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RUSSIAN

MEDIEVAL ARMS AND ARMOR 

John Sloan

Our cover illustration is of Alexander Nevski, prince of Novorod and later !rand

"rince of Vladi#ir$ %e defeated t&e S'edis& invaders on t&e Neva River in

()*+ and t&en t&e eutonic -ni&ts at Lake .&ud in ()*)$ %e is s&o'n

'earin a lon kol'chuga, sinle/piece buturliki, naruchi , and an earl0

sholom$ %e carries a chekan in &is ri&t &and and is 'earin 1ot& a myech 

and nosh on &is 1elt$ %e carries t&e t0pical Varanian kite 2al#ond3 s&apeds&ield$ &is paintin 'as co##issioned 10 4o&n Sloan and created 10

5u1ov in St$ "eters1ur, Russia$ 2"rints are availa1le$3 &e follo'in are

t&e principal references used to co#pile t&is infor#ation$ Vinkl0er, ", von

Oruzhiye, St$ "eters1ur, (67*$ 8edorov, 9$ !$ Voorushyeniye russkoi armii

 za XIX stolyeniye, St "eters1ur, (7(($ D0enisov, M$ M$, "ors&nov, M$ E$

 Russkoye Oruzhiye XI - XIX vekov. Moskva, (7:)$ S$ -$ 9oo0avl0eiskii,

;Vooru<&0eni0e Russkik& voisk v =VI / =VII vekov$; in >ournal of

Acade#0 of Science of t&e USSR, Institute of %istor0$ -irpic&nikov, A$,

and A$ ?urasovskii, Russkye Dospyekhi X - XVII vekov, Mosco', (77($

 Istorichyeskoye opisaniye oyezhi i vooruzhyeniya rossieskikh' voisk' c

risynakami sostavlyennoye po bisochaish!my povyel'niyu. chast' pyervaya, St"eters1ur, (677$ arassuk, Leonid, .laude 9lair, "he #omplete

 $ncyclopeia o! %rms an &eapons, 9onan<a 9ooks, Ital0, (76@$ &e 9B

illustrations are fro# ViskovatovCs #assive 'ork on t&e &istor0 of Russian

unifor#s$ &e color illustrations are of t&e #e#1ers of t&e Alexander

Nevski 8il# and "aent Societ0$ &e 1est recent reference is Mik&ael

!orelikCs &arriors o! $urasia, Montvert "u1lications$ See also &is articles in

"seghaus #aa<ine and t&e pa#p&let itva na (alke )* +ay *), 

I<datelCstvo I<oraf, Moskva, (77*$ &ere are a fe', 1ut excellent,

illustrations and extensive text descri1in &o' kolCc&ui and so#e ot&er

t0pes of ar#or 'ere #anufactured in bornik nauchnikh truov po

materialam gosuarstvennoi oruzheinoi palata - osuarstvennayaoruzhyenaya palata moskovskogo kremlya, pu1lis&ed in (7:* 10 Iskusstvo,

Moskva$ o return to or access t&e #ain pae on Russia please o to

=enop&on$ Be no' &ave #an0 p&otos of t&e collection of #edieval ar#s

and ar#or in t&e -re#lin ar#or0 #useu#$ And t&ere are a fe' ite#s of

#edieval ar#or in t&e Artiller0 Museu# in St "eters1ur$

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PART I - GENERAL

.over 8rontspiece to t&e edition of t&e Viskovatov collection pu1lis&ed in

Russia in (67+Cs$

%istorians divide t&e develop#ent of ar#s and ar#or in Russia into t&ree periods$

&e first or ;Nor#an; period fro# t&e 7t& to t&e (t& centuries is

c&aracteri<ed 10 t&e use of t&e kolchuga / #ail s&irt / for 1od0 ar#or t&e

mech / lon strai&t s'ord / as offensive 'eapon t&eshelm / round,

&e#isp&erical iron cap / for &el#et and t&e lon, al#ond s&aped ;kite;s&ield$

&e second period 1ean in t&e (t& centur0 'it& a transition to a #ore

Eastern, Monol and atar/influenced st0le of 'eaponr0 durin '&ic&

sa1ers, round s&ields and eastern st0le 1od0 ar#or appeared in eneral use$

At t&e 1einnin of t&e (Ft& centur0 t&e t&ird period sa' t&e radual

introduction of Bestern influences and t&e Oriental st0les 'ained slo'l0$

Russians cateori<e #edieval ar#s and ar#or as follo'sG

OffensiveG kolushchyeye / t&rustin 'eapons, 2includin sabel, konchar,

mech, nosh, and kin/al 3 metatel'noye / s&ootin 2launc&in3 'eapons

2includin kolchan, /i, naluch, saaak, samostrel and sulitsa 3

ru'yashchyeye / c&oppin 'eapons 2includin berysh, sovna and rogatina3and uarnoye / strikin 'eapons 2includin bulava, chekan, klevets, palitsa,

shestoper , and topor 3$

DefensiveG ospekh orbronya / 1od0 ar#or 2includin pantsir, baiana,

bakhteretz, kalantar', kol'chuga, kuyak, nagavits, tyegilyai, yushman and

 zertsalo3 sholom or shlyem / &ead or neck protection / &el#et 2includin 

barmitsa, litchina, misyurka, shishak, shlyem, yalovets and yerikhonka3 and

t&e shchit / s&ield 2includin t&e tarch3$

Descriptions

 aiana H &au1erk H () / (:t& .entur0$ Return to op

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A barmitsa is s&o'n &ere$ &is one is #ade of linked plates$ Anot&er version 'as a

#ail net of s#all iron rins, t&e barmitsa, t&at protected t&e neck and

s&oulders of t&e 'arrior$ It 'as attac&ed 1eneat& and to t&e sides of earl0

&el#ets fro# t&e (+t& centur0 on$ &e misurka 'as a skull cap 'it& a

si#ilar 'oven #es& atac&ed to t&e lo'er ede$ &is kind of barmitsa 

rese#1led a ti&tl0 'oven fis& net or a Mosle# 'o#anCs veil$ It could 1e#ade in one continuous net or asse#1led out of pieces$ &is t0pe served t&e

sa#e purpose as t&e 'estern aventail. So#eti#es a neck and s&oulder

protection for t&e 'earerCs front 'as #ade of s#all #etal plates$ &is 'as

called a zarukovya. It so#e'&at rese#1led a lare gorget  or See #is0urka$ 

Return toop 

 erysh

&e berysh is s&o'n in t&is illustration$ A peculiarl0 Russian lon, 1road axe 'as

called berysh$ Its 1lade, zhelezko, 'as lon and curved$ It sat on a lon

&andle, '&ic& &ad an iron 1indin or vtok  on t&e lo'er end$ &e full1erd0s& &ad a @+ / 6+ c# 1lade$ &e 'eapon dou1led as t&e rest for a

firear#$ eryshi  'ere used onl0 10 footsoldiers$ 9ut a s&orter version 'as

carried 10 #ounted streltzi  10 #eans of a s&oulder strap t&rou& t'o rins$$

In t&e (@t& centur0 beryshi  'ere in 'ide use in t&e #ilitia forces as 'ell as

t&e streltzi. See illustration of t&is kind of unit$

 ulava

&e #ace$ See bulava s&o'n on t&e 1otto# ro' in t&is illustration$ &ese 'ere

especiall0 carried as a #ark of t&e rank of &i& officers$ Return toop

 uturlik 

0pes of buturlik  are seen &ere, and &ere$ &is 'as a kind of ponozhi , protection for

t&e calf or s&ins$ &ere 'ere t&ree kinds of suc& s&in and calf protection

ar#or$ &is 'as also called a burulik. &e 'ord is of urkic oriin and t&e

ar#or 'as used 10 Monols and atars$ One t0pe 'as #ade of t&ree lon

pieces connected 'it& #etal rins so t&at t&e asse#1l0 protected t&e '&ole

le fro# ankle to knee$ &e second 'as co#posed of one, 'ide plate in front

and t'o narro' plates to eac& side$ &e t&ird 'as #ade of onl0 one piece

and protected t&e outside, exposed side of t&e calf$ It 'as &eld in place 10

leat&er straps around t&e le$ In Bestern Europe suc& ar#or 'as kno'nfro# ancient ti#es under t&e ter#, reaves$

#halar &orse ar#or,'as si#ilar in purpose to 1ardin used in 'estern Europe$ &e

front part t&at protected t&e &orseCs fore&ead and face 'as called a

cham!ron or s&affron in t&e 'est$ 2See (onskii ubor 3 &orse furniture$

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to create ospekhi. 

&e pantsir  introduced at t&e start of t&e (*t& centur0 in Russia co#1ined

several t0pes of ar#or$ &e ar#or #i&t 1e #ade of scales on t&e lo'er

front part and plates or rins, on t&e c&est and 1ack$ &e 'arriorCs c&est

'as &alf protected 10 lare tonue/s&aped plates t&at 'ere 'orn over t&e

ospekh$ Later, in t&e (@t& centur0, t&ese received t&e na#e ;<ertsala;2#irror3, since t&eir s#oot& #etal plates 'ere speciall0 polis&ed to a &i&

s&ine, and so#eti#es covered 'it& old, silver and enravins$ 8ine

ospekh 'ere extre#el0 expensive, 1e0ond t&e #eans of private 'arriors$

&e0 #i&t 1e 'orn on t&e 1attle field onl0 10 princes, voevoe, and first

rank 1o0ars$ Return toop

 Dzhi 

&e zhi  'as a case for carr0in >avelins$ It 'as 'orn on t&e left side 10 #ounted

'arriors$

 (arabin

At t&e end of t&e (@t& .entur0 and 1einnin of (Ft& t&e Muscovites 1ean usin

karabini and pistoli or pistoleti $ See illustration$ &ese 'ere follo'ed in t&e

(Ft& centur0 'it& t&e introduction of mushkyeti and !itil'ni ruchnitsi $ &e

mushkyeti  'ere loner in 1arrel, and &eavier t&at !util'ni $ And t&e0 'ere

used 'it& a rest to &old up t&e &eav0 1arrel$ See t&e illustrations of streltzi

for use of t&e berish as t&is rest$ Return toop 

 (ibit 

&e central part of a 1o'$

 (inzhal 

A atar and .aucasian knife 'it& curved 1lade$ See t&e 'eapons on t&e ri&t in t&is

illustration$

 (isten

 (isteni 2#ilitar0 flails3 'ere #ade of various #etal 'ei&ts attac&ed to a &andle 10 a

lon c&ain or leat&er t&on up to :+ c# lon$ &eir use in 1attle 'asdifficult, reuirin skill, 1ut t&eir occurance in #an0 arc&eoloical finds

attests to t&eir 'ide use$ Return toop 

 (levets

A #ilitar0 &a##er / pick 

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 (olchan

&e uiver, case for &oldin t&e arro's, 'as called a kolchan or tul  2uiver3 and 'as

