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.
Why Were Some “Round” Shields Not Quite Round? Plus: New Training Swords
A Shield MysteryHello 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. Recent discussions with archaeologist Ingo Petri raise intriguing questions about the shape, balance and handling of Germanic and Viking Age shields. From the Bronze Age Herzsprung type to Iron Age bog finds and the Trelleborg shield, subtle deviations from perfect circularity may have been deliberate—and tactically meaningful. In my latest Patreon post, I explore how shield geometry, grip orientation and edge fittings relate to close-combat function, and what experimental practice can add to the archaeological record.
Unboxing New Training SwordsRecently, I received a shipment from Landsknecht Emporium in Hungary — the kind that sword enthusiasts enjoy most. It consisted of three boxes, each containing a pair of training swords from the company’s revised Dietrich range thin-edged blunts, thick-edged blunts, and sharps. If you are on the lookout for very light good value swords that still balance like weapons, read my according post.
The swords will be tested at Dimicator Schola, and we will share our insights with you. From Drawing To SwordIt is always a particular pleasure to see my research being turned into actual objects. My patron and swordmaker Nikolas Miller used my documentation of a type XIII Great Sword from Lübeck to create a version for his personal training. Learn more here. The documentation of its mighty sister sword is waiting for you in my shop. Take a look here. I hope you are all enjoying your favourite winter sports. Remember to always take Walpurgis' advice! 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.
Hello archaeology enthusiasts, fighters and fellow history aficionados, there is quite a lot happening behind the scenes at the moment — from ancient weapons and practical martial arts research to medieval emperors and historical films. So today, let me take you from a Late Bronze Age spearhead to an upcoming spear-and-shield course, two opportunities to train together, yesterday’s remarkable events in Magdeburg — and finally two film projects that I am very much looking forward to seeing....
Hello fellow history enthusiasts and blade aficionados, one of the great privileges of studying original weapons is that there are things an object can reveal in your hands which are remarkably difficult to recognise from photographs, measurements or typological descriptions alone. But researching an object is one thing; communicating what you have learned is another. Sometimes it takes a detailed drawing. Sometimes, video and photos would do the job — however, permission to share them with...
Hello fellow history enthusiasts and blade aficionados, The past fortnight has been wonderfully busy. From teaching at HEMA Camp 1387 in Lithuania and studying remarkable museum pieces to continuing several long-term research and reconstruction projects, there has been plenty to keep me occupied. I hope you'll enjoy the latest updates. A Week of Swords in Lithuania I have just returned from an unforgettable week in Lithuania, filled with fencing, research, museum visits, inspiring...