Zweihänder
Also known as: spada a due mani, Bihänder, Bidenhänder, spadone, Doppelhänder, Beidhänder
Large two-handed sword of the 16th century, up to 213 cm long, the signature weapon of German landsknechts; called spadone in Italy, with fencing described by Marozzo and di Grassi.
Quick Facts
GermanyAbout the weapon
The Zweihänder is a large two-handed sword used mainly in the 16th century. From the time of Maximilian I it became the signature weapon of German landsknechts and represents the peak of a trend towards very large swords beginning in the 14th century. The Italians call it spadone. According to Italian sources it reached its final form in the 15th century in the lands around the Holy Roman Empire, in Italy, Germany and Switzerland. It probably originated in Spain, though the montante there never reached the huge dimensions of the German pieces. Overall length reached up to 213 cm, weight 2 to 4 kg. The grip measured at least 25 cm; Italian sources give four palms, about 50 cm, and the blade around a metre. Later pieces have Parierhaken hooks above the ricasso. The blade could be wavy, in which case the sword was called a Flammenschwert. Infantrymen in the front ranks hacked through a forest of enemy pikes with it and held it by the ricasso. The German mercenary Black Band had 2,000 two-handed swordsmen among its 17,000 men. Whether its bearers received double pay (Doppelsöldner) is disputed. By the end of the 16th century arquebusiers pushed it off the battlefield, though it survived as a duelling weapon until the late 17th century. The Italian tradition of the two-handed sword is recorded by Filippo Vadi (De arte gladiatoria dimicandi, 1482–1487), Bolognese Achille Marozzo (Opera Nova, Modena 1536) and Giacomo di Grassi (Venice 1570). In German it is also called Bihänder or Bidenhänder.
Parts of the weapon
- Guard — Parierhaken