?). 1820s
At the beginning of the 19th century, broadsword blades, still quite powerful and wide, became more elegant. If at first the broadsword was mainly a chopping weapon, now its main purpose is a sharp injection, knocking the rider out of the saddle, or inflicting a stab wound on the enemy. In this regard, in the 19th century, broadsword blades acquire a tapering point instead of a rounded one.
The last two samples lasted until 1917. If we talk about the naval boarding broadsword, then in the naval schools of the USSR, senior students flaunted with him until 1956 (thus, he served 100 years).
After the division of the Russian cavalry into light (hussars, lancers), medium (dragoons) and heavy (cuirassiers) broadswords became the privilege of the latter.
Today, broadswords are worn in the honor guards of a number European countries having historical uniforms. In Sweden, these are the royal drabants, in the UK, the regiments of Her Majesty's Horse Guards. There is a similar tradition in France, which, being a republic, has retained its historical roots, and in many other states.
And I fenced not badly, especially with a Scottish broadsword
Poet Lord Byron
Among the great variety of European bladed weapons, the broadsword occupies a special place. It can be called a real long-liver. Having appeared at the beginning of the 16th century, the broadsword continued to be used until the First World War, while the 19th century is traditionally considered the period of the greatest popularity of this weapon - the era of dashing hussars and brave cuirassiers. Broadswords are still used as ceremonial weapons, for example, they are armed with officers of the Scottish regiments of the British army. In the Soviet Union, until 1975, the so-called cadet broadsword existed as an official item of equipment, which cadets of the Navy were required to wear outside the walls of their educational institutions.
by the most famous view This weapon is the mountain or Scottish broadsword - it is also a Scottish basket sword - glorified in their works by Byron and Walter Scott.
It is likely that last time in real combat, the Scottish broadsword was used in December 1941. During Operation Archery, British Army Lieutenant Colonel John Churchill (nicknamed Mad Jack) went on the attack with this weapon. This officer liked to repeat that "an officer who goes into battle without a sword is armed incorrectly." Churchill was generally a big fan of historical weapons. Judging by the facts of his biography, he always carried his officer's broadsword with him, and during the fighting in northern France in 1940, he managed to shoot a German sergeant major from a large English bow ...
Now we should define the subject of our story. A broadsword is a kind of blade cold weapon, a chopping-piercing type, with a straight and long blade, the dimensions of which reached 100 cm. The broadsword could have a double-sided sharpening, but usually it was one-sided or one-and-a-half. The cross section of the blade of the broadsword is rhombic or lenticular, as a rule, it has no valleys. Another feature of this weapon is a massive and developed guard, which could include a shield, protective arms, a cup or a basket. The broadsword differed from the sword in a heavier and more massive blade.
The handle of cavalry broadswords often had a bend towards the blade. This made it possible to inflict more powerful chopping (almost saber) blows.
Throughout its history, the broadsword was primarily a horseman's weapon, although it could, of course, also be used in infantry combat. The wide distribution of the broadsword is associated with the appearance of numerous regular cavalry, as well as the gradual abandonment of massive heavy armor. This weapon also found its use in the navy - as early as the 16th century, the so-called boarding broadsword appeared, which was in service almost until late XIX centuries.
The Early History of the Broadsword: Mongolia, the Caucasus, and India
The era of the birth of the broadsword is traditionally considered the end of the 16th - the beginning of the 17th century. However, weapons resembling it in all respects existed among the nomadic Turkic peoples as early as the middle of the 6th century, except that it could not “boast” of a complex and elaborate guard.
Specialized swords for chopping with a long straight single-edged blade were generally popular in the East. In equestrian combat, they had an advantage over ordinary swords, as they weighed less. Yes, and this weapon cost less, because it was easier to manufacture. Eastern broadswords often had a hilt with a characteristic bend. Such weapons were very popular in the Mongol-Tatar army in the XIII and XIV centuries.
If we talk about later periods, then blades, in all respects resembling broadswords, were most common in the Caucasus and the Middle East. Unlike Western European broadswords, these weapons, as a rule, had a weak protection of the fighter's hand, which most often consisted of an ordinary cross.
