Szablas in Muzeum Wojska Polskiego, Warsaw.

Szabla['ʂabla] is the general Slavic word for sabre. In particular, it is used to describe a specifically Eastern European one-edged sabre-like mêlée weapon with a curved blade and, in most cases, a two-bladed tip called a feather (pióro). Initially used by light cavalry, with time it also evolved into a variety of arms used both for martial and ceremonial purposes. Until 19th century it also served as one of the symbols of the Polish, Lithuanian and Ukranian gentry (szlachta), who considered it to be one of the most important pieces of men's traditional attire. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1728 × 2304 pixel, file size: 501 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) A decorataroy w:szablas, used not for fighting but for splendor. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1728 × 2304 pixel, file size: 501 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) A decorataroy w:szablas, used not for fighting but for splendor. ... M-3 Halftrack in front of the museum Polish Army Museum (Polish: ) is a museum in Warsaw documenting the military history of the world, as well as the military aspects of the history of Poland. ... The Slavic peoples are the most numerous ethnic and linguistic body of peoples in Europe. ... It has been suggested that Cavalry saber be merged into this article or section. ... Pre-1989 division between the West (grey) and Eastern Bloc (orange) superimposed on current national boundaries: Russia (dark orange), other countries of the former USSR (medium orange),members of the Warsaw pact (light orange), and other former Communist regimes not aligned with Moscow (lightest orange). ... A mêlée weapon is any weapon that does not involve a projectile — that is, both the user and target of the weapon are in contact with it simultaneously in normal use. ... A blade is the flat part of a tool or weapon that normally has a cutting edge and/or pointed end typically made of a metal, most recently, steel intentionally used to cut, stab, slice, throw, thrust, or strike an animate or inainimate object. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ukrainian is: Ukrainian language a person of Ukrainian ethnicity adjective for Ukraine This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... StanisÅ‚aw Antoni Szczuka, a Polish nobleman Szlachta ( ) was the noble class in Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the two countries that later jointly formed the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. ...

History

Szabla's in monastery museum in Szczyrzyc.

Various types of sabre-like arms were first brought to Eastern Europe by the nommads as early as 6th century. However, it was not until 14th and 15th centuries that a curved sword was adopted in European warfare. Initially the sabres used in Hungary and Kievan Rus were but local copies of their eastern predecessors used by the Turkic and Arabic peoples: the kilij, pulwar, talwar, saif, shamshir or scimitar. It is often assumed that all of these were in turn descendants of the ubiquitous parent sword, the Turko-Mongol saber used by the nomadic tribes of Asia and then brought to the Middle East during their migration out of Central Asia. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1728 × 2304 pixel, file size: 253 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo by Piotrus. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1728 × 2304 pixel, file size: 253 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo by Piotrus. ... Monastery of St. ... The Louvre Museum in Paris, one of the largest and most famous museums in the world. ... 13th century Cistercian abbey in Szczyrzyc Szczyrzyc is a village in Poland, located in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Limanowa County, JodÅ‚ownik Commune. ... The 6th century is the period from 501 - 600 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... This 14th-century statue from south India depicts the gods Shiva (on the left) and Uma (on the right). ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... Kievan Rus′ (Ки́евская Ру́сь, Kievskaya Rus in Russian; Київська Русь, Kyivs’ka Rus’ in Ukrainian) was the early, mostly East Slavic¹ state dominated by the... The kilij (also spelled kilic) is a sword used by the Ottoman Empire starting around the late 15th century. ... A pulwar (also spelled pulouar) is a single handed curved sword from Afghanistan. ... Talwar with sheath A talwar, talwaar, or tulwar (Devanagari: तलवार) is a type of sword prevalent in medieval India dating back to at least the 13th century. ... The Arabic word saif (سيف) and variations Saif, Sayf, Seif generally means {{coward)). // As such it does not in and of itself denote anything more specific than saber or back-sword in its parent land. ... Shamshir (شمشیر) is the Persian word for sword It has come to refer to a type of sabre with a curve that is considered radical for a sword: 15 to 30 degrees from tip to tip. ... Talwar, 17th Century, from India. ... Chinese Saber (wushu variant used for ceremonial purposes only) Dao (Chinese: ; Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: tao1) is a category of single-edge Chinese swords primarily used for slashing and chopping (sabers), often called broadswords in English because some varieties have wide blades. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ...

Typical 19th-century cavalry sabre, closely related to szabla.

