Pirate swords and weapons

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Paul Macdonald

Arrrr lads!

Regarding pirates, I may have discovered the whereabouts of the sword of the famous Barbarossa (aye, famous before he even starred in Pirates of the Caribbean!).....in Scotland.

I`m saying no more until I can provide a photo and provenance, otherwise they`ll clap me in irons!!

Macdonald

Its great to have you join in with us in our motley crew here Paul!!! and I'm really looking forward to hear more on your discovery. It is clear you have a keen knack for tracking incredibly important historical swords.
Please tell us something soon OK....this kinda stuff keeps me up nights.

Yannis......you're quite right, Barbarossa was in the Meditteranean, and these 'Barbary Pirates' really got around. Remember that there was considerable trading in the Meditteranean , from the Maghreb to Spain, England, France, Italy and there were was at least one Armada galleon wrecked in Scotland. Spain and Scotland were well established allies, and Bonnie Prince Charlie, was born in Rome, as the Royal House of Stuart was Catholic, by religion linking Spain, Italy, France and the Holy Roman Empire of Eastern Europe.

I would not be the least but surprised with a Meditteranean sword found in Scotland, as I have seen an example of 'nimcha' also from the Maghreb being worn by an English noble painted in the 17th century.

All best regards,
Jim

[TVV]

Considering the fleet size, wealth and overall achievements of Hayreddin Barbarossa, I cannot think of any other pirate in history that nearly comes close to him. Captain Morgan was promoted to governor of Jamaica? Well, Brabarossa had all of Algeria and Tunisia as a fiefdom. Considering that his fleet had more ships than his Catholic enemies combined, I would expect him to have possessed more than one sword, and I would expect his weapons to have been quite ostentatious and lavish in their decoration. I remember the portrait published in North's monograph on Islamic Arms, but I think this portrait is a century later than Barbarossa. I would expect a nimcha as far as the blade is concerned - something similar to the nimcha in Elgood's book on Arab arms, but I am not so sure about the hilt. The quillons and the hand protection typical of the Maghrebi seifs/nimchas perhaps came as a result exactly of Barbarossa's campaigns in the Western Mediterranean, as his men must have captured a large quantity of European swords and other weapons. We might perhaps even be treated to a sword of Genoese manufacture, a gift or trophy. I too am eager to see what one of Barbarossa's swords may have looked like.

[HangPC2]

Malay Firearms


Rifled Musket & Pistol


# Pemuras (Malay Decorated Traditional Gun)

# Bedil Istinggar (Malay Flintlock Musket)

# Tarkul


Malay Cannon


# Lela Rentaka

# Lela Rambang

# Tahan

# Lada Sicupak (Aceh Cannon)

# Nang Liu-Liu (Patani Cannon)

# Seri Patani (Patani Cannon)

# Seri Negeri (Patani Cannon)

# Badak Berendam (Kedah Cannon)




Brunei Darul Salam


Pemuras






Pemuras and Karga are royal regalia where the Pemuras is a large gun held against the right shoulder of the Panglima Raja wearing red ceremonial attire. While the Karga is the bullet carrier strapped on the left shoulder to the right side of the body.



Aceh Darul Salam


Pemuras











Makassar


Pemuras

[Yannis]

"...Still in 1515 Oruç Reis sent precious gifts to the Ottoman Sultan Selim I who, in return, sent him two galleys and two swords embellished with diamonds...."
From Wikipedia

Originally Posted by TVV

I would expect a nimcha as far as the blade is concerned - something similar to the nimcha in Elgood's book on Arab arms, but I am not so sure about the hilt. The quillons and the hand protection typical of the Maghrebi seifs/nimchas perhaps came as a result exactly of Barbarossa's campaigns in the Western Mediterranean, as his men must have captured a large quantity of European swords and other weapons. We might perhaps even be treated to a sword of Genoese manufacture, a gift or trophy. I too am eager to see what one of Barbarossa's swords may have looked like.

I think nimcha and any other North African style is later than his time. Straight swords were more in fashion then.

16th century contemporary painting, Louvre Museum, Paris.

And yes Jim, a sword of him could be anywhere in Europe. But it will be extremely difficult to connect it with the person.

[Paul Macdonald]

That`s a great portrait, cheers for posting Yannis!

The sword is in private hands and it`s a matter of getting permission to view, handle, photograph and dcoument it.

I shall keep ye all updated.

Macdonald

[VANDOO]

THE LANTAKA MOST PROBABLY EVOLVED FROM WHAT IS SOMETIMES REFERED TO AS A HAND CANNON. THE HAND CANNON DATES TO THE LATE 13TH CENTURY IN EGYPT AND CHINA AND WAS USED UNTIL AT LEAST THE 1520'S IN EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST. THE EARLIEST WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF MILITARY USE DATES TO THE BATTLE OF AIN JALUT IN 1260 WHERE THE EGYPTIANS USED THEM TO REPEL THE MONGOLS. THEY WERE CALLED MIDFA IN ARABIC THERE WAS ALSO A CHINESE NAME FOR THEM BUT AS IT IS WRITTEN IN CHINESE I CAN'T INCLUDE IT. THE RANGE GIVEN FOR THESE WAS 50 TO 300 METERS, DEPENDING ON THE CALIBRE AND TYPE OF POWDER USED. SOME OF THE EARLY CHINESE ONES WERE VERY ORNATE SHAPED LIKE DRAGONS AND SUCH AND WERE PROBABLY USED ONLY FOR CEREMONYS AND OF COURSE ONLY OWNED BY THE RULERS. THEY WERE ADAPTED TO USE ON SHIPS EARLY ON DUE TO THEIR PORTABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS AT CLOSE RANGE FOR CLEARING DECKS AND DAMAGING SAILS OR DAMAGING STEARING.

NOTE THAT MANY LANTAKA HAVE A HOLE IN THE REAR TO PLACE A ROD IN TO GIVE LEVERAGE FOR TURNING AND AIMING AND ALSO TO PLACE THE ONE USING IT AT A SAFER POSITION WHEN FIREING. MOST HAND CANNONS ALSO HAVE THIS EXTENDED ROD FOR THE SAME REASONS AND I ASSUME SOME WERE EASILY REMOVED FOR EASIER TRANSPORT ALSO.