The Notorious Opera Duelist of Paris - Julie d'Aubigny

Few women have achieved the notoriety throughout their entire lifetime that Julie d'Aubigny acquired in just two short decades.  Famous for her insatiable sexual appetite and martial prowess, two things that regularly got her into trouble, she would have perished early in life if not for her father’s close contacts with the king.

Teenage Duelist

Julie d'Aubigny was effectively raised as a man, the son of the secretary to Horse Master Louis de Lorraine-Guisea.  Her father’s job was to train the court pages, and she was raised under his tutelage as well.  From him, she learned dueling, horseback riding, dancing, and reading, among other traditionally “manly” skills.  Her choice of men’s clothes reflected her upbringing.

Her dress didn’t stop her from attracting the eye of the Count d'Armagnac, who took her as his mistress when she was only 14 years old.  For some reason, the Count decided to marry her off to Sieur de Maupin, whom she stayed married to for life, though ne’er faithful.  When her husband moved to the South of France, she stayed in Paris (possibly at the Count’s request), and began to engage in antics that would make the ears of the noble class ring.

First, the very same year, she hooked up with an assistant fencing master who had similar proclivities as she.  After he killed a man in a duel (dueling was illegal in Paris by the King’s edict), they had to flee.  Making a living by singing duets and demonstrating their fencing skills, they traveled through the countryside.  Because Julie’s fencing skills were so incredibly, she was occasionally accused of being a man pretending to be a woman.  According to a story, she got so tired of this that, one day, she tore open her blouse in order to prove that she was indeed a woman.

For people whose craving for excitement knows no bounds, loyalty doesn’t factor in very high, so it wasn’t long before she tired of her traveling lover and decided to try her luck with a woman.  Her new choice’s parents were less-than-pleased with her decision and sent the woman away to a nunnery.  Undeterred, Julie managed to enter the same convent by pretending to be an initiate, then arranged their escape by placing the corpse of a recently-deceased nun in her girlfriend’s room, setting it on fire, then fleeing during the chaos.

This affair lasted only 3 months, but it was not without consequences.  For her deed, Julie was charged with arson, kidnapping, body snatching, and failing to show up to court. Possibly because of the inability to comprehend bisexuality at the time (“Why would a woman run off with another woman? Only a man would do so.”), she was charged as a man, so the sentence was severe – death by fire.

Opera Singer

During her adventures trouping around the county, she had managed to attract the attention of some opera talent scouts who pushed for her to join the Paris Opera.  She headed toward Paris but first had to first deal with the charges hanging over her head.  Luckily for her, her father was able to contact the King and get the charges cleared.  She joined the Opera, playing some very strong female parts, and her voice attracted renown.

Of course, being Julie d'Aubigny, she couldn’t quite blend in with the other performers.  At one ball, she publically kissed a woman, which attracted the attention of three men who dueled her.  She won every duel.  She had to flee Paris due to the anti-dueling laws, until she was once again able to obtain a royal pardon, with the King rationalizing that the laws only applied to men. Even during all this, she somehow found the time to seduce the then-governor of the Netherlands.

Returning to the Opera, she challenged a man known for bothering female singers, and when he tried to refuse, she mugged him.  Not wanting to admit to the embarrassment, he made up a story that he had been attacked, which she quickly refuted by producing a pocket watch she had taken from him.

True Love And Heartbreak

Julie was fated to die young.  She fell for a mistress Marquise de Florensac, whose death after two years proved too much for the still-young Julie, who had finally found love at long last.  Joining a convent for real this time, she lived there another few years until her death at the young age of 33.

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source https://www.bladespro.co.uk/blogs/news/the-notorious-bisexual-opera-duelist-of-paris-julie-daubigny

3 Legendary European Swordsmen

From the mid-16^th century to the 18^th century, there lived in Europe three swordsmen whose skills were legendary.  What makes these men remarkable is that their skill at dueling was the only commonality these men shared.  They were each incredibly different in their temperaments, skills, and chosen paths in life.

 

Achille Marozzo—The Renaissance Fencing Master

The first legend was Achille Marozzo, an Italian fencing master who followed the fencing tradition of the Bolognese school.  He is remembered today for his treatise Opera Nova dell’Arte delle Armi, which mostly covers how to use various weapons or guards in tandem with a sword.  Today, this work serves as a window into 16^th century fencing styles and theory and is studied by many historical fencing groups.

