A "little" addition about bardiche use in Russia in the 16-17th centuries (mainly in the 17th): 1. Bardiche is mostly associated with streltsy - nowadays, it is a part of the "classic streltsy image". But they started being issued bardiches only after the Time of troubles. And it wasn't "a standard weapon" - every prikaz (regiment) was supposed to have 1000 men - 800 with sabres and muskets and only 200 with bardiches and muskets. 2. The use of bardiche as a musket rest, at least regarding streltsy, is very questionable and most likely is a 19th-century invention. First, all streltsy were issued traditional "fork-like" musket rests, even those who were issued with bardiches. Second, the only known mention of the practice in period sources was from the HRE ambassador to Moscow in 1670s - it was shown to him by honour guard stationed at his residence. 3. As for their use as "assault weapons," it was the other way around. Streltsy largely avoided engagements in the open field and tried to rely on field fortifications and wagon forts whenever possible. Bardiche was seen as a great weapon for defending such fortifications, but for assaulting enemy fortifications, it was seen as inferior to a sabre as it required more space. 4. There is a "training manual" (a book for officers on what to teach their men) for streltsy from the 1660s. There is a lot about firearms manipulation, formations, field engineering, and some sabre exercises, but on bardiche, the book basically goes: "Don't bother - they'll figure it out". Given the intended use case - "to cleave a man climbing over a wagon" - it makes sense =) 5. As for "cheap to make" - 100% true. In the 17th century, bardiche was the only weapon that didn't have any standards for the quality of the metal - a blacksmith could make it from whatever crap he found and still sell it to the government. 6. Bardiches disappeared from the Russian army surprisingly quickly: in 1696, they were used en masse, but they were not mentioned in regimental inventories at all by 1702.
Месяц назад
@@Temeluchas excellent background info man... these are sweet insights...thx a lot!
Interesting info! I think that they were much more common among Polish "musketeers" and bardiches were an often sight. Maybe it's the usual stuff - everything remotely eastern is confused by people in the west.
Месяц назад
@@jacekczuba4145 That's why I generalized a bit about the entire Eastern European region... I didn't want to commit myself to specific nations, I don't have the knowledge for that at the moment :)
@@jacekczuba4145, not in this case. The image of a strelets as a guy in a red kaftan with a bardiche originated in Russia in the mid-19th century, during a surge in interest in "pre-Peter the Great Russia". Bardiche was a perfect pick for this image: 1) It is clearly different from the "western standard" 2) Let's be honest - bardiche looks much cooler than any other European 17th century battlefield weapon =)
Well, it onyly get in after the "Smuta", becouse of Polish influence. Specyfically, Hungarian style infantry, Implemented by Elected king From Hungary, stelar reformist, Stefan Batory. There, the axe as gun support is typicall. And, that King has held Ivan the Terible at bay, during his regin. A typicall misperception for the region, but convinient for Imperial eyes.
Some other things you could use the bardiche for: a boat oar, a shovel, a razor for shaving, a really big knuckle duster, a tennis racket… a fly swatter?
Месяц назад
@@polymathart double handed knuckleduster... made my day^^
Mount&Blade has this weapon. every time I see this thing sticking out of the enemy's formation in a siege, it always scares me out. It can remove shields very effectively.
So, when it comes to the popularisation of bardiche in Eastern Europe there are very few sources proving their use there before the Early Modern Era. It seems it was the Hungarians, more specifically Haiduk infantry were the first to adopt bardiches as a combination of polearm and gun rest. From Hungary their use spread to Poland (Commonwealth) and then to Muscovy. At least this is what I can gather from the sources. As for the use, there are examples of bardishes used against pike formation (to push aside and cut/break pikes). One example comes from the Battle of Lubieszow 1577 where Hungarian haiduks managed to use bardishes to do exactly that against Landsknechts. I ma not sure about bardiche status as a symbol of authority. It definitely wasn't one in Hungary (Transylvania) or the Commonwealth. So I imagine you are referring to Muscovy. P.S. Great video BTW. I already learned a great deal from your videos.
Месяц назад
@@Velesus101 Really nice info here mate... seems like the story of the bardiche is not over. So much potential for more videos :D
Oh yes, there is a lot of fragmentary information about them scattered between diaries, letters, and some army regulations. Since Austria both used and fought against Hungarian troops in the Early Modern Era there should be some useful Austrian sources out there.
@@Velesus101 either use historically correct terms (which in this case would be Russian Tsardom, since streltsy as regular military force were established by Ivan IV) or blanket "Russia". No need for polish barbarisms.