'orn on t&e ri&t side$ &e kolchan 'as often #ade of Morocco leat&er,

decorated 'it& e#1roider0, >e'els, velvet, or 1rocade$ See luchnik carr0in

a kolchan. Return toop

 (ol'chuga and 1lastinchataya ronya (+/(( centur0 / coat of #ail 2&au1erk3 and

plate ar#or$

&e kolchuga is s&o'n &ere on t&e ri&t$ &ere 'ere t'o 1asic t0pes of ancient

bronyaJar#or for protectin t&e 'arriorCs 1od0$ One 'as a t0pe of knee/

lent& s&irt #ade of #etal rins kno'n as a kol'chuga and t&e ot&er 'as

#ade of plates called bronya$ Later t&ese 'ere called pantsir $

 1lastinchataya bronaya, ar#or of la0ered s#all plates, 'as in use a#on ancient

Russian 'arriors$ It 'as #ade of s#all #etal plates 2scales3 overlappinand connected to eac& ot&er$ Several of t&e reenactor s&o'n in t&e

illustrations 1elo' are 'earin t&is t0pe of ar#or$

 (ol'chataya bronaya / consisted of iron rins, t&at 'ere riveted and attac&ed to one

anot&er$

&e (ol'chuga - kolchataya bronya / 'as #ade fro# iron rins$ 8irst t&e ar#orers

#ade 'ire 'it& t&e use of stretc&in devices$ &is 'as #ade into a rin 10

'rappin it into a lon spiral around a round pin or #andrel$ A1out @++

#eters of iron 'ire spiral 'ent into one kol'chuga$ &ese spirals 'ere

scored alon one side and cut$ &en round, open rins of unifor# dia#eterca#e out$ %alf of t&ese 'ere 'elded s&ut$ After t&at, t&e re#ainin rins

'ere flattened at t&eir ends$ &e open rins and &ad &oles punc&ed near

t&eir ends for rivets or rods, '&ic& in turn &ad to 1e speciall0 prepared$

After preparin t&e rins t&e #asters 'ere a1le to asse#1le t&e kol'chuga$

Eac& separate 2open3 rin 'as >oined 'it& four 'elded, closed rins and

t&en riveted s&ut$ &e rivet &ad a dia#eter a1out +$F: ## and it 'as

necessar0 to rivet it to t&e ot&er end of t&e rin, '&ic& 'as alread0

intert'ined in t&e #ail$ &is operation de#anded reat precision and skill$

In t&is fas&ion eac& rin 2kol'tso3 'as >oined 'it& four nei&1ors, a closed

rin 'as connected 'it& four open rins and an open rin connected 'it&

four closed rins$ So#eti#es in t&e kol'chuga t&e0 interlaced a ro' ofcopper rins$ &is created its st0lis& look$ &e 'ei&t of one kol'chuga 

averaed a1out @$: k$ After asse#1l0 t&e0 1rus&ed t&e kol'chuga and

polis&ed it to a s&ine$ Return toop 

At t&e end of t&e ()t& centur0, t&e appearance of &au1erks c&aned$ %au1erks,

2kol'chugi 3 &ad 1een #ade 'it& lon sleeves, knee/lent&, 'it& #ail

stockins nagavitsi $ No' #ail &au1erks 1ean to 1e #ade not fro# round,

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1ut fro# flattened rins 2like 'as&ers3$ Suc& rins 'ere #ade of round iron

'ire, 1ut t&en t&e0 'ere flattened 'it& t&e &elp of a special iron sta#p$ &e

rins, fro# '&ic& t&is t0pe of &au1erk 'as #ade, 'ere of t'o t0pesG one

'&ic& 'as riveted, and also one '&ic& 'as sta#ped fro# a s&eet of iron

and punctured into t&e for# of a s#all 'as&er, 'it& elliptical rivets$ In all,

a &au1erk &ad a1out ):,+++ rins$ &e &au1erk of t&e (t& centur0consisted of flat rins of differin dia#eters$ &e larer, #ain rins 'ere

arraned in t&e s&ape of a rectanle on t&e 1ack and c&est$ Larer,

secondar0 rins covered t&e s&oulders, sides, ar#s, and t&e &e# of t&e

&au1erk$ &e ri&t / underside of t&e &au1erk 'as 'oven fro# t&ick, &eav0

rins$ &at is 1ecause it 'as t&e vulnera1le side for a 'arrior, '&en &e

raised &is s'ord ar#$ B&en t&e &au1erk 'as put on and fastened, it

covered t&e left underside t&at 'as interlaced fro# larer, t&in rins$ &e

collar 'as suare, t&inned out, 'it& s&allo' cuts$ 8ro# t&eir out'ard

appearance, suc& &au1erks rese#1led a s&irt 'it& lon sleeves and a suare

collar$ &e neck and upper part of t&e 'arriorCs c&est 'as covered 'it& a

special #ail neck piece 2or veil3 H t&e barmitsa / t&at 'as attac&ed to t&e&el#et$

In t&e (@t& cent despite t&e rapid develop#ent of firear#s, protective ar#or

re#ained$ Russian 'arriors still 'ore bakhterets, kolontar , zertsalo, and

even kol'chuga$

So#e Russian ar#or of t&e (@t& centur0 &as its o'n interestin &istor0$ &ere is a

kol'chuga 2in t&e Mosco' kre#lin ar#or03 'it& a s#all copper plate, on

'&ic& is sta#ped t&e follo'in inscriptionG ;9elons to prince "eter

Ivanovic& S&u0ski$; 9o0ar and voievoe "eter Ivanovic& S&u0ski 'as killed

in (:@* durin t&e Livonian Bar$ &at ver0 kol'chuga is 1elieved to &ave1een ranted to ?er#ak 2t&e conueror of Si1eria3 10 sar Ivan t&e

erri1le$ "er&aps it 'as 1ecause of t&at kol'chuga t&at ?er#ak dro'ned in

t&e river Irtis& in t&e su##er of (:6*, '&en &is detac&e#ent 'as defeated

10 t&e troops of t&e atar -utc&u#/-&an$ In (@*@ t&at kol'chuga, '&ic&

outlived 1ot& of its t'o o'ners, 'as discovered in one of t&e Si1erian to'ns

and returned to t&e tsarCs arsenal$ Return toop

In t&e (@t& centur0 a considera1le part of Russian ar#or 'as still #anufactured in

Mosco', '&ere, in accordance 'it& overn#ent la's, #an0 ar#orers 'ere

#oved$ %er1ertstein 'rote t&at a nu#1er of &ouses of 1lacks#it&s and

ot&er artisans ;'&o 'orked 'it& fire; stretc&ed alon t&e outskirts of

Mosco'$ 9lacks#it&sC 'orks and t&e #anufacture of ar#s 'ere

concentrated at t&at ti#e in t&e area of -u<netsk0 Most 21ride3,

conte#porar0 9ronni0 Street, and Stara0a -u<netska0a Slo1oda in t&e

reion of -otelniki, '&ere, durin recent excavations, 1uilders found a

to#1stone '&ic& 1eloned to a certain ;!rior0 D#itrievic&; H ;son of

an ar#orer;$ 9ecause of t&at discover0, it 1eca#e kno'n t&at in

approxi#atel0 t&e second &alf of t&e (@t& centur0, &au1erk 2kol'chuga3

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production 'as separate fro# ar#or production as a '&ole$ So#e

ar#orers 1ean to speciali<e in t&e #anufacture of #ail exclusivel0$ &e

Russian ar#0 finall0 refrained fro# usin t&at t0pe of ar#or onl0 at t&e

close of t&e (Ft& centur0, not lon 1efore t&e ti#e of "eter I$ Return toop

 (alantar'  / plate ar#or H (*t& centur0$

&e kalantar'  2as s&o'n on t&e ri&t3, 'as used at -ulikovo in t&e (6+Cs$ &e

ar#or 'as #ade in t'o &alves, front and rear, like a vest 'it&out sleeves,

'&ic& 'ere clasped toet&er on t&e 'arriorCs s&oulders and sides$ Eac&

&alf, fro# t&e neck to t&e 'aist, consisted of a nu#1er of #etallic plates

arraned &ori<ontall0 and fastened toet&er 10 a rined #es& 2kolchuga3$

&ese plates 'ere larer t&an t&e ones used in #akin t&e bakhterets$ &e

so called ;skirt;, '&ic& 'as #ail endin at t&e knees, 'as attac&ed at t&e

'aist$ &e kolontar Cs rear plates 'ere t&inner and s#aller t&an t&e front

ones$ B&en t&e kalantar'  'as used as part of cere#onial ar#or, and 'as

decorated 'it& old inla0, deep decorative patterns and enravins, itsprice rose to al#ost (+++ rou1les / an astrono#ical a#ount for t&e (Ft&

centur0$ A Russian ar#or of t&e kalantar'  t0pe 'as &i&l0 rearded 10 t&e

ro0alt0 of t&e ti#e includin nei&1ors of t&e Muscovite state$

 (olpak 

A &el#et consistin of a lo'er part, beneto, #ade of a c0lindrical rin ) or inc&es

'ide and a s#oot& conical upper part, t&e nabereshye$ It looks like a funnel

sittin on a tin can$ Return toop

 (olushchyeye oruzhiye / t&rustin 'eapons$

&rustin 'eapons, spears and pikes, 'ere a ver0 sinificant part of t&e ar#a#ent

of t&e ancient Russian 'arriors$ Spears and pikes often decided t&e success

of a 1attle, as in t&e 1attle of (F6 on t&e 5&a River in R0a<an territor0, in

'&ic& Muscovite cavalr0 polki  si#ultaneousl0, 'it& a spear t&rust fro#

t&ree sides, toppled t&e atar ar#0 and routed t&e#$ &e tips of t&e spears

'ere 'ell suited for piercin ar#or$ 8or t&is, t&e0 'ere #ade narro',

#assive, and lon, usuall0 tetra&edral$ &e tips, dia#ond s&aped, 'av0 like

a laurel leaf, or lon and 'ede s&aped could 1e used aainst an ene#0 '&o

'as not protected 10 ar#or$ &e t'o/#eter spears 'it& suc& tips inflicted

danerous laceration 'ounds and 1rou&t t&e speed0 deat& of t&e opponentor &is &orse$

"ikes &ad a 1lade fro# : to @$: c# 'ide and a lent& of t&e 'ede/s&aped tip up to

@+ c#$ So t&at it 'as easier for t&e 'arrior to &old and 1alance t&e 'eapon,

) or #etal knots 'ere fixed into t&e staff of t&e pike$

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A#on t&e variet0 of pikes 'as t&e ;sovna;, '&ic& &ad a curved 1lade 'it& one

ede sli&tl0 1ent and attac&ed at t&e end of a lon pole$

Metal spears 2>avelins3 'it& li&t and t&in staves up to ($: #eters lon 'ere

called ;sulitsi ;$ &ere are recorded cases '&en a sulitsa 'as not #ade of

#etal alone$ &e sulitsa 'as so#eti#es called a /erian$ &ree or #ore

sulitsi  'ere inserted in a s#all uiver called a zhi  'it& separateco#part#ents$ &e zhi  'as carried on a 1elt on t&e left side$ Return

toop

 (onchar 

See t&e #iddle 'eapon in t&is Illustration$ Also called a koncher or konchal, it 'as a

lon, strai&t s'ord 'it& a ver0 s&arp point and fas&ioned 'it& t&ree or

four sides called golomen yarni in a kind of dia#ond, 2r&o#1oid3 s&ape$ It

'as si#ilar to t&e 'estern rapier$ It 'as effective for a t&rustin

penetration of #ail$ It 'as a later develop#ent fro# t&e ancient mech$ It is

#entioned in literature first at t&e 9attle of -ulikovo in (6+, 1ut no dou1t'as developed earlier$ It 'as #ore 'idel0 used in t& (Ft& centur0, until

replaced 10 "eter I 'it& t&e shpaga$

 (onskii 2bor 

%orse furniture / tack / for illustration of a variet0 of ite#s please o to Misc$ %ere

'e &ave t'o illustrations of &orses co#pletel0 outfitted in Russian st0le$ See

&orse ( and &orse )$ 

 (op'ya

&e 1asic spear 'it& a point #ade of da#ask steel$ Return toop

 (ost 

 (uyak  

Sa#ples of t&e kuyak are s&o'n &ere and &ere$ Ar#or #ade of #etal plates 2usuall0

round, 1ut possi1l0 rectanular3 not connected to eac& ot&er 10 rins as a

kalantar , 1ut fixed, eac& separatel0, to t&e leat&er or clot& 1ase, 'as called a

