Dangerous couple: sword and daga. Rapier: what is a piercing weapon of natural fencers? The difference between a sword and a rapier

In 1536, King Charles V of Spain gave a speech at the Vatican. The “Italian Wars” raged in Europe: Spain and France divided spheres of influence and fought for political and religious hegemony. In a report that was addressed to the Pope and the cardinals who had gathered to measure the warring parties, Charles V called on his enemy King Francis I of France to resolve the protracted confrontation in a duel. The challenge went unanswered, but apparently gave impetus to a new fashion. It was from the second quarter of the 16th century that “dueling fever” began in Europe (mostly in France), which would strike Old light for almost three centuries. During the 20-year reign of Henry IV, Bourbon would die in duels alone. different estimates from 6-10 thousand people, which is comparable to losses in major battle the same time. Yuri Kukin figured out how disputes were resolved, and why it was the sword and dagger that stood up to defend noble honor in the material on the site.

Fighting with swords and dags (from a fencing textbook of 1626)

Daga

The dagger is one of the oldest types of weapons. It appears as a type of large knife (such as the sax of the Germans), but is subsequently used primarily for stabbing. In the Middle Ages, the dagger was used to mainly finish off opponents, which is why it even acquired a special name - “dagger of mercy” (ancestor of the stiletto). A blow from such a dagger could hit the joints of military armor plates and even pierce chain mail. Since the 13th century, the dagger has become a permanent piece of equipment for the nobility, who wear it along with the sword. The dagger was worn on a chain, and later, with the advent of wide noble belts, daggers began to be attached to the right side.

Daga - dagger "for the left hand"

In Germany, such daggers were called “degen”, in Spain and Italy - “daga”. Moreover, if the German name for the dagger undergoes a change in the 16th century, and the word “degen” will be used to designate a sword, then the term “daga” will be strengthened to mean not just a dagger, but specifically “for the left hand.” In France, the same weapon was called men-gauch, which, in fact, is a literal translation of the purpose of the dagger. Daga or men-gosh replace the shield, following the general vector of weapon development: heavy armor and big swords give way to lighter weapons that allow you to move freely in battle and combine a series of predominantly piercing, but also cutting (instead of strong slashing) blows. For the first time in duels they begin to hold a dueling sword in right hand for lunges, and the dagger with the tip down in the left for parrying in Spain in the 16th century. But unlike a shield, the daga was used equally for blocking attacks as for executing them, especially if the sword broke or was knocked out of the hands. The dagger blade resembled a rapier blade, the handle was short, but with a long crosspiece, and especially the daga (specifically Spanish) was distinguished by its triangular, sometimes openwork guard on the outside (although variations were possible). Since the middle of the century they have been large quantities were produced in Italy.

Types of daggers (daga). XVI-XVII centuries

Your weapon?

A rapier and a dagger, if these weapons suit M. de Bussy.

From the book “The Countess de Monsoreau” by Alexandre Dumas

Sword

In most European languages, sword does not have a special term or word and, as a rule, is used in the meaning of “sword” (for example, English - sword). However, in German, as stated above, the word sword (degen) had the same meaning as the word dagger, from which some weapons researchers conclude that the sword originated from the dagger, which nobles everywhere carried with them already in the 14th century. Subsequently, the blade of the dagger was lengthened, turning into a sword and replacing the heavy sword. According to another version, the sword comes from a saddle sword with a narrow blade - military weapons rider to deliver stabbing and slashing blows. Although they were mainly used for piercing blows, its large weight and the size of the blade itself limited the owner in ordinary foot combat.

Types of swords

According to another version, there were originally two types of swords: military and civilian. The military sword, as you might guess, differed from the sword, perhaps, only in the hilt (hilt). It was used in battle, it was used to perform various attacks from piercing blows on the enemy to slashing, and it could also be used to parry attacks. The civilian sword looked more like an elegant accessory, an attribute of a noble family that emphasized the status of its owner. The latter is supported by the custom of civil execution, when in the presence of a witness the sword was broken over the owner’s head or broken over the knee.

Italian sword hilt

Initially there were two types of swords: military and civilian

Despite the variety of versions, it is clear that the type of weapon itself and its modifications developed along with fencing techniques, which varied quite a lot depending on the school and, even more so, the country. The Germans, for example, emphasized cutting blows, while in Italy, where fencing is believed to have originated, the principle of the primacy of the piercing blow was in effect. It was in Italy at the beginning of the 16th century that the first duels began, which replaced knightly tournaments and duels. Deuli at that time called it a “duel in the bush”: the main and strictest rule, which was fundamentally different from the principle of tournaments, was secrecy. In addition, over time, another distinctive principle was the complete absence of armor, which especially took root in France, where they considered such a battle pure and noble, so they fought in white shirts (in which it was immediately clear where the duelist was wounded).

Rapier

Spanish rapier hilt

All this could not help but influence the transformation of the weapon, which also became lighter and longer, but still retained a double-edged blade that allowed it to leave serious cuts. This type of sword was called a rapier or “clothing blade” (from Spanish espadas roperas). The key differences from a heavy sword are size and weight. The length of the rapier was no more than 100 cm. The guard of the rapier was not only beautiful (which served as an indicator of the status of the noble owner), but also tightly protected the owner’s fingers from enemy attacks, which was vital for the continuation of the fight, since neither armor nor chain mail gloves were no longer available was. It was in Spain, where the names “daga” and “rapier” came from, that the fencing school of this “couple” was strong, where the main thing was the ability to keep and change the distance, moving as if in a circle that either contracts or expands. In the 17th century, also in Spain, the daga was replaced by a cloak, which every representative of the stronger sex had with them: they tried to throw it over the hand with a weapon, thereby neutralizing the enemy for the time being to strike.

Rapier (from Spanish espadas roperas) - “clothing blade”

And in France, where the “fever” occurred, which the elder Dumas sang in his novels already at the end of the era of duels (19th century), at the end of the 17th century they began to fight with only one weapon - a shorter and only piercing rapier, which would spread in the future in Europe along with the increasingly popular saber.

Sources:

Beheim Wendalen. Encyclopedia of weapons. S.-P. 1995

Salnikov A.V. Formation and development of European sword-saber combat fencing of the 15th-18th centuries. Ekov. Armavir.

Novoselov V. R. Duel code: theory and practice of dueling in France of the 16th century. M. 2001.

On summer olympics There is such a type of competition as sports fencing.

This is one of the five sports included in the program of all modern Games. And depending on the weapon used, it is divided into rapier fencing, saber fencing and epee fencing.

Rapier

A rapier is a piercing weapon (blows can only be delivered with the tip of the blade) with a flexible tetrahedral blade with a length of 90 to 110 cm and a weight of 500 g, the hand is protected by a round guard with a diameter of 12 cm. The total length of the rapier should not exceed 110 cm.

In foil fencing, only hits made into a metallized jacket (electric jacket) are counted. Injections in areas not covered by a metallic jacket are recorded with a white lamp and are considered invalid. The basic modern rule in foil fencing determines that the enemy’s attack must be repelled before a retaliatory action is initiated (right attack). The priority of the action passes from one fencer to another after an active action on the opponent’s weapon with his weapon (right of defense).

Areas in which hits are counted in foil fencing are highlighted in red. Source: Commons.wikimedia.org

Sword

An epee is a heavy piercing weapon, similar in design to a rapier and slightly longer in length, weighing up to 770 g. Its blade has a triangular cross-section, more rigid than that of a rapier. The hand is protected by a round guard with a diameter of 13.5 cm.

When fencing with swords, injections are applied to all parts of the athlete’s body, except the back of the head. The weapon and the fencing track are isolated from the apparatus, and the injection is not registered in them. In epee fencing there is no priority of actions. The device does not detect an injection delivered more than 0.25 seconds later than another. At the same time, the hits made are mutually registered and awarded to both fencers.

Areas in which hits are counted during epee fencing are highlighted in red. Source: Commons.wikimedia.org

Saber

A saber is a cutting and piercing weapon. Those. It can be inflicted not only with injections with the tip, but also with chopping blows with the entire blade. It has a length of up to 105 cm, weighs 500 g, a flexible steel blade with an oval guard with a bracket that protects the athlete’s hand and fingers.

Strikes and thrusts in saber fencing are applied to all parts of the fencer's body above the waist, including the arms (up to the wrist) and the mask. The affected surface is covered with protective clothing with special silver shavings, while the mask is also in electrical contact with the jacket. The blow and injection are recorded by a colored lamp on the device. Saber fighting is similar to rapier fencing. The same basic rules for determining the winner in a fight, where the attacker has an advantage over the counterattacker with simultaneous blows or thrusts. The main difference is that in practice the saber is used primarily for blows rather than thrusts; it is more difficult to defend against the former, and the battle becomes much more dynamic. Unlike foil and epee, in saber fencing the “cross step forward” is prohibited (and the “cross step backward” is allowed).

