Showing posts with label famous. Show all posts
Showing posts with label famous. Show all posts

Monday, January 9, 2017

Top famous Swords in History vs Modern Extreme Edge Hybrid Swords

























Updated 11/05/2020

There are several Tactical Katana available these days. The main issue though is not the design, but availability and proof that they actually can deliver the promise of a modern, almost indestructible blade.

The Hanwei Forge made one of the best ones and it was incredibly popular. But it was only available for a short period of time and then mysteriously discontinued..

SBG Tactical Modern Katana Review

Hot on its heels came a cheaper version that is almost a carbon copy made by United Cutlery under their 'Honshu' sub brand. But in the event of a zombie apocalypse, it would not be the sword I would reach for first - when a Tactical Katana SHOULD be the kind of thing you would reach for in the case of a zombie outbreak.

The basic design of this sword can be summed up with a single word: sturdy.

before


And after profiling and heat treat, looks like this


Unlike the other so called Tactical Katana on the market, there is a minimum of moving parts - no habaki or tsuba that can be jarred loose - it is as solid a construction as is possible - with 100% full tang construction. acording to

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Of all side arms, the sword was undoubtedly the most cherished and honored tool of death. For millennia, the phrase "To die in battle by the sword" was the preferred way of concluding the worldly reckoning for generations of warriors from all over the world because it is considered by far the most honorable and desirable death.

Throughout history, legendary characters, generals and perfect warriors, conquerors of empires and military leaders, all used swords many with their own name and a personality like the one who wielded the battlefield.

Modern Ninja Extreme Edge Hybrid Sword swordsaxe.com

There is a whole section of history specializing in mapping and searching these noble weapons.So we know, some of the most respected, feared and not all sought during the past swords.


Look them with respect and fear, are matchless weapons that have curtailed some of them, thousands of lives, and true rivers of blood.


Let's start with the sword of General Tomoyuki Yamashita

Tomoyuki Yamashita was not a samurai as you might have expected, but one of the most feared generals of the Japanese Imperial Japanese Army during the Second World War. It became really feared during this bloody world wars when he won the British colonies in Malaysia and Singapore, and thus deserving of the title "Tiger of Malaya".


Photo of Yamashita Tomoyuki, Lieutenant-General, Commander of the Japanese 25th Army photo: wikipedia
At the end of the war, General Yamashita was judged for war crimes in connection with the so-called "Massacre of Manila" and other atrocities that took place in the Philippines and Singapore. It was a highly controversial process, which culminated in the conviction of General Tomoyuki Yamashita to death. His case has fundamentally changed American law on the responsibility of military commanders on war crimes, adopting the law known as such term Yamashita Standard.

During his military career, General Yamashita had a personal sword whose blade was forged by the famous master blacksmith, specializing in producing high quality Katane,  the sword being forged between 1640-1689. The sword had changed somewhere handle the early twentieth century. 


photo: A History Of War

General and surrendered his sword, along with his troops, on September 2, 1945. The gun was taken over by US General MacArthur, and subsequently filed Museum Military Academy at West Point, where he remained until today. The sword is just one of the many similar pieces seized by Americans in Japan after the war.




Gen. Jose de San Martin

Jose de San Martin was a famous Argentinian soldier career, who lived from 1778 to 1850. For South American nations, it is today honored as a great hero because he was the most important leader of the South American continent.

One of the most precious treasures of revolutionary general, consist of a cavalry sword with curved blade which he bought in London. The general was attracted mainly by the blade  that greatly enhance the manageability and efficiency of the sword on the battlefield. For this reason, he ordered that cavalry swords to be similar, extremely important in a attack. The sword remained in the possession of General throughout his life.



In his will, General San Martin was referring to the sword as "The sword accompany me along the tumultuous War of Independence of South America". In 1896, the sword was sent to the National History Museum in Buenos Aires, where it can be admired today. In 1960, the sword was stolen twice, which is why museum officials kept in a specially constructed box.