;kuyak ;$ &e Ckuyak C 'as t&erefor different fro# t&e #uc& earlier t0pe of

ar#or in '&ic& t&e individual #etal plates 'ere attac&ed to eac& ot&er 10t&ons or rivets$ (uyaki  'ere #anufactured 'it& or 'it&out sleeves$ &e0

could &ave flaps, like a caftan$ &e kuyak  'as freuentl0 'orn over t&e

kol'chuga$ (uyaki  could 1e strent&ened on t&e 1reast and 1ack 10 lare

ar#or plates ;s&ields;$ &is t0pe of ar#or existed in Russia fro# t&e (t&

to t&e (Ft& centur0 and &ad close analos in t&e Best called a 1riantine,

1ut t&e 1riantine &ad t&e #etal plates inside 2under3 t&e leat&er coat$ &e

ter#kuyak  itself, fro# urkic ter#, appeared onl0 in t&e (@t& centur0$ It

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'as freuentl0 lined alon t&e edes at ar#pit, neck and 'aist 'it& fur

linin to preserve 1od0 &eat$ &e .&inese &ad a si#ilar t0pe of ar#or$

Return toop

 3ati (opieshchika 

Durin t&e ;i#e of rou1les; 'estern st0le #ilitar0 units entered Russia in t&e

attackin "olis& and S'edis& ar#ies, and so#e 'ere &ired as #ercenaries$

Durin t&e su1seuent reins of Mic&ael and especiall0 Alexei, #ore

#ercenaries 'ere &ired$ &en Russians 'ere orani<ed and outfitted to

for# ;ne' soldier; or CselectC units as 'estern st0le pike#en and

arue1usiers$ See t&is illustration for a la0out of t&e co#plete euip#ent of

soldiers in suc& units$ And t&is illustration s&o's a Cne' soldierC rei#ent

pike#an$

 3itchina

A #etal face #ask, enerall0 #ovea1le, usuall0 iven a rotesue desin$ It 'as

attac&ed to t&e &el#et 'it& a &ine$ S#aller for#s lookin like #asuerade

1all #asks 'ere called &alf/#ask$ Several varieties are s&o'n in t&e

illustrations section$ See t&ese Varanians for an especiall0 fine exa#ple$

Return toop

 3uchnik  H arc&er H (t& centur0$

&e ancient Slavs fou&t #ainl0 on foot at t&e da'n of t&eir &istor0$ &e ancient

Russian state, in t&e 'ar 'it& 90<antiu#, did not 0et &ave cavalr0$ &e

feudali<ation of societ0 and t&e #ilitar0 1rou&t t&e appearance of cavalr0at t&e end of t&e (+t& centur0$ &e rise of t&e use of cavalr0 'as pro#oted

10 t&e constant 'ar 'it& t&e steppe peoples H "ec&enes, urks, and

"olovetsians$

Around t&e ()t& centur0, Russian cavalr0 took s&ape as a sinificant

po'er, stoppin and repulsin t&e onslau&t of t&e no#ads at t&e 1orders

of t&e -ievan state$ .avalr0 ar#ies consisted of &eavil0 ar#ed &orse#en H

kope/shchiki  or lancers H and li&t cavalr0 H arc&ers$ &e kope/shchiki  

2lancers3 'ere a force speciall0 created for attacks and decisive first strikes$

&e 1atterin ra# action of a strike 10 t&e kope/shchiki  1efore t&e ene#0

attack, not infreuentl0 predeter#ined t&e outco#e of t&e 1attle$ &e

arc&ersC purpose 'as different$ &e0 executed ;intellience raids;reconnoitered t&e strent& of t&e ene#0, lured t&e# 'it& feints, and served

a uards$ &e #ain 'eapon of t&e arc&ers 'as t&e 1o' and arro', t&e0 also

carried an elonated axe, slins&ot, #ace, s&ield, or #etal ar#or of var0in

t0pes, '&ic& could 1e scale ar#or, t&e protot0pe of t&e later bakhterets$ &e

co#position of t&e arc&ers 'as pri#airl0 0oun, t&at is 0ouner t&an t&e

reulation for #e#1ers of t&e #ilitar0$

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&e 'arriorCs &ead 'as covered 'it& a &el#et and t&e poorer 'arriors &ad si#pl0

an iron cap, #ade fro# s&eet iron, or fored iron$ Return toop 

 3uk  / 1o', see illustration$

 +etatel'noye oruzhiye / s&ootin 'eapons$

&e entire set of euip#ent of an arc&er 'as called saaak  or sagaak. &e 1o' 'as

stored in a case called a naluch, or naluchie and carried on t&e left side$

Arro's for t&e 1o' could 1e #ade of reed, cane, 1irc&, apple 'ood, or

c0press$ &e case for &oldin t&e arro's 'as called a kolchan or tul  2uiver3

and 'as 'orn on t&e ri&t side$ &e naluch and kolchan 'ere often #ade of

Morocco leat&er, decorated 'it& e#1roider0, >e'els, velvet, or 1rocade$

9o's and arro's 'ere used since ancient ti#es, 1ot& as a &untin 'eapon and a

co#1at 'eapon$ 9o's 'ere #ade of 'ood 2>uniper, 1irc&, and ot&ers3 and

&orn$ Alread0 10 t&e (+t& centur0, 1o's in Russia 'ere of co#plex desin$&e #iddle part of t&e 1o' 'as called t&e ;&andle;, t&e '&ole 'ooden

piece t&e kibit $ &e lon, curved elastic &alf of t&e 1o' 'as called t&e

;&orns; or ;s&oulders;$ &e &orn 'as co#posed of t'o 'ooden plates,

'ell processed, fitted, and lued toet&er$ &eir flat sides 'ere covered 'it&

1irc& 1ark$ Sine's 'ere lued on t&e 1ack of t&e 1o' and fixed near t&e

&andle, and at t&e ends$ So#etines, to strent&en t&e elasticit0 of t&e 1o',

&orn or 1one plates 'ere used instead of 1irc& 1ark$ 4oints 1et'een t&e

separate pieces of t&e 1o' 'ere 'ound 'it& sine's, '&ic& 'ere t&en coated

'it& lue$ 8inall0, strips of 1irc& 1ark 'ere put over t&ese spots, 2t&e

 >oints3$ In t&e process of t&e 1o'sC #anufacture, ver0 dura1le fis& lue 'as

used$ Near t&e ends of t&e &orns, t&ere 'ere up'ard and do'n'ard slots$&e 1o'stin passed t&rou& t&e do'n'ard slots$ &e total lent& of t&e

1o' could co#prise t'o or #ore #eters$

A#on ot&er t0pes of dart/firin 'eapons, ar1alests or cross1o's are

'ort& #entionin$ &e cross1o' 'as inferior to t&e 1o' in ter#s of rate of

fire, 1ut excellent in ter#s of destructive po'er of t&e arro' and close

roupin of s&ots$ &e 1olt of a cross1o', launc&ed fro# )++ #eters could

t&ro' t&e rider fro# &is &orse and easil0 pierced an iron &au1erk$ Return

toop 

 +isyurka

&e +isyurka 'as an iron skull cap, 'it& an attac&ed barmitsa and ear flaps$ &e

ter#, shapka misurski, is also encountered$ &e ter# oriinates fro# t&e

Ara1ian 'ord ;misr ; ormisraim, '&ic& #eans E0pt$ "er&aps it could 1e

said t&at t&is 'as t&e #ost unpretentious &el#et Hprotectin onl0 t&e

cro'n of t&e 'arriorCs &ead$ In t&is it is different fro# t&e kolpak  or

shishak $ In Russia, misyurka is #entioned fro# t&e (*t& centur0$ &ere

'ere t'o st0les, one called anapleshnik  sho4n here, covered t&e sides and

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neck$ And t&e ot&er, a  prilbits sho4n here, 'as a veil over t&e face$ &e

locall0 #anufactured misyurka 'as a t0pical &ead protection 'orn 10

.aucasian #ountain peoples into t&e late (6t& centur0$ &ese #a0 1e seen

in #useu#s in Mosco' toda0$ In Bestern Europe a so#e'&at si#ilar &ead

coverin of #ail, 1ut 'it&out t&e iron skull cap, 'as called a coi!. Return

toop

 +yechi H s'ords

A sinle myech and a variet0 of sa1ers are s&o'n &ere$ A#on t&e t&rustin and

slas&in 'eapons, s'ords, knives, and sa1ers 'ere in eneral use all over

Russia$ &e standard 'eapon of t&e (+t& centur0 'as t&e myech, a lon, one

or t'o/eded, strai&t s'ord$ &e s'ord consisted of a klunok , 1lade 2'ide,

dou1le/eded #etallic 1and3 and krige 2 a &andleHt&e t&ree parts of

'&ic& 'ere called na balashnik , po##el, of '&ic& one for# 'as t&e

 yabloko/apple a s#all sp&ere at t&e end, t&e chyeryen /t&e rip itself and

t&e kryestovina, uard, of '&ic& one for# 'as t&e ognivo H t&e transversenarro' plate at t&e opposite end, ad>acent to t&e 1lade3$ Eac& flat side of

t&e 1lade 'as called golomeny or golomnya and t&e s&arp edes 'ere called

lezviya$ olomeni  &ad eit&er one 'ide roove, or several narro' ones$

9lades 'ere #ade of steel or iron$

&e s'ord 'as carried in t&e sca11ard, 1ound 'it& leat&er or velvet$ &e

sca11ard 'as #ade of iron and decorated 'it& old or silver inla0$ &e

s'ord 'as &un on t&e 1elt 10 #eans of t'o rins situated on t&e #out& of

t&e sca11ard$ &e knives used 10 Russian 'arriors 'ere of several kinds$

S&ort, dou1le/1laded knives, fixed 10 a &ook to t&e 1elt, 'ere called

 poyasnie$ -nives, sli&tl0 loner 'it& one 1lade, curved to t&e end, 'ere

called posayashiye$ &ese knives &un on t&e left side of t&e 1elt$ &eknives 'it& curved 1lades 2suc& 1lades 'ere called slyak  '&ic& 'ere

carried in t&e top of a 1oot, 'ere called zacapozhnye$ In t&e sout&ern areas

of ancient Russia, sa1ers ca#e into use on a lare scale fro# t&e (+t&

centur0$ In t&e Novorod reion, t&e sa1er 1eca#e popular later H

approxi#atel0 fro# t&e (t& centur0$ &e sa1er consisted of 1lade and

&andle krige$ &e s&arp side of t&e sa1er &ad a 1lade and a tilye H rear

part$ &e &andle 'as co#posed of t&e ognivo, t&e chyeryen, and t&e knot

'it& a &ole, for t&e temlyak  2a t0pe of cord3$

&e s'ord c&aned s&ape over t&e centuries as it 'as developed on t&e

1asis of experience to #eet ne' reuire#ents$ &e older mech of t&e 7t& /

(+t& centur0 &ad a flat, 'ide 1lade 'it& edes parallel al#ost to t&e rat&er

1lunt end$ It 'as exclusivel0 a strikin 'eapon$ In Russia 10 t&e ()t& to

(t& centuries of all t0pes of s'ords kno'n t&en in Bestern Europe 'ere in

use$ &e 1asic t0pes 'ere t&e so/called .arolinian s'ords / t&e loner 2t&e

lent& of t&e s'ord 'as 6+/7+ c#, 'idt& of t&e 1lade 'as :/@ c#3$ &e

Ro#an t0pe appears a little later, 'it& disk like rip$ Until approxi#atel0

in t&e (t& centur0 t&e s'ord 'as still used #ostl0 as a strikin 'eapon$ In

t&e second &alf of t&e (t& centur0 t&e t&rustin s'ord also appeared$ &is

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&ad a #ore tapered 1lade 'it& s&arper point$ In t&e (t& centur0 t&e 1lades

