Heavy cavalry broadsword. Broadsword: the legendary weapon of the Scottish Highlanders and European cuirassiers

It is quite difficult to answer the question of when the broadsword was “born”. A weapon that in all respects resembled a broadsword existed back in the 6th century among the Turkic peoples, except that it did not have a hilt of a complex design, and by the 7th century it was replaced by a saber. The next time the broadsword appeared on the battlefield was at the end of the 16th century in Britain.

The main difference between a broadsword and a sword is a more massive and wider blade. The broadsword differs from the classic sword in the presence of a complex closed hilt with a cup and protective bows, as well as (for later models after the beginning of the 19th century) – one-sided sharpening of the blade. The difference from a saber is that it is a straight blade with excellent piercing characteristics. The broadsword combines the advantages of a saber and a sword, is suitable for both stabbing and cutting blows, and often has serious protection for the hand during fencing.

Characteristic difference British broadswords had a “basket” type guard with big amount weaves, sometimes even lined with leather or red velvet on the inside. In Italy, the schiavona appeared - a weapon with a double-edged blade about 90 cm long and 4 cm wide, which became the main weapon of cuirassiers. Later, in general, all “basket swords” made in the Venetian style began to be called schiavona - they were used in conjunction with a shield. The origin of the Western European broadsword (then called the "Walloon sword") is due to the evolution of the heavy cavalry saddle sword, so it can be considered a relative of swords. The weapon, which had one blade, had serious advantages in horse combat compared to a sword, due to its lighter weight and, in general, the broadsword was simpler and cheaper to manufacture.

The broadsword appeared in Russia only at the end of the 17th century during the reign of Peter I, where it was brought by citizens of other states who entered officer service in the Russian army. Until the 19th century, the Russian army was armed with general army broadswords, for the guard, horse artillery, officer and soldier broadswords, dragoon broadswords, cuirassier and carabinieri broadswords. All these subtypes of broadsword differed from each other in the shape of the hilt and sheath, but the blade was the same everywhere. At the end of the 19th century, the broadsword remained in service only as a ceremonial weapon.

There is also a naval modification that took root in the Russian navy and midshipmen by the middle of the 19th century - the naval broadsword, which was the favorite weapon of sailors who preferred an elegant and reliable weapon. The naval boarding broadsword differed from the classic land cavalry models in its smaller size, had a leather (rather than metal) sheath and could have a slight bend in the blade, and the guard of the older brother of the “cutlass” was made in the shape of a shell (such boarding broadswords in the 16th-19th centuries were called "scallop")

Compared to a sword, a broadsword has a developed guard, usually including a cup and protective bows. The difference between a broadsword and a sword is that it has a heavier blade, which is wider and thicker.

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Broadsword in the East and Asia

A weapon descended from less specialized cutting swords and possessing all the features of a broadsword - a long straight single-edged blade and, often, a curved hilt - is traditional in East and Central Asia; in particular, in the XIII-XIV centuries it was widespread among the Tatar-Mongols. Single-edged broadswords in equestrian combat had an advantage over double-edged swords due to their lighter weight, and were also simpler and cheaper to produce.

Caucasus

Broadswords were distributed primarily in the Caucasus and the Middle East eastern countries. All eastern broadswords usually have a symmetrical hilt with weak hand protection; often it is only a crossguard with an arc. The most famous are the Khevsur broadswords (franguli), with scabbards and handles forged with iron or brass plates, decorated in the traditional Caucasian style. Sometimes the broadswords of Khevsur masters are equipped with ordinary dagger hilts. In Georgia, broadswords with handles resembling checkerboards were used; surviving examples date back to the 18th-19th centuries.

India

middle Asia

In Asia there was a Kazakh broadsword (half saber) called Celebe .

Broadsword in Western Europe

Appearance

In the second half of the 16th century, Hungarian hussars began to use weapons with a straight blade attached to the saddle, which served (like the konchar) as an addition to the saber. The handle of this weapon resembled a saber and was slightly curved.