Russian fans were looking forward to the start of today's fencing competition with special impatience, because it was on August 13 that the magnificent women's saber team took to the track. A few days ago, Russian women created a real sensation by adding. Yana Yegoryan became an Olympic champion, Sophia the Great- vice-champion, and Ekaterina Dyachenko lost only to the future winner. We only expect victory from such a powerful trio in team competitions, especially since there is only one step left before the final - the Russians simply did not notice the Mexican team on the way to the semifinals.

And on the eve of a bright battle, we figure out why saber fencing is the most dynamic sport, how an epee differs from a rapier, where there are not only red and green, but also white lamps on the track, and also what the judge mutters during breaks between fights.

Traditions carried over to the Olympics

Before understanding the differences between fencing disciplines, it is worth remembering that fencing is a purely applied sport that has practical significance not only in the 19th, but even in the 20th century. In the Soviet Union, for example, until the 1960s there was a sport called carbine fencing - part of a fighter’s preparation for hand-to-hand combat with a weapon in his hands. So talk about Europe at the end of the century before last, where duels were common, and many problems, legal or not, could be solved with the good old saber. The traditions of military, and not only fencing, of course, carried over to the Olympic Games. Fencers have been competing for medals since the very first revived Olympics in 1896. And already in 1900, three main disciplines appeared at the Games: fencing with swords, rapiers and sabers.

To stab with a rapier, to chop with a saber

On television, it seems to many that the types of weapons are no different, but this is a misconception. The rapier has a flexible blade with a tetrahedral cross-section and weighs up to 500 grams. Blows, that is, injections, can only be applied with the tip of the blade. The sword is very similar to the rapier, but is somewhat heavier (up to 750 grams), has a stiffer blade with a triangular cross-section and a guard with a larger diameter to protect the athlete’s hand from a thrust from an opponent. But a saber differs greatly from a rapier and a sword: it can deliver not only piercing blows, but also more effective slashing blows. Therefore, the guard has an oval shape and an additional bracket that protects the fingers, and saber fights become faster and more spectacular.

The fencers are almost like they're in a duel

The second main difference in the types of fencing is the hitting zone in which thrusts and strikes are counted. According to tradition, it is believed that the saber is the weapon of horsemen who strike the upper part of the opponent’s body. This principle was transferred to sports fencing: everything that is above the opponent’s waist (except for the hands) is a target for the saber fencer’s strikes and thrusts. The modern rapier is a descendant of the training weapons of past centuries, which is why the “training” affected area is the athlete’s jacket, which covers the torso. Injections to the legs, arms and head do not count. And in epee fencing everything is simple and as close as possible to a duel: a thrust to any part of the body except the back of the head is counted - the latter for the safety of the athletes.

In the Soviet Union, for example, until the 1960s there was a sport called carbine fencing - part of a fighter’s preparation for hand-to-hand combat with a weapon in his hands.

First fight back, then attack

Finally, the third fundamental difference concerns the so-called right of attack, which applies to foil and saber fencers. It lies in the fact that a fencer defending against an opponent’s attack must repel it and only then deliver his blow. In other words, you cannot simply attack towards your opponent - such a thrust or blow will not be counted. You can attack either by seizing the initiative at the beginning of the phrase, or by repelling someone else’s attack. All controversial episodes are dealt with by the chief judge. Simultaneous injections are not possible: either one athlete or no one gets a point. The sword in this regard again looks simpler: it has no right of attack. And fencers can make simultaneous thrusts. At the same time, the automation records the second injection if it occurs no later than 0.25 seconds later.

Red vs green

To make it easier and more convenient for spectators to follow the fencers’ fights, thrusts and strikes are accompanied by appropriate sound and color signals. An injection inflicted by one athlete is accompanied by the lighting of a red lamp, and by his opponent – ​​a green one. There is also a white lamp, which signals that the injection was given, but did not hit target area– this lamp only works during foil competitions. For the automation to work, the thrust with a rapier or sword must not be too weak - the pressure must be equal to at least the weight of the weapon. Signals from lamps and automation are not decisive. In controversial episodes or in cases where the fencer requests a replay, the decision remains with the chief arbiter.

Parlez-vous français?

Since the role of traditions is strong in fencing, at international competitions the referee still addresses the athletes and makes his decisions on French- as it was on Olympic Games 1896. “En guarde. Êtes-vous prêt?” - this is how the chief judge calls the athletes to arms and asks if they are ready for battle. "Allez!" – a signal to start the fight, giving athletes the right to start a counter movement.

An injection inflicted by one athlete is accompanied by the lighting of a red lamp, and by his opponent – ​​a green one. There is also a white lamp, which signals that a blow or injection was delivered, but did not hit the target area.

"Halte!" – stopping the fight, injections and blows after it are not counted. “A droit” – a hit is awarded to the fencer located to the right of the main referee. "A gauche" - on the left. “Pas compter” - the injection is not awarded to any of the participants in the fight.

A red card is not the worst thing

However, the score can change not only after injections or blows, but also after violations of the rules. For example, a penalty hit is awarded to someone who steps outside the front line of the track or defends himself in an unacceptable manner, preventing his opponent from delivering a hit. Stepping beyond the side limits of the track is punishable by a “one meter fine”: the match is resumed with a displacement of one meter in the direction of the offending athlete. Running attacks, body contacts, pushing an opponent, active actions with a free hand and other violations are punishable by a yellow card. For repetition of such actions, the judge may show a red card and assign a penalty shot. For gross violations of the rules or unsportsmanlike behavior, a black card is shown, which means disqualification.

As a professional fencer and martial artist who has been fencing since 1980, I feel quite confident and qualified in the history of weapons and their use. I have worked with dozens of original 16th and 17th century rapiers in seven countries and two private collections, and studied them in museums in 10 countries. I studied the history of weapons in five major European libraries, three private collections, as well as in large US libraries. In addition, I have my own library on Renaissance weapons in 6 languages. As a teacher and researcher, I know what questions typically arise when studying the rapier.

John Clements

What is a rapier

The best definition would be this: a real rapier is a one-handed piercing weapon with a long, narrow, hard, practically bladeless blade, voluminous in cross-section and tapering towards the tip. The point is very thin and sharp. Of course, rapiers differ from each other in the length and width of the blade and, especially, in the appearance of the hilt. In any case, the rapier is a thin, light, balanced piercing weapon designed for combat with an unprotected opponent.

Various sources on the history of weapons give different definitions rapiers. The term rapier was used to define a sword with a narrow cutting and stabbing blade, poorly suited for wide, strong cutting and cutting blows, which was used by both military men and townspeople. Eventually, a weapon with a long piercing blade without blades came to be called a rapier.

Rapiers come in many different shapes and sizes, so it is not always easy to classify them as rapiers (as I wrote in my 1997 book, the type is usually misidentified). However, they have common features: a thin and hard, rigid blade, designed for stabbing (not stabbing).

Why is there so much discrepancy in the exact definitions of a rapier?

Discrepancies regarding precise definition rapiers come about because gunsmiths and fencers did not classify their weapons as a certain type. Weapons were classified not by appearance, as is done now, but by their purpose and capabilities. Unfortunately, many collectors and gun keepers now call anything that is in any way different from a regular cross-hilt sword a rapier, even if in fact this definition is not correct. Modern gunsmiths also often make a similar mistake, which adds to the general confusion in gunsmithing terms.

In addition, it must be taken into account that the development of fencing and weapons does not occur linearly from simpler to more complex weapons and fencing methods. (despite the fact that this approach has dominated the history of fencing since the 19th century), as if development is a process of movement towards some ideal, “higher” form.

The process of changing the shape of bladed weapons is more like a tree, on which branches either disappear or new ones appear. Weapons changed and adapted to new circumstances and needs. Based on this, the most acceptable division of rapiers would be “early” - with a fairly wide and flat blade in cross-section, and “late” or “real” - for narrower and more voluminous in cross-section. Short one-handed sword, sharply tapering towards the point (typical of the 15th century), would today also be considered a type of rapier, mainly due to the hilt being reminiscent of the hilts of late 16th century rapiers.

What real rapiers look like

Despite the fact that it is difficult to formulate an exhaustive definition of any type of weapon (and the rapier is no exception), there are several signs and features that I would like to note.

