View source for Zweihänder

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{{About|the sword|the role-playing game|Zweihänder (role-playing game)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox weapon
|name= ''Zweihänder''
|image= Zweihaender im historischen Museum Basel.JPG
|caption= Zweihänders with and without ''Parierhaken''
|type= [[Two-handed sword]]
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|is_vehicle=
|service= ~1500–1600
|wars=
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|length= up to {{convert|213|cm|abbr=on}}
|width=
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|sheath_type=
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|image_size = 300
|origin=
|is_ranged=ncc'm :-
|is_bladed=yes
|is_explosive=
|is_artillery=
|is_missile=
|is_UK=
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|production_date=~1500–present
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|weight= {{convert|2|to|4|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
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|blade_type= Double-edged, straight bladed
|hilt_type= Two-handed cruciform, with pommel
}}

The '''''Zweihänder''''' ({{IPA|de|t͡svaɪhɛndɐ|-|De-zweihaender.ogg}}, literally "two-hander"), also '''''Doppelhänder''''' ("double-hander"), '''''Beidhänder''''' ("both-hander"),<ref>{{cite book|last=Oakeshott|first=Ewart|title=European Weapons and Armour: From the Renaissance to the Industrial Revolution|date=November 2000|publisher=Boydell Press|pages=148|isbn=9781843837206|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NkD86JPgCS4C&q=Schlachtschwerter&pg=PA148}}</ref> '''''Bihänder''''',  or '''''Bidenhänder''''', is a large [[two-handed sword]] that was used primarily during the 16th century.

''Zweihänder'' swords developed from the [[longsword]]s of the [[Late Middle Ages]] and became the hallmark weapon of the German ''[[Landsknecht]]e'' from the time of [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor|Maximilian I]] (d. 1519) and during the [[Italian Wars]] of 1494–1559. The ''[[Goliath Fechtbuch]]'' (1510) shows an intermediate form between [[longsword]] and ''Zweihänder''.

This represented the final stage in the trend of making very large swords, which started in the 14th century, and ended in the 16th century. In its developed form, the ''Zweihänder'' acquired the handling characteristics of a [[polearm]] rather than a sword due to its increased size and weight, therefore adding to its striking power and longer reach. Consequently, it was not carried in a sheath, but across the shoulder like a [[pike (weapon)|pike]] or [[halberd]].

==Morphology==
Due to their length and weight, which was typically at least {{convert|1.4|m|abbr=on}} and around {{convert|2|kg|abbr=on}}, Zweihänders required two hands, as the name implies; as such they require at least {{convert|25|cm|abbr=on}} for the [[hilt]].<ref name="Melville">{{cite journal|last=Melville|first=Neil H. T.|title=The Origins of the Two-Handed Sword|journal=Journal of Western Martial Art|date=January 2000|url=http://www.ejmas.com/jwma/articles/2000/jwmaart_melville_0100.htm}}</ref> Zweihänders that were {{convert|4|kg|abbr=on}} in weight or more were confined to parade and ceremonial use.{{Citation needed|date=June 2017}}

Early Zweihänders were simply larger versions of [[longsword]]s. Later examples had ''Parierhaken'' ("parrying hooks") at the top of the ''[[ricasso]]'' as well as side rings on the hilt. Swords continued to be made without one or both features.<ref name="Melville" /> Some Zweihänders had wavy blades, and were called [[Flammenschwert]].

==Application==
[[File:Battle of Kappel detail.jpg|frame|1548 depiction of a Zweihänder used against pikes in the [[Second War of Kappel|Battle of Kappel]]]]
The weapon is mostly associated with either Swiss or German mercenaries known as ''[[Landsknecht]]e'', and their wielders were known as ''[[Doppelsöldner]]''. However, the Swiss outlawed their use, while the Landsknechte kept using them until much later.<ref name="Clements">{{cite web|last=Clements|first=J|title=The Weighty Issue of Two-Handed Greatswords|url=http://www.thearma.org/essays/2HGS.html|publisher=ARMA|access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> The [[Black Band (landsknechts)|Black Band]] of German mercenaries (active during the 1510s and 1520s) included 2,000 two-handed swordsmen in a total strength of 17,000 men. Zweihänder-wielders fought with and against [[pike (weapon)|pike]] formations. Soldiers trained in the use of the sword were granted the title of ''Meister des langen Schwertes'' (lit. Master of the Long Sword) by the [[Brotherhood of St. Mark|Mark Brotherhood]].

[[Frisians|Frisian]] hero [[Pier Gerlofs Donia]] is reputed to have wielded a Zweihänder with such skill, strength and efficiency that he managed to behead several people with it in a single blow. The Zweihänder ascribed to him is, as of 2008, on display in the [[Fries Museum]]. It has a length of {{convert|213|cm|abbr=on}} and a mass of about {{convert|6.6|kg|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wunseradiel.nl/index.php?simaction=content&pagid=289&mediumid=1|publisher=Gemeente Wûnseradiel|title=Greate Pier fan Wûnseradiel|language=fy|access-date=2008-01-04}}</ref>

==Modernity==
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2018}}
Some modern [[historical European martial arts]] groups, specifically ones focusing on the [[German school of fencing|German longsword styles]], use some Zweihänders with less pronounced Parierhaken for training and tournament purposes. These less pronounced parrying hooks are sometimes colloquially referred to as "'''Schilden'''", or literally "shields" in German, as they are used to catch incoming opposing blades. These Schilden often also act as '''ricassos''' by smoothing out, and thickening, after the blade-catchers have been passed. These are specifically the Zweihänders called '''[[feder (fencing)|feder]]s''', or federn in German, and are historically training weapons; there is no concrete evidence suggesting wooden longswords were ever actually used, even for training purposes. Even today, most modern training weapons are metal, as wood does not have as much give under blade pressure as real steel, although some synthetic plastic weapons are used for cost-efficiency. Additionally, some modern adjustments to certain weapons extend the [[crossguards]] of the blades; this is in part because certain [[Historical European martial arts|HEMA]] schools follow manuscripts pertaining to '''Kreutz''' attacks – i.e., attacks performed with one's crossguard, specifically, and some persons also choose to use their Zweihänders as [[rapiers]], so a [[basket hilt]] may be designed atop this extension.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Landsknecht 1.JPG|A [[landsknecht]] with Zweihänder
File:London - Tower Zweihänder.jpg|Large two-handed swords in the [[White Tower (Tower of London)]]
File:Υπερμεγέθης Σπάθη.jpg|Zweihänder in [[Athens War Museum]]
File:Tvåhandssvärd, 1600-talets början - Livrustkammaren - 31050.tif|Zweihänder exhibited in [[Livrustkammaren]], [[Royal Palace, Stockholm|Stockholm]]
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Claymore]]
* [[Classification of swords#Great sword|Great sword]]
* [[Ōdachi]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [http://www.ejmas.com/jwma/articles/2004/jwmaart_shore_1004.htm Essay by Anthony Shore] (''Journal of Western Martial Art'')
* [http://www.thearma.org/essays/2HGS.html The Weighty Issue of Two-Handed Greatswords], by John Clements

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[[Category:Early Modern European swords]]
[[Category:European swords]]
[[Category:Renaissance-era swords]]