Unique Ottoman broadsword with a flaming blade
In northeastern India, a broadsword called Kunda or Khanda was made. He had a straight single-edged blade up to 80 cm long with some expansion towards the end, often without a pronounced point. At the same time, like the classic European broadsword, Kunda had a hilt with a developed hand protection, which consisted of a bowl and a wide arc. Such blades were often made of damask steel, and precious woods and precious metals. Therefore, they were not very cheap.
In the late Middle Ages in India, another type of broadsword, the Firangi, became widespread. This Indian broadsword had a one-and-a-half sharpening and a complex basket hilt.
Broadsword of Western Europe: the heir of knightly traditions
The European broadsword - however, like the sword - is a descendant of the long knightly sword of the Middle Ages, a heavy and versatile weapon, suitable for both equestrian and foot combat. The broadsword is the brainchild of the European Modern Age, the era of the beginning of the formation of mass professional armies on the continent. Knights, of course, were very formidable and combat-ready guys, but there were few of them. Therefore, already in the middle of the 16th century, their place began to be taken by reiters - heavily armed cavalry mercenaries. Elitism once again yielded to mass character ...
Creation of mass regular armies as well as further improvement firearms leads to some simplification of the warrior's protective equipment. A similar trend was observed in relation to the weapons of an ordinary warrior.
The original weapon of the Russian cavalry of the war of 1812 - broadsword and sabers
It is believed that the first broadswords began to be used by the Hungarian hussars in the second half of the 16th century. They had this weapon in addition to the saber. Very quickly, the broadsword practically replaced the sword in Western Europe.
Here we should pay attention to one important feature. Throughout its history, the broadsword has been an exclusively military weapon, designed for the terrible whirlwind of a real fight, and not for "noble" fencing. In this regard, the broadsword can be called the antipode of the Breter sword or the parade saber. For its time, the broadsword on the belt was a kind of sign not of a court dude, but of an experienced "front-line soldier" who managed to sniff gunpowder. It could be seen in the Scottish highlanders, the "iron-sided" Lord Protector Cromwell, and later in the cuirassiers of the Napoleonic wars.
The broadsword was not very suitable for virtuoso swordsmanship, which, as a rule, has no place in a real battle. Therefore, it is absolutely no coincidence that defenses when using this weapon were often taken with the left hand - with the help of a bracer or a small shield (highlanders used such until the 18th century). In an individual duel against a skilled swordsman, a fighter with a broadsword did not shine much.
Venetian schiavona in all its glory
Further evolution of the European broadsword
The evolution of the broadsword can be traced by changes in the hilt of this weapon. Broadsword guards of the 16th century already had arches and rings that securely closed the hand, but despite this, they still look very much like the hilts of ordinary swords that existed during this period.
Reiter broadsword with Walloon hilt
In the 17th century, the further development of the broadsword went in several directions, forming three groups, one of which can be conditionally called general, and the other two - regional:
- the Walloon broadsword and the Haudegen;
- Scottish broadsword;
- group of the Venetian schiavona.
Haudegen or Sword of the Dead. Such a strange name is associated with the human head, the image of which was often applied to the hilt of this weapon. And since a significant part of these swords belongs to the period of the English civil war, then collectors of the 19th century believed that the royalists depicted the executed King Charles I on their weapons. Later studies refuted this assumption, but the gloomy name took root ...
The Walloon broadsword is most widely used in the countries of central and northern Europe. This weapon has a characteristic shield, consisting of two parts, which is connected to the pommel with shackles. The rear killon of the cross is bent towards the tip and ends with a spherical pommel. The front killon passes into a protective bow connected to the pommel.
Modern replica of Oliver Cromwell's Haudegen
The haudegen's hilt did not have a cross at all, but it had a well-defined basket and a protective shield. Most of these broadswords have a single-edged sharpening, although there are one-and-a-half and two-edged samples.
The Venetian schiavona had a very small distribution area, initially only the Doge's guard was armed with this broadsword. The main features of this weapon were a pommel shaped like a cat's head, as well as a guard with S-shaped arms. The fencer's hand was protected by a basket formed by oblique arcs.
Schiavona with scabbard. The "cat's head" of the pommel and the characteristic shape of the arcs are clearly visible.
Scottish broadsword, or what was the weapon of Rob Roy
The Scottish broadsword is, without a doubt, the most famous representative this group of weapons. It began to be used at the beginning of the 17th century and very soon spread throughout England and Ireland. The Scottish broadsword is often called a claymore, which is a mistake, because this is the name of the famous heavy two-handed sword highlanders. True, it should be noted that in the 17th century, claymores that were outdated at that time were often reforged into broadswords.