These videos are of big delight and interest for me. I have a story I one day hope to make into a video game (or more) with as a protagonist a monstrous, old-looking bearded creature wielding a pollaxe-type weapon. Part of why I made him is to have a character defy the idea of axe wielders being brutes with no finesse, so seeing axe techniques in practice gives good reference for the types of movements possible. Duly appreciate the videos.
Месяц назад
I'm very excited about that...then I highly recommend you take a look at my hellebarden videos... i have one with all the techniques in a row...maybe this will also help you with your project. Good progress!
No way! I've always been interested in whether pre Peter the Great Russia had some kind of domestic signature weapon apart from the Berdysh and/or style of using it. So far I found nothing apart from a half-mythical saying referring to saber fencing which states that "...Polish cuts crosswize and Muskovite cuts downwards..". Maybe this will shed some light. Thank you!
Reminds me of when I went to Istanbul and saw the janissary reenactors wielding them too. It seems they were also utilized in the middle east and possibly inspired some indo-persian axes as a result of contact with the ottomans.
Месяц назад
@@genghiskhan6809 Cool to know! Thx for the insights...reminds to do a vid about a Samshir
Apparently you can tell Russian and Turkish bardiches apart by the shape of the eye. Russian ones are usually triangular, Turkish ones are usually round.
Very good presentation, for a weapon that does not have any instruction on use. To me it seems that it was more fit with troops engaged in policing territory and bodyguarding than actual combat situations. I may be wrong, but this is the impresion given by its length
Месяц назад
It seems they getting longer in a formation...my axe in the vid is basically too short for me^^
Russian infantry didn't fight like European one - in tight formation, in combination of pikemen and musketeers. In Russian infantry, every solider had a musket and they were fighting from a vagenburg - a mobile fortress made from reinforced vagons and stationary shields. So they didn't need any long polearms in order to defend themselves from the cavalry, and these battleaxes (along with sabers) were basically a self-defense weapon, used when the enemy infantry was storming a fortified position
excellent video, outtof all the axe shapes the bardiche looks most comfortable to me for some reason, maybe because that big curve gives alot of cutting area. I never thought how good it would be for stabbing, your demonstration makes that very clear!
A theory about off-hand forward: On the Bayeux tapestry Dane axes are held off hand forward (except for 1 example if I recall). A theory I've heard & agree with is that going so mean you sing the axe from your upper left downward which cuts towards your enemy's sword side instead of their shield side as would happen if one held the axe right hand forward & swung if from one's upper right downward.
I do use such weapon in similar manner, except for that powerful strike with both hands at the end. Found out IT works much better if you JUST leave your bottom hand after IT gets energy And hit one handed, then put that hand at the top position since the weapons swings towards IT.
Obviously an excellent example of a short thrusting weapon and overall fearsome sight from the business end! As is usual for you, an excellent presentation and narrative. Thank You so much for your video, Skal!
I mean it's obviously axe and even kind of a glaive, so trusting is not the best thing you can do with it, it's not what it was intended to do (mainly).
The rounded guard at the bottom so you can choke your hand all the way up is a beautiful little construction on an amazing work-of-art of a weapon. Gorgeous piercework! How significant would all the holes be in lightening the weight of the weapon? They seem like they'd make the axe feel a little quicker than it looks, while still being devastating on the hew -- beautiful and practical! I appreciate the massive number of illustrations that you use throughout the video, and the overview of its history, spread, and the context of the historical use are all outstanding points to discuss when presenting a weapon. The handling continues to be excellent, the discussion on Meyer especially was fascinating! Very clean on the grip changes. The cuts and some of your motions reminded me of montante usage, as well as halberd; I wonder if wide cuts with your hands at the bottom like that might have been used as crowd-control or bodyguard manner in the same way that the sword could, but a halberd couldn't? Much food for thought. I think your interpretation of the general forms of its usage per Liechtenauer is entirely valid in demonstrating the inherent strengths and potential usages of the weapon. Using it with the buckler rocked, and I appreciate the showing the bardiche one-handed with the buckler just to sate the curiosity -- even if it's unsurprising reality, it's still good content and good fun! Thank you for the video!
Месяц назад
So many great comments...I immediately feel like making a second video. I get so much extra info, thoughts and ideas etc. that I would love to include now :)
Do you think the pronounced hook on the bardiche's axe blade could have possibly been used to try catch and control shields or polearm shafts? Some of your movements made me think of how two-handed swords sometimes portrayed as weapons used to break pike formations. Great dive into the history and fantastic demonstration!