There is not much known about his personal life.  What little we know about him comes mainly from his esteemed work.  From lines such as “You must never attack without defending, nor defend without attacking” we can discern that he was a fairly calculating individual.  We know he studied under Guido Antonio Di Luca, who trained a great many warriors.  Marozzo became a teacher in his own right, as one contemporary noted that he “had trained an immense number of valiant disciplines.”

Donald McBane—The Scottish Duelist Extraordinaire

Donald McBane was really a character.   He was a womanizer and had the ability to get into trouble almost no matter what he did.  Dueling for him was a double-edged sword – it got him into trouble as often as it got him out of it.  If it weren’t for the fact that he was often well-liked by those above him, he would have been unlikely to have achieved as much as he did.

Donald first learned swordsmanship when the elder soldier assigned to him regularly “dipped” into his wages.  Donald paid for private instruction from a sergeant, then, as was the custom of the time, Donald challenged the elder soldier to a duel, which he then promptly lost.  After taking more lessons, Donald, won the duel and became master of his and the other soldier’s wages. 

His exploits after this are too much to extol here, but suffice it to say, he had many adventures replete with scrapes, scuffles, and close calls.  He did marry and had two kids, but his roving eye never stopped, and he consistently had many adventures with other women and became a brothel owner.  Eventually, at the age of 63, he resolved to stop fighting and “repent of my former wickedness.”

 

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges—The Gentleman Fencer

Possibly the most interesting of the 3, Joseph Boulogne, better known as Saint George, was notable for being a half-African half-French aristocrat.  Born the illegitimate son of a Frenchman and African slave, he was taken from his birthplace of Guadeloupe (an island in the Caribbean) to France at a young age.  While his maternity disallowed him from being considered nobility, his father acknowledged and supported him throughout his life, an extreme rarity due to the racial divisions of the time.

Saint George grew up with an excellent education, learning not only fencing but also horseback riding, literature, and science.  Accounted a dashing man with a fierce prowess of the sword, he gained skill quickly, with one famed Italian fencer predicting that he would become the best fencer in Europe.  Not skilled only with the sword, he also was an accomplished violinist.  While not considered one of the great composers, one of the greats, Mozart, based a piece on a melody Saint George wrote.

Saint George grew up with close ties to the Aristocracy.  His father was very close to King Louis XV, and George himself developed a close friendship with Marie Antoinette.  However, he developed sympathies for the growing revolutionary movement, though these ties made it difficult for the revolutionary leaders to trust him.  As well as his involvement with the revolution, he also sympathized with the growing anti-slavery movement, which irritated slave owners.  He lived to see slavery abolished but died soon before it was reimposed by Napoleon.

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source https://www.bladespro.co.uk/blogs/news/3-legendary-european-swordsmen

Genghis Khan

One of the most famous leaders of all time, Genghis Khan led the Mongols on a conquest that would eventually form the largest contiguous empire in human history.  All was not power and roses however, as he came from quite humble beginnings.

A Child Groom

There is not much known about Genghis’s early life, though legends abound due to his later prominence.  What is known is that he was born Temüjin, one of at least seven siblings.  At the tender age of nine, his father arranged a marriage for him and took him to live with his bride’s family, a political ally, until he reached the marriageable age of twelve years. 

However, this questionably happy state of affairs was not to last, for, on the way home, his father met some enemies who poisoned him.  Learning of this, the future conqueror left his bride-to-be and went home to his tribe in order to claim his father’s place as chief. The tribe rejected him, however, and he was forced with his family to flee and live of the land alone.

Temüjin had an older half-brother Begter who began to seek power as he reached adulthood, and he planned to take Temüjin’s mother (not his own mother) as his wife.  Temüjin resented Begter for this, and on a hunting excursion with his other brother Khasar, they killed Begter.

A Rising Star

Temüjin’s mother reportedly was a wise woman, who taught him about the need for political stability among the then-divided nomadic tribes of today’s Mongolia.  This teaching combined with the harsh life of the open plains began to prepare Temüjin for his future role.