of s'ords increased in si<e and t&e s'ord 1elt 'as strent&ened, '&ic&

increased t&e strikin po'er of t&is danerous 'eapon$ In t&e (*t& centur0

t&e &ue s'ord 'it& lent& up to ()+/(*+ c# 'as 'idespread$ 90 t&e (@t&

and (Ft& centuries entirel0 ne' for#s of s'ord 'ere developed and t&e

mech &ad onl0 a s0#1olic use$ Return toop

 5agavits

Mail stockins or &ose, called c&ausse in 'estern Europe$

 5akol'nok 

A t0pe of plate ar#or coverin t&e s&oulder, see illustration$$ It rese#1led t&e

'estern paulron$ Return toop

 5aluch

&e 1o' 'as stored in a case called a naluch, or naluchie and carried on t&e left

side$ &enaluch 'as often #ade of Morocco leat&er, decorated 'it&

e#1roider0, >e'els, velvet, or 1rocade$ See t&is illustration$

 5apleshnik 

A st0le of barmitsa. See illustration$ &is consisted of onl0 one veil '&ic& covered t&e

ears and 'as fastened to t&e lo'er ede of t&e skull cap or it also could 1e

attac&ed to t&e rin of t&e &el#et$ Return toop

 5aruch / 'estern vambrace

See illustration$ %ere is anot&er naruch.  It rese#1led t&e "ersian bazuban #ore

t&an t&e 'estern vambrace$ In "oland it 'as called a kar4asz $ &is 'as

'orn to protect t&e forear#, especiall0 10 'arriors '&ose kol'chuga did not

&ave sleeves$ 5aruchi  consisted of a convex #ain plate to cover t&e outer

side of t&e ar#, 'it& t&e el1o' end freuentl0 rounded$ &is 'as fastened

to chrevtsi  2rectanular plates3 1ound at t&e 'rist and fixed to t&e ar# 10

#eans of s#all straps$ &e #ain plate in so#e naruchi extended 'ell past

t&e el1o' endin in a se#i/circular fas&ion$ Often t&e naruch 'as attac&ed

directl0 to t&e rukavitsa, #ail or scale auntlet$ Bealt&0 'arriors #i&t&ave &i&l0 decorated naruchi $ Return toop

 5osh

A knife$ See illustration for exa#ples of t&e various t0pes listed &ere 'it& t&eir

sca11ards$ &ere 'ere several variations called poyasni, posaiashni,

 zasapozhni $ So#e &ad 1lades 'it& ver0 pronounced curvature$ &e poyasni  

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'ere s&ort 'it& 1ot& edes s&arp$ 1oyasni  'ere 'orn fastened to t&e 1oot,

 posaiashni at t&e 1elt on t&e left side near t&e 1o' case$ In 'estern

Europe one si#ilar knife 'as called a poinard$

 1alash

A ver0 lon, strai&t s'ord 'it& a 'ide 1lade$ Earl0 t0pes 'ere t'o/eded, 1ut later

a sinle/eded for# 'as e#plo0ed$ &ere 'as a c&annel do'n t&e lent& of

t&e 1lade$ It differed fro# t&e mech also in t&at t&e rip 'as curved and

&ad no po##el$ 9ut it &as a closed uard$ See t&e 1otto# 'eapon in t&is

illustration$ It 'as a later develop#ent fro# t&e mech in t&e (@t& and later

centuries$ Often in t&e (@t& centur0 it 'as carried in a sca1ard attac&ed to

t&e left side of t&e saddle instead of to t&e 'arrior &i#self$ &e 'eapon is

called pallasch in !er#an, palasz  in "olis& and pallos in %unarian, 1ut

co#es fro# t&e urkis&, pala$ "eter I ar#ed &is ne' draoon rei#ents

'it& t&is t0pe of s'ord$ o o1tain sufficient uantities &e i#ported t&e# as

'ell as #anufactured t&e# in Russia$ In t&e (6t& and (7t& centur0 it 'ast&e &eav0 cavalr0#anCs s'ord$ &e draoon palash &ad a curved

&anduard$ &e officer #odel &ad a 1asket &ilt$ &ere 'as also a s&orter,

naval version$ Durin t&e rein of E#press Eli<a1et&, t&e curiassier  palash 

reac&ed a lent& of 7@ c#$ 'it& a 6*$: c#$ 1lade t&at 'as *$: c#$ 'ide$ &e

 palash 'as still in use durin t&e .ri#ean Bar$ A derivation of t&e palash 

re#ained in use in t&e Russian nav0$ Return toop

 1alitsa

A lare cudel 'it& iron spikes$ It 'as also called an oslop. &is pri#itive 'eapon is

seen in illustrations of peasants fi&tin t&e 8renc& durin t&e Napoleonicinvasion of (6()$

 1antsir' cheshuichatii  ((t& .entur0$

One st0le of pantsir' is s&o'n &ere on t&e left$ 90 t&e ((t& and ()t& centuries,

&eavil0 ar#ored &orse#en co#prised t&e 1asis of t&e cavalr0 forces$ &eir

defensive ar#or 'as alread0 'ell kno'n fro# t&e ((t& centur0 H scale

ar#or, 2cheshuychatypantsir 3$ &e pantsir  toet&er 'it& a s&ield, could

sufficientl0 and relia1l0 protect t&e cavalr0#an 1ot& durin t&e 1atterin

c&are t&at usuall0 1ean a cavalr0 1attle and durin t&e &and/to/&and

co#1at t&at follo'ed t&e #ounted t&rust$Scale ar#or 'as #ade of steel plates t&at 'ere fastened to a leat&er or clot&

1ase on one side onl0$ At t&e >oint, t&e plates overlapped one anot&er and in

t&e center, eac& of t&e# 'as riveted to t&e foundation$ Suc& pantsiri  

reac&ed t&e knee$ &e &e# and sleeves, if lain out flat, 'ere so#eti#es

loner t&an t&e '&ole pantsir $ &e representation of t&e si#ilar ;plate

ar#or; can 1e seen on t&e #iniatures and ikons of t&e ()t& to (*t&

centuries and also on t&e frescoes of t&e Uspenski .at&edral in t&e Mosco'

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-re#lin, and on t&e carved 'ooden t&rone of Ivan t&e erri1le t&at is kept

in t&e cat&edral$ .o#pared to t&e plate &au1erk, t&e scale &au1erk 'as

flexi1le, as t&e 1ulin scales, attac&ed to t&e foundation onl0 on one side,

afforded t&e 'arrior dressed in suc& a pantsir  reater #o1ilit0, '&ic& 'as

especiall0 i#portant for a cavalr0#an$

 1antsir' plastinchatii  H "late ar#or (t& centur0$

&at is ar#or #ade of #etal plates$ &e plates of suc& ar#or could var0 reatl0,

suare, &alf/circular, 'ide/rectanular, or narro'/o1lon, 'it& a t&ickness

fro# $: to ) ##$ On t&e plates 'ere several s#all &oles, t&rou& '&ic& t&e

plates 'ere fastened 'it& t&read or straps to a leat&er or clot& foundation$

On t&e older pantsiri  t&ere 'as no foundation$ &e plates connected onl0

'it& one anot&er, and t&e pantsir  'as put on over a t&ick uilted coat or a

kol'chuga$ All t&e plates 'ere independent and overlappin, one over t&e

ot&er, '&ic& reinforced t&e se'n c&aracter of t&e ar#or$ 1antsiri  of t&is

s0ste# H ;1elt fastened; H existed in Russia until t&e end of t&e (:t&centur0$ Return toop

 1ishchal  / earl0 firear#, also called ruchnitsa$ 8or sa#ples &eld in t&e Artiller0

Museu# in St$ "eters1ur o &ere$ And for anot&er sa#ple of even earlier

firear#s o &ere$ And for earl0 flintlocks$

 1ozor  .lot&in 'orn under ar#or to protect t&e 1od0$ &is is readil0 apparent in

t&e illustrations of 'arriors s&o'n in "art IV$ Return toop 

 1okrovits / &orse 1lanket$ Bealt&0 individuals &ad ver0 expensive 1lankets #ade

'it& ela1orate decorations$ So#e look like "ersian rus$ See also t&e1lankets under t&e saddles in t&e ot&er illustrations$

 1onozhi 

Le protection, reaves$ See buturlik  for description and illustrations$ Return toop

 1rilbits

A st0le of t&e barmitsa 'orn 'it& a misyurka. See illustration$ Or, if t&is #ail 'as

attac&ed directl0 to t&e &el#et instead of to a skull cap, t&en it 'as a t0pe of

barmitsa. &is one covered t&e front of t&e face like a Mosle# 'o#anCs veil$It &ad narro' slits for t&e e0es$ &e lo'er part 'as called a bentsa and t&e

upper part t&e cherepa$ Return toop

 Ratnik  H 'arrior$

At t&e 1einnin of t&e ()t& centur0, defensive 1attles versus t&e no#adic tri1es

1eca#e t&e c&ief concern of Russian 'arriors$ A ratnik $ 8or t&is reason

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ar#or did not 1eco#e so &eav0 and i##o1ile as t&at c&aracteristic of

Bestern Europe$ 9attles 'it& no#adic &orse#en reuired uick

#aneuvers and #o1ilit0 of t&e Russian forces$ %orses pla0ed an i#portant

role on t&e field of 1attle$ %o'ever, often t&e infantr0 advanced 1efore t&e

cavalr0, 1einnin t&e 1attle$ Durin t&e ()t& centur0, #ixed infantr0 and

cavalr0 1attles, t&at took place at t&e 'alls and 1attle#ents of t&e cities,'ere t0pical$ Infantr0#en H peshtsi  H 'ere used for t&e defense of t&e cit0