Over the past few years I have had the unique opportunity to directly examine 4 or 5 dozen rapiers from the 16th and 17th centuries. different sizes, I even managed to practice with some samples. I paid special attention to how the cross-section of the blade changed along the length, to the rigidity (as far as could be judged without bending the blade) and the sharpness of the blade. I then examined all the examples from the point of view of a fighter familiar with the fencing techniques of the time. I also have several replicas of similar weapons, which I carefully tested on raw meat and other materials. Thanks to this, I have a good basis for comparing rapiers.

How the rapier lies in the hand

While examining antique rapiers, I was amazed at how well balanced they were: they seemed almost weightless, and were incredibly maneuverable and agile (no comparison to even the best modern replicas I have ever held in my hands). Only a few blades seemed a little uncomfortable to me, but this may not be explained by their poor quality, but by the fact that these were either experimental samples, or they were made for a specific person with individual characteristics of fencing technique, or they were replaced at some point hilts, which led to a change in balance.

All the specimens I studied weighed less than three pounds, most of weighed less than 2.5 pounds, and some even less than 2 pounds. In no case could they be called bulky. As an expert on medieval weapons and a former competitive fencer, I can confidently say that these rapiers were not clumsy or clumsy. With rare exceptions, I have not the slightest doubt that the techniques of rapier fighting described in existing historical sources, may well be effectively carried out by any of these subjects.

What was the blade of the rapier like?

Like any other type of bladed weapon, the rapier had a wide variety of blades, all of which were used at different times (which now makes attribution and classification very difficult). Rapier blades differ greatly from each other in length, width, blade cross-section and blade sharpness. Many rapiers are very difficult to distinguish from military cutting and piercing blades that were then in use. Their variety ranged from flat, tapering blades to more voluminous and narrow blades (the so-called “real” rapiers). But almost all have a narrow, hard blade that becomes thinner towards the tip, and, as a rule, in the last quarter or 1/5 of the blade it becomes oval or round in cross-section, rather than flat. The main weight was concentrated in the hilt so that long and fast thrusting attacks could be carried out.

Rapier blades are only relatively thin; their cross-section is quite wide and strong. Some blades have a diamond-shaped (or triangular) cross-section of the tip, which made it possible to make it thin, while the rest of the blade could be thicker and have a 6-gonal, 8-gonal, 4-pointed star cross-section, and at the same time not have blades like such. This variety of sections is the result of the desire of gunsmiths to create a thin, light, but at the same time rigid and durable blade. The rapier could have a thickened cross-section, rectangular, unsharpened heel (the part of the blade located directly after the hilt), or in this part it could be made wide and sharpened.

How strong were the rapiers, and could they be easily broken?

There is a lot of historical evidence that rapiers broke during combat (in the body of the enemy or from a blow to another weapon), and I myself have handled specimens whose blades were broken or bent). I examined other blades that seemed so thin and light that they could easily break from a strong blow or when bent. I have repeatedly broken the blades of modern rapiers, some by accident, some in order to understand what effort is required for this.

About 70 rapiers that I held in my hands had severely deformed blades. Since they were made very thin and light, this affected the strength of the blade, and it could break when colliding with any hard target. Some gunsmiths even advised avoiding strikes with the tip of the blade, or at least not doing it with all your might (by the way, such a strike is much slower than usual).

While the rapier's blade is certainly fragile, it is not that vulnerable (though its fragile tip could break off easily). A rapier can be strong enough to deflect blows from heavier weapons, but only with the middle, stronger part of the blade, the hilt, or (the best option) attacks that deflect the blow rather than make a hard block. However, I am not sure that the rapiers that I saw could reflect powerful blows in this way. The best option would be to dodge the attack rather than try to parry it (however, this probably happened if it was impossible to avoid the attack).

Where does the name rapier come from?

There are several theories about the origin of this term. Initially, in the 1470s, the French derisively called any excessively long and thin weapon a rapiére, the Spanish called a small blade worn with civilian clothing a spada ropera literally - "clothing sword". By about the 1530s, weapons of this kind began to be called rapiers in English, and in German fencing works of the 1540s as Rappier and Rapir. Of course, they began to be used even earlier. The word rapier gradually came to mean the thin piercing blade that we know. In modern Italian they are sometimes called stricia. There are several other theories of origin and words related to the term "rapier": rasper, rappen, verdun. Interestingly, the Italian and Spanish creators of the rapier called it spada or espada - words that denote long-bladed weapons in general. French sources from the 1530s and English sources from the 1540s refer to the rapier as the "Spanish sword". Paul Hector Mair, in his manual appearing around 1542, uses the term Ensis Hispanis (or Ensis Hispanicus, which also means "Spanish sword"). Judging by the numerous and very detailed illustrations he gives, the term undoubtedly refers to a type of sharp cutting and piercing blade, middle length with a complex hilt, which was used in battle without armor.

However, there are no exact descriptions of what espada ropera or la rapiére was. We know nothing about its size, length, or the type of blade and hilt. Given the nature of martial arts and weapons at the time, it must have had very specific characteristics that were established enough to stand out as a new species. There is interesting evidence that the Italian nobility in the 1480s–1490s began to carry blades that were longer and heavier than ordinary daggers, but lighter than ordinary military (combat) swords. These blades had complex wicker or completely closed hilts (with additional rings and rods). It is quite possible that these blades were made longer and longer, and so over time the rapier appeared.

Since the nobles of the second half of the 16th century wore a sword at court as a sign of their high status, and the special privilege of organizing illegal “honor duels,” it can be confidently assumed that this was the original purpose of the rapier, and its current use came later. If the rapier first became widespread at court, then we must ask ourselves the question: why did a weapon that did not have its original “knightly” purpose - war, suddenly begin to be used as an attribute of court costume? It can be assumed that the rapier was not an attribute of noble clothing, but of simple civilian dress, because a light blade was very suitable for everyday self-defense. Eventually, these blades became longer and thinner for a more agile thrusting style of fencing, more suitable for street combat and private duels. The new kind weapons very quickly became popular because they were needed in crowded, hectic cities Northern Italy, where there were many armed men and rival gangs.

Why was the rapier created?

The rapier evolved from earlier forms slash-and-pierce weapon and became a means of self-defense in urban environments, and for private duels. For these purposes, by the 1540s, gunsmiths were producing fast, agile, one-handed thrusting weapons that could be used on the street, in an alley, or in an enclosed space. Thanks to the constant interaction between weapon manufacturers and those who use them, any new invention was tested in action, the most successful elements were preserved and improved on the advice and requests of fencers.

At first, the rapier was created as a kind of response to cutting and piercing weapons, and only later it began to be used against other rapiers. As I wrote in a 1997 book about Renaissance fencing, it wasn't like someone suddenly invented a complete pair of rapiers and then went out and challenged someone to fight with them. In fact, in the portraits of noble people, nobles and the royal court of the first half of the 16th century there are no images of thin one-handed weapons.

Over time, new types of weapons were invented along with ways to use them. Since a man couldn't go out in the early 1500s with a conspicuously large military sword, lighter, thinner weapons emerged that were less threatening and less bulky. However, the appearance of the thin, lightweight blade for everyday combat continued to change over the next hundred years. It acquired its final form only in the 1570s - 1580s.

Why was the rapier considered something new?

At what exact moment the thin sword “turned” into a rapier is difficult to say. All bladed weapons are created for a specific purpose and used accordingly, which is why they are classified by the type of blade rather than by the appearance of the hilt (as collectors, curators and weapon historians most often do).

As new tools emerged, designed to protect life or take it, it became clear that some varieties worked better than others. However, it took time for them to become widespread. The variety of appearance of rapiers is explained precisely by the fact that fencers gradually figured out which varieties were more effective and how best to use them, while gunsmiths wanted to act based on their own interests. In the process of "evolution" of weapons of the Renaissance, forms arose that were not wide enough for a strong cutting blow, but also not thin and light enough to be able to stab with them in the same way as later or "real" rapiers. Since these varieties could neither prick nor chop normally, after a few decades they were replaced by new forms.

Another factor that is not always taken into account when researching the history of the rapier's rise as a civilian weapon is the cities of the Renaissance, where streets were known to be very narrow. They served as protection from the sun and rain, saved space, and at the same time facilitated defense. An invading army will not be able to easily march through narrow streets, and it is easier for the defenders to build barricades on them. Also, a large crowd could not gather in such a limited space. In such a situation, piercing weapons are much more convenient than chopping weapons.

Why is it difficult to classify a rapier as a specific type of bladed weapon?

