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.
The Endless Cycle Pierpont Morgan Library, New York, MS M. 638, fol. 38r (c. 1250) Dear 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...
A Kingdom for a Horse! It could be worse: it could be raining! Hello history enthusiasts, My fellow illustrator Oliver Wünsch and I are still busy exploring new AI-assisted opportunities for visual storytelling. We feel it is the best way to spend our time now that traditional illustration work has largely vanished, thanks to generative AI. The good news—at least for us—is that our particular application of AI still requires artistic skill as well as archaeological and historical expertise....
Viking Houses Need Maintenance Danes in the house: very hyggelig Hello fellow medieval military enthusiasts and time travellers, I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits, swinging swords as one ought to. If you are doing so in preparation for the first Dimicator venture of the year in Hedeby on the weekend of 18/19 April, make sure to sign up swiftly. No Danish Viking venture without sufficient sausage supplies The museum has notified me that, due to maintenance and...