Scottish and Celtic influence in Weaponry
We all know
that the Celts were in Scotland and Wales but did you know that once their
culture spread throughout Western Continental Europe, the Iberian Peninsula,
Ireland and Great Britain? For three hundred years, they WERE the culture of
Europe from 1200 BC to 700 BC but were present until around 500 AD before ending
up on the edges of civilization in the Northern reaches of Scotland, Ireland and
the outer banks of Wales and Eastern England. The name Celt was given to them by
the Romans but they were originally the Κελτοί. On the European Continent, the
Romans called this race of savage warriors Gaul and they eventually were
absorbed into other races coming into the area. The British Isles remained their
home and today we mostly think of the Celts from their history in Wales and
Scotland.
There is an
encounter reported around 225 BC in the Alps, by a Roman historian, which
describes the Celts as fierce warriors, coming into battle in a frenzy with huge
axes raised overhead, screaming like banshees, wearing nothing but their total
body dark-blue tattoos, which put the terror of bodily destruction into the more
civilized Roman soldiers, watching these barbarians, who were easily a head
taller than themselves, running naked towards them. They named these fighters,
Berserkers. These fierce foot soldiers that used short daggers or kirks in
stead of swords as their main weapon, a practice carried on into the Scottish
traditions. The early Celts, like the Danes, rarely dressed in armor for battle
considering it unworthy to be so protected until around the 12th century AD,
when they had been absorbed into the English and Norman cultures.
Not all Celts wore
their colors during battle but burial mounds have revealed that those of rank
did appear to have armor and swords with their tartan cloaks over the more
protective chainmail which would have helped those of lesser rank to quickly
identify and protect their leaders. Their armor was decorated with runic designs
which had meaning to the individual wearing it. Since the Celts first used body
tattoos of runic style symbols, this was a link to their ancient tradition.
This, along with their tartan, made the leaders easy to recognize on the
battlefield. However, even as late as 1746, at the battle of Culloden, clan
identification was recognized not by their Tartan plaid but the color ribbon
worn on their hat.
The Celts were
pushed to the farthest regions of the British Isles which included the high
regions of Scotland and Wales with the Roman invasion around 43 AD. From these
stalwart warriors descended the tribes that inhabited the Highlands of the
Scottish Isles. With the influence and descendants of first the Romans and then
the Angles and Saxons blending with the Lowlander tribes, Scotland gradually
assimilated much of the British Isles traditions by 1000 AD although they
remained unique with some of their armor and arms.
The Scottish swords
that stand out among these are the Claymore style or the broadsword. The word
Claymore is an English term taken from the Gaelic word claidheamh-mòr which
means “Great Sword”. These massive swords, usually around five feet in length,
required a big warrior to use as they were heavy and required a good blacksmith
to produce one of such balance that it could be used easily.
One of the most
famous of these is the sword dubbed the William Wallace Sword which was
fashioned from the sword used by the famous 13th century Scottish landowner, a
leader in the fight for Scottish Independence from King Edward 1 of England. He
was reported to be a very large man of probable Welsh descent who was probably
an archer as his personal seal bore the archer’s insignia. He was one of the
leaders who led the Scots who supported their own King, John Balliol. His use of
the Claymore and the bow were not unusual for that time period as many archers
relied on big weapons for close range fighting, usually a pole axe or even a
hoe. William Wallace’s choice of weapons indicated some military training and it
is theorized that he acted as a mercenary for King Edward during the Wales
invasion by England years earlier.
The Claymore sword
was the Scottish broadsword in many variations through the centuries as the
country was taken from Celtic domination into English submission. It was smaller
during the time of William Wallace and grew larger during the next 300 years of
fighting with the English. The largest one on record was 7 feet 2 inches long!
The last known battle where the Claymore sword was known to have been used in
quantity was the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689. By 1700, the claidheamh-mòr,
the true Scottish Broadsword and the symbol of Scottish independence had been
subdued under English control and ceased to be a weapon of significance. Several
generations passed before the English utilized the Scots in warfare, allowing
the Scottish troops to have their own identity by allowing kilts, even
developing a tartan for these called the Black Watch. But the swords were
forever set aside. Perhaps the English feared these more than the Scots that had
wielded them or perhaps these mighty weapons were just too much for them to
handle. The Mighty Scots may have been brought under English dominion but their
history, their culture and especially their Tartan kilts and Scottish
broadswords will be remembered for many ages.