'alls and ates, to cover t&e rear of t&e cavalr0, for t&e construction of

necessar0 transportation and enineerin 'orks, for reconnaissance, and

retaliator0 #issions$ A &orse#an '&o 'as 'ell protected 10 a pantsir  could

even &old in &is &ands a strikin 'eapon$ 8or t&e cavalr0#en, t&e #ost

i#portant 'eapons 'ere t&e #ace and t&e 1ludeon, t&at allo'ed uick

das&in strikes t&at 'ould stun t&e ene#0, and s'ift s&iftin of t&e 1attle to

anot&er place in t&e fi&t$ One or t'o spears, a sa1er or s'ord, a cross1o'

or 1o' 'it& arro's, a 1ludeon, a #ace, and a 1attle axe 'ere all included

in t&e 'arriorCs euip#ent$

&e infantr0 'as ar#ed 'it& various t0pes of 'eapons H t&ro'in'eapons, slas&in 'eapons, and strikin 'eapons$ &eir clot&in and

ar#a#ent 'as, on t&e '&ole, si#pler t&an t&at of t&e reular ar#ed forces,

since t&e detac&#ents of infantr0#en in t&eir #asses, 'ere #ade up of

co##oners, artisans, and not professional soldiers$ &e infantr0Cs #ain

'eaponr0 on t&e #arc& 'ere t&e axe, a &eav0 lance, and a sulitsa, a cudel

and a pike$ &e ar#or on an infantr0#an 'as #ore often #ail, 1ut t&at

'as t&e extent of it$ Infantr0 of t&e ()t& centur0 used 1ot& round and

al#ond/s&aped s&ields$ Return toop 

 Rina / 1od0uard of sars in (@t& /(Ft& centuries$

In t&e (@/(Ft& centuries t&e reat prince and tsar kept ar#ed 1od0uards, 2rini 3,

'&o acco#panied t&e# on ca#pains and trips$ Durin t&e ti#e of sole#n

court cere#onials t&e rini  stood #otionless on eit&er side of t&e t&rone in

parade unifor#$ &e ter# itself ca#e fro# a #ore ancient ti#e$ "rince

D#itri, durin t&e -ulikovo 9attle ;ordered &is rini  to &old a reat 1lack

1anner over t&e &ead of Mik&ail Andr0e0evic& 9renk ;2Nikon c&ronicle3$

B&en rini  perfor#ed t&eir service at court, t&eir ar#a#ent consisted of

lare posolcki topor  a#1assadorsC axes$ 2an indispensa1le o1>ect of t&e

audiences t&at t&e Mosco' ruler ave forein a#1assadorsG fro# t&is ca#e

t&e na#e topor $ &e topor  'as #ade fro# ordinar0 and da#ask steel

decorated 'it& silver and old appliues$ &e &andle of t&e topor  'as

covered 'it& >e'els$ %o'ever, so#eti#es ilded copper 'as suita1le$ !o to

A#1assador &ere$

 Rogatina

A 1oar spear$ Several are s&o'n in t&e upper part of t&is illustration$ It &ad a 'ider

1lade t&an ordinar0 spears 2kopya3$ &e 1utt end 'ould &ave an apple

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s&aped kno1 to i#prove t&e 1alance$ So#e 'ere ric&l0 decorated 'it&

oldand silver$ &ese 'ere #entioned as earl0 at (t& centur0 c&ronicles$

Return toop 

 Ruchnitsa

Bas also called ;ruchnayha pishchal C$ See illustration$ It &ad an iron 1arrel, t&at

'as strapped to a carved 'ooden stick, '&ic& also served as t&e &andle$

Earl0 #odels &ad t&e 1arrel extended for'ard, #ostl0 'it&out support$

Later #odels &ad t&e 1arrel nestled into a c&annel cut in t&e 'ood$ As ti#e

'ent on skilled ar#orers 'ould decorate t&ese 'eapons 'it& #etal plates

on t&e sides of t&e 'ooden &andle$ &ese could 1e uite ela1orate, 'it&

filaree and nielo 'ork desins$ &e ter#, pistol, also ca#e to 1e used$

B&en t&e firear# 'as co#1ined 'it& a s#all axe, it 'as called a pistol' c

toporkam or ruchnitsi c torporkami $ See toporkam $  Return toop

 Rukavitsa

Bere auntlets or #ittens to protect t&e &and$ See illustration and anot&er s&o'n

&ere$ &e0 'ere #ade of leat&er or uilted paddin, 'it& a #etal fis&net or

series of flexi1le plates on t&e upperside$ As can 1e seen &ere, t&e upper side

could 1e ela1oratel0 decorated$

 Ru'yashchyeye oruzhiey H c&oppin 'eapons$

&e axe 'as ver0 'idespread a#on t&e c&oppin 'eapons in Old Russian ar#ies$

It 'as used 1ot& 10 rulers and t&eir 1od0uards$ and 10 #e#1ers of t&e

peopleCs #ilitia, 1ot& foot soldiers and cavalr0#en$ %o'ever, t&ere 'as onedistinctionG foot soldiers #ore often used lare axes, cavalr0#en ;little

axes;, t&at is, s&ort axes$ 9ot& t&ese and ot&er axes 'ere placed on 'ooden

&andles 'it& #etal ends$ &e 1ack, flat part of t&e axe, 'as called t&e 1utt

t&e 1lade, t&e pick$ &e 1lades of t&ese axes 'ere trape<odial in s&ape$ &e

axes t&e#selves 'ere divided into t&e poleaxe&a##er and t&e axe#ace

cateories$

A peculiarl0 Russian lon, 1road axe 'as called berysh$ See illustrations of

streltsi  &ere and in t&e eneral illustrations section$ Return toop 

%al1erds s&o'n &ere, appeared at t&e 1einnin of t&e (Ft& centur0 in t&eRussian ar#0 2oriinall0 in t&e ti#e around 8alse D#itri3$ &ese 'ere

altered axes 'it& a distinct s&ape endin in a lance and often adorned 'it&

ilt or platin$ &e 1lade 'as stuck on a lon staff 2or axe &andle3$ Ot&er

'estern st0le 'eapons, suc& as t&e parti<an and espontoon, #ade t&eir

appearance at t&e sa#e ti#e$

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&e &a##er, '&ic& varied in appearance and s&arpness on t&e side of t&e 1utt, 'as

called t&e chekan or klevets$ &e chekan 'as attac&ed at t&e end of t&e

&andle$ &ere 'ere chekani  'it& a concealed daer t&at could 1e

unscre'ed$ &e chekan served not onl0 as a 'eapon, 1ut also it 'as

distinctive and suita1le as a #ilitar0 s0#1ol$ !o to oru<&ie0$

 aaak 

&e entire set of euip#ent of an arc&er / 1o', 1o' case, uiver, and arro's / 'as

called saaak  or sagaak. Return toop

 abel 

A sa1er$ &is t0pe of s'ord 'as introduced fro# t&e Middle East and Asia$ &e

oldest for#s are found in 1urial kurans on t&e steppes, datin fro# t&e

(+t& and ((t& centuries$ &ere 'ere #an0 varieties and st0les$ &e streltsi

carried a urkis& st0le sa1er$ In t&e (@++Cs it 1eca#e so 'idespread t&ateven to'n arrisons and ate uards carried sa1ers$ B&en "eter I ar#ed

&is draoons 'it& t&e palas&, t&e sa1er re#ained in use onl0 10 irreular

cavalr0 suc& as t&e Don and Little Russian .ossacks and t&e sinle &ussar

unit for#ed in (F) fro# Ser1ians$ Later, as li&t cavalr0 in t&e for# of

&ussars and lancers aain increased in nu#1er, t&e sa1er returned to favor$

Still later, in t&e (7t& centur0 t&e sa1er 'as raduall0 replaced 10 t&e

shashka. Onl0 &ussars a#on t&e cavalr0 retained t&e sa1er$ &ere 'ere

#ore c&anes in t&e (7t& centur0 in 'ei&t, lent&, and curvature$ Russian

artiller0#en carried sa1ers 'ell into t&e (7t& centur0$ Anot&er for# 'as

t&e polusablye or &alf/sa1er$ &is 'as in voue durin t&e rein of

Eli<a1et& and .at&erine II in t&e second &alf of t&e (6t& centur0$ See alsoSa1ers for #ore t0pes$

 amopal 

er# for earl0 firear#s$ See illustration$

 amostrel  H cross1o' H (*t& centur0$

See illustration$ Rad<i'ilCs .&ronicle 2dated ((:73 'as t&e first one '&ic&

#entioned t&e cross1o'Cs use in Russia$ &is 'eapon, '&ile considera1l0

inferior to t&e 1o' 'it& respect to rate of fire 2arc&ers launc&edapproxi#atel0 (+ arro's per #inute, t&e arbaletnik  onl0 one or t'o3,

exceeded it 'it& respect to destructive po'er of t&e arro' and close

roupin of s&ots$ &e 1olt #anaed to pierce &eav0 ar#or at considera1le

distance$ &e cross1o' consisted of a 'ooden stock, '&ic& usuall0 ended in

a 1utt$ &ere 'as a lonitudinal roove alon t&e stock, and t&e s&ort

arro', ;1olt;, 'as inserted into it$ On t&e opposite end of t&e stock, a s&ort,

and extre#el0 po'erful 1o' 'as attac&ed$ It 'as #ade of steel, 'ood, or

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&orn$ o c&are t&e cross1o', t&e cross1o'#an set &is le aainst a stirrup

and dre' t&e 1o'/strin 1ack, fastenin it 'it& a &ook, called a ;nut;$

B&en s&ootin, a 1ent lever slid out of t&e &ollo' of t&e nut$ &e latter

turnin around, released t&e 1o' strin and t&e 1olt coupled 'it& it$ &e

strin of t&e earl0 #odels of cross1o's 'as dra'n 1ack 10 &and$ 8ro# t&e

second &alf of t&e ()t& centur0 t&e 'aist &ook ca#e into use$ 90 #eans oft&at device, t&e cross1o'#an, strai&tenin &is 1od0, pulled t&e strin up

to t&e nut$ In t&e (t& centur0, cross1o's 'ere c&ared 10 #eans of a

1race$ It is 'ort& #entionin t&at t&e #ost ancient European 'aist/&ook

'as found durin t&e excavation of I<iaslavl 2in t&e Vol0ina area3$ !o to

cross1o'$ Return toop

 ekir 

A co#1at for# of t&e topor $ It &ad a 'ooden &andle and t&e &a##er &ead 'as

s&aped like a &alf #oon$ On t&e ot&er side 'as a &ook '&ic& infantr0 could

use to pull riders off &orses$

 hapka

One variet0 of protective &eadear 'as called t&e shapka bumazhnaya,,, ;paper

cap; see illustration$ It 'as #anufactured of cotton and silk fa1rics

coverin a interior 'addin of clot& or paper and so#eti#es 'as

strent&ened 10 a #ail net fastened inside$ It 'as freuentl0 strent&ened

'it& t&e attac&#ent of an iron nose uard and ear and neck uards$ It 'as

used on a lare scale in t&e (@t& centur0, especiall0 10 poorer 'arriors$

Anot&er &el#et 'as t&e shapka #edlena0a, a copper cap, see illustration,

'&ic& is freuentl0 s&o'n 'it& ela1orate decorations$ &e #an on t&e leftis 'earin a kolantar and t&e #an on t&e ri&t &as on a kuyak $ And t&e

t&ird 'as t&e shapka zhel'eznaya, a ver0 si#ple, c&eap, iron cap$ &e0 are

'earin t&e padded clot& tel'yagi. One of t&e# looks al#ost like a &el#et

fro# Borld Bar One$ All t&ese 'ere relativel0 si#ple and enerall0 'orn

10 lo'er ranks or foot soldiers$ All #ilitar0 &eadear &ad a leat&er skullcap

inside to protect t&e 'earer fro# c&afin$ Return toop

 hashka / cavalr0 s'ord

In appearance t&e shashka 'as #id'a0 1et'een a full sa1er and a strai&t s'ord$ It

&ad a sli&tl0 curved 1lade 'it& dou1le edes and could 1e effective for1ot& slas&in and t&rustin$ &e 1lade 'as eit&er &ollo'ed or fullered$

&ere 'as no uard, 1ut a lare, curved po##el$ &e &ilt 'as freuentl0

&i&l0 decorated$ It 'as carried in a 'ooden sca1ard t&at enclosed part of

t&e &ilt$ It 'as 'orn 'it& t&e cuttin ede to t&e rear, opposite to t&e sa1er$

It 'as a t0picall0 .aucasian 2.ircassian3 for# of sa1er, loner t&an t&e

cossack t0pe$ It raduall0 replaced t&e sa1er in all cavalr0 units except

&ussars durin t&e (7t& centur0$ Russian troops, &avin encountered it

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durin t&eir conuest of t&e .aucasus, prefered it to t&eir issue sa1ers$ It