Temüjin’s reputation began to increase when he was captured in a raid and later escaped.  He eventually managed to complete the marriage his father had arranged, cementing the political alliance between the two tribes.  His wife Börte was soon captured herself and given away to another man.  Temüjin managed to rescue her with the help of his closest friend Jamukha and the soldiers of an ally. This capture would have historic repercussions, as Börte gave birth to a son nine months later, making it unclear who the father was.  This would later complicate the matter of succession for the empire.

While Genghis followed the tradition of taking multiple partners, only Börte and her children received any rights of inheritance.    She bore him three more sons who would eventually become rulers in their own rights.

Two Paths Divided, One Chosen

Temüjin and Jamukha had each become Khan of their own tribes.  Childhood friends, they had taken an oath to remain faithful to each other all their lives as blood brothers.  However, their differences in governing philosophies began to cause a rift in their friendship.  Temüjin favored a meritocratic method, and as such his ranks were filled with people of all classes.  Jamukha followed the traditional path of aristocracy.  When Temüjin was eventually elected as Khan of the Mongols, Jamukha successfully attacked him, driving him into a sort of exile.

The historical records become unclear for the next decade, but eventually Temüjin was restored to power when he took part in an attack against people that had been oppressing his fellow tribesman.  Temüjin continued to gain power by marriage, this time marrying his son to a daughter of Toghrul, an ally.  However, Toghruls’s and Temüjin’s relationship was rocky at best, with Toghruls’s son Senggum unsuccessfully attacking Temüjin, and Toghrul refusing to give his daughter in marriage.  This refusal led to war, with Toghrul teaming up with Jamukha against Temüjin. However due to previous atrocities committed by Jamukha, many soldiers deserted to Temüjin.  This, combined with disagreements between Jamukha and Toghrul, led to their eventually defeat.  Jamukha escaped to the Naimans, who eventually elected him leader.  This caused another showdown with Temüjin ending in Jamukha’s defeat due to more desertions.  This defeat made Temüjin the sole ruler of the Mongols, and he took the name Genghis Khan.

The Mongol Empire

With the clans united, Genghis began planning his empire.  His first step was to invade the lands to the south.  Correctly surmising that the Xia would not be aided by the ruler of what is now northern China, Genghis attacked.  Though the conquest was successful, it was a hard one due to the Xia’s defenses.

With the south quelled, Genghis turned his attention to the east, to the Jin who had not defended the Xia in their time of need.  Noting the threat Genghis now posed, the Jin assembled their forces. However, due to a messenger’s defection, they lost the tactical advantage against Genghis and were defeated in a slaughter.  This forced the ruler of the Jin to abandon modern Beijing and essential surrender the northern half of his realm to the Mongols. Two decades later, the remainder fell to the Mongols.

The Mongols were tired after nearly a decade of fighting, so Genghis chose only a few soldiers to strike west.  Using nefarious tactics, they managed to weaken the Qara Khitai before attacking directly and securing the Victory.  Continuing west, they managed to secure territory all the way to the Caspian Sea.

The empire kept expanding, eventually reaching India to the south, Iran to the west, Russia to the north, and Korea to the East.

Succession and Death

Genghis managed to live to old age.  However, the closer he got to death, the more troubled the empire became over who would succeed him.  While, traditionally, his son Jochi should succeed, the question of his parentage and the refusal of one of Genghis’s sons Chagatai to support Jochi should he be named the successor made this choice untenable.  Because of this refusal, Chagatai was also disconsidered, so Genghis chose his third son Ögedei as his successor.

In order to further ease tensions, Genghis divided his empire into four Khanates and gave each to one of his sons.  Jochi’s early death meant his Khanate was given to his two sons.   When Genghis died, according to the custom of the time, he was buried in an unmarked grave.

Ögedei continued expanding the empire after his father’s death, with the Mongol Empire eventually covering all modern-day China, as well as reaching Eastern Europe.

The Sword Behind the Man.

While it is uncertain exactly what weapon Genghis would have used on the battlefield, the Mongols used a type of slashing sword heavily related to the Chinese Dao.  As their empire expanded, they adopted Persian weapons such as the Scimitar.