Scottish broadsword in scabbard
The Scottish broadsword usually had a double-edged blade, the length of the blade was 70-80 cm, and its width was about 4 cm. The guard of the Scottish broadsword is lined with thick fabric or leather, which is also a feature of this weapon.
Statutory broadsword of the European armies
In the 17th century, the development and improvement of mass professional armies continued on the European continent. One of the components of this process is the unification of weapons, which is generally completed by the beginning of the 18th century. As a result, each branch of the military receives its “own” bladed weapon. So, for example, light cavalry received sabers, and broadswords were adopted for heavy cavalry.
Dragoon broadsword, late 18th century
Statutory broadswords were heavy, as a rule, single-edged weapons with a pronounced point, well adapted for a powerful thrusting blow. They were made in huge quantities, so a lot of copies of these weapons have survived to this day. The characteristics of authorized broadswords, as a rule, were strictly regulated.
In the second half of the 19th century, the broadsword in the cavalry was gradually replaced by the saber.
Broadsword in the Russian Empire
The oldest surviving example of this weapon in our country is considered to be a broadsword that belonged to Prince Skopin-Shuisky at the beginning of the 17th century. Today it is kept in the Moscow Historical Museum. This broadsword has a straight double-edged blade 86 cm long and a hilt with a simple cross, the arms of which deviate towards the tip. The handle of the weapon is curved, it forms a kind of stop for the brush. The broadsword is richly decorated with gold and silver embossing, precious stones. The sheath of the weapon is made in a similar style.
At the beginning of the 17th century, the broadsword of Skopin-Shuisky was rather a curious curiosity for Russia - today historians believe that he never went into a real battle. Really mass weapons for Russian army broadswords became only during the reign of Peter I - they were received only by the formed dragoon regiments. And in the 30s of the XVIII century, broadswords become the main melee weapons of Russian cuirassiers. By the middle of the same century, Russian broadswords become single-edged. To late XVIII For centuries, the Russian army has already been armed with army, dragoon, soldier's, guards and officer broadswords.
Broadsword, Russia, Zlatoust, mid-19th century
At the beginning of the 19th century, the broadswords of the Russian army were unified and somewhat simplified. They remained in service with cuirassiers until 1881, after which they were used only as parade weapons.
Cadet naval broadsword model 1940
Throughout its history, the broadsword was not exclusively a land weapon; very quickly, its powerful potential was also seen in the navy. Already in the 16th century, the so-called boarding broadsword appeared, which was used during fights on ship decks. This weapon had a powerful blade up to 80 cm long, which could not only hit the enemy, but also cut a rope or cut through a wooden door. A distinctive feature of the boarding broadsword was a massive guard in the form of a shell, which, if necessary, could move the enemy in the jaw.
For centuries, the boarding broadsword was so popular that it is still part of the parade uniform of naval sailors in several countries.
In 1856, broadswords replaced cleavers and became the official weapon of Russian sailors. Two years later, midshipmen were also armed with them. As an accessory to the ceremonial uniform, midshipmen and officers of the Russian fleet wore a broadsword until 1917.
In the Soviet Union, they decided to revive such a tradition, and in 1940 the broadsword was introduced as equipment for cadets of naval schools. The naval cadet's broadsword was prescribed to be worn in all cases when the cadet was outside educational institution or ship. In 1958, broadswords were left only for assistants at the banner, as well as those on duty and orderlies. They say this happened because cadet broadswords were increasingly used in street fights. In 1975, the broadsword as an element of equipment in the Soviet fleet was completely abolished.
In an ongoing competition? Yes? Then good! By the way, let me remind you that very soon the first issue will take place!
In today's article, we will talk about piercing and cutting melee weapons, entitled - sword, which left a significant and bright mark on the whole.
I’ll start right away with the fact that in some classifications the broadsword is classified as a dagger - this is not entirely correct. In fact, a bladed weapon called a broadsword is a bladed cold weapon of a chopping-piercing type of action, something between a sword and a saber.
How did the broadsword appear and spread?