Since rapiers did not appear suddenly, but originated from the cutting and thrusting swords of the early 16th century, for some time there were two closely interrelated families of weapons. The boundary between them is quite vague, and there is no clear transition from one species to another. At that time, they experimented with many types of weapons. In fencing treatises, as a rule, they do not specify what type of weapon they teach to use: a civilian rapier or a military cutting-and-piercing sword, which was also called arming swords, field swords, Reitschwerte (“knight’s sword”) or spada di lato (“ side sword"). It is very difficult to determine what type of weapon the author uses, because the illustrations are often inaccurate and contradictory, in addition, the techniques that the authors describe can be successfully used in handling military swords and their more subtle options- rapiers. Today, for convenience, we distinguish “early”, “late” and even “transitional” rapiers, although these terms are not historical and do not reflect the essence of the subject.

Since today, among those who write or talk about the rapier and rapier fencing, a rare person held a real ancient example in his hands (and even fewer worked with similar rapiers), many inaccuracies and speculations arise, because of which, in the end, misconceptions arise. Due to inaccurate portrayals of fencing combat in film and television, by stuntmen and historical fight re-enactment groups, audiences are given the wrong impression of the true nature of the fight. Many replica rapiers sold today also do not accurately replicate the blade stiffness, appearance, hilt type, or weight of the rapier. This problem was very common for decades and contributed to the confusion in the attribution of the rapier, and in the idea of ​​how it was handled.

When was the rapier used?

Swords vaguely resembling rapiers appeared in the 1540s, although the term itself appeared earlier. The form most similar to the real one appeared in the 1580s. and then continued to change until the end of the 17th century, and in Spain rapiers, although to a lesser extent, were used even in the 19th century. In some areas of Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, ancient rapiers were sometimes used in formal duels. Also, old blades were often shortened, remade and equipped with other hilts.

There is a very common myth that thrusting swords were invented by fencing masters in the mid-16th century to replace "heavy cutting swords." This statement not only contradicts the facts that a huge number of sharpened thrusting swords (both heavy and light) existed since the 14th century, and that the rapier did not appear among “fencing masters”, but also does not correspond to the fact that even after almost two centuries of use, “heavy cutting swords” were still widely used, although in a modified form (sabers, broadswords, etc.), for a long time after the popularity of the rapier declined.

What is the relationship between the rapier and other types of piercing weapons

In the Middle Ages there was a thrusting sword, which was called an estok or so (English tuck), it existed from the beginning of the 14th century, but still it is not an early type of rapier, and there is no direct connection between them. The estok was a large, heavy, two-handed sword with a rigid blade, designed to pierce or pierce plate armor. They were treated not like rapiers, but like ordinary medieval swords, which were held by the false hilt (blade) (the so-called “half-swords”). However, it is likely that the rapier could have originated from an estoc or taka. IN different countries they were called differently, but the essence did not change: they were sharp metal rods with a square or triangular cross-section and, as a rule, two guards. At the end of the XVI early XVII For centuries, shorter, one-handed varieties of taks had been used, but they could not yet be handled in the same way as the much thinner and lighter rapier. Also, the Minoans had a hard, sharply tapering bronze sword that resembled this. (The origin of the rapier - a weapon that appeared in view of the gradual abandonment of armor, from the estok (taka or konchar) - a weapon designed to pierce armor, in my opinion, is simply ridiculous. With the same success, the rapier can come from bronze Irish and Persian swords , which had long and thin blades.)

There were some special types of rapiers

Once swordsmen who used rapiers developed a special thrusting technique and figured out how to deal with someone who mastered the same techniques, many varieties of rapiers began to appear. Some had very long blades - to reach the enemy. Some had very long handles for the same purpose. There are rapiers with a very long and strong heel, designed to better parry blows from wider blades. Some rapiers had a flattened tip - in the form of a blade - which increased the cutting edge. This feature made it possible to deliver a quick, sharp blow with a movement from the wrist.

Other types copied the famous "wavy" or "flaming" blades of flamberges, or even had saw-like teeth. All these tricks were made so that the narrow blade could at least to some extent chop or cut (in addition, for a blacksmith such a blade was a good opportunity to demonstrate his skills, because making such models was very difficult and expensive). These wavy blades were used for daggers and even polearms. There are rare examples of rapiers that had pointed hilt heads, ornate hilts, and some even had perforated blades or built-in single-shot pistols. There were special rapiers with retractable blades hidden in the recess of the handle, which in some cases could increase the length by 8-9 inches. (Of all of the above, only flamberge swords had “mass production”. The rest were produced individually, in single copies and to say that these are some varieties of rapiers... Wavy blades in Europe are the prerogative of bladed weapons - swords and swords. But not dagger or pole weapon. I have not seen wavy European daggers with a wavy blade at all, except for remakes-stylizations. Polearms with a wavy tip of the esponton type existed, but they were very rare and had ceremonial and ceremonial, rather than combat functions. And about what Clements says about a sharp blow with a rapier, if above he says many times that a “real rapier” has a hard and almost inflexible blade.)

Is there such a weapon - Rapier Sword

In the history of the Renaissance, such terms as "sword-rapier", "cutting rapier" or "transitional rapier" did not exist. Since the rapier replaced conventional military swords in duels in the 16th century, new era in the existence of personal weapons. There have always been attempts to combine the advantages of wide cutting blades with the lightness and mobility of thin piercing blades. This entailed a lot of experimentation with the form of the weapon, but some forms had neither one nor the other properties.

Today these varieties are called "heavy rapier" or "sword rapier", while others were considered intermediate stages between these two. There was a practice of replacing the hilts on older takas with later ones characteristic of rapiers, which is why they are often described as “heavy rapiers.” (It is possible that new, more complex hilts were placed on the taki (estoks, konchars). But imagine fencing with a one and a half meter blade (remember that the length of an average taka, konchar or estok is 1.2-1.5 m. and they were carried by saddle, and not on the belt) is quite problematic, especially considering that this is only a piercing weapon.

How the rapier changed fencing

The essence of foil fencing is that the shortest distance between two points is not a curved line of blow, but a straight line of thrust. The speed and reach of a rapier in unarmored combat could be unexpected and take those untrained in that fighting style by surprise. In skillful hands, the rapier was unpredictable, swift, and inexperienced opponents very often underestimated it. A piercing wound can be inflicted very easily, and most often it could be fatal. A person who tried to chop or cut with a less agile chopping weapon very quickly received a thrust from a more mobile and “long-range” rapier. However, without experience and training, two people fighting with rapiers could simply run into each other's blades.

In linear attacks, the fighter usually tried to simultaneously defend and counterattack with a carefully calibrated movement, after first deflecting the enemy's thrust. This was done in one motion, which maintained contact with the enemy's blade, or with the help of a free hand or an additional weapon. A long, thin blade was ideal for this, but sometimes the extra length could become a hindrance, because an enemy with a shorter weapon could approach without passing the tip or using the dagger.

The thin, unpredictable rapier was a weapon for everyday carry and private dispute resolution, not for military use. It was designed for alley skirmishes and surprise attacks, and was the first exclusively civilian weapons self-defense that appeared in society. From a simple practical object, it became a popular attribute of “noble art.”

What does rapier mean - a piercing weapon?

The term "foyning fence" refers to an exclusively thrusting style of fencing as opposed to a slashing style. The term "foyne" (or "foign") means a lunge - a powerful thrust forward over a significant distance, with the arm straightened and the forward leg lunging. The rapier was conceived more as a piercing weapon rather than a cutting-and-piercing weapon, although earlier types were precisely cutting-and-piercing.

Rapiers were perfect for street fighting and private duels when opponents did not wear armor. They were also more adapted to the new thrusting style of fencing than the wider and flatter blades, which almost went out of military use by the end of the 16th century. However, the injection was hardly a discovery in the 16th century. It was an important element of medieval fencing and was used very often in ancient times.

Thanks to trials and observations, Renaissance fencers realized that a straight line of a thrust is shorter than an arc of a strike, and it is much faster to reach an opponent at a greater distance in this way. The rapier was created taking into account all these observations. As a result, it gave birth to a new style of fencing, which had special grace and elegance. (Wider and flatter cutting and piercing blades, which included the Valonian sword, Paperheimer, Ritschwert, and other blades called swords or rapiers, were used in the army almost until the end of the 17th century, and even more so in the Russian and Swedish armies. )

Why did rapiers have such complex hilts?

As such, there is no exclusively “rapier” hilt. They could be very diverse, but among them the “closed” varieties predominate, which consisted of large killons (the ends of the cross) and a variety of lattices (rods), rings, plates and cups. But all these “composite” hilts were in no way tied specifically to rapiers and appeared earlier on chopping weapons. These same types of hilts were also used on later weapons other than rapiers.

