The Pen and the Sword—and the BucklerHello fellow medievalists and sword enthusiasts, As many of you know, I’m both an illustrator and a researcher/instructor of historical combat with sword and shield. To help promote the unique I.33 online courses I’ve developed with top swordsman and scholar Cornelius Berthold, I’ve created a series of comic characters to bring a little extra fun to our upcoming campaign. Want to meet the I.33 cartoon crew? Even better: as a small thank-you, I’ll be sending out a surprise gift to all waitlist members after the campaign—whether you make a purchase or not.
This is just an invitation—no pressure, no obligation. P.S. If this email was forwarded to you, and you are not a regular recipient of the newsletter yet, join the I.33 waitlist here. P.P.S. Of course, you can opt out of the upcoming Black Friday campaign at any time. You will still receive the regular newsletter. You are receiving this newsletter because you have signed up for it, or because you have previously expressed your interest in my work and events. If you prefer to not receive further emails, you can unsubscribe below. |
I’m Roland Warzecha — professional illustrator and swordsman. The name Dimicator comes from the Latin for “sword fighter.” I share cutting-edge research into historical martial arts, focusing in particular on Viking and high medieval sword-and-shield combat. My work is carried out in collaboration with museums, fellow martial artists, and scholars around the world.
A Shield Mystery The remains of the Trelleborg Viking shield on display in Trelleborg Viking Fortress Hello fellow shield enthusiasts and (pre-)history aficionados, First of all, my very best wishes for the New Year. May the edge of your sword never dull, and may your shield protect you as you step into realms unknown in 2026. Iron Age bog finds from Thorsberg and Nydam will be on display in Kalkriese this year Recent discussions with archaeologist Ingo Petri raise intriguing questions about...
Geometry of the Nebra Twin Swords, 1600 BC Harald Meller and myself discussing sword grip designs through the centuries Hello fellow sword and (pre-)history enthusiasts, You may already have read about my recent trip to the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle. Together with Professor Harald Meller, I filmed several segments on historical and prehistoric arms and combat. Demonstrating a late medieval buckler play by Andres Lignitzer with Jonas Radtke Harald Meller and I did not part without...
Exploring Prehistoric Fighting Arts Bronze Age weapons from the inventory of the Museum of Prehistory in Halle Hello fellow fighters and (pre-)history aficionados, This newsletter is all about Bronze Age weaponry — their design, handling, and function. As this email goes out, I am on my journey home from two days of filming at the Museum of Prehistory in Halle, home to the world-famous Nebra sky disc. Professor Harald Meller in front of the Museum in Halle At the invitation of Professor...