The appearance of the broadsword dates back to the sixteenth century, when the Hungarian hussars began to use it as additional weapon to the saber. Here we see a similarity in use with, which was also considered an additional melee weapon. The broadsword at that time was attached to the saddle and had a slightly curved handle similar to a saber. In fact, the broadsword is much older. Starting from the eleventh century, similar straight one-sided sharpened swords were found in different corners Europe. And if we consider the cavalry units of the Khazars, then the broadsword was used even earlier. In general, the broadsword used in Western Europe was the result of the development and improvement heavy saddle sword . And his first samples had the name - Walloon sword .
The end of the sixteenth and the beginning of the seventeenth centuries is the time of the spread in Europe of regular units of heavy cavalry - cuirassiers, which got their name because of the metal breastplates - cuirass. It was these heavy cavalry units that fell in love with the broadsword more than the rest. Cuirassiers used sword up to the nineteenth century. Indeed, this edged weapon fully justified itself in the fight against knightly armor and other protective uniforms.
By the end of the sixteenth century in Scotland, and then throughout Great Britain, a type of broadsword began to spread, called - Scottish broadsword
. Often this kind of broadsword is called claymore, But it's not right. This is a topic for a separate article, but I will only say what distinguished this type of broadsword. This is a wide blade, light weight and a very developed guard. In addition, Scottish broadswords were usually used in conjunction with small round shields.
Has spread broadsword and in the navy. True, one of its varieties was also used there, with a guard in the form of a shell and having the name scallop. The naval broadsword was mainly a boarding weapon with a wide and straight blade, with one-sided or one-and-a-half sharpening. The main difference was the use of leather scabbards instead of classic metal or wooden scabbards. As well as the length of the weapon up to eighty centimeters, with a blade width of up to four centimeters. Almost until the eighteenth century, broadsword blades were made double-edged, and only at the beginning of the nineteenth century did the broadsword take its final form, with a single-edged wide blade and a blunt butt.
The broadsword and its varieties became widespread not only in Western Europe, but also in the Caucasus, in Central Asia, India and Russia. In each region, broadswords differed slightly, but mainly it concerned the material and shape of the blade. The main design features remained classic.
Features of the design of the broadsword.
So anyway, what is a broadsword? The answer to this question can be found in . True, this definition turns out to be quite broad. Judge for yourself: « — contact blade chopping and stabbing weapons with a long straight single-edged blade".
That is, the type of hilt is not taken into account at all. Although this is a very arbitrary definition, modern world it is this broad definition of broadsword that is used.
If we slightly refine the definition that we are offered to use State standard, we get something like this:
— this is a piercing-cutting edged weapon, combining the properties of a sword and a saber, having a wide single-edged blade (less often one and a half or double-edged sharpening), as well as a complex hilt.
Blade broadsword had a length of six hundred to nine hundred millimeters. The width of the blade varied depending on the type of broadsword, but in general it was at least four centimeters. home distinguishing feature broadsword is a "low" balance. This made it very convenient for delivering a powerful stabbing blow. True, in order to achieve a good chopping blow, the broadsword had an increased weight, which reached one and a half kilograms. The broadsword is distinguished from the sword, just by the developed hilt, the guard of which includes both protective bows and a bowl.
And yet, the broadsword was more perfect for stabbing than chopping. This is confirmed by many studies and opinions in this area.
Unfortunately, by the end of the nineteenth century, the broadsword became practically unnecessary. The development of rifled firearms forced the abandonment of plate armor, and with it many varieties of piercing edged weapons. The broadsword remained in use for some time as a ceremonial weapon, and checkers began to be used for close combat.
Broadsword in Russia
The broadsword reached Russia along with hired foreign officers, starting approximately from the end of the seventeenth century. The earliest Russian broadsword available today is broadsword of Prince Shuisky M.V., dating from 1647 and located in the Moscow State Historical Museum. Its hilt has a look characteristic of early Russian broadswords. It is inclined, adapted for cutting from a horse, with a crosspiece lowered to the blades. The blade is double-edged, also characteristic of the early broadsword. The total length is ninety-nine centimeters, and the length and width of the blade are eighty-six and 4.3 centimeters, respectively. This broadsword is trimmed with silver, and its scabbard is covered with velvet.
Mass distribution in Russia, the broadsword received at the time Peter the Great. First, they became the armament of the dragoon regiments, and then the cuirassiers. Dragoons used broadswords until 1817. At one time, horse artillery was even armed with them. Broadswords received the main distribution, of course, in heavy cavalry.