Although by early 16th century such weapons were used both in Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Moldavia and Hungary, in most cases these were but examples of captured weapons issued to peasants and serfs in case of a dire need. As such, they were considered plebeian weapons unworthy of the nobility. The higher classes and the knights at that time still preferred heavy swords, much like their western European counterparts. However, with time the advent of firearms and artillery, as well as constant pressure from the Ottoman Empire and the Tatars, who used light cavalry in large numbers, made the mediaeval swords and knights obsolete. It was in 15th century that much lighter, curved swords were adopted in Lithuania and Hungary, both countries being the most endangered by the Mongols, Turks and Tatars. Sketch of a cavalry sabre. ... Sketch of a cavalry sabre. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... For other uses of Moldavia or Moldova, see Moldova (disambiguation). ... Swiss longsword, 15th or 16th century Look up Sword in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Motto دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1680, see: list of territories Capital Söğüt (1299–1326) Bursa (1326–65) Edirne (1365–1453) Constantinople (Ä°stanbul, 1453–1922) Language(s) Ottoman Turkish Government Monarchy [[Category:Former monarchies}}|Ottoman Empire, 1299]] Sultans  - 1281–1326... An army unit consisting of mounted soldiers are commonly known as cavalry. ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ...

The following century, after the election of Transylvanian-Hungarian noble Stefan Batory as king of Poland, the entire Polish army was reformed to suit the new needs. The series of Polish-Lithuanian Union, as well as extensive contacts with Hungary and Transylvania, made the sabre one of the basic arms used by the nobility, formerly using the swords. With time the sabre evolved in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and gave birth to a variety of sabre-like weapons, fit for various tasks. In the following centuries, the ideas of Sarmatism as well as the Polish fascination with Eastern attire, customs, cuisine and warfare resulted in the szabla becoming an indispensable part of attire of the szlachta, as well as one of the symbols of nobility -- and its alleged ancient roots. For other persons of the same name, see Báthory. ... Polish Army (Polish Wojsko Polskie) is the name applied to the military forces of Poland. ... The term Polish-Lithuanian Union refers to a series of acts and alliances between the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania that lead to the creation of the Republic of Both Nations in 1569 and eventually to creation of a unified state in 1791. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Sarmatism was the dominant lifestyle, culture and ideology of szlachta (nobility social class) in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from 16th century to 19th century. ... Stanisław Antoni Szczuka, a Polish nobleman Szlachta ( ) was the noble class in Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the two countries that later jointly formed the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. ...

The Polish word szabla "sword, saber", is thought to originate from German Sabel, which probably derives from the Hungarian word szablya "saber," literally "tool to cut with," from szabni "to cut." ^[1]

Construction

As has been said, the main feature of a szabla is a curved one-edged blade, often with a yelmen (called feather in Poland).

Scheme

As in most swords, Polish sabres were composed of a variety of parts, each bearing a different name (Polish terms in parentheses): Image File history File links Szabla_budowa. ... Image File history File links Szabla_budowa. ... Hilt (rękojeść) (A) Blade (głownia) (B) forte (zastawa) (C) - the upper part of the blade, usually used for blocking (hence the Polish name) of strong pushes (hence the English term); usually it covered roughly the 3rd part of the blade. (moc) (D) foible (sztych) (E) - the tip of the blade, often double-edged The forte and foible could be visually separated by two claws on the non-sharp side of the blade, the threshold (próg) and the martle (młotek). Both sides of the blade could be shaped in a variety of ways and were often decorated with ornaments or inscriptions. Other signs featured on the flats include producer's marks and coats of arms. See also: Hilt (band) and Peter Hilt Hilt of Szczerbiec The hilt of a sword is its handle, consisting of a guard, grip and pommel. ... A blade is the flat part of a tool or weapon that normally has a cutting edge and/or pointed end typically made of a metal, most recently, steel intentionally used to cut, stab, slice, throw, thrust, or strike an animate or inainimate object. ... Elements: Pommel (głowica) grip (trzon) chape or tip (wąsy) cross-guard composed of two quillons (jelce) edge (ostrze) (tylec) flat (płaz) ridge (strudzina) martle (młotek) yelmen (pióro)

The greatest diversity is found in various types of the hilt, which define the purpose of the sabre. The Polish sabres could usually be divided onto: See also: Hilt (band) and Peter Hilt The hilt of a sword is its handle, consisting of a guard, grip and pommel. ... In fencing, the grip is the part of the weapon which is gripped by the fencers hand. ...

• open hilt - a classical sabre with cross-guards
• half-open hilt - with a knuckle-guard bent vertically and not joined to the pommel
• closed hilt - with one or more knuckle-guards forming a guard around bearer's palm

Typical blade cross-sections

Image File history File links Glownie. ... Image File history File links Glownie. ...