I fought with a bardiche of similar pattern for years, and you're ABSOLUTELY right. We even did some demonstration fights against pikelines, and they can bind and sweep several polearm hafts in one move, great for levering open a hole in a formation
Seems like a match for a poleaxe, while being much more simple to construct. Love the Guten tag as a buttcap. Always great to gain some knowledge into history while getting to enjoy some medieval madness. Used to think these were odd weapons that were clunky looking but seeing it action shows how deadly practical they are. Good Show.
Месяц назад
@@warlordstrife6688 thx mate...it is pure fun to swing that thing
Not QUITE a match for a poleax or a halberd, but you could straighten the point slightly and add a beak to the back. This would yield something fully equivalent while still being cheaper and simpler to manufacture. Not sure why that was not done.
@@Ithirahadthere were a lot of variations and you could find an example where the toe was indeed made into a stabbing blade. There's also a late variant that looks exactly like the bardiche that Skallagrim has, that one seems to be good for stabbing. Another bardiche had a hook on it. But it probably wasn't done en masse because the users weren't supposed to actually fight in melee. Also, there is also an example of a double-headed bardiche. It is a monster.
One wonders if the attachment of the lower section of the blade was for strength (to spread out the impact stress from heavy blows) or to provide a different grip position with some hand protection as an addtional benefit. Perhaps it was both. It certainly seems like a well-thought out evolution of the longaxe, incorporating a lot of hard-earned lessons.
Месяц назад
Good question...I think mainly for the stabilization...for the hand protection the lower tip does not necessarily have to reach all the way to the staff and be firmly connected. I think they wanted as long an edge as possible and the leverage effect, especially with forces on the flanks, would simply be too much without a second support.
Most likely so that the thing doesn't fall apart when being swung and hit into things. Some forge made a video where they made a "bardiche" years ago. I showed to a re-enactor I know and he was spitting on it, explaining how they didn't actually rivet the secondary attachment point onto the haft and that the head would quickly fly off (they didn't rivet the head to the haft either in the video, if I recall correctly. Just a wedge)
@@pavelstaravoitau7106 I'm not so sure about that, given that weapons like the Dane axe, with quite a long cutting edge only had single points of attachment (and just a wedge - no rivet) yet persisted for centuries. If it was prone to 'falling apart' when smacked into shields, helms, etc. I suspect we'd have seen larger changes to the design (such as langets, riveting, etc) earlier. I think that Bjorn is correct and its more about lateral stabilization (for which a rivet would be unnecessary as the shaft would likely break first) of the even longer blade of the bardiche, than it is about overall strength and impact resistance.
@madaxe606 the Dane axe is smaller than the bardiche, so the secondary attachment point is not necessary. Stabilisation is probably more of a factor on the precursor and contemporary of the bardiche - the toporok. Which is essentially like a slightly larger Dane axe with a secondary attachment point.
Like the halberd is kinda middleway from spear to axe, the bardiche [Бердыш*] is in-between of the Dane axe and the Kilij (turk heavy sabre with insane cutting ability). As a russian, I can say that originally this weapon's name is pronounced Bear'dysh (almost bear-dish, but with "ы" which sounds like "-y" in Tchaikovsky)
In Russia in the 17th century there was an interesting hybrid of a Bardiche with a musket. It looked like a musket with a huge Bardiche blade in place of the bayonet
A brilliant video, thank you! I do imagine that gripping the Bardiche in the area between the eye and where the beard meets the pole would allow some practical application as regards one handed use in combination with the buckler.
Месяц назад
@@dongkhamet1351 maybe...worth to do more investigations :)
I suppose I could experiment myself by holding my Yankee axe up by the head and seeing how she handles. I'm imagining something like a very heavy, oversized, sharp knuckleduster tactically speaking. If this is feasible then the other hand is free and the stance might find applications in a cramped melee or confined space. Just some thoughts. I am not a martial artist. [edit] the handle being in reverse grip and also potentially deployable.
The weapon on its own isn't too interesting. It shines as a weapons rest for the arquebus/musket, and it gives the arquebusiers a way to defend themselves in meele, it's both cheaper and easier to learn than a sword, and it's a tool as you said, to hack down wood and create fortifications. This should've been explored in more detail, arquebus + bardiche are the AK of their time in terms of universal usefulness.
Polish Haiduk infantry, yes I know they are of Hungarian origin. Are always depicted in modern images with bardiche. I find in most period art a quite plain utilitarian type axe with short handle was used instead as long a sabre firearm and likely a knife of some sort. They are seen but not nearly enough as depicted and probably a guardsmans weapon as it is perfectly suited to this role.
