Wallachian Swords of the 15th Century: What Types?

[TVV]

Samuel,

Good points, supported with perfect illustrations. The blade on St. Nikita's sabre is actually very similar to some swords captured at the second siege of Vienna, more than 2 centuries later - certainly an example of a type that was just starting to appear in Europe. The grip with the forefinger over the crossguard is also remarkable and further shows that the painter must have had a good amount of exposure to warriors of the time, maybe even having some military experience himself.

The second fresco shows the habaki-like plate at the base of the blade, while the garment is conviniently left open to reveal what looks like mail sewn inside. This is where the problems with frescoes start - reenactors tend to see things on some frescoes, which are more the product of conjecture. For example, if that really mail sewn inside, and if so, how about the trousers (same pattern on the outside) with those strange plates on the knees? And then the wild speculation starts.

Overall though you are correct - frescoes provide valuable insight into the arms and armor in the Balkans in the Middle Ages, but they have to be examined with caution to discern what the artist copied from his surroundings, what he copied from older images and what was completely his imagination. And we should be careful to restrain our own imagination somewhat as well.

Thanks for the nice images,
Teodor

[Samik]

Since I cannot edit my previous post and seeing that the second picture somewhat disappeared I'm re-uploading the depiction of St. Nicetas from the Gracanica fresco (1321-22)



Thank you both Teodor and Lucian for your knowledgeable (and much needed) insight !

Regards,
Samuel

[shayde78]

We must be just a week from Halloween, since I found myself reading an article on this topic. Even sportier is that, as I finished the article, I noticed the author's name looked familiar. I'm quite sure she is a fellow forumites.
Anyway, I wanted to link to the article in this thread for reference.

Also, why not resurrect a zombie thread during this witching season?

https://heritagearmssa.com/2017/11/1...d-the-impaler/

[kronckew]

Having read the linked article, in conjunction with this thread, I find a number of her conclusions a bit over-simplified. An example, The conclusion the Kilij was the ancestor of the sabre instead of the other way around. The statement that the short kilij was used by Cavalry instead of a longer shamshir/sabre, not Infantry seems a bit odd to me as well. The UK general's mameluke-like sword has a noticeable and long 'yelman' but does not require a scabbard with an open spine as the blade is not parabolic and is not highly curved. It was adopted after the french invasion of Egypt by Napoleon when the french generals liked them, and the English liked the French version. (UK one below - earlier versions had a brass scabbard, and came with an orderly to keep it polished) It's fairly stabby too. generals of the period would of course never actually need to use a sword in actual combat unless it got really desperate, which would not be often, if they were a good general.

P.s - I thought Shamshire was a county in the UK, not all that far to the southeast from me in Gloucestershire,the other side of Wiltshire, and just south of Berkshire .

[kronckew]

More than you wanted to know about Vlad III:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY82EpsvbQ8

[Jim McDougall]

Most interesting to see this old thread again Wayne! Its been over a decade, and indeed how appropriate to 'revive' the thoughts of good old Dracula on Halloween!
Actually the article from Heritage arms was I believe by Stuart Bates, Cathey Brimage is the editor of the publication.

While a bit tenuous, the topic associating the notorious Vlad with the mameluke saber is of course viable in certain remotely connected facts in some degree.
However in most cases such likelihood is about as plausible as the much debated connection between Vlad III (1431-1477) and Bram Stoker's famed vampire. Naturally there are certain possibly connected elements, again in degree.

The evolution of sword forms is mostly speculative chronologically, and that of the 'saber' is pretty well veiled. It seems generally held that curved blades evolved somewhere in Central Asia, probably Turkmenistan to give some sort of geographic reference, keeping in mind that the nomadic tribal people of the Steppes were the likely users of them, and around 9th century.

It is unclear exactly when this design arose with the Turkic tribes that formed the Ottoman empire, but these were not of course in the manner exactly of the later shamshir types, nor the stout shorter blades with yelman known as 'pala'. It seems that some sort of curved saber (as with falchions in Europe) was in use, but these may have been as with many falchions, straight backed with radiused edge to the point.

By the time of Vlad, while there were certainly some type of curved blade swords contemporary, there is no evidence I have ever seen of his using one. I have seen apocryphal sources noting him having a 'Toledo' blade , which in this time would have been of course, a 'knightly' broadsword. We know that straight broadswords were in use in Eastern Europe in these times, but there was a slightly curved version with a kind of 'S' shaped crossguard in use as well.

The 'Ottoman' style shamshirs and the similarly hilted 'pala' did not evolve until considerably later, though we know such sabers were in use by 17th century, and the East Europeans, adopted Ottoman styled swords.

[Teisani]

Time for a bit of thread necromancy... Surviving written accounts of individual martial deeds in Wallachian history are rare. These are also, fairly unknown, especially to English speaking audiences. Since most of it is written in Romanian, I hope to add a bit of info here, for non-Romanian speakers.

In addition to written accounts, surviving weapons and iconography are also rare as hen’s teeth.

A few notes: by Wallachia, it is implied the medieval state of Wallachia, in historical documents known as “Țara Rumânească” “Ungrovlahia” or “Wallachia Transalpina”. Moldova, although also referred to as “Wallachia” or “Moldo-Vlahia” in certain Polish documents, will be referred to strictly as “Moldova”.