The 7 sword blades


Paek-je dynasty once ruled a small kingdom of the same name, year somewhere southwest of South Korea today. At the height of its power, ie the 4th century AD, the kingdom Paek-je control their own colonies in western China and ruled the Korean Peninsula. Paek-je was one of the three major Korean medieval kingdoms, Koguryo and Silla together. In 372, King of Paek-je Geunchogo paid tribute to Nippon Jin Dynasty, and it is believed that they ordered the building of a 7-blade sword as a token of consideration to the Korean king. The sword has a main blade with a length of 74, 9, to which they are attached other blades. The sword was created with purely ceremonial, not at all practical in a real fight.


This replica of the Chiljido is held at the War Memorial in Seoul, South Korea. The sword is important to both the history of Korea and Japan photo: wikipedia

In 1870, a Shinto priest discovered two inscriptions on the sword blade 7.

One of inscription said: "At noon the sixteenth day of the eighth month of the era Taiwa, this sword was forged from hard steel a hundred times. The sword can kill a hundred enemy soldiers. With honor for the king.

The sword is kept today Isonokami from Japan.



William Wallace Sword


William Wallace was perhaps the most famous historical figure in Scotland. Originally it was a Scotsman noble knight  who lived from 1272 to 1305. It is famous for organizing military resistance to the English kingdom  during the war of Scottish Independence in 13-14 centuries. Throughout the period of his life, Wallace was appointed guardian and protector of Scotland . 

He led numerous bodies of infantry were employed successfully in wrestling with horsemen British troops. The most prized weapon of these warriors was obviously bigger sized sword. In 1305, the hero William Wallace was captured on the orders of King Edward I of England, charged with treason and suffered a horrible death. Today, William Wallace is the most important Scottish hero and patriot. His sword is among the most famous and popular in the world.


The Wallace Sword. photo: wikipedia

Today can be seen inside the National Monument in Stirling, Scotland. Only the sword sheath has a length of 134 centimeters and weighs about 3 kilograms. It is believed that Wallace sword was used in the battles of Stirling Bridge (1297) and Flakirk (1298). Sword handle ends in an iron counterweight form an onion.

After the execution of William Wallace, Sir John de Menteith, governor of Dumbarton Castle, was the one who received the sword. In 1505, King James IV of Scotland has paid the sum of 26 shillings for the sword to be wrapped in expensive silks. It is said that the sword has gone through many changes since the English have not reconciled at all with that sword scabbard and belt ( made of peeled skin of Hugh Cressingham )




Tizona

Cid was the most important Spanish folk hero. It was a real historical figure who was apparently born in the year 1040, near Vivar, a small town near Burgos, capital of the kingdom of Castile. Throughout his life, El Cid had numerous military and diplomatic successes. He was appointed supreme leader of the army by King Alfonso IV, is undoubtedly the ace in the sleeve of the king in his military campaigns against the Moors. It was a skilled military strategist and also a feared swordsman.


photo: abc.es

He used many swords during his life, but the most popular weapons were "baptized" Colada and Tizona. Tizona was Cid's sword favorite in its confrontation with the Moors. The weapon is considered to this day one of the most important historical artefacts held in the Spanish patrimony.


photo: abc.es

Tizona was forged in Cordoba, a Damascus steel with special purity. It has a length of 103 cm and weighs 1.1 kg. It is adorned with two inscriptions, one that refers to the date on which it was made somewhere in 1002 and the other Catholic prayer Ave Maria. Tizona can be admired in the Museo de Burgos, the town of the same name.


Napoleon Bonaparte sword

In 1799,  Napoleon Bonaparte grown into military and political leader "de facto" of France, following a coup. Five years later, the French Senate porclama him king. 



Such a complex and fascinating personality had his favorite sword. Napoleon Bonaparte on the battlefields always carried a pistol and a sword. He was an enthusiast of weapons, his private collection comprising great viarietare weapons, from daggers to artillery. His weapons were pieces of high quality, made from the best materials of the time.


The Sword of Mercy

This tool of Death with bizarre names, is a famous sword that belonged to Edward the Confessor, one of the last kings of Anglo-Saxon England before the Norman Conquest of 1066. King Edward the Confessor reigned between 1042-1066, immediately after his death  Normans arrived here led by William the Conqueror.