Types

Stanisław Antoni Szczuka in a representative national Polish outfit. A red kontusz tied with a pas kontuszowy. Szabla on his left side. Underneath a żupan with a low collar. Left hand holds a fur cap with a low band. Characteristic hair and moustache. A portrait by an unknown artist. Wilanów

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (501x900, 123 KB) photo mzopw Stanisław Antoni Szczuka in a representative national Polish outfit. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (501x900, 123 KB) photo mzopw Stanisław Antoni Szczuka in a representative national Polish outfit. ... Noble Family Szczuka Coat of Arms Grabie Parents Stanisław Szczuka Zofia Szpilewska Neronowiczów Consorts Konstancja Maria Anna Potocka Children with Konstancja Maria Anna Potocka August Michal Szczuka Marcin Leopold Stefan Szczuka Jan Konsty Szczuka Wiktoria Szczuka Maria Anna Szczuka Date of Birth 1652 or 1654 Place of Birth... Stefan Czarniecki in crimson kontusz. ... Wacław Rzewuski wearing a golden-finished kontusz belt Pas kontuszowy słucki. Pas kontuszowy (kontusz belt) was a cloth belt used for compassing a kontusz (a robe-like garment). ... Jan Zamoyski in crimson kontusz and blue silk żupan tied with pas kontuszowy. ...

Hungarian-Polish szabla

The first type of szabla, the Hungarian-Polish (węgiersko-polska), was popularized among the szlachta during the reign of the Transylvanian-Hungarian King of Poland Stefan Batory in the late 16th century. It featured a large, open hilt with a cross-shaped cross-guard and a heavy blade, either uncurved at all or curved only slightly. To protect the hand, at times a chain was attached to the cross-guard and the pommel. Since a number of such weapons were made by order of the king himself during his reform of the army and were engraved with his portrait, this kind of sabre is also referred to as batorówka - after Batory's name. For other persons of the same name, see Báthory. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ...

Armenian-style szabla

In late 17th century the first notable modification of the sabre appeared. Unlike the early "Hungarian-Polish" type, it featured a protected hilt and resembled the curved sabres of the East. It was hence called the Armenian sabre, possibly after Armenian merchants and master swordsmiths who formed a large part of arms makers of the Commonwealth at those times. In fact the Armenian sabre developed into three almost completely distinct types of swords, each used for a different purpose. Their popularity and efficiency made the Polish nobles abandon the broadswords used in Western Europe. (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... The term broadsword is used to refer to different types of swords, across many cultures and time periods. ...

• Czeczuga was a curved sabre with a small cross-guard with an ornamented open hilt and a hood offering partial protection to the hand.
• Ordynka was a heavier weapon used by the cavalry. It resembled a mixture of all the features of the Czeczuga with a heavier and more durable hilt and blade of the short sword.
• Armenian karabela was the first example of a ceremonial sword used by the szlachta. It had both its blade and cross-guard curved, and had a short grip. It was engraved and decorated with precious stones and ivory. Used throughout the ages, in 18th century it evolved into a standard karabela, used both as a part of attire and in combat (see below).

This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... Eagles head shaped hilt of a karabela A karabela was a type of Polish sabre (szabla). ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ...