Spreading

The Western European broadsword developed from the heavy cavalry saddle sword. The first examples of the broadsword were called Walloon sword. Broadsword that spread to continental countries Western Europe, was distinguished by an asymmetrical hilt with highly developed hand protection in the form of a cross or a bowl with the whole system temples

In the 17th century, there was a gradual unification of broadswords in the cavalry of European armies. Uniform types of weapons were adopted, first for individual regiments, and then for each type of cavalry. First of all, cuirassier and dragoon regiments were armed with broadswords.

The double-edged form of the blade was preserved in almost all armies until the middle of the 18th century, then it began to be replaced by a blade with a single blade and a blunt spine. At the beginning of the 19th century, the blades of broadswords everywhere became single-edged, still remaining quite powerful and wide.

Broadsword in Eastern Europe

Appearance

The oldest examples of broadswords were found in proto-Bulgarian necropolises from the beginning of the 5th century in the Northern Black Sea region, including the famous golden broadsword of Kubrat, the ruler of Great Bulgaria. Broadswords were also used by the early Avars, Khazars and Alans. In Volga Bulgaria they continued the tradition of using broadswords that came from the Black Sea region, along with sabers.

Broadsword in the Russian Empire

First information

The broadsword appeared in Russia around the end of the 17th century, apparently, along with foreign officers accepted into Russian service.

In Russia, the handles of early broadswords are inclined, most convenient for cutting from a horse, the crosspieces are either straight, or with the ends lowered to the blades.

The earliest surviving Russian broadsword is the broadsword of Prince M.V. Skopin-Shuisky, since 1647, first kept in the Solovetsky Monastery (Solovki Island), and now located in the State Historical Museum in Moscow. Its blade is straight, double-edged, smooth. The handle is inclined, the cross with the ends lowered to the blades has a crosshair. The frame of the handle is silver, gilded, chased, decorated with large turquoise, a dark garnet is inserted into the knob. The scabbard is covered with scarlet velvet, the mouth of the tip and four holders are silver, chased, decorated in the same way as the frame of the handle with turquoise. The scabbard has two silver belt rings located on one side. Frame in oriental style. Total length 99 cm, blade length 86 cm, blade width at the heel 4.3 cm.

Mass distribution

As a mass model of weapons manufactured in a factory, the broadsword established itself in Russia under Peter I, during the creation of dragoon regiments in the first quarter of the 18th century. Broadswords were made not only in Russia, but also imported from abroad, mainly from the German city of Solingen. Since the 1730s, broadswords have become the weapon of cuirassier regiments. Heavy cavalry in the 18th century also consisted of horse grenadiers and carabinieri. Dragoons were armed with broadswords until 1817, and for some time horse artillery were armed with them.

A broadsword with a straight double-edged blade, about 1 arshin 3 vershoks (85 cm) long, with a hilt that had a cup or lattice to cover the hand, was the weapon of dragoons, cuirassiers and part of the hussars, also the Life Guards cavalry regiment and life campaign , and in 1763 it was also given to the carabinieri regiments.

By the middle of the 18th century, the Russian broadsword gradually became single-edged with a butt. Under Catherine the Great, the monogram “E II” (Catherine II) under the crown is engraved on broadswords. The scabbards of Russian broadswords of that time were leather or wooden, covered with leather. The metal device was simple (mouth, nuts with rings for a sword belt, tip) or, being slotted, covered almost the entire surface of the sheath. Since 1810, the sheath of the broadsword became only metal, with the exception of the leather sheath of the naval broadsword of the 1856 model.

In the 18th century, the Russian army distinguished between army and guards, soldiers and officers, cuirassiers, dragoons and carabinieri broadswords; What they had in common was a wide, long and heavy blade, but they differed in the shape of the hilt and sheath. The handle was covered with various combinations of curved arches, grilles, guards, and at its base there was a cup, flat or curved, sometimes made of two oval plates. The heads on the handle were round, flattened, or in the form of an eagle or lion's head. The scabbard was covered with leather, mounted in wide metal holders or bound with metal with figured slots and a comb at the end. In the 19th century, hilts were simplified and unified, and metal scabbards also became simpler.