'as adopted first 10 t&e Russian .aucasian .orps in t&e (6+Cs$ In t&e (7t&

centur0 it 'as i#ported fro# !er#an0$ In (66), '&en t&e cavalr0 'as

reorani<ed, t&e reular draoons 'ere ar#ed 'it& t&e shashka$ .ossacks

&ad received t&is t0pe of s'ord earlier$ Several for#s of s&as&ka 'ere

carried 10 Soviet cavalr0 into t&e Second Borld Bar$

 hchiti  H s&ields$

Until t&e appearance of &el#ets and kol'chuga 2 #ail3, t&e ancient Slavs protected

t&e#selves 'it& an0t&in t&at 'ould serve as a s&ield$ &e ancient Russian

s&ield 26t& to ((t& centuries3, '&ic& 'as round and reac&ed one uarter of

t&e &ei&t of a #an, 'as suita1le for defense aainst 1lo's$ In profile, suc&

a s&ield 'as oval, or funnel s&aped, '&ic& reinforced its protective

properties$ 9efore t&is, s&ields 'ere 'ooden, flat, consistin of several close/

fittin la0ers of planks$ A circular &ole 'as cut in t&e center, '&ic& 'as

closed fro# t&e outside 'it& an e#1ossed #etal plate, an umbon$ On t&eopposite side of t&e s&ield a slat 'as fastened so t&at t&e s&ield could 1e

carried on t&e ar#$ In t&e (+t& centur0 t&e s&ield 'as li&t, and suita1le for

1ot& foot and &orse#en$ &e round s&ield is considered to 1e t&e earliest$

8ro# t&e second &alf of t&e (+t& centur0, lon oval s&ields 'ere used, and

fro# t&e ((t& centur0, t&e al#ond s&aped eneral European s&ields ca#e

into use$

Al#ond/s&aped s&ields, '&ic& defended &orse#en fro# t&e c&in to t&e

knees, replaced circular ones in t&e ()t& centur0$ As a #easure of t&e

i#prove#ent of t&e &el#et, t&e top of t&e s&ield 'as flattened$ In t&e

second uarter of t&e (t& centur0 t&e trianular s&ield 'it& a curve H

t&at is a ;a1led; s&ield appeared, '&ic& 'as &eld close to t&e 1od0$ &ent&ere 'ere curved trape<oidal s&ields$ 8ro# t&e end of t&e (t& centur0

s&ields of co#plex s&apes, t&at protected t&e c&est of t&e cavalr0#an fro#

a spear t&rust, entered reular use$ In t&e (*t& centur0 t&e evolution of

defensive ar#a#ent lead to t&e develop#ent of t&e s&ield 'it& a c&ute on

t&e front, '&ic& served as a co#part#ent for t&e &ands and facilitated

#aneuverin t&e s&ield in 1attle$ In Bestern Europe suc& s&ields, t&at

attained a lent& of (+ c# 'ere called pavise$

It is kno'n t&at s&ields of differin s&apes existed toet&er over a lon period of

ti#e$ 8or exa#ple, trape<oidal s&ields 'ere in use alon 'it& round s&ields,

etc$ S&ields 'ere #ade of iron, 'ood, reeds, or skins$ &e #ost 'idespread

'ere 'ooden s&ields$ &e s&ieldCs ri# 'as called t&e cro'n and t&e space

1et'een cro'n and cap 'as called t&e ka/mo/ $ &e rear side of t&e s&ield

&ad a linin, and t&e s&ield 'as &eld on t&e &and 'it& 1indins H stolbtsi $

Inside t&e s&ield 'as t&e venets$ &e colorin of t&e s&ield could 1e

co#pletel0 varia1le, 1ut t&e o1vious preference for red extends over t&e

'&ole existance of Russian ar#or$ &e atars 1rou&t round s&ields 'it&

t&e#, '&ic& influenced Russian ar#a#ent fro# t&e later (t& centur0$

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&el#et$ &e ;nose; 'as raised and lo'ered 10 #eans of shyurupts 2a t0pe

of scre'3$ &e #ask or litchina 'as usuall0 i##o1ile, 1ut so#eti#es it 'as

attac&ed 10 &ines, and could 1e raised$ &e 'arriorCs neck 'as protected

10 a nettin 2called barmitsa3, #ade of t&e sa#e kind of rins as t&e

kol'chuga$ It 'as attac&ed to t&e &el#et in t&e rear and at t&e sides$ Si#pler

&el#ets H 'it&out an0 additional protective parts for t&e face H 'erefastened around t&e 1ase to a &oop, '&ic& could 1e orna#ented$ &e &oop

&ad several &oles for t&e barmitsa$ %ere is an exa#ple of an earl0 st0le

Russian &el#et created for reenactors toda0$ Illustration$ 

In t&e ((t&/ (t& centuries &el#ets took ne' s&apes$ &e s&el# 'as replaced 10 t&e

misyurka and yerikonka$ Later still t&e shishak  and kolpak  1eca#e co##on$

So#e ti#es a 'arriorCs &ead coverin &ad a &i&, 1ell/s&aped cro'n and

lon point$ In Russia &el#ets of cupola s&ape and sp&erical for# 'ere

predo#inant$ Often t&e elonated top of t&e &el#et ended 'it& a 1us&in

t&at 'as so#eti#es furnis&ed 'it& a fla, a yalovtsa$ Bealt&0 'arriors &ad

&el#ets t&at 'ere finis&ed 'it& silver and old and so#eti#es 'ere entirel0ilt$ Return toop

 hlem 'it& se#i/visor 2&alf #ask3 and armitsa #ail ()/( cent$

In Russia at t&e end of t&e ()t& and into t&e (t& centuries in connection 'it&

eneral European tendencies to'ard strent&enin defensive ar#or,

&el#ets 1ean to &ave visors / t&at is zabralom / protectin t&e 'arriorCs

face fro# strikin as 'ell as fro# s&ootin 1lo's$ &e visor 'as supplied

'it& slits for t&e e0es and nose openins, and covered t&e face eit&er

&alf'a0 2&alf visor3 or co#pletel0$ &e &el#et 'it& visor 'ere put on over

t&e soft &ead cap and 'as 'orn 'it& barmitsi , t&e rined nettin partcoverin as a rule all t&e face, neck and s&oulders of t&e 'arrior$ &e visor

2lichina3 'it& veil, 1esides its direct purpose / to protect t&e 'arriorCs face /

'as supposed to &ave t&e appearance to fri&ten t&e ene#0$ 8or t&is t&e0

'ere often #ade in t&e for# of &ideous #asks$

 hpaga later ter# for a &eav0 s'ord$ It &ad t&e four sides 2r&o#1oid s&ape3 of t&e 

konchar $ &is 'as t&e 1asic t0pe of s'ord used in t&e (Ft& centur0 10 t&e

Cne' st0leC rei#ents, 1ot& infantr0 and cavalr0, for#ed on t&e 'estern

#odel$ "eter I in (F+6 ar#ed all &is infantr0 'it& t&e s&paa$ &en in (F*(

infantr0 privates 'ere ar#ed 'it& t&e tesak and t&e strai&t 1laded s&paa

re#ained onl0 'it& officers and uards rei#ent #usketeers$ !raduall0 it

1eca#e onl0 a parade 'eapon$ 9ut in t&e (7t& centur0 it 'as in fas&ion for

civilians and as a s'ord of &onor$

 ovna

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A#on t&e variet0 of pikes 'as t&e ;sovna;, '&ic& &ad a curved 1lade 'it& one

s&arp ede sli&tl0 1ent at t&e end of a lon pole$ &e 1otto# spear in t&is

illustration is a sovna. Return toop

 trela / arro'

&e parts of t&e arro' includedG pyer'ye / feat&ers, ushko / notc&, Dyeryevo / s&aft,

and kop'yetso / point$ See t&e illustrations of t&e arc&er and of t&e co#plete

saaak $

 tyag  H 1anner$

&e sinificance of t&e 1anner in ancient Russian ar#ies is enor#ous$ 9efore a

1attle t&e ar#0 dre' up in 1attle for#ation around t&e 1anner '&en t&e

1attle 1roke up into a nu#1er of &and/to/&and skir#is&es, t&e 1anner

served t&e 'arriors as an orientation point, t&e place to at&er toet&er

2reroup3 and t&e indicator of t&e 1attleCs proress, at t&e sa#e ti#e$ B&ent&e ene#0 ;reac&ed and &e'ed do'n t&e 1anner;, defeat 'as i##anent$

&is 'as follo'ed 10 t&e retreat of t&e ar#0$ &at is '&0 durin t&e inter/

princel0 'ars, t&e rivals did t&eir 1est to take possession of t&e princesC

1anner H t&e 1attleCs result 'as deter#ined 10 t&e fate of t&e 1anner t&e

#ost violent fi&tin took place around t&e 1anner$ Oriinall0, t&e 1anner

'as decorated 'it& a princeCs e#1le#$ 90 t&e end of t&e (*t& centur0, t&e

i#ae of 4esus .&rist 'as placed on t&e 1anner$ ;And t&e soverein

co#pelled to unfurl t&e .&ristian/ /$ &at is t&e 1anner, carr0in t&e i#ae

of our Lord 4esus .&rist; 2NikonCs .&ronicle of t&e 9attle of -ulikovo3$

Actuall0 at t&at ti#e, t&e ter# 0namya ca#e into use$ 9ot& ter#s styag  and znamya existed so to sa0, side/10/side until t&e (Ft& centur0$ In t&e (Ft& centur0, t&e

'ord styag  'as no loner in use$ In t&e (@t& centur0 ever0 polk  &ad its ;1i

1anner;$ Ever0 centur0 2(++ #an unit3 into '&ic& t&e polk  'as divided,

&ad its ;s#aller 1anner;$

&e 1anners 'ere ranted 10 t&e soverein to t&e Don and 5aporo<&ian ar#ies, to

t&e voyevoes for #arc&es and service, and sent to t&e .ircassian prince at

Astrak&an$ &e 1anners differed fro# one anot&er in value, s0#1oli<in

t&e level of respecta1ilit0 of t&e 1earer$ %ere is an exa#ple of a 1anner 

fro# t&e (:t& centur0$ See Ivan 1anner for t&e fa#ous 1anner of Ivan IV

fro# (:@+$ Return toop

 ulitsa

Metal spears 2>avelins3 'it& li&t and t&in staves up to ($: #eters lon 'ere called

sulitsi $ &ere are recorded cases '&en a sulitsa 'as not #ade of #etal

alone$ &e sulitsa 'as so#eti#es called a /erian$ Return toop

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"arch 

&e s&ield lost its co#1at usefulness and 1eca#e #erel0 a cere#onial o1>ect 10 t&e

(@t& centur0$ &is applies also to t&e s&ield, '&ose upper part consisted of a

#etallic sleeve 'it& a 1lade &e 'arrior put &is ar# into t&is sleeve$ Suc&

a s&ield, 'it& a 1lade, 'as called a tarch 2fro# t&e Ara1ian 'ord ;turs;,#eanin s&ield3 and 'as desined to 1e used durin t&e defense of

fortresses, t&ou& it 'as rarel0 seen in practice$ See illustration$ Also see

"art III for anot&er illustration of a tarch in use or look &ere$

"essak 

A later for# of mech, see t&e top 'eapon in t&is illustration, '&ic& differed in 1ein

sinle/eded instead of dou1le/eded$ Leonid arassuk 'rites t&at t&is

s'ord 'as introduced fro# t&e .<ec&s$ &is 'eapon 'as supplied to

infantr0 as t&eir standard &aner in (F*(, replacin t&e shpaga. In (6(F t&e

sappers and pioneers 'ere ar#ed 'it& a for# of tessak $ In t&e (7t& centur0t&e tessak 'as standard for infantr0 until (66+, '&en it 'as taken fro#

sappers and infantr0, re#ainin onl0 'it& t&e life uard sapper 1attalion$

Return toop 

"okhta

.lot& coverin for 1o' case and uiver$ &e0 are s&o'n &ere$

"opor 

Militar0 axe, or toporok, enerall0 a cere#onial 'eapon$ &e cere#onial2a#1asadorCs3 topor  'as #ade fro# ordinar0 and da#ask steel decorated