Dregator - Historical Romanian ranks and titles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histor...nks_and_titles
Jupan - Župan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%BDupan

Stroe Buzescu’s duel with the Tatar (1602)

The following is probably the best-known duel (there aren't many known ). In October 1601, after the assassination of Wallachian voievod, Michael the Brave (August 1601), the next to be elected voivode was Radu Șerban. However, his reign was initially, not to be a peaceful one, having to fight-off various rivals. One of these was Simion Movilă, brother to the Moldovan voivode, Ieremia Movilă. At first, Simion Movilă, had to retreat to Moldova, not having the troops to maintain the throne. However, he would return during September 1602, with 40,000 Tatars (commanded by Ğazı II Giray - Khan of the Crimean Khanate.), the Moldovans sent by his brother, Ieremia Movilă, and about 300 Cossacks. Radu Şerban's army was much smaller, totalling around 8,000-10,000 infantrymen and 6,000 horsemen, to which were later added 1,000 horsemen sent from Transylvania by the Habsburg general Giorgio Basta. Considering the numerical superiority of the invaders, Radu Şerban adopted a defensive tactic. The decisive battle took place at Teişani, in the valley of the Teleajen river, on September 23 and 24, 1602. All the Tatar attacks against the Wallachian fortified camp with trenches and palisades failed; in the end, after having suffered great losses, the Tatars had to retreat to Silistra. During the battle of Teişani, the son-in-law or grandson (it’s not known for certain, only named Mârza) of the Crimean Khan had a duel with the Wallachian boyar Stroe Buzescu (also held the title of Mare Stolnic). Whether Stroe or the Tatar was the one who made the challenge, I’m not sure. There are quite a few internet articles written in Romanian, that deal with this event. The basic version of events is this...Stroe Buzescu has a duel with the Tatar, and wins by sword thrust (more on that later). Stroe is generally considered to be an old man during this duel, whereas the Tatar is a young, fit and of great stature. A lot of David vs. Goliath vibes going on here. The thing is that Stroe’s birth date isn’t known, so we don’t know his age for sure. He dies from a sword wound on his face sustained in battle with the Tatar. Commonly, it is said be an infection or the enemy’s sword was poisoned (considering he died 5 weeks later, I’d go with infection).

Now for the evidence. As I said, quite a few internet articles are written in Romanian on this duel, however very few cite historical sources. And in my opinion, if something isn’t quoted from a historical source, IT NEVER HAPPENED!. In my opinion, the best free source is “Monumentul funerar în Țara Românească – discurs narativ și efigie” by Ioan Albu. The following Romanian texts are exterpts from said work, the English translations are however, my own attempts:

Stroe’s wife, Sima Buzescu, commissioned a funeral stone with the following inscription:

„†bBъ èìå ѡ(ть)цa и с(ъи)нa и с҃тaго дѹхa aìèí †acesta petră pre ghero(pa) jupănului lu Stroe Buzesculǔ ceu fost stolnicǔ la Mihai Vo(evod)dǔ și au fo(st) la toate războaele preaună cu Domnu său ca o slugă creadenciosă Domǔnu(lui) să(u) și la războiu din întâi dob(ă)ndi ranăt la mâna stăngă de turci și la războiulǔ la Giurgiu câ(nd) să loviră cu hanu să răni la ochiul stăngǔ de săgetă și au slujitǔ lu Mihai Vo(evo)dǔ pănă peri în Țara Ungrească. Deci să sculară boerii țărei cu Buzeștii rădicară prea Radulǔ Vo(evo)d era Simeon Vo(evo)dǔ sea sculă cu tătari, moldoveni și mulți fără să clintească prea Radulǔ Vo(evo)d și prea Buzești din țara lor la țara nemțeascu cu oști(le) lor dice mersă jupănul Stroe la (îm)păratulǔ nemțesc de ceru aju(to)ri de eșiră la Țara Rumănescă cu Radulǔ Vo(evo)d și nu-i așteaptă Simion Vo(evo)dǔ ci se dusă de aducesi și moldoveni și hanulǔ cu ҂Ð • ҂K (160000) de tătari și eșiră de să loviră în gura Telejinului la Teiușani în luna lu Sătevrie Ä ² • (14) zile anii ҂Ç • Ð • ² • (7111 = 1602) luni demin(ea)ț(ă) pă(nă) sara și făcură năvală Marți de trei ori în tote10 părțile dar jupănul Stroe atăta nevoe pre creștini văzu el stătu împotriva tătarilorǔ de să lovi cu comnatulǔ hanului și-lǔ junghie pre tătari și dintracelǔ război să răni la obrazi i preste å (5) septămăni să (în)tă(m)plă moarte în luna lu otovrie B (2) zile Dumnezeu să erte”

„vă leat ҂Ç • Ð • ² •. Și nu fu pre voe căinilor de tătari”
„Scrisei eu jupuneasca Sima a stol(ni)cului Stroe. Deaca voi muri să mă grupați lângă dumniia lui aicea.”

