Hello everyone!
I`m new on this great forum which I`ve been reading for few weeks.
Welly I`m very interested in early medieval swords( V.-X. century) of slavic people.

Every time when history books tell us about Slavs, they say that they had swords, spears, shields,etc. But I think that swords in, for example in VII. century, were expensive for slavic warriors. I think that they were using long war knives or scramasaex . Well, there are some archaelogican foundations that proove that opinion, but there is little space in history for slavic blades in early medieval age,:\

In this topic, I`m interested in specific sax style blades long for 30, 40, 50 and 70 cm.
Some descriptions says it has one sharp blade with line for blood. It is straight blade but there can also be slightly curved. They were not sabre-like curved but opposite, like falx, curved from inner side of the blade.
I hope you understood me thru my not-so-good-english. :)

So if anyone knows anything about that theme, please tell me or show me where can I find something about it. :)

Something like this---->

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Most of the Croatian swords from early medieval times found in warrior graves look very similar to viking swords of the time, even the hilt and pommel styles, and there are also much axe, spear and arrow heads. Croats were nomadic people before they came to where they are now so they mostly fought mounted and because of that the most popular weapon would be a spear, bow, and for those who could afford it, sword. Axes were probably most popular for fighting on foot or maybe even for throwing.

Yes, you are right about Frank sword of H type, but there are only 8 swords like that in old Croatian graves. What is more found it is sax and lond knives. That is troubling me because so many long knives and so few of one-hand double edged swords. If they were fighting mounted than there would be more long swords of Viking and Franks type.

These swords which belong to Croatian nobles are only three of eight found on Croatian territory.

Thank you for comment!
;)

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Hi Duji......... I recently recieved an excellent book on swords of eastern Europe. Its by a guy in Poland but it covers mostf eastern European countries.
I have it on another post here..... http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=10798
It is very well illustrated too.........hope this helps.
Cheers !

Mervs rite

Slavic/Rus swords are of western European type. Depending on the area of Russia you are speaking about. Most or all Rus graves have 2 edged Norse/Frankish blades and fittings.
But the nomadic peoples which inhabited these areas preferred sabers and palashes.

If your thinking of having a sword made the Norse type H has a very wide distribution area, including Russia. These are prominent in the Baltic region.

N

Hi

One of the reasons your not finding many swords of European style is that during this period, Croatia, Bulgaria etc was under Bulgar rule. They are a nomadic peoples who settled in this area around the 7-8thc?
You will find that most Kurgans are not very rich in armour or weapons.
The Bulgars like other nomadic peoples preferred sabres, palashes ect. They were also under enourmous Byzantine influence ie either allied or being butchered by them.

N

Bulgar sabres

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Yes, but Bulgars are tribe amalgam of Slavic and pre-balkans so their culture is not similiar to Croatian. They are more combined with Serbian culture in V.-IX.. century period. Croatians travelled (as nomadic poeple) thru Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Chech Republic, Hungary and come to territory where they live today. Influence of northen people is big so they accept swords and sword styles from Franks, Vikings of Baltic and from Germans.
Croatian soldiers from that period did not use sabers. They`re using straight swords, like in picture shown two posts before, not sabers.

And, correction of my previously posting: I`m interested in specific sax style blades long for 40, 50 and 70 cm.
Some descriptions says it has one sharp blade with curved line for blood. It is straight blade but there can be slightly curvet but from inner side of blade. They wer not sabre curved but opposite, like falx.
I hope you understood me thru my not-so-good-english. :)

And Merv, thank you for link! It is great!

There are several early Slav era swords from all over ex-Yugoslavia in Army museum on Kalemegdan in Belgrade, Serbia, both single and two - edged, and some are very well preserved.



There are some saxes from Slovenian region, but I don't have any good pictures of them. They're kept in National Musem in Ljubljana and in a museum in Kranj.


And a find in Austria, near Slovenian border:

[ Linked Image ]

The sword and the spur found in the Carantanian grave, pertaining very probable to a Carantanian noble.

In the tumulus a third inhumation was discovered: the skeleton of a man, 1,80 m tall, from the period of ca. 700 AD, i.e., from the Carantanian period. A military brass belt was found beside him. It depicts a grapes motif. Belts of such forms were ascribed to the Avars, because they were frequently found in their graves. Nevertheless, the same archaeologist explains further, that these belts were not produced by the same Avars, but that they were rather made in Byzantine workshops. It is very probable, that the brass belt pertained to a Carantanian warrior. The grapes motif is a reminder of Christian symbols, which had its origin in Aquileia. There, a bone salt container, which pertained to such a belt, was also found.


Further on, a single-edged sword (langsax) of extravagant workmanship was deposited in the Carantanian's grave. The sword bears a damask decoration. Its back and blade were laboured separately. This Carantanian had the rank of a horseman, which is confirmed by a spur. Says Dr. Gleirscher (cf. Öster. Journal from August 14, 2003): In the Avarian graves, spurs were never found, but only in those of the Frankish-Bavarian nobility. Nevertheless, in this case the spur was found in a Carantanian grave from a period, in which Carantania was not connected with the Franks and Bavarians.


Here's a more detailed page of excavation:

http://www.klopein.at/keltenmuseum/page4.html

[ Linked Image ]

Thank you man for this great post! It helped me a lot, it is what I`m searching for! :) ;)

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