Rise and fall from use

By the beginning of the 19th century, the Russian army had several types of broadswords in service: guards cuirassier broadswords, army cuirassier broadswords, dragoon broadswords (with the exception of dragoons in the Caucasus, who were armed with sabers). Horse artillery also had special horse artillery broadswords. Broadswords were also weapons of cavalry guards. Gendarmes also wore them (until 1826).

The blades of Russian broadswords from the first decade of the 19th century were only single-edged. In the first third of the 19th century, they were unified Various types broadswords: dragoon model 1806, cuirassier model 1810 and the cuirassier model 1826 that replaced it. Broadswords were in service with cuirassiers until they were reorganized into dragoons in 1881, after which broadswords remained only in some military units as a ceremonial weapon.

Naval (boarding) broadsword

The naval broadsword has been used since the 16th century as a boarding weapon. A boarding broadsword is a long-bladed cutting-and-piercing weapon with a straight, wide blade without a fuller, having a one-sided or one-and-a-half sharpening. The handle is wooden or metal with a guard such as a bow, cross, or shield. Unlike combat broadswords, which had a metal or wooden sheath, the sheath for a boarding broadsword was usually leather. The length of the blade was up to 80 cm, width - about 4 cm.

In our time

Currently, the broadsword is a ceremonial weapon for assistants to the banner in the Russian Navy.

Notes

1. "Sword". Military encyclopedic dictionary. Moscow, 1984
2. GOST R 51215-98. Cold steel: terms and definitions.
3. “History of Russian material culture”, L. V. Belovinsky. University book, 2003
4. “Sabres, broadswords, checkers and weapons with a curved blade,” comp. Yu. Kolobaev
5. "Broadsword", Megaencyclopedia of Cyril and Methodius
6. Gorelik M.V. Armies of the Mongol-Tatars X-XIV centuries. Martial art, equipment, weapons. - M., 2002 (Series “Uniforms of the armies of the world”)
7. A. V. Komar, O. V. Suhobokov “Armament and military affairs of the Khazar Kaganate” (Institute of Archeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine)
8. "Steel arms. encyclopedic Dictionary", V. N. Popenko. AST, Astrel, 2007 ISBN 978-5-17-027396-6
9. Kulinsky A. N. European edged weapons. - St. Petersburg: Atlant, 2003. - P. 81. - 552 p. - ISBN 5-901555-13-9.
10. , Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron. St. Petersburg, 1890-1907
11. Doriyan Alexandrov Makar and razprasnati find from the treasure in Voznesenka they say: “Nay-old broadswords and sabi sa open exactly in Bulgarian necropolises from the V-VII centuries to the North Black Sea Coast and other places, and open the Voznasenka sample of Takiva. Tova se were kakto from the format on the wedge on the edge, and from the beginning to production.”|

The word broadsword itself came to us from the Turkish language, where the word pala translated as sword or dagger. IN different countries Ah Europe, the weapon that we are accustomed to identifying as a broadsword is called completely differently. In England it is broadsword- a basket sword, in Italy it is spada schiavona- Slavic sword, and in German countries in the period from the 16th to the 19th centuries, it had several names:

• During the period from the 16th to the 17th centuries. - reiterschwert- horseman's sword;
• In the XVIII - XIX centuries, depending on the type of troops in which it was used - kurassierdegen, dragonerdegen, kavalleriedegen- cuirassier sword, dragoon sword and simply cavalry sword;

Thus, we need to indicate which weapon we will consider as a broadsword, i.e. give its definition.

A broadsword is a long-bladed cutting-and-piercing weapon that has a wide two- or single-edged blade and a developed guard, most often in the shape of a wicker basket. The blade of a broadsword is much wider and heavier than that of a rapier or late sword.