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source https://www.bladespro.co.uk/blogs/news/genghis-khan

The Middle Eastern Calvary Sword: The Scimitar

An Eastern Cavalryman

Zordun charged across the open plains on his horse.  The wind blew in his face as he leaned down, urging a bit more speed from his mount.  As he did so, he heard the soft whisper of hundreds of arrows whistling through the air above him.  Barely managing to keep his eyes open against the dust stirred up from the sun-baked plains and the light of the noonday sun, he saw the arrows landing in the infantry in front of him, causing men to stumble and fall in cries of pain. 

He saw an answering rain of arrows rise up from behind the men and whistle past him, landing in some of the men unfortunate enough to ride slower than him.  Sending up a silent prayer of thanks for his swift ride, he slowed his horse slightly and raised his Scimitar, primed for battle.

Featured Sword: Scimitar

Scimitars and Katanas may seem similar at first glance - they are curved, Eastern swords developed near a thousand years ago. However, that is where their similarities end.

The first main difference lies in the forging process.  Scimitars are typically not forge welded like Katanas (heated, then welded to itself), they are beaten into shape blow by blow.  Thus they are made already curved - the shape provided by the smith at creation.  However, Katanas are made straight and remain so until they are quenched, at which time the uneven cooling of the blade due to clay applied by the swordsmith causes the blade to curve.

The second difference comes in their usage.  The scimitar was developed primarily for use on horseback.  The deep curve of the blade is excellent for slashing and making sure that the blade does not stick into its target - an excellent feature when riding by a target quickly.  Katanas were made to be status symbols and to finish duels between two lightly armored opponents quickly - often in one or two strokes.  A result of these different design choices are that Scimitars are worn with the edge down, while Katanas are worn with the edge facing up.

Finally, scimitars are one-handed weapons whilst Katanas are two-handed.  This means that the handle on a scimitar is much shorter than the Tsuka of a Katana.  The main exceptions are scimitar swords made for executions (needing two hands) and certain Katana fighting styles (such as duel-wielding).

Laying Waste

Swerving left and right to avoid the blows of the men around him, Zordun skillfully guided his horse.  Balancing carefully to remain upright, he skillfully slashed his blade at the nearest infantryman, causing a screen of pain and an arm to go limp.  Steeling himself for the next blow, he struck at an armored opponent, the blade going deep and hitting bone, then glancing off.  Knowing a straight sword would have likely stuck in the bone and risked pulling him off his horse into the thick of the battle, he again said a quick prayer of thanks.

Fun Facts

British officers began wearing mameluke swords after the Battle of Waterloo, especially by commanders of light cavalry and hussar units.  Today, the current regulation sword for generals is a Maeluke sword.

Etymology

The word Scimitar comes from either Middle French cimeterre or Italian scimitarra, both of which probably originally came from an Ottoman Turkish word that itself descended from the Persian word shamshēr (شمشیر‎ ) which literally means "paw claw".

Variations

There are many variations of Scimitars, each with their own name.

• Shamshir (Iran)
• Kilij (Turkey and Egypt)
• Nimcha (Morocco)
  Pulwar (Afghanistan)
• Talwar (Indian Subcontinent)
• Kirpaan (Punjab, North Western India)
• Shotel (Horn of Africa, primarily Ethiopia and Eritrea)

List credit of Wikipedia

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Hua Mulan - The Most Famous Chinese Woman Warrior

The original story of Mulan is short, only a few hundred characters. But the story contained inside is unique and powerful, especially for the time period in which it was written. Set in the first half of the first millennium, it chronicles the story of a girl who takes her father’s place and joins the army.

While it recently gained fame as a Disney movie worldwide, the story has been popular in China for millennia. Unlike the movie, there are no romantic subplots in the original poem but only the familial love of a daughter for her father. Short and sweet, its meaning is timeless.

The Story

The poem starts with Mulan working at her loom. She is asked whom she longs for, and she answers that she has no one she desires, but instead worries for her father, whose name is on every draft notice in town. She notes that her family has no older male to serve, and she wishes she could take her father’s place.

The next section of the poem describes her buying a horse and tack from around town. She leaves her family’s home at dawn and travels to the army camp, arriving at evening. This section has a repeated line that is difficult to translate, but seems to refer to how Mulan is so focused on her mission that she doesn’t consider how her family misses her.