A fine presentation. You have the typical serious and stern countenance of a Nordic chap, but with your size, I would not want to meet you for fear of you tearing of my head just because my moustache was askew. You are by far the scariest scholar I have ever received or heard a lesson from.
Great video like the once on Halberd. One thing: there you are wielding the perfect tool in front of a hedge which is begging to get trimmed …. where is the Hanseatic sense of community? german efficiency? Also, if you are looking for more comments to boost the channel, include a random historical map of Eastern Europe and if you think you can handle it add the balkans for some pure gold and insight into the Conditio humana. Looking forward for more content on your channel!
I recently got curious about these axes, informative video and and great demosteations! Quick question, eould you say holding it near the head and thrusting with the back spike is the most "viable" way to use this one handed in a pinch? Thanks for the interesting video
Your presentations, going from research to practice, are always simple and FIRST class. I wasnt quite sure though: Was this another historical piece, or a replica? Also, how long does it take to get used to swinging weighty arms like that bardiche, this well? You are doing what might be fairly risky swings and cuts for others, but with complete control lol. I need to see the exercise program for this!
Месяц назад
It was a Replic from Kovex Ars :)
Месяц назад
It is difficult to say how long it takes to move with the weapon. Some are talented, some need something to develop a feeling :)
What do you think about using it upside down. Like an improvised "sword" or a batton with blade playing the role of a handguard. Specially with that short handle,and the spike. I know it's probably not the correct way but maybe it could work in a self defence situation.
It would be possible to improve the spiked rear end on your example by adding a bent disk somewhat like at a ski pole. This would provide slipping protection for the main hand and aid in a more secure stance when using the weapon as a mono pod. Was something like this done?
4:28 - In Russia of that time streltsy were armed with it not for ceremonial purposes, but because their original equipment was insufficient for proper melee combat, so this axe was added as "upgrade" to improve their capabilities. Not as ceremonial weapon. 5:00 - mostly myth.
A lot of people seem to prefer their dominant hand forward on pole arms other than spears. Any idea why some prefer one or the other?
Месяц назад
habit...intuitively every right-handed person picks up a weapon with the right hand first, no matter which one... it's the same with timing in fencing, you have to get used to not moving your body first but the weapon...some things and principles are just not intuitive...others are though :)
Looking through Polish and Russian pages, it's called berdysz in both languages (berdish, no "a:" sound) Pol: berdysz, Rus: Бердыш (identical to Polish)
One example of use from "The Tale" Avraamy Palitsyn, about the Siege of Troitsky monastery: -"One of them, a certain taxpayer from the village of Molokov, a peasant called Sueta, tall in stature and very strong, who was always laughed at because of his inability to fight, said: "Let me die today, but I will be glorified by everyone!" In his hands he held a weapon, a bardiche. And the God strengthened that Sueta, and gave him fearlessness and courage; and he urged the Orthodox Christians to stop fleeing, saying: "Let us not fear, brothers, the enemies of God, but let us stand firmly with arms against them!" And he struck down the enemies on both sides with his bardiche, holding back the regiment of Alexander Lisovsky; and no one could resist him. He moved quickly, like a lynx, and struck down many of those armed and armored at that time. Many strong warriors stood up against him to avenge the disgrace, and they attacked him cruelly. And Sueta struck down on both sides; Without giving him away, the foot soldiers, having stopped running, fortified themselves behind the obstacles."
There is a minstrel dragon (yup, a dragon) within my series ("Diamond Dragons") named Bardiche. :) And yes, not only does he play music with his magical musical instrument, but it doubles as none other than a bardiche. He's not even one of the primary characters, but his lofty role is essential to the overarching plot of the entire series of six.
Hello Bjorn, I have rather lengthy question about performance of "slash" weapons such as bardiche, Dane axe or even sword vs spear and pike. But let me explain myself first. Me and my friend are working on a modification called Realistic Battle Mod for videogame Mount and Blade Bannerlord. This is a pseudohistorical game that includes swords, spears and axes but also some early "slash" polearms and regular spears and pikes, the armours present in the game are ranging from cloth to primitive partial plate (brigandine / lamellar / scale over mail shirt). Most of battles in the game are mass fights of dozens to hundreds of troops. So, we have added kinetic energy and momentum damage model to that game, we have also added functional formation behaviour to the units. The problem is that long spears and pikes steamroll everything in formation vs formation scenario. On the other side, we know that shock troops were a thing historically and as you mentioned in this video yourself, weapons such as bardiche were used on battlefield. In addition, we have also added kind of stamina system to the game as well, so we have some options to give some advantage / disadvantage to certain weapons in terms of stamina loss / drain. Finally, when dealing with stamina we can take into consideration things such as being hit, doing bad parry / block, doing good parry / block and attacking (overhead and side swings and thrusts). So, do you have some advice on what potential reasonable / realistic advantage (or trade off) for weapons such as Dane axes or bardiche when they face spears, pikes and potentially swords? Should they have some massive bonus to stamina drain when they attack the spear, or perhaps when they parry them well? Any idea is welcome. Thank you very much in case you will bother to read through this wall of text and answer.