The left panel of the Wilton Diptych, where Edward (centre), with Edmund the Martyr (left) and John the Baptist, are depicted presenting Richard II to the heavenly host. photo: wikipedia

Mercy has broken sword blade, in 1236 was named Curtana weapon and was used only during ceremonies at court. In ancient times, it was a privilege for any king to come to wield. The story linked to the sword breaking episode is unknown, but according to myths, medieval sword tip was broken by an angel who wanted to prevent such a crime.




Sword of Mercy is today part of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom, and is one of the five swords used in coronation ceremonies of kings of British. The weapon is among the few who escaped the wrath of Oliver Cromwell, famous for his orders to melt all ancient artifacts, looking for any shred of gold and other precious metals.



Zulfiqar The Sword of Ali 

It is the oldest and most treasured sword of Islam. Historically, he belonged to Ali, cousin and bridegroom of the Prophet Muhammad. Ali led the first Islamic Caliphate, between 656-661. Based on historical evidence, Muhammad himself  handed the Zulfiqar to Ali at the end of the battle of Uhud.

Zulfiqar is a symbol of Islam, being admired today by millions of believers.
Zulfiqar (split-bladed sword), a representation of the sword of Ali, Mughal period India. photo: wikipedia


Technically, Zulfiqar is a Scimitar, a typical sword from southwest Asia, this kind of long curved sword blade was very common in the region during the Middle Ages.

It seems that Ali used the Zulfiqar on siege of Mecca. There are few images of the sword, some of them presenting it with a forked blade and two peaks, while others feature in a classical form of Scimitar. According to the 12 Shiite imams, the weapon is now in the possession of Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi. Holy sword of Islam is part of the famous collection Al-Jafr.



Honjo Masamune

Smith Masamune is considered among the best makers of swords in Japan, which immediately turns it into one of the greatest masters of this kind that have ever lived in this world It is not known precisely the historical period in which he lived, but is believed to have worked as a blacksmith imperial sometime between 1288-1328.Weapons created by Masamune have acquired a legendary status over the centuries. In particular type swords katana and wakizashi have emerged from the hands of the master Masamune unrivaled reputation based on the quality and style of these tools of Death. The master sign forged swords rare, so it is very difficult to date and identified weapons that had belonged.


Masamune Portrait photo: wikipedia

The most famous of his sword was called the Honjo Masamune, the Sword  is extremely important for Japan because this object has attained perfection (Represented the Shogunate during the Edo) The sword was handed from shogun to shogun for generations. In 1939, it was declared national treasure of Japan, but remained in the castle  Kii of Tokugawa family. The last owner of Katana Masamune was Tokugawa Hionjo Iemasa.



Hionjo handed it along with 14 other swords of great value to the Mejiro police station somewhere in December of 1945. Shortly thereafter, in January of the following year , the police from Mejiro  handed sword to Coldy Bimore (American sergeant). Honjo Masamune sword then disappeared without a trace, and the location is currently unknown. Honjo Masamune is one of the most important and most precious historical artifacts that disappeared at the end of the Second World War.


Joyeuse

Charlemagne or Charles the Great, was probably the most important French king in history. It was born in 742, is considered one of the most admired military leaders on the Old Continent. He became king of the Franks in 782 and in 800 became king over what was left of the western Roman Empire. During the Holy Roman Empire, it was known under the name of Charles I, being in fact the founder of this empire. During his reign, he has managed unprecedented extension of Frankish kingdom, transforming it into a true empire that encompassed much of central and western Europe. Charlemagne is regarded as the founder of the French and German monarchies and father occientale Europe.


Charles the Great, King of the Franks photo: arthermitage.org 

His personal sword called Joyeuse, is seen as a true object of worship among the majority of medieval chivalric orders. Today there are two swords who claims to be famous Joyeuse. One is kept at Weltliche Schatzkammer in Vienna and the other is the Louvre Museum. Louvre blade of the sword seems to be made part of the original blade of the sword of Charlemagne. This sword forged in separate parts assembled in different centuries. The handle of the sword indicates a production date yet coinciding with the period during which Charlemagne reigned.

Joyeuse has appeared in numerous legends and historical documents. Bulfinch Chronicle claims that the supreme monarch of the Franks would be used Joyeuse to decapitate the Saracen commander Corsuble just like his good friend, Ogier Dane.