Unlike modern small and lightweight standard hilts of sporting swords and rapiers, complex rapier hilts were made not to protect the hand from a thrust, but to prevent the enemy's point from easily moving around his own weapon and counterattacking.

A wide crosspiece and various bows, which initially protected against slashing blows, blocked the path of the blade. Such a hilt could also be used on its own, for example, to hit an enemy in the face. Over the next century, as rapiers became lighter, more flexible and shorter, such hilts were gradually stopped being made. It is important that such bulky hilts were inconvenient for gentlemen dressed in fashionable dress and wearing rapiers at their sides.

(The complexity of the hilts lay precisely in protecting the hand. For example, the “black reitar” swords had complex guards, since they had to abandon plate gloves in order to handle pistols without problems. I fencing less than Clements, but I don’t know what kind of movements are these “the enemy's point around his own weapon". Moreover, the hilts of most rapiers and swords are not so wide as to interfere with such movements. But the fact is that if I had not had a developed guard, I, and others, would not have not a single whole finger anymore - it’s true.)

How rapiers were used in battle

Rapiers were used in a completely different way than they are now shown in films like The Princess Bride or Zorro. Fencing combat is often misrepresented in popular culture. In fact, rapiers were not used for frequent changes of thrusts and parries, as in modern sport fencing, or for cutting ropes, leather belts, or carving letters on anything. All these made-up tricks are just a figment of imagination. Actions with a rapier were, on the one hand, much more rough and cruel, and on the other, very careful and precise. Attacks were more often dodged (dodged) than blocked, but if the defense was blocked, then most often the enemy’s blade was pulled aside, and this was followed by a counterattack. (I’ve already said it, but I’ll repeat it. Any fencing system is designed mainly for blocks or defenses. This can be seen in any fencing book.)

What types of weapons were used with the rapier?

When using a rapier, the second hand either remained free, or it could contain a dagger, buckler, cloak, sometimes even a scabbard or other item. The daga was held with the tip up, and the ends of the crosshairs were located on the sides so that it was possible to repel or capture the enemy’s blade. Some dagas had complex hilts made specifically for gripping and repelling the blade. Fighting with two rapiers at the same time was also common. It should be noted that there is no evidence effective use special devices to catch or break the blade. Such items could prevent an opponent from quickly reacting to an attack or renewing his own, but it did not appear that they could actually catch or break a rapier blade. During the Renaissance, almost everyone carried some kind of dagger, and nobles wore short or long cloaks that could be used for protection. Sometimes a person had to defend himself not only from another rapier, but also from polearms like a spear, pike or halberd.

What fighting style did the rapier imply?

The rapier is a one-handed weapon that was used for rapid thrusting with the tip and a very cold and calculated style of fighting, in which the main emphasis was not on the force of the blow, but on the careful choice of distance and moment for the blow.

The new style of fencing demonstrated a qualitative transition from the traditions of medieval cut-and-pierce fencing to new systems where thrusts prevailed over slashing blows. However, thrusts were not considered perfect compared to slashing, because depending on the circumstances and the chosen weapon, each technique had its own advantages and disadvantages.

In a battle against another rapier, it was necessary to use fast linear movements and rapid maneuvers, pokes and circular thrusts. Overall, this style of fencing was very energetic, aggressive and at the same time cautious. Basically, rapier fighting was not the “noble” fencing, arranged according to the rules of etiquette, which was practiced by the nobles later. Depending on the situation, opponents used punches, kicks, strikes with the hilt, trips, arm grabs, blades, leg strikes, strangulations and other universal fighting techniques, which complemented the actual actions with weapons.

How effective is a rapier in combat?

The rapier has unique ability to incredibly unpredictable and rapid attacks, and the dangerous property of resuming sustained piercing attacks in unpredictable directions, even after parrying the blow of wider slashing blades. Also, with a rapier it was possible to accurately and quickly deliver light blows to the face, throat, eyes, teeth and especially hands in order to distract, provoke and exhaust the enemy. The rapid thrust of the rapier was fatal in its penetrating power. A simple puncture wound a few inches deep could lead to immediate death. Puncture wounds to vital organs could not be properly treated and would not heal. However, they did not always lead to immediate death. If the heart or skull was not pierced, the person could move for a few moments or even win the fight, but then he would die from shock and blood loss.

Authors of past eras It was often complained that it was almost impossible to make one decisive and fatal blow with a rapier, and that a man could easily survive receiving several stab wounds. Historical records of gun battles support this view. However, the sources also contain a significant number of examples describing the instant death of a person from a quick and accurate injection.

A successful injection would invariably leave a serious hole in the body. Unlike a blow, which could only cause a superficial wound that would heal over time, a thrust could damage internal organs, the bleeding would not stop, and the wounds could not be treated. If with a chopping sword it was possible to deliver light blows or flat blows, then in the case of a thrust, its depth is very difficult to calculate and make the wound small. With rapiers in their hands, people could not simply engage in “optional” sparring, as could be done with other weapons. Each attack could be fatal, so there was no room for error or relaxation in rapier combat. This outcome undoubtedly gave more substance to what had previously been simple saber rattling.

Despite its uniqueness, rapier fencing techniques were still based on time-tested principles: careful control of distance, calculation, and good technique in wielding the chosen weapon. An experienced fighter who acts according to these principles will fight successfully with a broad sword in his hands. The main difference is not the weapons, but how and where they were used.

(Cutting blows are no less effective and painful, and most importantly, they bleed. Especially that in a duel it was enough to inflict one chopped wound, and then simply wait, without making active attacks, until the enemy weakens from loss of blood. And according to the range of combat techniques, piercing the chopping rapier is much more “rich” and versatile - the “real Clements rapier” is incapable, for example, of cutting movements, the need for which may arise at short distances.)

Could rapiers be used equally well for defense and attack?

Rapiers were undoubtedly used for both defense and offense, otherwise they would not have been used. If it were impossible to effectively attack any enemy with a rapier, then why pick it up? If it can't protect you from attack, then what good is it? Different weapons have different attack and defense capabilities, but any long steel blade can offer good defense against blows. Rapier is no exception.

A thin piercing blade does not have the same protective potential as heavier and stronger swords, but to say that it cannot protect you can only be done without knowing the realities of combat. Many masters of that time wrote that in skillful hands the rapier was well suited for self-defense in the city.

Due to its lightness and thinness, the rapier naturally lacks the mass to easily knock down a heavy blade or carry out a counterattack as was usually done with wider swords. Also if the rapier was not strong enough to provide rigid protection against a blow from a heavier weapon. Since the rapier is a specialized weapon, it cannot be used in the same way as a weapon with a wider blade, which was convenient in a variety of situations.

Having only one armed hand, a fighter armed with a rapier could help himself with his free hand or use a second weapon. Secondary weapons have been used for a long time, and this fact does not mean that the main weapon had any very significant shortcomings (as is sometimes claimed). Like most things in martial arts, it required coordination and practice.

The need to use an add-on also did not serve as a reason to abandon the main weapon. Early versions of swords were often paired with weapons designed for parrying: a shield, buckler or dagger. In the case of rapiers, this was done not because for some reason they could not reflect blows, as is erroneously claimed, but because using two blades gave advantages. The combination of a long rapier and a short dagger was very dangerous for the enemy.

Is it possible to slash with a rapier?

Like any weapon with a long blade, the rapier was suitable for slashing. Many rapier texts describe similar techniques, and every swordsman has studied them. But how much such a blow or “cut” could injure the enemy depended on many factors. The question arises: how effective are chopping blows with a rapier, and what result should they lead to?

In order to deliver a blow more serious than a small laceration, the rapier lacks the width of the blade, the mass, the sharpness and the curvature of the blade (if it had all these qualities, there would not be such a variety of wide cutting swords). As a weapon designed for quick thrusts, a real rapier had practically no sharp blades and could not be used for wide slashing blows, despite the fact that such things we, unfortunately, can often see in films or theatrical productions.

How well does a rapier cut?

Many authors at one time complained that rapiers cut poorly (compared to the cutting blades they wrote about) and for this reason were not suitable for use on the battlefield. Rapiers were not capable of delivering a lethal slash, nor were they intended to do so; no fencing work of the time advocates the use of rapiers for slashing. There is also no historical evidence of fatal slashing blows delivered by real rapiers in combat.

Lack of adaptation to serious slashing blows did not prevent him from making light, quick, cutting blows with a blade or point to the face or wrist. This exhausted, irritated and distracted the enemy. Such a blow could scratch the skin and, depending on the type of blade, cause a superficial cut wound, but not cut muscles and split bones as could be done with a wide, flat chopping blade. Some texts on rapiers mention non-fatal wounds made either by light superficial cuts or blows with a pull back, but the rapier blade was not designed for cutting or cutting, the geometry of the blade prevented this.