(Slavonic formulation)
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, Amin
(Romanian text)
This stone on the grave of župan Stroe Buzesculu, who was Stolnic to Voivode Mihai, and was in all wars besides his Lordship (Domn), as a loyal servant to his Lord (Domnului), and in the first war was wounded on his left hand by the Turks, and in the war at Giurgiu, when colliding with the Khan, he was wounded with an arrow to the left eye, and he served Voivode Mihai, till his death in Țara Ungureasca (Transilvanya). Here the land's boyars rose, with the Buzescu's they rose Voivode Radu, and Voivode Simeon rose with the Tatars, and Moldovans and many came and chased away Radu Voda and the Buzescu's from their land. And the Buzescu's with their troops went to the German Emperor (Rudolf II) to ask for help, and they went out to Țara Rumănescă (Wallachia) with Radu voda, and Simeon Voda did not wait for them, he went and brought moldovans and khan's tatars, and the went out and collided at the mouth of the Telejin river, near Teiusani, in the month of September, 14 days, year 7111(1602), Monday morning till evening, and they stormed 3 times on Tuesday from all sides. But župan Stroe seeing much need of the Christians, stood against the Tatars, and struck blows with the khan's brother-in-law (comnatulu), and stabbed (junghie) the Tatar, and in that war (război) he was wounded on the cheek, and over 5 weeks occurred his death in the month of October, 2 days. May God forgive.

"Year ҂Ç • Ð • ² •. And he was not to the will of the Tatar dogs"
"Written by I, župan wife Sima, of stolnic Stroe. If I am to die, burry me next his Lordship here."

In addition to the grave stone, we also have Stroe Buzescu's courage mentioned in a 29 June 1604 chrysobull (hrisov) by Voivode Radu Serban (original in slavonic):

„...ne-am așezat cu toate oștile noastre la un loc numit Ogretin (gol in original) ... într-o zi de luni, 13 zile ale lunii septembrie. Astfel au venit multă mulțime de oști de-ale lor asupra noastră a tuturora și au năvălit peste noi și au aruncat ei atât de multe din săgețile lor asupra noastră, încât nu se putea vedea fața soarelui de săgețile lor și de atâta bătălie răsunau chedrii și munții de bătălia lor și nu se putea înțelege unul cu altul. Iar întru acestea, cinstiții dregători ai domniei mele, mai sus numiți, ei s-au străduit cu slujbă dreaptă și credincioasă și cu vărsare de sânge dinaintea feții domniei mele și a tuturor dregătorilor și boierilor domniei mele și întru nimic nu și-au pierdut credința, nici dușmanilor noștri n-au întors spatele, fără încetare și-au vărsat sângele lor pentru domnia mea și pentru creștinii țării domniei mele, încât putem spune cu adevărat pentru dregătorul domniei mele, răposatul jupan Stroe fost mare stolnic, dacă a văzut el atâta greutate și nevoie asupra capului domniei mele, luptat cu atât mai mult cu dușmanii domniei mele pentru domnia mea și pentru legea creștinească și pentru patria noastră, ca să ne scoată din mâna dușmanilor noștri. Și a fost rănit jupan Stroe fost mare stolnic în război și apoi a murit în 2 zile ale lunii Octombrie, Dumnezeu să-i ierte sufletul lui, pentru că s-a străduit pentru domnia mea și pentru legea creștinească.”

"...we settled with all our troops at a place called Ogretin (blanc in original) on a Monday, 13th day of September. Thus, there came many of their troops upon us all, and stormed us, and let loose so many arrows upon us, to black-out the Sun, and from such fighting the woods and mountains wrang such that one could not hear another. As such, my lordship's onorable dregators, mentioned previously, endeavored with righteous and faithfull service, and shed blood before my lordship and all my lordship's dregators and boyars, and never loosing their faith, never turned their back to the enemy, ceaselessly sheding their blood for my lordship and for the Christians of my lordships's land, so that we can truly say that for my lordship's dregator, the late župan Stroe, former mare stolnic, who at seeing such great hardship upon my lordship, fought that much more with my lordship's enemies, for my lordship and for the Christian law and for our land, to free us from our enemies' grasp. And župan Stroe, former mare stolnic, was wounded in war and died 2 days into the month of October. May God forgive his soul, for he endeavored for my lordship and for the Christian law."

Stroe was buried at Stănești monastery, in Vâlcea county, and fortunately the tombstone also includes a depiction of the duel. The following is a copy of the original that resides at the National Military Museum Bucharest. Although it's not a detailed depiction, there are still some interesting things to be seen:
- Stroe (on the right) is using what seems to be a pallash (paloș in RO, pallos in HU, pałasz in PL), deduced by the straight blade, but also the straight scabbard under his leg. The fact that he used it to thrust, and that the scabbard is under his leg, makes me wonder if it was actually a koncerz/hegyestőr
- The Tatar is seen dropping his sabre, of fairly typical shape (notice the large yelman). Also besides him, are a recurve bow in holster and a quiver with arrows.

Other sources:
https://historia.ro/sectiune/actuali...oe-577794.html
https://wiki.drajna.ro/doku.php?id=b...in_si_stanesti