Bad-ass Russian reinactors

Holy crap. These guys are nuts.

Spears

The splitting weapon - spear and boar-spear - in the composition of the armament of Old-Russian troops had value which is not smaller, than sword. Spears and boar-spears frequently solved the success of battle as this was in the battle of 1378 on Vozhe river in the Ryazansk earth, where the Moscow horse regiments by simultaneous impact "on the spears" from three sides overturned Tatar army and destroyed it. The tips of copies were wonderfully fitted out for the puncture of armor. For this they were made by narrow, massive and those elongated, usually tetrahedral. Tips, diamond-shaped, lavrovolistnye or wide wedge-shaped, could be used against the enemy, not protected by the armors: two-meter spear with this tip inflicted dangerous torn wounds and caused the rapid loss of enemy or his horse.
 
Boar-spears had a width of feather from 5 to 6.5 cm and a length of lavrovolistnogo tip to 60 cm. so that to the warrior would be to more easily hold weapon, to the pole of boar-spear it was fitted on two or on three metallic "twigs."
 
The variety of boar-spear was sovnya (sovna). had curved strip with one blade, slightly bent at the end, which was slipped over long pole. In the Novgorod I chronicle we read how the broken army "... pobegosha to the forest, pometavshe weapon and shields both sovi and everything from to itself ".
 
Sulitsey was called the missile spear with the lung and the thin pole length to 1.5 m. they were noted the cases, when sulitsu not only they threw, but also they brought by it the prick: "Bodin to byst'... by sharp sulitsami". Three or more than sulits (sulitsa it were sometimes called "dzheridom") were packed into the small quiver - "elaeagnus" - with the separate nests. Elaeagnus it rushed on the belt from the left side. 
 
A. Yurasovskiy
"Russian armors X-XVII enturies".
Artist Vladimir Semenov.
© depictive skill ". Moscow. 1983
Found at www.cross-dream.info/library/armour/thrusting-weapons.html

Red Dragon, 11/08

The whole family went to the event last Saturday.

Look at those cheesers. Can you stand it?

Want!

The Tsar Cannon.


Note to household: when I win Crown, this is what I want for a coronation gift.

Ancient Russian coin

Srebrenik ("silver coin") of Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich of Novgorod (987-1015). On the obverse there is a representation of St. George; on the reverse (electrotypic copy) there is a family symbol of Rurick’s descendants with the inscription: ÿðîñëàâëå ñðåáðî ("Yaroslav’s silver"). The perfectly preserved specimen was unearthed near the town of Tartu in 1838. Diameter: 25 mm. The Hermitage museum. Link

Yes, that Prince Yaroslav. If I'm wearing his helmet, might I not also have some of his coins on hand?

St. Alexander Nevsky

My knowledge of my persona is woefully lacking, but I'm trying--bit by bit--to enhance it, to add little things that make Nikolas Grigorevich Petrov ring true. This could be one of those bits:

This is an icon of St. Alexander Nevsky. As I understand it, Russian soldiers would often carry small "traveling icons" with them, and pray to them in times of need. I found this one online, but it's small, only 2 1/2" x 1" (it would make a cool necklace, though).

Someday I'll make a traveling icon for myself. It can only help with winning Crown, right?

Helmet update -- Russian translation

My new helmet is based, to a large degree, on the so-called "helmet of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich" (if it was really Yaroslav's helm is apparently up for debate). It's a stunning relic discovered in 1808 by a peasant woman who noticed something shiny in the dirt while out collecting nuts.

It's not clear from the above photo, but only parts of the entire helm were recovered. Most impressive, of course, is the large central plaque:


That's St. Michael (the patron saint of Russia). It's kind of hard to see, but there's an inscription around the outside of the image that reads, "Great archangel Michael, help your servant Fedor."

When Sir Donngal and I first starting talking about this helmet, we both agreed that the plaque was the focal point, and the helm would appear a little bare without it. This has been the part I have been most concerned about... the shape of the dome is critical too, of course, but what people are really going to oh-and-ahh over is the plaque. I'm still nervous about it, honestly, but Sir Donngal has done such good work up to this point that I'm confident that the plaque will be up to the same standards.

Recently we discussed the plaque, and I inquired if he was going to include the inscription. He said he hoped to, if he could fit it in. Then I started thinking about how cool it would be if instead of "Fedor" my helmet had MY name on it. How cool would that be? Answer: extremely.

So I spoke to my Baron, knowing that he works with some Russians and has had things translated for me in the past. He sent the translation to me just this morning:

Великий Архангел Михаил, помоги рабу своему Николаю

"Great Archangel Michael, help your servant Nickolai"

I immediately forwarded it to my armorer. I am super jazzed. Cannot wait to actually get this thing!

Helmet plaque inspiration

NOTE: the helmet of my dreams has been commissioned. Master Sir Donngel of Windrose Armory is making it.

The most important piece will be the large front plaque brass. While the dome shape will be cool, the brass will be the focal point. I've recently been emailing with Donngel (and he emails me back! Promptly! This is nothing short of astonishing compared to my experiences with other SCA armorers) and these are the inspirational images I sent him:





These are all St. Michael, who is a patron saint of mother Russia. There are historical examples of Michael being used on helmet brasses.

I especially like the last one. The pose has plenty of drama and action... and a big, fat spear. And I do like to fight me some spear.

Cool

"The Knight at the Crossroads" by Victor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov; 1882

Note the big red spear. Awesome.

Photo reference

When (or if) I ever get that custom helm, I'd like it to look something like this:








Two stills from the movie "Alexander Nevsky," which I've not seen, but have been told it's so bad it's almost good; and a photo of a statue of the Russian hero.