I am Roland Warzecha, a professional illustrator – and a swordsman. Hence the name ‘Dimicator’ which is a Latin term meaning sword fighter. I present to you cutting-edge research into historical martial arts, and Viking & high medieval sword & shield fighting in particular. I am co-operating with museums, fellow martial artists and scholars worldwide. Renowned expert for historical arms, Dr Alfred Geibig, says: “The careful reconstruction of historical swordsmanship, impressively demonstrated by Mr. Warzecha, is a valuable supplement to archaeological insights, and clearly proves the efficiency of European swords and the sophistication of the associated historical fighting arts.” To get regular up-dates on the archaeology and history of sword & shield and how they were used, sign up for my newsletter! I would be delighted if you would join my quest.
Making Medieval Shields, plus Sword and Buckler Videos and Miniatures
Busy Days with Lots of ShieldsHello fellow sword and shield enthusiasts, Cornelius Berthold spent a few days at my place, during which he completed four training shields, each featuring a different set of hand straps, known as enarmes, along with a neck strap, or guige. The various strap arrangements are based on medieval miniatures—marginal manuscript illustrations—rather than surviving examples. The images are tiny, sometimes worn, and often stylised, so there is a fair amount of interpretation involved when attempting to base an actual shield on this kind of source material. As these shields are intended for training rather than being authentically crafted museum-quality pieces, this provides a perfect opportunity for some experimentation. We've already gained some enlightening insights, and we'll share them with you in due course. Online Couse in the WorksWe also did some additional filming for our next sword and buckler online course, which will cover I.33’s Second and Third Wards, along with the corresponding plays. Marginalised FightingIn the meantime, you can read Cornelius’ latest paper on medieval marginalia depicting sword and buckler fighters. This is time well spent.
Heavier than SteelThe bronze sword from Wodarg was likely used with a shield as well. I am still in the process of editing all the material I collected during my recent visit to Schwerin. For now, I’d like to share this image with you, showing the weapon’s weight of 697 grams at a length of 63.5 cm. There is a lot more to come ... So, that's it for today. Take care, and keep your blade well-honed. If you enjoyed this newsletter, please recommend it to your friends. They can sign up here or on my website. Or simply forward them this email. To learn to fight, consult our sword & buckler online course. If you wish to read more, find hundreds of related posts on my Patreon. Special thanks to all my loyal supporters on Patreon – you keep me going! And if you are not a patron yet, you are most welcome to join. If you feel like dropping a coin into my tip jar, you can do so here. Thank you for your time and your interest. Yours, Roland You are receiving this newsletter because you have signed up for it, or because you have previously expressed your interest in my work and events. If you prefer to not receive further emails, you can unsubscribe below. |
Dimicator
I am Roland Warzecha, a professional illustrator – and a swordsman. Hence the name ‘Dimicator’ which is a Latin term meaning sword fighter. I present to you cutting-edge research into historical martial arts, and Viking & high medieval sword & shield fighting in particular. I am co-operating with museums, fellow martial artists and scholars worldwide. Renowned expert for historical arms, Dr Alfred Geibig, says: “The careful reconstruction of historical swordsmanship, impressively demonstrated by Mr. Warzecha, is a valuable supplement to archaeological insights, and clearly proves the efficiency of European swords and the sophistication of the associated historical fighting arts.” To get regular up-dates on the archaeology and history of sword & shield and how they were used, sign up for my newsletter! I would be delighted if you would join my quest.
A Famous Viking Age Sword Made for a Left-Hander My friend Alban's favourite sword Hello fellow sword and history enthusiasts, It’s not often that you get to see this exceptionally well-preserved sword outside the British Museum. With its wide fuller inscribed LEUTLRIT and an Anglo-Danish hilt adorned with geometric inlays, it is an outstanding piece. Note the slightly off-centre and tilted montage of the pommel But what I find most intriguing are the subtle asymmetries in the hilt...
The Fencing Bridegroom Swordsmen's distinguished summer fashion Hello sword-and-buckler enthusiasts and fashion victims, My fellow buckler fighter and researcher Cornelius Berthold was married this past weekend. The occasion provided a splendid opportunity for some early-morning fencing before breakfast—and, notably, for swordplay in suits. The latter was suggested by photographer Jonas Radtke, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing the resulting images. There can be only one! In the...
Are We But Brutal Primates? Chimps make war, bonobos make love. What about us? (My illustration) Hello fellow history enthusiasts, I suspect many of you share my feeling that we are living through particularly unusual and turbulent times. While I generally make a conscious effort to maintain a positive outlook and focus on the good, I must admit this has grown increasingly difficult in recent years. Stupidity, ignorance and brutality seem all too prominent among our species at present....