This trend is broken by the presence of fairly wide, cone-shaped blades with a flat cross-section and sharp blades that could cut a throat or chop off an arm. These varieties, although used in a similar manner, were not used in exactly the same way as the finer varieties that we call "true" rapiers.

How sharp were the rapiers?

The cross-section of a rapier blade varies along its entire length, so different parts of the blade have different degrees of sharpness. In general, the sharpness is relative concept. For example, a razor blade is very sharp, but it is not very strong and becomes dull easily. On the contrary, a butter knife is not very sharp, but its blade is still quite thin and at the same time durable. The blade of a long-bladed weapon has as many blades as possible to prevent an opponent from easily grasping the blade with his hand. But rapiers, which had a voluminous rather than flat blade in cross-section and relatively wide cutting edges, simply could not be very sharp (especially after several strong blows against another blade).

At the thinnest part, at the tip, the sharpness of the blade will be minimal. If the shape of the blade did not allow for very sharp blades, then obviously the blades were not sharpened at all.

In light of all this, having considered the lessons from ancient texts about the rapier, as well as comparing the descriptions of wounds received in street rapier fights with wounds received when using wide cutting blades, I come to the conclusion that it was impossible to inflict a serious cut wound with a rapier. Rapiers cannot cut off a limb, decapitate a person, or deliver strong slashing blows, and they were practically not used for this.

It is also unlikely that the rapiers that have been preserved in museums and collections have become so dull and rusty that we cannot now judge their former sharpness.

What happens if you slash with a rapier?

How a chopping blow with a rapier will end depends on many factors: on the mass and shape of the blade (the cross-sectional shape and thickness are taken into account), on the angle and force of the blow, on what part of the blade is struck (closer to the tip or further from it), and on what part of the body is hit. Renaissance teachers often advised using the strike as a secondary attack only if there was no direct threat from the tip of the opponent's weapon, or not using the strike at all.

If we take into account everything that has already been said above about rapier blades and how they were used to strike, then we can assume that a cut from a rapier may not have caused any serious harm at all (because the blade slipped and did not cause damage, the blow was not strong enough or the target was too tough). The result could be a painful wound or small scratch on the face, shoulder, or leg that would distract, anger, or frighten the opponent. Or the result could be a superficial injury to the muscles of the arms, legs, shoulders or body, which to some extent impedes the opponent's movements. Perhaps (if the blade was flatter and sharper) the rapier could be used to cut throats, gouge out eyes, or chop off fingers. However, it is clear from historical sources that the rapier could not instantly incapacitate, maim or kill the enemy.

Based on my experience with various blades (including ancient rapiers) and testing their cutting properties on various materials, I have little doubt about how rapier strikes were delivered. Depending on the type of blade and which part of the arm was used to strike (shoulder, elbow, or hand), our tests conducted on fresh, raw meat yielded nothing more than shallow cuts or small lacerations. As a rule, a slash with a rapier did not really damage clothing. If the blade was flatter and wider, a strong blow with a pull could leave a very significant cut wound. However, in any case, these wounds appear very weak compared to those that could be inflicted by wide slashing blades, which could penetrate deep into the body, even through bone. It is interesting that a blow from the very tip of the rapier, even a very thin one, left short, ragged cuts in the meat. When we tried to strike through soft tissue, the result was even weaker. In any case, rapier slashes do not appear to be severe enough to disable an arm or leg or kill a person instantly.

Why There Is Controversy About Rapier Strikes

"Cut" is any blow with the edge of a blade, regardless of the sharpness of the blade or the ability of a particular blade to cause a cut wound. Since even a curved blade can stab, although not as effectively as a straight one, a thin blade can also chop, although not as well as a wide one. After all, if you hit it hard and at the right point, you can cut it with a car antenna or some kind of rod.

If by blows with a light thin weapon we mean not strong cutting blows that should incapacitate the enemy, but distracting and exhausting techniques necessary for the enemy to “open up” for fatal injections, then we can talk specifically about strikes with a rapier. They hurt, they leave bruises, they can break your skin, but they won't stop an attacker who wants to kill you.

The controversy surrounding rapier strikes comes from people trying to replicate what they have seen in movies and TV shows (where ropes, belts, clothing, etc. are cut with a rapier). Or they fence with light and thin sporting swords and rapiers and try to swing and cut as if they were broad cutting blades. Or even worse, they fence very carelessly with flexible training rapiers, return after a missed thrust, and, having hit the opponent with the rapier, shout: “I hit you! You're wounded! To justify all this, they quote and distort quotes from sources, do not pay attention to historical ones and demonstrate incorrect physical data and appearance of weapons, as well as methods of handling them. The solution to this problem, it seems to us, lies in training amateurs, demonstrating what effect the technically correct use of real weapons actually produces. This is a process that can take a very long time because we are still in the learning process.

It is noteworthy that today's supporters of the idea that “the rapier cuts everything” mistakenly interpret the instructions of fencing teachers of past times and do not see the fundamental difference between the blow of a wide chopping blade, which can kill or very seriously injure an opponent, and the blow of a light, thin piercing blade, which can irritate, provoke or cause a small wound. They also completely ignore criticism of the rapier's cutting properties by authors such as Silver and Smythe. They cannot give an example of a historical fight in which someone was killed by a rapier using only slashes, and they ignore modern experiments that clearly demonstrate the weak slashing qualities of thin rapier blades. In addition, these people are deliberately oblivious to the difference between military cut-and-thrust swords (the so-called "early" rapiers) and the later civilian weapons used in duels (or "real" rapiers). The most obvious motivation for this approach is the desire to create a preconceived concept of fencing for the "games" of dueling.

Was it possible to beat off or grab a rapier blade with bare hands?

Although the rapier is a fast and agile weapon, it could be grabbed and held even by hand. The likelihood of getting hurt is low. Historical sources report that even a wide chopping blade can be held by hand without any danger if done correctly. Some treatises on rapiers demonstrate how the free hand was used to parry or deflect a rapier thrust. This was a very common technique, and since in this case a person could get very close to his opponent, gradually they began to take a dagger or other weapon in their free hand. If you put it on your hand special glove made of chain mail or thick leather, then it was possible to grab or beat off the blade without any risk.

How to hold a rapier

Rapiers were balanced and laid in the hand in such a way as to primarily control the tip for an accurate thrust, rather than the blade for a strong blow. Taking all this into account, rapier handles were created, thanks to which it is much more convenient to make an injection with straightening the shoulder. The original grip made it easy to remove the weapon from the sheath simply by extending your arm up. In this case, the thumb rests on the middle part of the cross. With another grip, the index finger clasped the cross and ricasso. With this grip, the thumb could rest on the butt. If the strength of the hands allowed, then a person could even grab the weapon by the head of the handle, which gave additional length to the weapon. The grip was selected depending on the fencing technique that was suitable for a particular person.

Why there is disagreement about how the rapier was used

The fencing styles of the Renaissance changed greatly and gradually disappeared, and now no one can say for sure what they were. Different types of weapons require their own fencing style. They change over time, and nowadays no one knows exactly the forgotten styles. The ancient teachings disappeared as soon as they were no longer used; other styles simply became obsolete. Anyone who studies the history of weapons now is forced to disassemble ancient texts and rediscover how to handle ancient weapons. However, few today have sufficient knowledge of Renaissance fencing techniques and experience with real weapons to accurately demonstrate them in practice. In addition, there is a lot of inaccurate material on the Internet written by people whose understanding of the foil is based more on modern sport fencing than on authentic weapons and historical sources. In practice, misconceptions arise from assumptions made based on mistakes made in staged battles. The fights we see in movies, on television, in sports fencing, at historical events and historical reconstructions, as a rule, do not give an accurate picture.

Were rapiers used against heavier medieval swords?

By the time the rapier was introduced, the traditional medieval military sword (used against armor) had almost fallen out of use on the battlefield and was not used as a personal self-defense weapon for the city dweller. Although they were still in use in the 16th century and were taught to fight with swords in traditional fencing schools, the rapier was not designed to withstand them. From time to time it happened that a rapier was used against an older sword in a duel, but there is evidence that the rapier was not so easy to handle. But we must not forget that at the time when the civilian rapier appeared, the heyday of heavy swords had already passed, and the level of swordsmanship was not the same as before. Therefore, in the circumstances of a street duel, it is not entirely correct to say that the rapier “defeated” or “surpassed” medieval swords.

Were rapiers used in war?