Since the 17th century, broadswords with basket guards can be divided into three different groups. One of them is general, and the other two are regional groups of Venetian schiavona and Scottish broadsword. The most famous representative of the general group are Walloon broadsword(Walloon sword) and deceased sword(English mortuary sword), known on the continent as haudegen - haudegen(in some sources it is defined as a combat sword).

The Walloon broadsword became widespread in the countries of central and northern Europe, and probably became the main prototype for the further development of formal cavalry bladed weapons. It can easily be distinguished from other broadswords with basket hilts by several characteristic features- the guard has a wide two-piece front shield (less often one-piece), connected to the pommel by side protective arches. The rear kylon of the crosspiece is bent down to the tip and has a spherical extension at the end. The front killon passes into the front protective bow, connected to the pommel, which in almost all Walloon broadswords has a spherical shape.

Most haudegen blades have only one blade. There is no cross at all on the hilt, and the basket is clearly visible and is equipped with a protective shield. These broadswords were especially common in England in the 17th century, during the civil war. Many basket guards bear decorations reminiscent of the beheading of King Charles I. For this reason, later, the English howdegen was given the name “mortuary sword,” which is still used in international terminology.

Scottish broadsword

Apparently the most famous representative of the regional group is Scottish broadsword. It is also often, erroneously, called a claymore. Various versions of these weapons quickly spread throughout England and Ireland.

The history of the Scottish broadsword is inextricably linked with the military conflicts that took place in Scotland in the 18th century, between regular English troops and Scottish highland clans.

It was even less widespread geographically than the Scottish broadsword, as it was found only in Venice. Initially, the word gli schiavoni was used to refer to the swords with which the Doge's Guard was armed; later, all swords with a basket hilt in the Venetian style began to be called this.

Different examples of schiavona differ significantly from each other in the level of quality and complexity of decoration: some are very simple and functional, while others are decorated with excellent chasing and brass inlay.

Statutory forms of broadsword

At the end of the 17th century, all European armies began to develop statutory weapons, characteristic of each branch of the military. The broadsword becomes a specific weapon for heavy cavalry - cuirassiers and dragoons. By the beginning of the 19th century, the armies of different countries had several types of broadswords in service - guards cuirassier broadswords, army cuirassier broadswords, dragoon broadswords, etc. All of them, as a rule, are heavy single-edged blades, with a well-defined tip, designed for a powerful stabbing blow.

Similar broadswords were produced in mass quantities in all major European centers for the production of edged weapons. Appearance and the characteristics were clearly regulated by the charter, so that a huge number of copies of such weapons have survived to this day. In view of this, when many people hear the word broadsword, it is the 19th century cuirassier broadsword that floats before their eyes.

By the second half of the 19th century, in all cavalry units of most countries, the broadsword was replaced by the saber, perhaps with the exception of the Life Guards, where it has been preserved to this day.

Sword

SWORD-A; m.[from Hungarian pallos] East. A bladed weapon similar to a saber, but with a straight and wide single-edged (double-edged towards the end) blade (was in service with Russian cuirassier regiments until the end of the 19th century). Chop with a broadsword.

(from the Hungarian pallos), a chopping and piercing edged weapon with a straight and long (about 85 cm) single-edged (double-edged at the end) blade. Appeared in the 16th century. In the XVIII-XIX centuries. in service with the Russian heavy cavalry.