After the death of Charlemagne, the sword would have been preserved in the Basilica of Saint Denis, then was taken to the Louvre, where it was used in the coronation ceremonies of French kings.


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Thursday, December 8, 2016

Top 8: Famous Vikings you should know about


Ivarr the Boneless

Ivarr spans the gap between history and legend. He was a famous warrior and one of the leaders of the ‘Great Heathen Army’ that landed in East England in 865, and that went on to conquer the kingdoms of Northumbria and East Anglia. Ivarr also went on to lead a raid on Dumbarton on the Clyde, and in Ireland.


Ivarr the Boneless photo: smithsonianmag.com

Later saga tradition makes Ivarr one of the sons of Ragnar Hairy-breeches. According to this account, Ivarr and his brothers invaded Northumbria to take a bloody revenge on its king, Ælle, for the killing of their father.



Ivar the Boneless 

Although the Great Army continued to campaign in England, Ivarr is not mentioned in English sources after 870 and probably spent the remainder of his career around the Irish Sea. His death is recorded in Irish annals in 873. 



IVAR THE BONELESS: Myths Legends & History by KIV Books

He was remembered as the founding father of the royal dynasty of the Viking kingdom of Dublin, and his descendants at various points also ruled in other parts of Ireland, Northumbria and the Isle of Man.


Great Viking Army in England, 865-878 CE Map (Illustration) - Ancient History Encyclopedia

The reason for Ivarr’s curious nickname is unknown. One suggestion is simply that he was particularly flexible, giving the illusion of bonelessness, while others have preferred to see it as a metaphor for impotence. Another interpretation is that Ivarr suffered from brittle bone disease’, which seems less plausible given his reputation as a warrior. 


Illuminated manuscript from the ‘Life of Edmund’, unknown artist, c1130, depicting AD 865 when Ivarr Ragnarsson (nicknamed ‘the Boneless’) with his brothers invaded Northumbria. (Photo Researchers/Alamy Stock Photo)

However, the nickname beinlausi could also be translated as ‘legless’, which might indicate lameness, the loss of a leg in battle, or simple drunkenness.




Aud the Deep-minded

Aud the Deep-Minded (alternatively known as the Deep-Wealthy) was the daughter of Ketil Flatnose, a Norwegian chieftain. For much of her life Aud is best known in the traditional female roles of wife and mother. 

She married Olaf the White, king of Dublin in the mid-ninth century, and following his death moved to Scotland with her son, which became a great warrior and established himself as king Thorstein the Red of a large part of northern and western Scotland, before being killed in battle.

Remix of "Erik the Red" ThingLink

KIERAN O'REILLY as 'White Hair' on VIKINGS taken by Alex Høgh Pinterest

It was at this point, late in life, that Aud decided to uproot herself and make a new life in Iceland, taking her grandchildren with her. She saw little chance of maintaining or recovering her importance in Scotland, but the settlement of Iceland in the 870s offered new opportunities. 


Aud the Deep-Minded

Aud had a ship built and sailed first to Orkney, where she married off one of her granddaughters, and then on to Iceland, where she laid claim to a large area in the west. Aud was accompanied by friends and family, as well as Scottish and Irish slaves. She gave this last group their freedom, granting each man a small piece of land within her larger claim, there by encouraging loyalty from their descendants to hers.


Ten Legendary Female Viking Warriors - Ancient History Encyclopedia

Aud was remembered as one of the great founding settlers of Iceland. Her large number of grandchildren meant that many of the greatest families in medieval Iceland looked back to her as an ancestor.


 Although her wealth may partly have been acquired through her father, husband and son, Aud’s success in Iceland is a reminder of how powerful a strong woman could be in Viking society.


Viking Societal Structure and Historical Fiction — Eric Schumacher Eric Schumacher, Viking Historical Fiction


Eirik Bloodaxe

Eirik Bloodaxe  has an archetypal Viking nickname and was renowned as a fierce warrior. From his early teens onwards he was involved in raiding around the British Isles and in the Baltic, and at different points in his career he was king in both western Norway and in Northumbria, where he still has a legacy in York’s Viking-based tourist industry.