There is some evidence that rapiers were carried on the battlefield, mainly by cavalry officers (unlikely for close combat use), but there is no mention of their effective use in actual battle. In the days of the rapier, many authors advised the use of "tucks" (short, stiff, piercing weapons) and later authors mistakenly began to call them rapiers. Some authors of the time complained that the rapier was unsuitable for the battlefield, while others stated the opposite.

Were rapiers used against armor?

Rapiers were not intended to be used against a person protected by armor. However, wearing protection was quite common among fighters of the time. The rapier could pierce soft armor, but historical sources suggest that chain mail (armor made of interlocking rings) was sufficient protection and was therefore often worn under clothing. If a person was at least partially protected by plate armor, which was still used on the battlefield and in city militia in the 16th - 17th centuries, then blows had to be delivered at more vulnerable points. Sometimes, for aesthetic reasons, museums often display mannequins in 16th-century plate armor holding rapiers, although they were never used together in war, competition or self-defense.

Who wore rapiers

Although the rapier is primarily associated with the late Renaissance nobleman, it was in fact used by people of all classes, and the earliest evidence for the use of such a weapon, from the 1540s to 1560s, reports cases of self-defense rather than duels between aristocrats. Although the rapier is associated with cavaliers and courtiers, it actually originated as a weapon in street fights between commoners, merchants and shopkeepers. The tradition of carrying weapons with civilian clothing (not military uniform) first appeared at court, but the need for self-defense also arose among ordinary townspeople. As the thrusting style of fencing developed, it began to be used by the class that most often had to participate in duels of honor - the nobles. Within a generation, fencing became a very common fighting skill among the refined nobles of the Renaissance. In some places it was fashionable to take private lessons from foreign masters to learn the secrets of exotic fencing styles. Rapiers, like smallswords (weapons of the 18th century nobles), were very often worn simply as a sign of social status, without knowing how to use them at all.

Did the rapier require special skills?

Any weapon requires special training in order to fully use all its capabilities, and the rapier is no exception. As mentioned above, chopping and cutting blows are more common than direct thrusts. Unlike the earlier martial arts of the Renaissance, which focused primarily on warfare and general self-defense skills, the thin and light rapier required a special stance and footwork that gave a long reach while avoiding retaliatory strikes and thrusts. . Over the course of one or two generations, a new method developed, focusing on the specific nature of the duel using two rapiers.

At that time, the rapier could collide with cutlass, sabers, broadswords, two-handed swords, daggers, as well as bucklers and polearms, leather protective camisoles, armor and chain mail were also still found (sometimes they were worn under clothes), so a person had to learn to fight, and not just wave a weapon.

At first, only nobles and aristocrats learned rapier fencing, this is true, but this happened with any early types of weapons. In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, aristocrats mastered almost all types of combat, and studied them both privately and at court. The rapier was no exception to this rule. However, very often rapier fencing was taught by masters who were ordinary merchants or military men.

Could rapier combat be combined with hand-to-hand combat and grappling?

With rare exceptions, until the 18th century, grappling and grappling were an important part of edged weapon combat. A skilled fighter could always get close to his opponent, disarm him, knock him down, or somehow immobilize him. He also knew how to defend himself from similar actions enemy. Of course, a weapon helps in combat, protects you from blows and makes it possible to deliver them, but it does not exclude the possibility that the enemy will be able to get close to you and grab you.

Modern training rapiers and replicas differ from real ones

Real rapiers were very tough. They were made so that they could easily pierce the human body during battle. If they were less rigid, they would not be able to penetrate tissue, skin, muscle and bone. It was also necessary to use a rapier to deflect blows and the blade should not bend or overwhelm. To avoid this, rapiers had a special cross-section, thanks to which the blade remained rigid and durable, but at the same time light and thin. Rapier blades were hardened in such a way as to give them additional strength, but at the same time maintain the necessary degree of elasticity. Modern rapiers are too flexible.

This feature is the result of the desire of fencing fans to have a safe training weapon that can bend to a certain extent without breaking or penetrating the opponent's body. This degree of flexibility, acceptable for sport fencing, affects the overall understanding of rapier blades and distorts the actual technique of rapier fencing. Additionally, there is no historical evidence that flexible training blades were used during the Renaissance. Similar weapons appeared after the sword came into use; this did not happen earlier than the end of the 17th century. The “training” rapiers of the Renaissance era that have come down to us are quite tough.

What is a sword and how does it differ from a rapier?

By the middle of the 17th century, when fashion firearms and the social situation reduced the need for self-defense weapons, the long rapier with a complex hilt fell out of widespread use. Shorter and lighter blades appeared, which began to be called swords (they are also called court-swords, town-swords or walking swords). The different areas of application of the civilian rapier and the noble sword influenced their development and appearance. The sword was not some kind of logical turn of evolution, and it did not “defeat” the rapier. Its more elegant appearance and design were intended for specific circumstances. The sword is a more balanced, somewhat formal, dueling weapon, and the fencing technique with them is very noble and cold-blooded. Unlike rapiers, in fencing with lighter and shorter swords, parrying and riposte (counterattack) were divided into two separate movements.

Carrying out defense and counter-attack in two movements (on a “double count”) was not an “improvement” of earlier fighting techniques - in them attack and defense were done simultaneously, with the help of a counter-strike - but an adaptation of the technique. When only thin piercing weapons remained in use, intended for duels against similar weapons, it became natural to defend against a thrust and counter-prick in two movements. This was not such a great achievement in the history of fencing, the simple logic was to use the natural lightness of the weapon in the most advantageous way.

Many elements of combat inherent in the rapier began to be used in epee fencing. But with each new generation of fencers, self-defense with edged weapons decreased, duels became more and more like a ritual, sports exercises replaced real fencing, and the technique of fighting with rapiers gradually disappeared. This was reflected in the nature of the battle, which had more Baroque sophistication than the practical street fighting of the Renaissance.

Why did rapiers disappear?

The age of the rapier lasted only about 150 years - long enough for several varieties of weapons and several fighting theories to use them to emerge before firearms rendered them unnecessary for self-defense. The rapier was used as a weapon of self-defense in urban settings and duels in Western Europe until the mid-to-late 17th century, and by early XVIII century, it is completely outdated. Long blades and complex hilts did not suit the changed situation: they got in the way when walking in a crowd, at balls, at receptions, they were inconvenient to sit with, get out of a carriage, etc. Since the daily carrying of weapons in the city and at court ceased, there was no longer the opportunity for sudden skirmishes and attacks as before. Simply put, there was no longer any need to be ready at any moment to use a dagger or parry a blow with a hand. Rapiers were no longer used. It was some time before the tens of thousands of rapiers that existed at that time were gradually converted or abandoned by people who switched to more fashionable and shorter weapons.

Why is the term “rapier” applied to weapons of a wide variety of appearances?

Everything is quite simple. Ignoring the names that kept appearing for each new type of weapon, there were two main types: the one-handed, tapering sword and the rapier (with a new method of fencing for non-military people that appeared in the 16th century). This is absolutely different types weapons and they look and are used differently. The difference becomes obvious when you pick up the originals or modern reproductions of each type. Military and civilian blades with completely different sections simply cannot be considered analogues of each other. They cannot be used as a kind of hybrid of a sports blade and a saber. To claim otherwise is to demonstrate simply amazing stupidity and ignorance. The whole point of this type of weapon was that it was a new, very light and thin weapon that was not intended for military use and was used primarily for stabbing. Naturally, with the advent of the piercing counterattack technique, the blades became so thin that they lost all their chopping properties. It is strange, but although Renaissance thin swords and rapiers are often considered the same thing, later swords are considered something completely different, although very often they were shortened rapiers with a replaced hilt. Such a comparison is even more meaningless than identifying blades with completely different blade sections.

How can you learn rapier today?

If you want to start learning rapier without spending hundreds of dollars on equipment, you can purchase an inexpensive wooden training rapier, try using the material in my 1997 book, Renaissance Fencing, as a basis for work (it covers a variety of points in detail) mentioned in this article), and read articles and tutorials on rapier online on the ARMA website. Practice thrusting on the target, moving back, forward and diagonally while thrusting, also try striking and thrusting using left hand for parrying and grappling. This is not the most difficult weapon (as one master said) if you understand the essence of this method. It just takes time and some effort. The apparent complexity of changing quick thrusts and counterattacks in this style of fencing may seem very technically complex and completely incomprehensible to an inexperienced person, although in fact only a few movements are used. If you have never handled any bladed weapons, then it will be useful for you to study modern styles of fencing with a sporting rapier or epee, because they are descended from the rapier. But always remember that these are highly stylized forms of dueling sports that are very far removed from the martial arts of the Renaissance. They are studied and practiced within the framework of some artificially created rules, prohibitions and restrictions that have nothing at all to do with real combat or how early swords were used in the past. Polite dueling ritual late XIX century, was only a faint echo of the raw savagery of hand-to-hand combat in the Middle Ages or the Renaissance. Although there are some common movements (all forms of fencing have them), the differences in the weapon and the circumstances of its use are very important.