Broadsword (Polish Palasz, German Pallasch, Hungarian pallos, from Turkish pala - sword (cm. SWORD), dagger (cm. DAGGER)), cutting and piercing bladed weapons (cm. STEEL ARMS) with a straight and long blade. (cm. BLADE) May have double-sided (early samples), one-sided and one-and-a-half sharpening (cm. SHARPENING). Blade length - up to 85 cm.
The appearance of the broadsword dates back to the late 16th and early 17th centuries, when regular heavy cavalry units appeared in Western Europe. An indispensable part of the equipment of the heavy cavalry were metal breastplates - cuirasses (cm. CUIRASS). Only a heavy and long blade - a broadsword - could cut the cuirasses. The difference between a broadsword and a sword (cm. SWORD) consists of a weighted blade having a large width and thickness. Hilt (cm. EPHEUS (part of weapon)) a broadsword usually consists of a handle with a head and a guard (cm. GUARD (part of the hilt))(usually including a cup and protective arms).
At the end of the 16th century, the so-called Scottish broadsword appeared in Scotland and later became widespread throughout Great Britain. Characteristic feature The Scottish broadsword has a highly developed “basket with many branches” type guard. The inner surface of the basket was sometimes covered with leather, and the head could be decorated with horsehair.
The broadsword, which has become widespread in the continental countries of Western Europe, is distinguished by an asymmetrical hilt with highly developed hand protection in the form of a cross or a bowl with a whole system of arches. The Western European broadsword developed from the heavy cavalry saddle sword. The first examples of the broadsword were called the Walloon sword.
In the 17th century, there was a gradual unification of broadswords in the cavalry of European armies. Uniform types of weapons were adopted, first for individual regiments, and then for each type of cavalry. First of all, cuirassiers were armed with broadswords (cm. Cuirassiers) and dragoons (cm. DRAGUNS) shelves.
The double-edged form of the blade was preserved in almost all armies until the mid-18th century, then it began to be replaced by a blade with a single blade and a blunt spine. At the beginning of the 19th century, the blades of broadswords everywhere became single-edged, remaining quite powerful and wide.
Broadswords were also common in eastern countries, primarily in the Caucasus. All eastern broadswords usually have a symmetrical hilt with weak hand protection: often it is only a crossguard with a crosshair. The most famous are Khevsur broadswords, decorated in the traditional Caucasian style.
Russian broadsword
In Russia, the handles of early broadswords were inclined, most convenient for cutting from a horse; the crosspieces were either straight or with the ends lowered to the blades. Broadsword of Prince M.V. Skopin-Shuisky (cm. SKOPIN-SHUISKY Mikhail Vasilievich) refers to the earliest surviving Russian broadswords. Its blade is straight, double-edged, smooth. The handle is inclined, the cross with the ends lowered to the blades has a crosshair. The frame of the handle is silver, gilded, chased, decorated with large turquoise; a dark garnet is inserted into the knob. Sheath (cm. SHEATH) covered with scarlet velvet, the mouth of the tip and four holders are silver, chased, decorated, as well as the frame of the handle, with turquoise. The scabbard has two silver belt rings located on one side. Oriental style frame. Total length 99 cm, blade length 86 cm, blade width at the heel 4.3 cm.
As a mass model of weapons manufactured in a factory, the broadsword established itself in Russia under Peter I (cm. PETER I the Great), when creating dragoon regiments in the first quarter of the 18th century. Broadswords were made not only in Russia, but also imported from abroad, mainly from the German city of Solingen (cm. SOLINGEN). Since the 1730s, broadswords have become the weapon of cuirassier regiments. Dragoons were armed with broadswords until 1817; for some time they were armed with horse artillery (cm. ARTILLERY) .
By the middle of the 18th century, the Russian broadsword gradually became single-edged with a butt. Under Catherine the Great (cm. CATHERINE II) the broadswords are engraved with the monogram “E II” (Catherine II) under the crown. The scabbards of Russian broadswords of that time were leather or wooden, covered with leather. The metal device was simple (mouth, nuts with rings for a sword belt, tip) or, being slotted, covered almost the entire surface of the sheath. Since 1810, the sheath of the broadsword became only metal, with the exception of the leather sheath of the naval broadsword of the 1856 model.
In the 18th century, the Russian army distinguished between army and guards, soldiers and officers, cuirassiers, dragoons and carabinieri broadswords; What they had in common was a wide, long and heavy blade, but they differed in the shape of the hilt and sheath. The handle was covered with various combinations of curved arches, grilles, guards, and at its base there was a cup, flat or curved, sometimes made of two oval plates. The heads on the handle were round, flattened, or in the form of an eagle or lion's head. The scabbard was covered with leather, mounted in wide metal holders or bound with metal with figured slots and a comb at the end. In the 19th century, hilts were simplified and unified, and metal sheaths became simpler.
By the beginning of the 19th century, the Russian army had several types of broadswords in service: guards cuirassier broadswords, army cuirassier broadswords, dragoon broadswords, with the exception of dragoons in the Caucasus, which were armed with sabers (cm. SABER (melee weapon)). Horse artillery also had special horse artillery broadswords.
The blades of Russian broadswords from the first decade of the 19th century were only single-edged. In the first third of the 19th century, various types of broadswords were unified: the dragoon model 1806, the cuirassier model 1810 and the cuirassier model 1826 that replaced it. Broadswords were in service with cuirassiers until they were reorganized into dragoons in 1882, after which broadswords remained only in some military units as ceremonial weapons.
Naval broadsword
The naval broadsword is a type of cavalry broadsword; it is distinguished by a somewhat curved, but more often straight blade and the presence of oblique ribs on both sides at the combat end, which are a continuation of the butt and reach the tip.
The naval broadsword has been used since the 16th century as a boarding weapon. (cm. BOARDING) weapons. In Russia, naval broadswords were introduced into the navy under Peter I. Russian naval broadswords of the 19th century differ from cavalry ones in their smaller size, the shape of the blades and hilts. A large number of naval broadswords were made in Zlatoust (cm. ZLATOUST) in 1852-1856 and later.
The sailors of the guards naval crew carried naval broadswords until 1905, when they were replaced by cutlasses. As part of a naval uniform, the broadsword was worn by midshipmen until 1917 (cm. MIDSHIPMAN) Naval Corps, Naval Engineering School named after Nicholas I and individual midshipmen classes. In the USSR Navy, the wearing of broadswords by cadets of higher naval schools was introduced on January 1, 1940. Since 1958, the naval broadsword became a ceremonial weapon only for assistants at the banner.

