Судан и Большой Ближний Восток

263 Alexander S. Matveev. A Case of Survival of an Early Medieval Straight Sword... In theory, a full-strength blow of the sword could penetrate through the mail and flesh, but such a stroke was not easy to perform in the actual battle. As a result, the hauberk remained an extremely efficient protection until mid-13th C. Even at the tournaments knights could use their usual battle-weapons, not being afraid to be killed or seriously wounded (though, of course, such things happened — but the same is true about modern fully-protected sporting fence-duels). Thus, further development of the defensive armour was due not to the increase of strength of the swords, but to the threat of improved projectile weapons. The sword simply had to follow the armour improvements, as reflected in the history of West European swords. A. Sword in European warfare What was, however, the reason for prevailing of a relatively inefficient straight sword as a major shock weapon in the West? Obviously, it was not only luck of sophistication, but rather an effectiveness of this weapon in the peculiar context of Western warfare. On the one hand, such a sword was quite efficient against infantry, as the stroke from the horseback was deadly anyhow, regardless the quality of the armour. This fact was reflected in a contemptuous knights’ attitude towards infantry, e. g., communal militia, which was based on a real military superiority, not just knightly pride. It can be clearly seen, for example, from the swift destroying of Irish troops consisted of poorly equipped foot soldiers by extremely small knightly units, or from the analysis of wounds of the warriors buried after the battle of Visby on Gotland, where knights faced relativelywell-equipped footmen. 1 It should be stressed, however, that the defeat of Visby militia was not due to their inferior armour, as it is usually assumed — their armour was reasonably good, though outdated by about a generation, — but because of the general inadequacy of the heavy cavalry and infantry. No infantry could withstand a shock of the heavy cavalry attack if relayed on their swords. A cutting stroke of the infantryman's sword was too weak to be dangerous for such a high target as a cavalryman; in fact, only a thrusting 1 Bengt Thordeman. Armour from the Battle of Wisby, 1361. Stockholm: Kungl. Vitterhets Historie Och Antikvitets Akademien, 1939.