How can you learn more about the foil and foil fencing?

Unfortunately, there are very few reliable sources for the study of real rapiers and real Renaissance fencing. My advice is to use the ARMA website articles and books that are included in the list of recommended literature and, of course, become a member of our club. Also, be very careful and collect your own notes and recordings. And always make sure the information is accurate. When it comes to rapiers (and other weapons), the most common views often differ from historical and physical reality. In my experience, it is very difficult for people (whose understanding of guns and martial arts are shaped by movies, television, video games, and comics) to set aside misconceptions and instead rely on historical evidence to form their own opinions. What's worse, many modern teachers fencing specialists deliberately spread incorrect information about the rapier to hide their ignorance of the Renaissance martial arts and their own failure to study them. In a word, read a lot, study diligently, but be attentive to all the information that you consider correct. As in many other cases, in the process of studying the history of fencing, skepticism is useful.

There is nothing complicated about foil fencing. It did not exist on its own, but in the vast context of armor, weapons and martial arts of the Renaissance. More complex fencing appeared only in the Baroque era, along with the sword, and in our days - along with sports fencing. Beware of modern teachers who, being neither highly qualified specialists in the martial arts of the Renaissance, nor even specialists in martial arts, talk about the mystique of the rapier, instead of paying attention to its practicality and simplicity.

Why historical accuracy is so important when studying rapiers

The rapier was a real weapon, made by real people to actually kill each other with, we owe a lot to its legacy, and it is our duty to respect all of the history surrounding it. History speaks of what really happened, and not of some imaginary or supposed things. It informs us about the ideas, events and people that created our modern world. This is not a launching pad for entertainment or fantasy. History is what really happened. Fantasies cannot compare to the true lives of our ancestors, who lived their lives working, playing, loving, creating, thinking, fighting and dying. Their efforts and ingenuity, their sweat and blood, their long life and death, trial and error, ours is the only and best.

Distorted in French la rapiere) - predominantly a piercing edged weapon, a type of sword, in its original meaning a long “civilian” sword, unlike a “combat” sword, it is too light to deliver a slashing blow, nevertheless, in the classic (non-sports) version it has blades. In Russian, rapier most often refers to swords with a bayonet-shaped blade - three- or four-sided, mainly intended for training fights.

The foil is now widely used in fencing competitions (see below). Historical rapiers, a popular weapon of the 16th-17th centuries, were, as a rule, significantly longer (blade up to 130 centimeters) and heavier than modern sports rapiers.

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Spanish espadas roperas/ fr. rapiere

A type of sword with blades, which differs from combat swords in its lighter weight, and from the classic short sword longer. French fr. rapiere, included in other languages, comes from Spanish (Spanish. espadas roperas- a sword for court clothing, that is, not for armor. At the same time, in many European languages the word "sword" is missing, and the word "rapier" is used to refer to swords.

The rapier appeared in Spain towards the end of the 15th century, becoming a contemporary of late Gothic plate armor, as well as the first wheeled pistols invented by Leonardo da Vinci, and the discoveries of Columbus. Initially, the rapier was a richly decorated, lightweight ceremonial sword, worn by courtiers and equipped with the same guard as the combat sword that appeared a little earlier, in the same Spain. What is characteristic is that the combat swords of that time differed from the contemporary Gothic swords only in the complex guard, which better protected the hand, and were also worn with armor. Unlike earlier lightweight ceremonial swords, the rapier was suitable not only for ceremonial wear, but also turned out to be a successful weapon of self-defense, allowing you to confidently fight off attackers even in the absence of both armor and a shield - a dagger or daga was enough, and in extreme cases you can I could make do with my own cloak wrapped around my left arm. In the 16th century, the rapier gained popularity in other countries. Moreover, the widespread use of rapiers also contributed to the widespread use of combat swords.

In the 18th century, the rapier was noticeably replaced by a lighter short sword, faceted in the French version, and in the Italian differing from the rapier only in length, which is about a third shorter. Due to its shorter length, the short sword, sometimes called the “short rapier,” had less weight, allowing for faster fencing.

Italian fioretto

An Italian training weapon with a faceted blade, used in training in sword fencing. Italian word fioretto(fr. fleuret, Spanish florete, German florett, English foil) denotes both the entire weapon and its part - the blunt tip on the blade. In Russian, the word used to denote this weapon was rapier. The tradition of limiting the affected area only to the body when fencing with fioretto is due to the fact that, firstly, the protective equipment of the Renaissance was a leather breastplate, and secondly, an injection of a narrow light blade into the arm or leg, unlike an injection into the body, is not led to the rapid incapacitation of the enemy, and, as evidenced by numerous descriptions of duels, a duelist who received an injection in the arm or leg often continued the fight (for comparison: sports fencing with swords is based on duels “to first blood”, where it was enough to win minor injury to the arm or leg). The absence of a blade is connected not only with the fact that it is Italian. The fioretto is a training weapon, but also with the principle of the Italian school of sword fencing: “kill with the point, not the blade,” and also with the fact that it is almost impossible to deliver a truly strong chopping blow with an ordinary (non-combat) sword. Modern sport foil fencing is derived from fioretto fencing.

Sports foil

Rapier, a sports piercing weapon, consists of a steel elastic blade and a hilt (a protective cup-shaped guard with a gasket and a handle with a nut).

The blade has a rectangular variable cross-section, proportionally decreasing towards the apex, onto which a tip with a diameter of 6 mm is screwed. The total length of the rapier does not exceed 110 cm (blade - 90 cm), the diameter of the guard is no more than 120 mm, the depth of the guard is up to 55 mm, the length of the handle with nut is no more than 220 mm according to Russian rules, and no more than 232 mm according to international rules. total weight rapier does not exceed 500 g.

In ordinary (training) rapiers the tip on the blade is stationary, in electrified rapiers (used in official fencing competitions since 1954) the tip is a movable electrical contact device with a button, when pressed (during a thrust to the enemy) a short circuit occurs electrical circuit. On one of the edges of the blade of an electrified rapier there is a recess that runs along the entire edge, from the tip to the guard, into which a wire is glued connecting the electrical contact device of the tip with the contact connector (“double”) under the guard. In rapiers, the straight handle is sometimes replaced with a figured one, perpendicular to the blade. This type of handle is called a “pistol” and allows you to avoid bending your wrist when gripping the handle. Pistol handles are usually installed on electrified rapiers.

The first champion of the USSR in this event was Vladimir Vyshpolsky, who later became the country’s strongest epee fencer three more times.

Leading masters during this period were also Konstantin Bulochko, Nikolai Afanasyev and Ivan Komarov for men, and for women in foil competitions, the fight was between Raisa Chernysheva, who in 1946 became the first Honored Master of Sports among fencers, and Anna Ponomareva. It is interesting that once, in 1940, women competed for championship in saber fencing. The only champion saber fencer of the USSR was V. Dedyulina from Leningrad. The next national championship in this discipline took place more than half a century later.

Notes

links

• John Clements "Rapier Questions and Answers"
  • Questions and Answers About the Rapier

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Synonyms:

See what "Rapier" is in other dictionaries:

- (French rapiere, from German rappen to capture). A long, blunt sword with a ball at the end, which is used to teach sword fighting and fencing. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910. RAPIER is a long, elastic sword with a thin ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

rapier- y, w. rapiere, German Rapier. 1. A piercing edged weapon with a long and flexible blade, used in educational and sports fencing, and previously served as a dueling weapon. BAS 1. A dull sword with a button on the tip, with which they learn to fight on... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

Female, German a blunt sword with a button on the tip, which is used to teach sword fighting and thrust fighting; rapier for chopping, espadron. Rapier blade. Rapier, fight with rapiers. Raping, raping, action according to Ch. Rapier fighter, rapier fighter,... ... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

- (German Rapier) a sports piercing weapon with a flexible rectangular blade and an electrical contact device for fixing injections at official competitions... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

RAPIRA, rapiers, women. (from French rapiere). A piercing edged weapon with a long tetrahedral blade, used. in educational and sports fencing. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 … Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

RAPIRA, s, female. A piercing edged weapon with a long flexible tetrahedral blade, used. in fencing. Fight with rapiers. Sportivnaya district Ozhegov's explanatory dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 … Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary