The Zweihänder (German pronunciation: [t͡svaɪhɛndɐ](listen), literally 'two-hander'), also Doppelhänder ('double-hander'), Beidhänder ('both-hander'),[1]Bihänder or Bidenhänder, is a large two-handed sword primarily in use during the 16th century.
These swords represent the final stage in the trend of increasing size that started in the 14th century. In its developed form, the Zweihänder acquired the characteristics of a polearm rather than a sword due to their large size and weight and therefore increased range and striking power. Consequently, it was not carried in a sheath but across the shoulder like a halberd.
Due to their size and weight—typically at least 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) long and with a mass/weight of over 2 kg (4.4 lb)—Zweihänders require two hands, as the name implies; as such they require at least 25 cm (9.8 in) for the grip.[2] Zweihänders above 4 kg (8.8 lb) were confined to ceremonial use.[citation needed]
Early Zweihänders were simply larger versions of longswords. Later examples had Parierhaken ("parrying hooks") at the top of the ricasso as well as side rings on the hilt. Swords continued to be made without one or both features.[2] Some Zweihänders had wavy blades and were called Flammenschwert.
ApplicationEdit
1548 depiction of a Zweihänder used against pikes in the Battle of Kappel
The weapon is mostly associated with either Swiss or German mercenaries known as Landsknechte, and their wielders were known as Doppelsöldner. However, the Swiss outlawed their use, while the Landsknechte kept using them until much later.[3] The Black Band of German mercenaries (active during the 1510s and 1520s) included 2,000 two-handed swordsmen in a total strength of 17,000 men. Zweihänder-wielders fought with and against pike formations. Soldiers trained in the use of the sword were granted the title of Meister des langen Schwertes (lit. Master of the Long Sword) by the Mark Brotherhood.
Frisian hero Pier Gerlofs Donia is reputed to have wielded a Zweihänder with such skill, strength and efficiency that he managed to behead several people with it in a single blow. The Zweihänder ascribed to him is, as of 2008, on display in the Fries Museum. It has a length of 213 cm (84 in) and a mass/weight of about 6.6 kg (15 lb).[4]
Some modern historical European martial arts groups, specifically ones focusing on the German longsword styles, use some Zweihänders with less pronounced Parierhaken for training and tournament purposes. These less pronounced parrying hooks are sometimes colloquially referred to as "Schilden," or literally "shields" in German, as they are used to catch incoming opposing blades. These Schilden often also act as ricassos by smoothing out, and thickening, after the blade-catchers have been passed. These are specifically the Zweihänders called feders, or federn in German, and are historically training weapons; there is no concrete evidence suggesting wooden longswords were ever actually used, even for training purposes. Even today, most modern training weapons are metal, as wood does not have as much give under blade pressure as real steel, although some synthetic plastic weapons are used for cost-efficiency. Additionally, some modern adjustments to certain weapons extend the crossguards of the blades; this is in part because certain HEMA schools follow manuscripts pertaining to Kreutz attacks – i.e., attacks performed with one's crossguard, specifically, and some persons also choose to use their Zweihänders as rapiers, so a basket hilt may be designed atop this extension.
^Oakeshott, Ewart (November 2000). European Weapons and Armour: From the Renaissance to the Industrial Revolution. Boydell Press. p. 148. ISBN9781843837206.
^ abMelville, Neil H. T. (January 2000). "The Origins of the Two-Handed Sword". Journal of Western Martial Art.
^Clements, J. "The Weighty Issue of Two-Handed Greatswords". ARMA. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
^"Greate Pier fan Wûnseradiel" (in Western Frisian). Gemeente Wûnseradiel. Retrieved 4 January 2008.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zweihänder.