Only by the middle of the eighteenth century did the Russian broadsword acquire a single-edged blade and a butt, and the sheath began to be made only from metal, instead of wood. Under Catherine the Great, broadswords were engraved with her initials.
In the eighteenth century, the division of broadswords by types of troops and status also appeared. So were, for example, army, guards, soldier and officer, dragoon and other broadswords. All of them differed in various types of handles, bowls and shields of the guard. They also began to make various heads on the handle, for example, of different shapes or in the form of the head of an animal.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, all this great variety of colorful broadswords began to be unified and simplified, thereby reducing the number of their varieties in the troops. This gave its positive results, but, unfortunately, only one fate awaited the broadsword. So by 1881, broadswords remained only in service with the dragoons, and after that, they remained at all, only as ceremonial edged weapons.
That's all for me. Those who wish, do not forget to subscribe to, and also join
In those ancient times, when edged weapons reigned supreme on the battlefields, human thought, in search of new ways to destroy its own kind, created a broadsword - something between a sword and a saber. His straight, sometimes double-edged blade struck the enemy so effectively that for many centuries it was in the arsenals of most European and Asian states.
Artifacts from ancient graves
The earliest examples of broadswords were found in the burials of the Proto-Bulgarians, a people of Turkic origin who inhabited the steppes of South-Eastern Europe in the 4th and 5th centuries. Despite such a distant era, he had all the same characteristics which has been preserved up to the present day.
It was with a straight double-edged blade that reached a meter in length, a hilt designed to protect the hand, and a slightly curved handle. It is known that the Khazars, Avars, Alans and a number of other representatives of ancient peoples used the same or very similar broadswords at that time.
Broadswords in the hands of Asian warriors
similar in design and appearance bladed weapons were widespread in the countries of Eastern and Central Asia. In the XIII-XIV century, they were armed with the Tatar-Mongolian hordes, who made their bloody raids and kept in obedience a significant part of ancient Russia. Their broadswords had a one-sided sharpening, which created a certain advantage for the warrior in equestrian combat due to the lower weight of the weapon. In addition, they were easier to manufacture, and, accordingly, cheaper.
Weapons of the peoples of the Caucasus
They were also widely used in the Caucasus and in the countries of the Middle East. A common feature of broadswords made by oriental gunsmiths was weak hand protection. The hilt did not yet have a complex design, which would be typical for Western European samples of a later period, and consisted, as a rule, only of a cross with an arc.
Among the broadswords with which the peoples of the Caucasus armed themselves, the so-called franguli are known. They were common among the Khevsurs, an ethnic group that inhabited the Khevsur Aragvi river basin and the upper reaches of the Argun. Their hilts and scabbards were bound with brass or iron plates and richly decorated with patterns in the national style. Broadswords were also widely used in Georgia. Their peculiarity was the handles, similar in appearance to those that at a later time could be seen with cavalry checkers.
Broadswords made by Indian craftsmen
A very popular weapon was the broadsword in India. Here his design had its own characteristics, the main of which was the shape of the blade. With a length of about eighty centimeters and one-sided sharpening, it was forged with some expansion towards the end, which had an oval shape. In addition, its peculiar difference was a powerful and reliably protecting hand hilt, which consisted of two bowls connected by a steel strip. This design was called kunda.
In the period related to the late Middle Ages, another type of broadswords called firangi appeared in India. Its originality consisted in the blade, which had a one-and-a-half sharpening, that is, sharpened to half on the back side, and a basket hilt, which had a sharp spike, which also served to defeat the enemy.
The first samples of Western European broadswords
In Western Europe, this type of weapon appeared relatively late - in the 16th century, but was immediately appreciated and widely used. In the forties, the Hungarian hussars began to use a broadsword as an addition to the traditional saber in those days.
The weapon was attached near the saddle and was used mainly for stabbing, which was very convenient due to the long blade. At the same time, the design of the handle, somewhat curved and resembling a saber, made it possible to deliver powerful chopping blows.
At the end of the 16th century, a tangible impetus for the further spread of broadswords was the appearance in Western Europe of regular units of heavy cavalry - cuirassiers. An indispensable element of their protective weapons was a metal breastplate - a cuirass, which reliably protected against saber strikes, but was vulnerable to a heavy and long blade, which was equipped with a specially designed type of weapon that went down in history as a cuirassier broadsword.
