Weapon and Buckler
in old art, as well as a few other combinations
We all have heard of sword and buckler, but usually, we tend to forget about other weapons paired with bucklers, such as axe, bardiche, mace, club, spear, or falchion. We also have the tendency to think of sword and cape as a pairing done with a sidesword or rapier, when in fact we have traces of it from much earlier. I want to show some early art illustrations of these combinations, before the 1400s. I will not show sword and bucker (except those that snuck in a few mixed depictions), as I want to look at them separately.
Sword and Cloak
I was surprised to see sword and cloak being used so early. About one hundred years earlier than I expected it. And the illustrations are clear on the use.
ONB Han. Cod. 2915 Historia belli Troiani soluto sermone scripta
South Germany, c.1390-1400
ONB Cod. 2576 Han Histoire universelle
France, Provence, c.1375-1399
Dual-Wielding
Seeing this really, really surprised me. And if this is just an exaggeration by the illustrator, it still shows that the “try-hard spirit” is much older than imagined. As a separate thought on the first illustration, on the idea that hip-hinging is just a style for illustrations, ok, but then what about Fabris? We know that there is an advantage to this position, and even if exaggerated in art, I do believe that it took place.
BNF Français 95 Histoire du Saint Graal / Histoire de Merlin
France, North, c.1280-1290
BL Additional 10293 Lancelot du Lac
France, c.1316
Beinecke MS.229 Arthurian Romances
France, South, c.1280
Beinecke MS.229 Arthurian Romances
France, South, c.1275-1300
Axe and Buckler
Any axe or bardiche used with a buckler goes in this section. Some illustrations also show a spear or sword with bucker.
Bibliothèque Nationale, 37v
France, Paris, c.1325-1375
Morgan M.730 Psalter-Hours of Guiluys de Boisleux
France, Arras, c.1246-1250
Cambridge MS O.9.34 Romance of Alexander
England, St Alban, c.1250
BL Additional 47682 Holkham Bible
England, London, c.1327-1335
BL Additional 47682 Holkham Bible
England, London, c.1327-1335
Mace and Buckler
I will include a simple club in this category, such as in the first illustration below, on the left side.
BL Yates Thompson 27 The Hours of Yolande of Flanders
France, Paris, 1353-1363
Besançon BM MS.579 Mystere du Jour du Jugement
France, c.1326-1350
BL Royal 16 G VI Chroniques de France ou de St Denis
France, Paris, c.1332-1350
BNF Arsenal 5080 Speculum Historiale
France, Paris, c.1335
Spear and Buckler
We already saw such an example in the axe and buckler illustration, so I will add one next to a mace and buckler example, and another illustration after that.
BNF Arsenal 5080 Speculum Historiale
France, Paris, c.1335
BL Royal 12 F XIII The Rochester Bestiary
England, South East, c.1225-1250
Falchion and Buckler
This is basically sword and buckler, but with falchions. The falchion is used a lot of the time to stand in for sabres or oriental swords in general, drawn by people who wouldn’t have seen such weapons. As always, it’s the idea that weapons and bucklers, as well as armour and clothing, show the local type that the illustrator was familiar with, rather than what they are supposed to represent.
BNF Français 2630 History of Outremer
France, Paris, c.1250
BNF Français 786 Collection
France, Artois, c.1275-1300
BL Additional 47682 Holkham Bible
England, London, c.1327-1335
BL Additional 49622 The Gorleston Psalter
England, Gorleston, c.1310-1325
BL Additional 49622 The Gorleston Psalter
England, Gorleston, c.1310-1325
BL Additional 42130 Luttrell Psalter
England, c.1320-1340
Few Thoughts
We shouldn’t be surprised by the existence and use of the buckler in the 13th-14th centuries. This is an offhand shield/weapon that was around for over a millennium at that point. If seeing the sword and cape or dual-wielding being used so early is a bit surprising, this is not the case for the buckler.
We also see clear bucklers, not just central grip boss shields, and are reminded of their versatility. In the absence of any fencing manuscripts, there is a clear “vulgar” (i.e. popular) tradition on its use. And this is something we should have in mind when looking at sword and buckler as well. Any subsequent traditions can be seen as being built on top of a vulgar one.
So what you're saying is, we should all carry a buckler no matter what, and dual wield swords when possible...you don't have to threaten me with a good time!