Eric Bloodaxe Norse king ofnYorkn 952-954 photo: wikipedia.org

Despite all this, Eirik is a less impressive figure than first appearances suggest. Despite his success in battle, his nickname came from his involvement in the killing of several of his brothers. Eirik and his wife, Gunnhild (according to different accounts either a Danish princess or a witch from northern Norway), were between them responsible for the deaths of five brothers. Their growing unpopularity in Norway meant that when another brother, Håkon the Good, challenged Eirik for the kingship of Norway he was unable to muster support and fled without a fight.


EGIL'S SAGA: CHAPTER 36; Eirik Bloodaxe waldotomosky

Image of Eirik Bloodaxe (aka Eric Bloodaxe) projected on to Clifford’s Tower at the Jorvik Viking Festival York 2006. In front of the tower stands a group Viking re-enactors. (Tony Wright/earthscapes/Alamy Stock Photo)


Although Eirik was strong and brave and willing to give even his enemies a fair hearing if left to his own devices, he was said to have been completely under the thumb of his dominating wife and “too easily persuaded”. He comes across more like the cartoon character Hagar the Horrible than as a real Viking hero.

Einar Buttered-Bread

Einar Buttered-Bread was the grandson of Thorfinn Skullsplitter, the earl of Orkney, and Groa, a granddaughter of Aud the Deep-Minded. According to the Orkneyinga saga, Einar became caught up in a web of treachery and rivalry over the Orkney earldom, in which Ragnhild, daughter of Eirik Bloodaxe, played a central part.

Ragnhild was married first to Thorfinn’s son and heir Arnfinn but had him killed at Murkle in Caithness and married his brother Havard Harvest-Happy, who became earl in his place. Ragnhild then conspired with Einar Buttered-Bread – he was to kill his uncle Havard, her husband, and replace him. Einar Buttered-Bread killed Havard in a battle near Stenness on mainland Orkney.

But that was not the end of the story. Einar Buttered-Bread was then killed by another cousin, Einar Hard-mouth, apparently also at Ragnhild’s instigation. Einar Hard-mouth was then killed by Ljot (another brother of Arnfinn and Havard), who then married Ragnhild and became earl.


Nothing more is known of Einar Buttered-Bread and he earns his place on this list primarily for his intriguing nickname. Whereas it is easy to imagine how his grandfather Thorfinn Skullsplitter gained his name, we don’t know why Einar was called Buttered-Bread, and we probably never will.

Ragnvald of Ed

Ragnvald is known only from a rune-stone that he commissioned in memory of his mother at Ed near Stockholm, probably in the early 11th century. The runic inscription reads simply “Ragnvald had the runes cut in memory of Fastvi, his mother, Onäm’s daughter. She died in Ed. God help her soul. Ragnvald let the runes be cut, who was in Greek-land, and leader of the host”.


photo; wikiwand.com

Despite being such a short inscription, this provides a variety of information about Ragnvald. Despite being a successful warrior he was a respectful son who went to the trouble of having a stone carved in memory of his mother. Like many Vikings in the 11th century, the invocation to God suggests that Ragnvald (if not necessarily his mother) was Christian.




Ragnvald may have become Christian as a result of his experiences in ‘Greek-land’. This refers not just to Greece but to the whole of the Byzantine Empire, which had its capital at modern Istanbul, known to the Vikings as Miklagard (‘the great city’). Ragnvald travelled all the way to Turkey, a reminder that the Vikings travelled east as well as west, and from his description probably served as an officer in the Varangian Guard. This was a unit in the Byzantine army, often used as the palace guard, and composed primarily of Viking warriors. The existence of such a unit shows the reputation of Viking warriors as far away as the eastern Mediterranean.



Bjarni Herjolfsson was the captain of the first ship of Europeans known to have discovered North America. Credit is more often given – especially in America – to Leif Eiriksson, known as Leif the Lucky. 
Bjarni Herjolfsson photo: brusselsjournal.com
Leif was the son of Eirik the Red, who led the settlement of Greenland and himself led an attempt in around AD 1000 to settle in ‘Vinland’, somewhere on the east coast of Canada. However, according to the Saga of the Greenlanders Eirik travelled in the ship formerly owned by Bjarni, and made use of Bjarni’s description of the lands that he had already seen.

