I’m Roland Warzecha — professional illustrator and swordsman. The name Dimicator comes from the Latin for “sword fighter.” I share cutting-edge research into historical martial arts, focusing in particular on Viking and high medieval sword-and-shield combat. My work is carried out in collaboration with museums, fellow martial artists, and scholars around the world.
Swords Galore: On the Field, in the Salle, Online and in Art
Fechtschule 2025Dear fellow sword enthusiasts, HEMA practitioners, and living history aficionados, I'm all packed and ready to travel to Bruges with my friends and fellow instructors/researchers Dierk Hagedorn and Cornelius Berthold. We’re very much looking forward to spending a few formidable days at Fechtschule 2025, organised by Sint-Michielsgilde de Hallebardiers. To mark the occasion, Cornelius and I have prepared a special offer: Here are the direct links with the discount already applied:
Let us polish our shields and brandish our swords! Scabbard Making-Of ContinuesI'm sure you've spotted my new sword by Atelier Thibaud, as well as its matching scabbard. I’ll share more about the sword once it’s passed its first testing at Fechtschule 2025. In the meantime, don’t miss the latest update on the scabbard-making project—you'll find explanations and images in my dedicated posts:
... to be continued: next, I will make a belt. New Addition to My Sword Art ShopThis immaculate bronze sword of the Riegsee type (c. 1300 BC) was found at the site of a Bronze Age conflict in the Tollense Valley, north-eastern Germany. It may have been deliberately deposited rather than lost in battle—but traces of re-sharpening and a small notch suggest it saw use, either in training or in combat. Here’s a brief video clip. Get your full-colour, full-size images and all measurements of this unique piece for only $12.50!
Live Chat on Rapier’s DelightMark your calendars! Talking about swords comes second only to wielding them on my list of favourite activities—so of course, I jumped at the opportunity. Join us for a lively discussion on 11 May 2025, where we’ll explore how the study of original period swords informs modern interpretations of historical sword fighting. What better way to spend two hours on a Sunday?
Hedeby Bouts: Photos & VideosThe recent Hedeby Bouts were two absolutely delightful days of fencing in an amazing venue. Add to that excellent company, good food, and a bit of luck with the weather—and you’ve got the perfect weekend. Hedeby veteran Tom Jersø has shared some fantastic photos and a brief video on his social channels. And if you’re still craving more, I’ve posted additional fencing footage from last year's bouts on Patreon. Watch some sword-and-shield practice with Mikkel Mønsted. You can watch the first fight as a preview—or even better, excellent patrons to view the full video and many more.
Shields up! 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. Improve your skills with our sword-and-buckler online courses. 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’m Roland Warzecha — professional illustrator and swordsman. The name Dimicator comes from the Latin for “sword fighter.” I share cutting-edge research into historical martial arts, focusing in particular on Viking and high medieval sword-and-shield combat. My work is carried out in collaboration with museums, fellow martial artists, and scholars around the world.
Hello fellow history enthusiasts and blade aficionados, questions about historical body proportions come up regularly when discussing historical and prehistoric fighting techniques. Fortunately, archaeology provides some surprisingly clear answers. How tall were Europeans of the Roman era compared with modern people? Were People Smaller in the Past? One widespread assumption is that human body height increased steadily throughout history and that people today are generally taller than our...
Hello fellow history enthusiasts and blade aficionados, sometimes the most interesting discoveries come not from finding something new, but from looking again at familiar things. Here are a few recommendations and updates that I hope you will enjoy. A replica fishtail dagger which I recently got to play with in Harald Meller's office. A Stone Age Misconception? Some ideas become so widespread that they eventually start to feel self-evident. One such example concerns Late Neolithic fishtail...
History in Stone — And Steel Hello fellow history enthusiasts and sword lovers, living in rural Mecklenburg means being surrounded by traces of the past. Within only a few kilometres of where I live, one encounters Neolithic monuments, Bronze Age burial mounds, Iron Age cemeteries, Slavic settlement history, and medieval fieldstone churches. Much of this remarkable heritage remains little known beyond the region itself, despite its historical significance and enormous cultural potential....