Historical analysis suggests that prominent Lithuanian figures such as Mindaugas, Gediminas, Algirdas, Kęstutis, and Vytautas Didysis likely did not engage in combat using swords, or perhaps even carry them. The primary reason cited is the scarcity of swords in Lithuania during the Middle Ages. Instead, Lithuanian nobility and wealthier warriors were generally equipped with polearms rather than swords, indicating a significant distinction between the two weapon types.
Valius Venckūnas, a lecturer at Vilnius University, a member of the HEMA historical fencing association, and a historian, details these differences. His discussion on the two weapon categories begins by referencing definitions from a 2008 Encyclopedia of Warfare. According to the text, a polearm (sword/меч) is defined as a straight weapon, typically two-handed (though occasionally one-handed), designed for cutting and thrusting.
In contrast, a sword (сабля) is characterized as a cutting and thrusting weapon featuring a curved blade. This distinction highlights a major divergence in military technology available to Lithuanian forces during that era. The evidence points to polearms being the predominant armament for the elite warriors of the Middle Ages, suggesting that the martial practices associated with historical figures like Mindaugas and Vytautas were more closely aligned with polearm combat than with sword fighting.
Topics: #nei #mindaugas #vytautas