'it& silver and old appliues$ &e &andle of t&e topor  'as covered 'it&

 >e'els$ %o'ever, so#eti#es ilded copper 'as suita1le$ SeeRinda$ 9ut

co#1at t0pes of toporki  axe carried 10 cavalr0 'ere si#ilar to axes used 10

co##on 'orkers$ Return toop

ru#pet

&e #ost popular of t&e #usical instru#ents '&ic& acco#panied troops durin t&e

ca#pains 'as t&e tru#pet$ At first, t&e tru#pets 'ere strai&t, 'it&out

1ends, like a pastoral &orn$ Later, t&e0 'ere #ade of t&ree 1ends, arranedat eual distance fro# one anot&er, >oined toet&er 10 transverse cross

pieces$ So#eti#es t&e tru#pets 'ere decorated 'it& uadranular

;curtains; #ade of taffetta or 1rocade, 'it& silk or silver plated frine and

tassles$ Durin #arc&es t&e tru#pets 'ere &idden in slip covers nagalish/a$

In t&e Russian epic ;&e La0 of IorCs .a#pain;, an ancient aut&or

descri1ed Russian 'arriors as ;1orne 10 t&e sound of tru#pets / people

'&o 1eca#e >oined 'it& t&eir &el#ets$; Return toop

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"yegilyai  H uilted coat H (@t& .entur0$

In t&e inventor0 of Ivan t&e erri1leCs propert0, a teghily 'it& old and Venetian

velvet, and several ela1orate 1uttons and 1utton&oles is #entioned$ &e

teghily 'as a kind of ka!tan 'it& s&ort sleeves and a &i& collar$ It

rese#1led t&e 'estern a#1eson$ Due to its protective c&aracteristics t&isar#et 'as used 10 poor 'arriors instead of ar#or$ &e teghily 'as #ade

of 'addin or &e#p and uilted t&rou&$ In t&is case teghily 'ere #ade of

t&ick cotton fa1ric 'it& #etallic rins or plates se'n on t&e 1reast$

So#eti#es parts of ani#als 'ere used, 10 1ein 1oiled and painted into a

#es& of ani#al tissue$ &is 'as cooled and dried &ard$ &e ;paper cap;

could 1e considered to 1e an addition to t&e teghily$ &is &ead ear 'as

#ade in a si#ilar 'a0 of 'addin of clot& / silk or cotton fa1rics, and 'as

so#eti#es reinforced 10 t&e #ail net 'orn under t&e linin$ So#eti#es,

suc& caps 'ere provided 'it& a nose protector$ !o toa#1eson$ Return

toop

2arnoye orushiye H strikin 'eapons$

Strikin 'eapons are 'eapons used for &and to &and co#1at$ &eir use 'as

'idespread in Russia$ ulavi, palitsi, an shestoperi  2t&ree t0pes of #ace3

'ere 'arriorCs 'eapons$ (isteni  2flails3 'ere #ade of various #etal 'ei&ts

attac&ed to a &andle 10 a lon c&ain or leat&er t&on up to :+ c# lon$

&eir use in 1attle 'as difficult, reuirin skill, 1ut t&eir occurance in

#an0 arc&eoloical finds attests to t&eir 'ide use$ &e bulava 'as #ade of a

s&ort staff on t&e end of '&ic& 'as a #assive #ulti/faceted &ead$ &e &ead

of t&e shestoper  consisted of six #etal plates co#in out of t&e 1all, fro#

'&ic& ca#e t&e na#e$ &e shestoper  'as used #ostl0 in t&e =V/ =VIIcenturies$ It could sinif0 a #ark of po'er of t&e #ilitar0 leader, re#ainin

at t&e sa#e ti#e a vicious 'eapon$ &e bulava and shestoper  'ere different

fro# t&e palitsa. It 'as #ore like a #assive cudel, usuall0 #ade of iron,

covered 'it& spikes #ade of 1i iron nails$ &e palitsa possi1l0 'as t&e

#ost ancient 'eapon kno'n to #an$

6alovetsa

A s#all fla attac&ed at t&e top of t&e elonated conical point of so#e &el#ets$ Most

freuentl0 t&ese 'ere 'orn on t&e shishak. See t&at entr0 for illustrations$

Return toop

6erikhonka

&e 6erikhonka or shapka yerikhonka appeared in t&e (*/ (Ft& centuries$ It 'as a

tall, 21ut not as tall as a shishak 3 Monolian/appearin &el#et 'it& a

c0lindrical venetz  2lo'er ede of t&e cro'n3 and ver0 &i& conical

naversheniye 2upper ede of t&e cro'n3, 'it& repye 2#etallic decoration

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often of copper3$ &e ear flaps, peak, and rear section 'ere attac&ed to t&e

venetz  of t&e yerikhonka$ &e ;nose; 'it& shyurupt  passed t&rou& t&e peak

on a kind of slide 'it& set scre' to lock it in place$ Usuall0 onl0 ric& and

no1le 'arriors 'ore suc& &el#ets, and decorated t&e# 'it& old, silver,

and >e'els$ All t&e protective &ead ear #entioned 'as 'orn over a cap or

a t&ick clot& linin to protect t&e &ead$ Return toop

6ushman H (@t& .entur0$

Still anot&er t0pe of ar#or co#1inin rins and scales or plates 'as called a

 yushman $ &e first literar0 #ention is fro# (:*6, 1ut it 'as surel0

developed earlier$ %ere is a oreous yushman in t&e collection of t&e

Artiller0 Museu# in St$ "eters1ur$ Note also t&e berish, chekan, bulava 

and rogatina in t&e displa0 case$ &e yushman or 6umshan, 2fro# t&e

"ersian 'ord ;ya4shan;, 'as a #ail s&irt 'it& a nu#1er of &ori<ontal

plates, interlaced 'it& its front and 1ack parts$ It differed fro# t&e kolantar

in &avin s#aller plates$ &e yushman 'ei&ed ()/(: ks$ It 'as asse#1ledof around (++ plates, fixed one upon t&e ot&er 'it& s#all aps$ &e

 yushman could 1e 'orn over t&e kol'chuga$ It &ad a lonitudinal section

fro# t&e neck to t&e skirt, 'as put on 10 t&e sleeves, like a ka!tan, and

clasped 10 #eans of a k/urka 2a 1uckle3 and loops$ &e yushmanCs scales

2plates3 so#eti#es 'ere covered 'it& old or silver$ Suc& ar#or 'as ver0

expensive$ &e ar#s of 'arriors '&o 'ore a yushman, or ot&er t0pes of

suc& ar#or, 'ere protected fro# t&e s&oulder to t&e 'rist 10 narutchi  

2va#1rance3$ Return toop

 0arukava

&ese 'ere #etal plates coverin t&e upper ar#s$ &e 'estern ter#, va#1race, 'as

used for 1ot& upper and lo'er ar# protective ar#or$ &e upper ar# part

'as called a cannon or rere1race$ &e section coverin t&e el1o' as called a

co'ter$ A  zarukava is s&o'n &ere$ &e0 'ere fastened 'it& leat&er straps$

So#eti#es t&e0 &ad ani#al pelts attac&ed for linin$ &e lo'er parts 'ere

called zaruast'ye and t&e upper part 'as kno'n as chashkii $

 0ertsalo / plate ar#or H (Ft& .entur0$

o strent&en t&e #ail coat 2kol'chuga or pantsir  3, Russian 'arriors of t&e (@t& /

(Ft& centuries 'ore additional, partial ar#or 2ospekh3, put on over t&e#ain ar#or$ It consisted usuall0 of four plates, front, 1ack, and sides$ &e

plates, '&ic& ver0 seldo# 'ei&ed #ore t&an t'o k, 'ere fastened

toet&er and put on t&e s&oulders and sides 10 #eans of straps 'it& clasps

2suc& straps 'ere called naplechniki  or naramniki $ &e 0ertstalo, s&o'n

&ere and &ere, 'as round and polis&ed to a #irror like s&ine 2fro# '&ic&

co#es t&e na#e of t&e ar#or3, often ilded, enraved, and c&ased, &ad

practicall0 onl0 decorative sinificance 10 t&e (Ft& centur0$ &e st0le

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oriinated in Nepal or "ersia, '&ere it 'as called c&ar/aina 2;four

#irrors;3 and 'as 'idel0 used also fro# India to urke0$ &e Russian

st0le 'as developed fro# t&at used in urke0$

A splendid i#pression is iven 10 t&e si&t of t&e precious ar#a#ent,

'&ic& could &ave onl0 1eloned to sars and voivoes$ .ere#onial ar#or

'as decorated 'it& silver, old, >e'els, and 'as distinuis&ed 10 filireeenravins$ 90 t&e end of t&e centur0 t&e 0ertsalo &ad co#pletel0 lost its

sinificance, toet&er 'it& ot&er t0pes of protective ar#or$ In t&e ex&i1it of

t&e -re#lin ar#or0, t&ere are 'ell preserved, co#plete zertsalo 'it&

&el#et, naruchi  2ar# uards3 and ponozhi  2reaves3$ %ere are t'o #ore

exa#ples of ela1orate  zertsalo.

A#on decorative ar#or of t&e (Ft& centur0 'as t&e zertsalo #ade 10 t&e ar#orers

of t&e Oruzheyniy 2Ar#a#ents3 1rikaz , D#itri -onovalov, Nikita Davidov,

!riori V0atkin$ &e zertsalo #ade 10 -onovalov in (@(@ for sar Mik&ail

8edorovic& 'as valued in t&e (Ft& centur0 at (:++ ru1les, 2at t&at ti#e t&e

cost of a trooperCs pantsir  varied fro# : to (+ ru1les3

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&is &eavil0 ar#ed 'arrior fro# t&e (*/(F centur0 is 'earin a bakhterets over a

kol'chuga, and a shelom or yerikhonka on &is &ead$ 2&e illustration is not

uite detailed enou& to 1e sure$3 %e &as buturliki  on &is les and naruchi  

on &is forear#s$ %e is t&ro'in a sulitsa and carr0in a /i  and naluch on

t&e left side and a kolchan on t&e ri&t$

A 'arrior 'earin a yushman and misyurka fro# (* / (Ft& centuries

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A 'arrior 'earin a kol'chuga under a kolantar $ %e &as a barmitsa coverin &is

neck and s&oulders$ %is shapka bumazhnaya is decorated$ %e carries a

sabel and tesak  in addition to t&enaluch and kolchan at &is 'aist$

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A #ounted voyevoa, co##ander, 'earin a privolok , under &is zertsalo. %e 'ears a

 yerihonka on &is &ead$ %e &as ponozhi  also called buturliki  / t&ree piece

for# on &is les and naruchi  on &is ar#s$ %e carries a sabel $ Note too t&e

expensive saddle and 1lanket$

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Barrior 2ratnik3 fro# t&e (*t& to (Ft& centuries, defendin dra'1ride &oldin a

tarch, '&ic& is a special kind of shelom 2s&ield3, in left &and and axe in

ri&t$ %e 'ears a zertsalo over &is kol'chuga. %is forear#s are protected10naruchi. Note t&e nasel uard raised on t&e front of t&e shelom$ &e

1ackround is t&e Mosco' -re#lin in t&e (Ft& centur0$

/ "AR IV

BEA"ONS 9? .ENUR?