New Scottish gunsmiths
Around the same period, Scotland made its contribution to the creation of edged weapons. It was created, and subsequently became popular throughout the UK, the so-called Scottish broadsword. If his wide double-edged blade as a whole looked like those that were equipped with swords, then the guard - the part of the hilt that protects the warrior's hand, was something new.
It was quite large and outwardly resembled a basket with a significant number of branches. Its inner surface was trimmed with leather or red velvet. In addition, the hilt was decorated with horsehair tassels. The Scottish broadsword was usually used in conjunction with a small round shield. This combination made it possible to conduct both defensive and offensive battles.
Walloon swords
Researchers believe that the Western European broadsword is a weapon resulting from the transformation of a previously existing heavy cavalry sword, which was called a saddle sword, since it was usually attached to the saddle. In this regard, broadswords were first called Walloon swords, after the name of the region of Belgium where this type of weapon was produced. Their characteristic feature was somewhat asymmetric hilts, which reliably protected the warrior's hand thanks to a bowl equipped with numerous arches and a transverse cross.
New times - new trends
In the XVII century, in the armies of most European states, a process of unification of weapons took place. At first, single regiments and squadrons were brought to a single standard, and then entire types of cavalry. Since that time, the broadsword, a weapon that was previously used by all cavalry without exception, became part of the arsenal of only dragoon and cuirassier units.
By the middle of the 18th century, the design of the blade had changed. The double-edged blade was replaced by a blade, sharpened only on one side and having a blunt butt. Only its shape and dimensions remained the same, at which it remained a fairly powerful and heavy weapon.
Weapons of boarding parties
For three centuries, from the 16th to the 19th century, the broadsword was used not only on land, but also at sea. It was an integral part of the armament of the boarding teams - those dashing cutthroats who, having dragged the side of the enemy ship with steel hooks, rushed into hand-to-hand combat. The boarding broadsword differed from its land counterpart, first of all, in that its guard was made in the form of a shell.
There were other differences as well. His one-sided blade, which had a length of up to eighty centimeters and a width of about four centimeters, was devoid of valleys - longitudinal channels designed to reduce weight and give additional strength. In this regard, the marine broadsword was akin to the infantry, which had the same blade design feature.
Broadswords in the Russian army
In Russia, the broadsword appeared at the end of the 17th century. This was due to the large influx of military service foreign officers, who, as a rule, brought firearms and edged weapons with them. The photo that concludes the article presents several broadswords of that period, made in Moscow, but made according to foreign models. As you can see, they are characterized by a beveled handle, convenient for delivering chopping blows from a horse, as well as a cross, straight or having ends lowered to the blade.
In the first quarter of the 18th century, under Peter I, the Russian army was created everywhere as one of the most effective types of heavy cavalry. The main component of their armament was a broadsword - a weapon most suitable for this type of troops. The demand for it increased sharply, since, in addition to the dragoon units, horse-grenadier and carabinieri regiments were armed with it.
Production and import of broadswords
Since that time, they began to produce it by the factory method, while introducing a certain unification, but, in addition, a significant number of broadswords were delivered from abroad. In Western Europe, the main center of their production was the German city of Solingen, where by that time there were a number of enterprises specializing in the production of edged weapons.
Broadswords produced in Russia had a number of distinctive features. For example, items produced during the reign of Empress Catherine II were decorated with an engraving depicting a crown and its monogram - “E II”. The scabbard was leather or made of wood and covered with leather. This tradition continued until 1810, when, by order of Alexander I, they began to be made of metal. The only exception was the boarding broadsword, whose scabbard was still made of leather.
The broadsword as an independent type of bladed weapon was most widely used in the first half of the 19th century. At that time, several of its varieties were in service with the Russian and most European armies. Among them, researchers stand out: guards cuirassier broadsword, army cuirassier, dragoon and, finally, infantry broadsword. Each of these species has its own characteristic features. Their common feature was the design of the blade, which became single-edged from the beginning of the 19th century.
A weapon that has become a museum piece
Today, broadswords can only be seen in the hands of soldiers carrying a guard of honor under the banner of the Russian Navy. Scientific and technological progress has forced them out of modern arsenals. The same fate befell almost all edged weapons. The photos presented in this article are a kind of retrospective to a long-gone world, where cavalry lava attacked, raising dust, and formidable blades shot up to the sky glittered in the sun.