Hussar szabla

The hussar sabre was perhaps the best-known type of szabla of its times and became a precursor to many other such European weapons. Introduced around 1630, it served as a Polish cavalry to cavalry mêlée weapon, mostly used by heavy cavalry, or Hussars. Much less curved than its Armenian predecessors, it was ideal for horseback fighting and allowed for much faster and stronger strikes. The heavier, almost fully closed hilt offered both good protection of the hand and much better control over the sabre during a skirmish. Two feather-shaped pieces of metal on both sides of the blade called moustache (wąsy) offered greater durability of the weapon by strengthening its weakest point: the joint between the blade and the hilt. The soldier fighting with such sabre could use it with his thumb extended along the back-strap of the grip for even greater control when 'fencing' either on foot or with other experienced horsemen, or by using the thumb-ring, a small ring of steel or brass at the junction of the grip and the cross-guard through which the thumb is placed, could give forceful downward swinging cuts from the shoulder and elbow with a 'locked' wrist against infantry and less experienced horsemen. This thumb ring also facilitated faster 'recovery' of the weapon for the next cut. A typical hussar szabla was relatively long, with the average blade of 85 centimetres in total. The tip of the blade, usually some 15 to 18 centimetres long, was in most cases double-edged. Such sabres were extremely durable yet stable, and were used in combat well into 19th century. A British Hussar from the Crimean War Hussar (original Hungarian spelling: huszár, plural huszárok, Polish: Husaria) refers to a number of types of cavalry used throughout Europe since the 15th century. ... Events February 22 - Native American Quadequine introduces Popcorn to English colonists. ... Polish Hussar Hussar (original Hungarian spelling: huszár, plural huszárok) refers to a number of types of cavalry used throughout Europe since the 15th century. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Polish and Hungarian szabla's design influenced a number of other designs in other parts of Europe and led to the introduction of the sabre in Western Europe. An example that bears a considerable resemblance is the famous British 1796 pattern Light Cavalry Sabre which was designed by Captain John Gaspard le Marchant after his visits "East" to Central and Eastern Europe and research into these and other nations' cavalry tactics and weapons. Poland had ceased to exist as a separate nation by this time but their other co-nation from previous centuries, Hungary, was still an existing nation, and as this was the source of all things "Hussar", it was the Polish-Hungarian szablas of 150 years earlier rather than the oft quoted Indian tulwar that were the main source of inspiration for the first (and last!) "mainly cutting" sabre in the British Army. This same "1796" sabre was taken up by the King's Hanoverian troops and also by the Prussians under General Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher who gave his name to the weapon; the 1796 Light Cavalry Sabre is almost universally known as "the Blücher" in the rest of Europe. This weapon also found its way into the cavalry of the newly formed United States of America in the war of 1812. It has been suggested that Cavalry saber be merged into this article or section. ... John Gaspard le Marchant (1766 – 1812), English major-general, was the son of an officer of dragoons, John Le Marchant, a member of an old Guernsey family. ... Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. ...

Karabela

Main article: Karabela

Eagle's-head-shaped hilt of a karabela

Perhaps one of the most famous types of a Polish sabre was the classical karabela, which entered service around 1670. According to some scholars, the name was coined after the Italian terms caro (expensive) and bello (beautiful), though the exact etymology remains obscure. The type of the sabre was modelled after the swords of the Turkish footmen formations of Janissaries and Spahis, which used it in close quarters. Much lighter than the hussar szabla, the karabela had an open hilt with the pommel modelled after eagle's head. Such an anatomic grip allowed for easier handling of circular cuts while fighting on foot and for swinging cuts from horseback. Eagles head shaped hilt of a karabela A karabela was a type of Polish sabre (szabla). ... Image File history File links Karabela. ... Image File history File links Karabela. ... 1670 was a common year beginning on a Saturday in countries using the Julian calendar and a Wednesday in countries using the Gregorian calendar. ... The Janissaries (or janizaries; in Turkish: Yeniçeri, meaning New Troops) comprised infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultans household troops and bodyguard. ... Holzschnitt nach Melchior Lorch, 1646. ...

Initially the karabela sabres were used mostly for decoration or as a ceremonial weapon worn on special occasions. Popularized during the reign of King Jan III Sobieski, the sabre became one of the most popular Polish cold steel weapons. Though in theory the type could be subdivided into an ornamented ceremonial type and a simple battle weapon, in reality both were more expensive, and the cheaper designs were often used in combat. Most of the szlachta could afford only one expensive karabela and, in case of a dire need, simply replaced the ebony or ivory scabbard with a leather version and removed some of the precious stones from the hilt in order to convert it into a fully reliable weapon. Jan III Sobieski (1629-1696) (also known in English literature as John Sobieski) was one of the most notable monarchs of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1674 until his death. ... Stanisław Antoni Szczuka, a Polish nobleman Szlachta ( ) was the noble class in Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the two countries that later jointly formed the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. ... A scabbard is a sheath for holding a sword or other large blade. ...

Other types

• Kosciuszkowska, a variant popularized during the Kosciuszko Uprising;
• Szabla wz.34 ("model 34 szabla"), a 20th-century variant produced from 1934 in the Second Polish Republic for Polish cavarly; about 10,000 were made.

The Kościuszko Uprising took place in Poland in 1794. ... It has been suggested that Survey of the twentieth century, The 20th century in review be merged into this article or section. ... Year 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Anthem: Mazurek DÄ…browskiego Capital Warsaw Language(s) Polish Government Republic President List Prime minister List Legislature Sejm Historical era Interwar period  - World War I November 11, 1918  - Invasion November 2, 1939 Area  - 1939 388,600 km2 150,039 sq mi Population  - 1939 est. ...

Reference

Notes

1. ^ Harper, Douglas (2001). "Online Etymology Dictionary". 

External link

• Polish sabre fencing