Bjarni had discovered America by mistake in 986. An Icelandic trader, he had been in Norway when his father decided to join Eirik the Red’s settlement of Greenland. Attempting to join his father he was blown off course in a storm and passed Greenland to the south, discovering Vinland (vine land), Markland (forest land) and Helluland (a land of flat stones). These are normally identified as Newfoundland, Labrador and Baffin Island. Some scholars prefer to place Vinland further south and west, although a Viking settlement was discovered on the northern tip of Newfoundland.

The beginning of ‘The Saga of the Greenlanders’, from 'Flateyjarbok' ('The Book of Flatey’). Icelandic School, (14th century). (Arni Magnusson Institute, Reykjavik, Iceland/Bridgeman Images)

Bjarni had only come to America in error and, realising his mistake, we are told that he decided not to land, but instead navigated his way up the coast and back to Greenland – a much greater achievement than his accidental discovery, especially since he hadn’t been there before. However inadvertent his discovery was, such achievements deserve better recognition.


Freydis was the sister of Leif Eiriksson and daughter of Eirik the Red, the first settler of Greenland. Her brother Leif attempted the first-known European settlement in North America, and a settlement of Viking-type longhouses at l’Anse aux Meadows at the northern tip of Newfoundland may well be the houses that Leif built. Leif himself chose not to stay in ‘Vinland’, but offered the use of his houses to various members of his extended family, although he insisted that the houses remained his property.

Freydis Eiriksdottir photo: rosamondpress

Freydis was involved in two attempts to settle Vinland, and in the process proved herself as tough and ruthless as any Viking warrior. On one trip her party established contact with the native people and initially traded peacefully. However, when the party was subsequently attacked by some of the natives, the men were inclined to flee. Freydis, however, although heavily pregnant, picked up a sword and beat it against her bare breast, as the result of which the attackers fled in fright.
Photo; randy.whynacht.ca

On the other expedition Freydis travelled in partnership with a group led by two Icelandic brothers, Helgi and Finnbogi. Having first smuggled a larger number of men on board her ship than agreed, she incited her husband to kill Helgi and Finnbogi and all their men. When they refused to kill the women Freydis did it herself, forbidding on pain of death everyone in her group to reveal this on their return to Greenland.


Cnut is the ultimate Viking success story. He was the younger son of Svein Forkbeard, king of the Danes, who conquered England in 1013 but died almost immediately. Cnut’s brother Harald inherited the Danish kingdom, so Cnut was left, probably still in his teens, to try to restore his father’s authority in England, which had reverted to the Anglo-Saxon king Ethelred II. By 1016 Cnut had conquered England in his own right, cementing his position by marriage to Ethelred’s widow. Cnut’s success in England came through victory in battle, but within a couple of years he had also become king of Denmark, apparently peacefully.
Medieval impression depicting Edmund Ironside (left) and Cnut (right). photo: wikipedia.org

For the first time, the whole of Denmark and England were under the rule of one king, and in 1028 Cnut also conquered Norway, establishing the largest North Sea empire seen before or since, although it fragmented again following his death in 1035. Cnut also took the opportunity to borrow ideas from his English kingdom to apply in Denmark. While Cnut took – and held – England through good old-fashioned Viking warfare, Denmark now benefited from regular trade and from an influx of ideas as well as material wealth.

Under Cnut towns became more important both as economic and administrative centres, coinage was developed on a large scale, and the influence of the Christian Church became firmly established. Cnut even went on a peaceful pilgrimage to Rome to meet the Pope.

This runestone, U 194, in memory of a Viking known as Alli, says he won Knútr's payment in England. photo: wikipedia.org

In some ways Cnut can be better understood as an Anglo-Saxon king than a Viking. However, his great success illustrates one of the strengths of the Vikings generally, which was their ability to adapt to a variety of cultures and circumstances across the Viking world. So, the very fact that many of Cnut’s achievements seem rather un-Viking makes him in some ways the quintessential Viking.



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Story source: 
The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Historyextra . Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.