SWORDS
POINTS OF VIEW
Regino of Prum and Thietmar of Merseburg both left us chronicles of their times.
Both give accounts of misdeeds and violence not to mention battles, including some with Northmen. One thing sticks out as one reads them. Regino only ever mentions swords as weapons in fighting. Thietmar rarely mentions swords, most often he mentions spears and sometimes other weapons. Why should this be ?
Regino was a cloisterd churchman. He lived his whole life within ecclesiastical institutions. Thietmar saw the enemy at close hand and moved in upper circles of Ottonian society. His family was illustrious and belonged to the warrior class - th emiles - but he became a churchman. The difference must lay here. Regino just used 'sword' as a byword for a deadly weapon, whereas Thietmar was trying to make a factually correct chronicle. He also dwells on details of pagan ceremonies, dress and even food. Regino gives us the standard view - fighters had swords, swords killed. Thietmar probably gives us a more realistic view of the arms used in conflict.
Regino of Prum and Thietmar of Merseburg both left us chronicles of their times.
Both give accounts of misdeeds and violence not to mention battles, including some with Northmen. One thing sticks out as one reads them. Regino only ever mentions swords as weapons in fighting. Thietmar rarely mentions swords, most often he mentions spears and sometimes other weapons. Why should this be ?
Regino was a cloisterd churchman. He lived his whole life within ecclesiastical institutions. Thietmar saw the enemy at close hand and moved in upper circles of Ottonian society. His family was illustrious and belonged to the warrior class - th emiles - but he became a churchman. The difference must lay here. Regino just used 'sword' as a byword for a deadly weapon, whereas Thietmar was trying to make a factually correct chronicle. He also dwells on details of pagan ceremonies, dress and even food. Regino gives us the standard view - fighters had swords, swords killed. Thietmar probably gives us a more realistic view of the arms used in conflict.