Why were MASSIVE SWORDS used instead of POLEARMS?
scholagladiatoria・2 minutes read
Large two-handed swords were developed in various regions like Europe, China, Japan, and India due to their effectiveness in battle, especially against cavalry and infantry. While pole arms like glaives and spears were more practical and cost-effective, two-handed swords offered advantages in offensive capabilities, durability, and hand protection, symbolizing power and elite status on the battlefield.
Insights
- Large two-handed swords were developed in various regions globally, including Europe, China, Japan, and India, showcasing a recurring historical need for these weapons in specialized military contexts.
- While two-handed swords offered advantages in offensive capabilities, hand protection, and durability, the availability of cheaper, more practical pole arms like glaives and spears raised questions about the necessity of investing in the expensive and risky production of these swords, emphasizing the complex trade-offs between cost, practicality, and combat effectiveness in historical military contexts.
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Recent questions
What regions developed giant swords?
Europe, China, Japan, India, and others.
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Summary
00:00
Development of Large Two-Handed Swords Throughout History
- Giant swords were developed not only in Europe but also in China, Japan, India, and other regions.
- The need for these large two-handed swords has been recurring throughout history in various places.
- The difficulty and expense of making these swords were significant due to the mechanical and scientific challenges involved.
- Technological advancements in steel production made it easier to create these large swords, with examples dating back to the 14th century in Europe.
- China likely holds the claim for developing the earliest large two-handed swords during the Han Dynasty.
- These swords were used by specialist troops for specific battlefield actions, such as disrupting pike blocks or protecting flanks.
- They were considered anti-polearm or anti-cavalry weapons, with the ability to counter both infantry and mounted opponents.
- Specialist soldiers, such as those storming fortifications or defending important figures, often wielded these large swords.
- Despite the availability of more common and practical pole arms, the expense and risk of making these swords raise questions about their necessity.
- Pole arms like glaives, bills, and spears were cheaper, easier to make, and offered advantages in terms of penetration and stiffness compared to the large two-handed swords.
14:03
Comparing Pole Arms and Two-Handed Swords
- Pole arms can vary in weight, with some being lighter like the Meow Dow, making them easier to transport than heavy two-handed swords.
- Pole arms, such as glaives and winged spears, are often lighter and easier to carry than two-handed swords due to their design and lack of guards.
- Pole arms are stiffer with little flex in the blade, making them better for penetration and more suitable for use against cavalry.
- Pole arms can be used effectively against cavalry by presenting the point forward, providing a longer reach and better defense.
- Pole arms with projecting blades or hooks act as defensive measures, limiting the area where an opponent can be impaled compared to a sword.
- Two-handed swords have advantages over pole arms, such as a longer edge for increased offensive capabilities and a larger area to hit opponents.
- Two-handed swords are more nimble due to their point of balance, making them easier to maneuver and potentially more versatile in combat.
- Two-handed swords are overall stronger than pole arms, being fully made of metal except for the wooden grip, making them more durable.
- Two-handed swords offer better hand protection with crossbars, side rings, and lugs, making them more defensive against incoming blows compared to pole arms.
- Some pole arms, like certain types of pollaxes and glaives, also offer hand protection with discs or rondels, providing a level of defense similar to two-handed swords.
27:38
Two-handed sword guards: function and status
- Hand protection on two-handed swords varied, with some having guards at both ends or top and bottom, serving more as hand stops than for thrusting into armored gaps, like rondelle daggers. While not always present, they could protect against opposing blades and fulfill a different function due to the nature of the weapon's movement.
- Two-handed swords were valued for their intimidating and fancy appearance, signifying status and wealth. Equipping soldiers with these swords conveyed power and elite status, intimidating opponents and marking the wielders as the best of the best, beyond just the mechanical advantages they offered.