encyclopedic Dictionary. 2009 .

See what “broadsword” is in other dictionaries:

- (Polish). Modification of an ancient sword. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910. BROADSWORD German. Pallasch. Wide saber. Explanation of 25,000 foreign words that have come into use in the Russian language, with their meaning... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

A type of piercing chopping bladed weapon with a straight blade, used in boarding battles. In the pre-revolutionary period, it was worn on a waist belt by midshipmen of the Naval Corps, in individual midshipman classes and in the Naval Engineering School. From 1... ...Marine Dictionary

Sword- cutting piercing edged weapon, consisting of a straight long (about 85 cm) single-edged (double-edged at the end) blade and a hilt with a safety guard or cup. The broadsword appeared in Russia in the 16th century, in the 18th–19th centuries. and consisted of... Military encyclopedia

- (from Hungarian pallos) chopping and piercing edged weapon with a straight and long (approx. 85 cm) single-edged (double-edged at the end) blade. Appeared in the 16th century. In the 18th and 19th centuries. in service with the Russian heavy cavalry... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Broadsword, broadsword, husband. (from Hungarian pallos). A straight and long heavy saber with a wide blade, double-edged at the end. Dictionary Ushakova. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

Broadsword, ah, husband. A cutting and piercing hand weapon with a long straight blade. | adj. broadsword, oh, oh. Ozhegov's explanatory dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 … Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

Husband. the sword of our times, in heavy cavalry; a straight and wide saber, double-edged at the end. Broadsword master. Above the entrance of the armory there is a broadsword sun, made from broadswords. Broadsword soldier, heavy cavalry warrior: | broadsword master. Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary. IN AND. Dahl. 1863 1866 … Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

Noun, number of synonyms: 3 bebut (2) sword (26) weapon (114) ASIS Dictionary of Synonyms. V.N. Trishin... Synonym dictionary

The broadsword appears in Europe at the end of the 16th - first half of the 17th century and, in fact, replaces the sword. It is also piercing and chopping, long (up to 90 cm, or even more) and wide (about 4 cm), with a double-edged blade, but, starting from the 18th century, one-and-a-half or even one-sided sharpening is more typical.

