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.
Life and Death and History
The Endless CycleDear history enthusiasts, When this newsletter goes out, I will be on the road, heading home from my mother’s funeral. She passed away last week, in the company of loved ones, only moments after receiving her final blessing. At first, I was reluctant to share something so personal. But then I realised that this is precisely what history is about: the endless cycle of arrival and departure, the story of those who came before us, and whom we will one day join as ancestors of those who follow. The turbulent times we live in make it clearer than ever that history is not merely a sequence of dated stories between the covers of dusty books. We are part of it. History is being shaped right now — on the streets of Minneapolis, in the trenches of Zaporizhzhia. Those of us who have had the privilege of spending most of our lives in peace, freedom and prosperity may remember the comforting feeling of studying military history as something distant and almost exotic — as interested observers who would never be directly involved. That, it seems, was an illusion. Oppression, reckless leadership and war have returned to the foreground of human affairs. So does our fascination with history even matter? Absolutely — now more than ever. Archaeology and the study of history and prehistory have made remarkable progress in recent decades. We can see more clearly than ever the deep roots of the forces that have brought grief and sorrow for more than seven millennia. In a recent interview with a leading German newspaper, archaeologist Harald Meller explains why man is not a wolf to man. The human species is highly cooperative and spent the greater part of its existence living together peacefully. I have translated the interview into English. You can find it here:
This calm, research-based approach to pressing questions is what we need — not the overexcited tribal noise of asocial media, which blurs distinctions and deepens division. May the Force be with you — and reason. Reason above all. Roland P. S. If you enjoyed this newsletter, please recommend it to your friends. They can sign up here or on my website. Or simply forward them this email. Improve your skills with our sword-and-buckler online courses. If you wish to read more, find hundreds of related posts on my Patreon. Special thanks to all my loyal supporters on Patreon – you keep me going! And if you are not a patron yet, you are most welcome to join. If you feel like dropping a coin into my tip jar, you can do so here. Thank you for your time and your interest. 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. |
Dimicator
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.
Prehistoric Belief, Bronze Age Design and Imperial Remains Documenting a Late Bronze Age sword at the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle. Hello fellow (pre-)history enthusiasts, from time to time, closer inspection of artefacts reveals patterns that are as simple as they are profound. At other times, new discoveries remind us how complex and layered our understanding of the past has become. This issue brings together both: geometry and belief, craftsmanship and power — and the enduring human...
Continuity in European Combat Arts? Hello fellow sword enthusiasts, researchers, and fighters, How did people actually fight in close combat 3,000 years ago—and how much of that knowledge survived into the age of the fechtbücher? Mycenaean imagery occassionally shows an overhand thrust known as oberstich in late medieval German combat treatises Recently, a viewer asked why I do not demonstrate the use of Bronze Age swords with what he called a “hammer grip” — essentially gripping the weapon...
Studying Originals, Recreating History Holding an original Bronze Age sword in your hands is always a moment of quiet astonishment. Hello archaeology aficionados, The ingenious design and ergonomics of these weapons never cease to amaze me. Thanks to the courtesy of Professor Harald Meller and Dr Jan-Heinrich Bunnefeld, I had the opportunity to examine several bronze swords at the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle, home of the world-famous Nebra Sky Disc. One of the grips that works really...