Essay by Anthony Shore (Journal of Western Martial Art)
The Weighty Issue of Two-Handed Greatswords, by John Clements
August 27, 2023
zweihänder, this, article, about, sword, role, playing, game, role, playing, game, german, pronunciation, svaɪhɛndɐ, listen, literally, hander, also, doppelhänder, double, hander, beidhänder, both, hander, bihänder, bidenhänder, large, handed, sword, primarily. This article is about the sword For the role playing game see Zweihander role playing game The Zweihander German pronunciation t svaɪhɛndɐ listen literally two hander also Doppelhander double hander Beidhander both hander 1 Bihander or Bidenhander is a large two handed sword primarily in use during the 16th century ZweihanderZweihanders with and without ParierhakenTypeTwo handed swordService historyIn servicec 1500 1600Production historyProduced 1500 presentSpecificationsMass2 4 kilograms 4 4 8 8 pounds Lengthup to 213 centimetres 84 inches Blade typeDouble edged straight bladedHilt typeTwo handed cruciform with pommelZweihander swords developed from the longswords of the Late Middle Ages and became the hallmark weapon of the German Landsknechte from the time of Maximilian I d 1519 and during the Italian Wars of 1494 1559 The Goliath Fechtbuch 1510 shows an intermediate form between longsword and Zweihander These swords represent the final stage in the trend of increasing size that started in the 14th century In its developed form the Zweihander acquired the characteristics of a polearm rather than a sword due to their large size and weight and therefore increased range and striking power Consequently it was not carried in a sheath but across the shoulder like a halberd Contents 1 Morphology 2 Application 3 Modernity 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksMorphology EditDue to their size and weight typically at least 1 4 m 4 ft 7 in long and with a mass weight of over 2 kg 4 4 lb Zweihanders require two hands as the name implies as such they require at least 25 cm 9 8 in for the grip 2 Zweihanders above 4 kg 8 8 lb were confined to ceremonial use citation needed Early Zweihanders were simply larger versions of longswords Later examples had Parierhaken parrying hooks at the top of the ricasso as well as side rings on the hilt Swords continued to be made without one or both features 2 Some Zweihanders had wavy blades and were called Flammenschwert Application Edit 1548 depiction of a Zweihander used against pikes in the Battle of KappelThe weapon is mostly associated with either Swiss or German mercenaries known as Landsknechte and their wielders were known as Doppelsoldner However the Swiss outlawed their use while the Landsknechte kept using them until much later 3 The Black Band of German mercenaries active during the 1510s and 1520s included 2 000 two handed swordsmen in a total strength of 17 000 men Zweihander wielders fought with and against pike formations Soldiers trained in the use of the sword were granted the title of Meister des langen Schwertes lit Master of the Long Sword by the Mark Brotherhood Frisian hero Pier Gerlofs Donia is reputed to have wielded a Zweihander with such skill strength and efficiency that he managed to behead several people with it in a single blow The Zweihander ascribed to him is as of 2008 on display in the Fries Museum It has a length of 213 cm 84 in and a mass weight of about 6 6 kg 15 lb 4 Modernity EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed December 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Some modern historical European martial arts groups specifically ones focusing on the German longsword styles use some Zweihanders with less pronounced Parierhaken for training and tournament purposes These less pronounced parrying hooks are sometimes colloquially referred to as Schilden or literally shields in German as they are used to catch incoming opposing blades These Schilden often also act as ricassos by smoothing out and thickening after the blade catchers have been passed These are specifically the Zweihanders called feders or federn in German and are historically training weapons there is no concrete evidence suggesting wooden longswords were ever actually used even for training purposes Even today most modern training weapons are metal as wood does not have as much give under blade pressure as real steel although some synthetic plastic weapons are used for cost efficiency Additionally some modern adjustments to certain weapons extend the crossguards of the blades this is in part because certain HEMA schools follow manuscripts pertaining to Kreutz attacks i e attacks performed with one s crossguard specifically and some persons also choose to use their Zweihanders as rapiers so a basket hilt may be designed atop this extension See also EditClaymore Great sword ŌdachiReferences Edit Oakeshott Ewart November 2000 European Weapons and Armour From the Renaissance to the Industrial Revolution Boydell Press p 148 ISBN 9781843837206 a b Melville Neil H T January 2000 The Origins of the Two Handed Sword Journal of Western Martial Art Clements J The Weighty Issue of Two Handed Greatswords ARMA Retrieved 11 May 2012 Greate Pier fan Wunseradiel in Western Frisian Gemeente Wunseradiel Retrieved 4 January 2008 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zweihander Essay by Anthony Shore Journal of Western Martial Art The Weighty Issue of Two Handed Greatswords by John Clements Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zweihander amp oldid 1168470207, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