The poet George Byron noted that he fenced “pretty well” with a Scottish broadsword

The cross-section of the blade is lenticular or rhombic, but unlike the same sword, most often without fullers. One of distinctive features weapons can be considered a hilt. It consisted of a handle with a pommel and a powerful guard, usually including a bowl and protective bows. True, more unusual options are also known.

Broadsword of Prince M.V. Skopin-Shuisky

For example, the State Historical Museum in Moscow houses one of the first Russian broadswords belonging to Prince M.V. Skopin-Shuisky. It has a non-standard handle for this type of weapon, more like the handle of a light saber - with a bend that forms a kind of rest for the hand, and a cross instead of a guard.

One of the first Russian broadswords belonged to Prince M. V. Skopin-Shuisky

It, like the scabbard, was made in Persia (although the blade itself is in Europe) and is richly decorated with turquoise, silver and azure. Skopin-Shuisky received this beautiful and expensive weapon as a gift for his victory over False Dmitry II in 1610. A month later, the prince died: it is believed that he was poisoned on the orders of Vasily Shuisky, who did not like the growing authority of his distant relative.

Scottish broadsword

Whether this is true or not is not known for certain, but with a high degree of probability it can be assumed that this broadsword hardly had time to take part in the battle. The combination of a long straight blade (the length of the blade of Skopin-Shuisky’s broadsword was 86 cm) with an apparently “saber” handle seems exotic, even though the broadsword as a weapon, in principle, combines the qualities of an sword and a saber. Unlike Skopin-Shuisky's weapon, the hilt of the classic broadsword completely protected the fencer's hand. The most striking example of such a weapon is the same Scottish broadsword that the aforementioned Lord Byron used to fence.

Scottish broadsword hilt

The name of this weapon is often translated from English as “basket sword” or “mountain sword” (taking into account the fact that both the sword and the sword are English language denoted by one word - sword). Both names, it should be noted, are quite fair, because one way or another they speak about some features of the weapon. The Scottish broadsword is truly distinguished by its basket-shaped guard.

It is more round in comparison with some European analogues, and its arches almost completely cover the hand. Moreover, for greater convenience and protection of the hand, apparently not only from external damage, but also from rubbing the hand during battle, a red fabric pad was placed inside the handle.

Scottish Highlanders used broadswords in the War of Independence

Therefore, the Scottish broadsword with a red hilt is difficult to confuse with any other similar weapon in Europe. At the beginning of the 18th century, this weapon was one of the main ones in the struggle of the Scottish highlanders for independence, and from the middle of the century it was in service with highlander detachments as part of the British army. It is interesting that by the end of the same century it gradually acquired the status of a ceremonial dress, being one of the main parts of the costume of a Scottish warrior.

Russian broadswords

In Russia, the broadsword entered service en masse under Peter I thanks to the unification carried out in the army. For example, at the beginning of the century, dragoons also used sabers, but after 1711 broadswords completely replaced them. By the way, in addition to own production Foreign blades, in particular German ones, were also honored.

In Russia, the broadsword entered service en masse under Peter I

By the middle of the 18th century, the dragoons had their own broadswords, and the cuirassiers had theirs. In both of them, the wide and long blade remains practically unchanged - the differences appear mainly in the shape of the scabbard or hilt, which could be baroquely decorated with various ornate bows, sometimes even zoomorphic (for example, with the head of an eagle). At the end of the 19th century, the use of heavy cavalry faded away, and the broadsword was replaced by the saber. However, like Scottish broadswords, Russian broadswords later became part of the officer’s ceremonial costume.