Месяц назад
Well, pikes mainly have range, but are very static in formation (you can aim pikes very well, but they are very slow with attacks and when my Halberd is doing 3 attacke, a pike doing one in that time). This means that although pikes can be used to attack, they excel at protecting themselves against cavalry or hold other formations at bay. As a result, all kinds of pike formations are relatively vulnerable to massive attacks from "short-range" weapons such as halberds, murder axes and bardiches. With such weapons it is possible to clear the pikes aside and then invade the formations. Still not easy, but once such a formation is pierced, such attacks can cause a pike formation to collapse. This happened, for example, at the Battle of Lubieszow in 1577 when a numerically superior German Lanzknecht army was defeated. Regarding stamina: I imagine such attacks against pike formations to be very strenuous, as they not only require the soldiers to be in good physical condition for the many parade movements, but also a high degree of alertness. I imagine it to be very stressful :) Have you read my article about the battle sword? I also discussed the use of halberds, battle swords etc. against pikes.
If you’re willing to put yours to the test, I’d love to see how it actually performs as a tool-hooking, chopping, and prying wood. How is the blade shape? Does it have the wedge fire axes have?
Месяц назад
@@polymathart I think the thing is that there were so many shapes of this crescent-shaped axe. There will certainly have been one or two features. In the end with the Rifle Troops it was probably less of a tool, but before that it was certainly there in one variant or another. We just can't set any standards when we talk about the bardiche family... for me, the blade shape in particular remains a feature which connects on the lower side and can thus possibly protect the hand...everything else remains optional :)
Do you know why the axe beard of the bardiche is connected to shaft? Seen you loss the abliety to hok other weapon with that design
Месяц назад
this allows you to create a particularly long cutting edge...much longer than on ordinary axes or halberds...but for this you simply need the 2nd support point, otherwise the force applied to the single attachment point in the middle would not be good in the long term.
When I saw the pictures of riflemen using the bardiche as a gun rest, it looked like the bardiche could accidentally function as a shield for incomming projectiles. From a direct hit I wouldn't be so sure, but a slight angle could save a life. If would be the rifleman I would definitely squeeze my self behind that blade. Just a thought.
I hope this comes off as constructive criticism. Your opening animation's brightness is really, really dark. Then the logo comes out at close to the overall brightness of the video. This is a bigger thing than your might think, as it's the audience's first vision of your video. My old film professor would call it the loss of a letter grade. A to B, or B to C. It might be you have it dark to make the logo pop, but if that's what you want, you might consider starting with the logo or fading the background darker as the logo fades in, as the audience thought process is 'oh, something is wrong... no wait.... huh." Another option is starting it at the same brightness of the video then fading it to dark as the logo appears. Again, hope that comes off as constructive.
I have a question regarding this weapon. Isn't this weapon extremely problematic with potential for your fingers to be cut off (your left hand in this case) when a horse or a shield or some hard armor gets into contact with the tip of the weapon? In contrast, the halberd or different kinds of pole weapons should not have this problem since your most forward hand is further away from the blade.
That's true, but you have to understand this weapon's role. Unlike halberds, it was used as a secondary/self defense weapon. Russian infantry wasn't suited for close combat, but was optimized for ranged firepower. Every solider had a musket as a primary weapon, and a berdish/Sabre as a self-defense weapon. They were fighting from field fortifications or mobile fortress - vagenburg, made from reinforced vagons and stationary shields (similar to one that Czechs used). Halberd would be absolutely better weapon for actual engagement, but berdish could be carried along with the musket, which was more important for Russian infantry of that time
Huh, I always thought that Bardishe is more of a scythe than axe. I.e. large thin and light blade on a pole. At least that is how it is called in easter Europe - its called scythe axe or scythe halbert.
It is sad to see how much information you guys are missing out on due to language barrier. There are tomes of research on early and late medieval arms of Russia.