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&e follo'in ta1le indicates '&ic& 'ere t&e principal 'eapons in use in eac&

period t&rou&out Russian &istor0$ Return to #ain pae Russian ar#or$ 

Historical period

and battles

Forces Cold

Weapons

Defensive

armament

Fire

Weapons

Artillery

X - XI Cent.

907 - Campain

of !le to

"y#anti$m%

&'( - 97( Wars of)vyatoslav *it+

,+a#ars "olarsand ec+enes

Cavalry/

rincely

dr$#+ina%

Infantry/ to*nand r$ral pop.

ec+ %

topor

saber% no#+

)+lem %

1ol2c+$a

almond s+ape

s+ield

"o* andarro*%

XII Cent.

Campain aainstolovetsi - 33&(

Campain

)vyatoslav4syevolodovic+%

33&7 Campain

Ior)vyatoslavic+

Cavalry/ princely

dr$#+ina

mo$nted to*n

and r$ral pop.%

Infantry/ foot

to*n and r$ral

 pop$lation

)aber%1op2ya %

mec+ %

topor%

no#+%

oslop%

roatina

Helmet *it+

 barmitsa%1ol2c+$a%

ro$nd and

almond s+ield

"o* and

arro*%

XIII Cent.

Ale5ander 6evs1i

victories

380 - over

)*edes%

38 - over

e$tonic ,ni+ts

Ale5ander 

Cavalry/

 princelydr$#+ina

mo$nted to*n

and r$ral pop.%

Infantry/ to*nand r$ral pop.

ec+ %

1op2ya%

topor%roatina%

no#+% oslop

Helmet *it+

 barmitsa%

1ol2c+$a1$ya1% ro$nd

and almond

s+ields

"o* and

arro*%

arbalest:crossbo*;

XI4 Cent.

"attle *it+

onols - Dmitri

Cavalry/ princely

dr$#+ina

)aber%1op2ya%

mec+%Helmet :s+lem- s+is+a1; *it+

 barmitsa

"o* andarro* drota%

crossbo*

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Dons1oi%

3<7& at 4o#+ye%3<&0 at ,$li1ova

field% 3<& )ieeof osco* byo1tamis+

mo$nted to*n

and r$ral pop.%Infantry/ to*n

and r$ral pop.

osco* posads1i

 people

1onc+ar%

topor%

roatina%

no#+

1ol2c+$a%

 baidana% 1$ya1%ro$nd s+ield%

mos1ovs1ii

arbalest

X4 Cent.

"attle for

$nification of

state -

38&0 A1+mat,+an at !1a

=iver 

Cavalry/ pomestni1i%

mo$nted

 posos+nie%

Infantry/ pos+c+al2ni1i%

 posos+nie

 people%artillery/

 p$s+1ari

)aber1op2ya%

s+estoper %

topor1a%

1lyevtsa%roatina%

no#+

Helmet :s+lem-s+is+a1; *it+

 barmitsa%

1ol2c+$a%

 pantsir% baidana%

s+ap1a

 b$ma#+natyeilyai%

s+c+it

"o* andaro*%

droti1a%

 pis+c+al

:*+eelloc1;fitil2nii

X4I Cent.

3st +alf/

3(38 Campain

to )molens1%3(8 > 3(<0 first

campains to,a#an

Cavalry

 pomestni1i/

 boyari%dvoryani%

mo$nted

 posos+nie anddatoc+nii

 people%cossac1s%

Infantry/ pis+c+alni1i

 posos+nie and

datoc+nii

 people%cossac1s%

Artillery/

 p$s+1ari1$#netsi

 plotni1i

)aber%

1op2ya%

1isten%

roatina%topor%

s+estoper%

no#+%1levtsa

Helmet :s+lem-

s+is+a1;%

s+ap1a

#+ele#naya:iron;

myedniye

:copper; b$ma#+ni

:paper;%

1ol2c+$a baidana%

tyeilyai%

nar$c+a%

#ertsalo%na1olyenni1a

"o* and

arro*%

droti1a%

 pis+c+al-r$c+nitsa%

fitil2nii

is+c+al-

 p$s+1a iron%

 bron#e reat

 p$s+1a%mortir%

 pis+c+al in

fortress or:#atinnia;

X4I Cent.

nd +alf/

3(( Capt$re

Cavalry

:pomestni1;/

osco* andto*n dvoryani%

#+il2tsi% deti

)aber%

1op2ya%

s+estoper%

1lyevtsa%

Helmet s+lem -

s+is+a1 *it+

na$s+ni1ami%

s+ap1a iron

"o* and

arro*%

droti1a%

 pis+c+al

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,a#an% 3(( -

3((& ?ivonianWar 

 boyars1i% atar princes and

m$r#i% to*n

cossac1s%mo$nted

datoc+ni people%

mo$ntedstrel2tsy%

Infantry/

strel2tsy% footcossac1s and

datoc+ni

 people%

Artillery/

 p$s+1ari%1$#netsi%

 plotni1i

topor1i%

1istena% berdis+%

roatina%

no#+% topor 

 bron#e paper%

mis$r1a% pantsir%

 baidana%

1ol2c+$a%i$s+man%

 ba1+terets%

na1olyenni1a%#ertsalo%

nar$c+i%

tyeilyai%

r$c+nitsa%

fitilina% postol%

1arabina

1remlina

X4II Cent.

3st @tr.

Destr$ction

olis+

intervention

eople2s militia

:+orse > foot;

)aber%1op2ya%

=oatina%

 berdis+%

topor1a%

s+estoper%

1lyevtsa%

no#+

Helmet :s+lem-

s+is+a1;%epi1+on1a%

s+ap1a iron

 bron#e paper%mis$r1a%

 pantsir%

1ol2c+$a% baindana%

nar$c+i%

#ertsalo%

na1olenni1i%

"o* and

arro*%droti1a%

 pis+c+al%

fitil2nii% pistol and

1arabina

1remnev2i

X4II Cent.

nd @tr.

olis+ Campain

Con$est of

B1raine

omestie

cavalry/ boyars%

osco* and

to*n dvoryani%#+il2tsi% deti

 boyars1i%

 po#+ars1ii

 princes andm$r#i Cossac1

+orse% strel2tsy%

)aber%

1op2ya%roatina%

 berdis+%

s+paa

Wit+o$tc+ane%

+$ssar

armed *it+sabers and

1op2ya

)ame as in first

$arter inaddition reitari

s+is+a1i% lati

:pi1emen+elmet;

 6o c+ane/

"o* and

arro*%droti1a%

 pistolet%

1arabina% pis+c+ali%

m$s+1et%

 pis+c+alifitil2ni% and

1remnevii%

m$s+1eti

and pis+c+ali

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 6e* order

+orse/draoons%

reitari%

Infantry/strel2tsy% 6e*

order foot/

soldati%1opyeis+c+i1i

:pi1emen;%

Artillery/

 p$s+1ari

Composition of

forces t+esame b$t

added to ne*order +orse is

+$ssars

 6o c+ane

X4II Cent.

8t+ @tr.

CrimeanCampains

 6o c+ane 6o c+ane 6o c+ane 6o c+ane 6o c+ane

X4III Cent.

3st @tr.

3700- 370

reat 6ort+ern

War 

3709 oltava

3738 naval battle

at Han$t

Infantry/

m$s+1eters1iret.%

renadirs1ii

company b$tlater ret.%

Cavalry/

draoon%

Artillery/ fieldreimental

siee fortress%

Irre$larforces/

cossac1s

)+paa%

 prota#an%alebard%

 pi1eman

1op2ya% palas+%

cossac1

 pi1e

Defensive

armor *asabolis+ed by

eter I

F$sil *it+

 baineta:bayonet;

from 3700 to

370&% f$sil*it+ s+ti1

:bayonet;

from 370&%

+and mortar% pistol

Iron $ns -

field in 3 &and ' fitil2ni

 p$s+1a%

mortars in 3and p$d%

siee and

fortress

 p$s+1a of 8f$ntov mortir

of ( p$d

X4III Cent.

Infantry/

m$s1eter and

)+paa/

spontoon%

C$riass :c+est; Infantry

f$sil% pistol%

Artillery in

caliber t+e

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nd @tr.

37<(- 37<9

=$sso-$r1is+*ar%

773- 377<

=$sso-$r1is+

*ar 

renadier ret.%

Cavalry/draoon%

c$riassir%

Irre$lartroops/

Cossac1s

+$ssar

saber%Cossac1

 pi1e

draoon

f$sil% pistol%m$s1et%

carbine

same as in 3st

*arter b$t bron#e *it+

t+e e5ception

of naval*+ic+

contin$ed to

 be made ofiron

X4III Cent.

<rd @tr.

37('- 37'

)even ears2 War 

3 A$. 37(9

Enaement at

,$nersdorf%

& )ept 37'0

"attle of "erlin%

377<- 7&8

=$sso-$r1is+

*ar 

30 ay 377<

Capt$re of

$rt$1a by

)$vorov

Infantry/m$s1eter

 aer%

Cavalry/

draooncaribiner

c$riassir

+$ssar%

Irre$lar +orse/cossac1%

Enineer

troops

)+paa%

+alf-saber%espontoon%

 palas+%

+$ssarsaber%

cossac1

saber%1op2ya%

cossac1

 pi1e

C$riass :c+est; Infantry

f$sil%Draoon

f$sil% pistol%

carbine%cavalry

m$s1et%

 pistol% aers+t$tsyer

:rifle;

Artillery t+e

same as innd $arter

 b$t aain

made+o*it#er and

GedinoroiG

X4III Cent.

8t+ @tr.

37&7- 3793=$sso-$r1is+

War 

379&- 3799

Infantry/

m$s1eter aer%

Cavalry/

draoon

carabinerc$riassir

+$ssar%

)+paa%+alf-saber%espontoon%

draoon

saber%

+$ssarsaber%

draoon

C$riass :c+est; 6o c+ane 6o c+ane

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E5pedition in

editerranean)ea

3799 War *it+France Italiancampain of

)$vorov

Irre$lar +orse/

cossac1%

Enineer

troops

 palas+%

1op2ya%cossac1

 pi1e

XIX Cent.

3st @tr.

3&0&- 3&38

=$sso-Frenc+War%

A$ 3&3

"orodino "attle

Infantry/

m$s1eteer

renadiernaval aer

carabineri

rets.%

Cavalry/c$riassir

draoon

+$ssarmo$nted-aer

$lan rets.%

Artillery and

enineer $nits/

Irre$lar

forces/cossac1s and

national:et+nic;

)+paa

*it+ 1rivii

1lin1a

:+alf-saber;%

 palas+%

saber% $lan pi1e

:lance;%

cossac1 pi1e% tesa1

1rivii

C$riass :c+est

and bac1;

Artillery

*eapons

3&0( system/

3 f$ntovcannon 3

 p$dov

GedinoroiG%' f$ntov

 p$s+1a% 38

 p$dovGedinoroiG

XIX Cent.

nd @tr.

3&&- 3&9

=$sso-$r1is+*ar 

Infantry/$ards

renadier

naval infantry aer rets.%

Cavalry/

c$riassir

mo$nted-aerdraoon

+$ssar $lan

rets.%Enineer

forces%

)paa +alf-saber%

tesa1%

 palas+%

saber%cossac1

 pi1e% $lan

lance%s+as+1a

C$riass :c+estand bac1;

 6o c+ane

8/13/2019 Russian Weapons and Armor

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/russian-weapons-and-armor 40/40