The following part details her long and varied service. She serves for ten years, traveling over ten thousand kilometers through the north of China and probably parts of what are now Mongolia and Russia.  She fights in over a hundred battles, and many of the army's leaders are killed over the course of the campaign.  While never directly said, it is heavily implied based on what happens next that she is repeatedly promoted.

When the long and bloody campaign is finally over, the army travels to the capital where she meets the emperor as part of a celebration. He hands out rewards to all and official posts to distinguished commanders.  When asked what she wants, she refuses a post, but asks simply to be allowed leave to return home and a fast horse to take her there.

Her family receives word of her immanent arrival.  Her parents go out to see her, her sister dresses up, and her younger brother goes to slaughter some of the livestock for a feast in her honor.  Mulan arrives and makes her way to her room where she trades her armor and battle clothes for a lady's dress and cosmetics.  It is implied that her hair is white, signaling just how stressful the campaign had been and how it had aged her.

Her companions who had traveled with her are amazed and astonished when they see her, for in all the years of traveling together they had never suspected who she was.  The poem ends with an analogy from Mulan relating how when rabbits run together, it is impossible to tell their sex.

History

The poem is nearly as old as the story it contains - written only one or two centuries after the events it purports.  However, we have no early copies, and the first reference we have of the poem is from a 12th century work in which the author references an earlier source.

In the poem, Mulan has no surname.  Later adaptions gave her different surnames, with "Hua", meaning "flower", becoming the most popular.  This is likely because in Chinese, "Mulan" means magnolia, so the name is more poetic.

Disney wasn't the first to play loosely with the story.  In the 1670s, Chu created an intriguing adaption in which Mulan, after leaving to join the army in her father's stead, becomes best friends with a king's warrior daughter.  When the king is captured and sentenced to death, they try to have themselves executed instead.  However, their act of loyalty is rewarded, and Mulan is granted riches and a place for her family to relocated.  Returning home, she discovers her father has died and her mother has remarried.  She also receives word that the Emperor has taken an interest in her and she is to become his concubine.    Rather than acquiesce, she decides to commit suicide so she can be with her dead father.

Chinese Weapons

There were five main Chinese weapons: dao, jian, spear, halberd, and staff.  While we don't know which weapon Mulan trained with or used, it is likely that she would have used a Dao, as they were easy to learn, plentiful, and reliable. 

 

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source https://www.bladespro.co.uk/blogs/news/hua-mulan

The Japanese Greatsword: The Ōdachi

The General’s Sword

Yamoto rode onto the field surrounded by his comrades in arms. His tactical ability was near-legendary, and his soldiers looked on with admiration as he surveyed the battlefield. Seeing the tattered ranks of the rebels arrayed before him, he knew the coming skirmish would be no challenge. Raising his Tachi high as a signal to the army around him, he gave the order to advance.

The battle was fierce but swift. Laying about with his Tachi, Yamoto killed many, but during his last bout with a foot soldier, his Tachi, weakened through years of harsh use, chipped and almost shattered. He managed to dodge the soldier's counterattack and watched as the soldier was quickly finished off by one of his lieutenants. Examining his Tachi, he knew this was its last battle; he would need another.

A few weeks later, he made it back to the capital. The shogun announced a feast in his honor for all the successful victories he had accomplished during the past year. There was much drinking and laughing, and halfway through, the king announced that he had a new gift for the venerated general. The king summoned the royal swordsmith who came quickly with two men carrying a long parcel.

Raising his voice so everyone could hear, the king addressed the general. “My messengers kept me informed of your progress. After hearing of the loss of your Tachi, I commissioned a new sword made as a replacement.” The retainers held still as the swordsmith unwrapped the parcel, revealing an unusually long sword. “This an Ōdachi. They are incredibly difficult to make but are unmistakable. I figured it a fitting weapon for such a revered general as you.”

Featured Sword: Ōdachi

The larger version of the Tachi, the Katana's predecessor, was the Ōdachi. Meaning “Long Sword”, it commonly reached lengths of 90-100cm or more. There were two main uses of the Ōdachi - war and showmanship. As less is known about the Ōdachi compared to the Tachi, we have to make some educated speculation on how it was likely used.

While a Katana or Wakizashi can be drawn in one smooth stroke that can also be used as an attack, the Ōdachi’s size would have necessitated it being worn on the back, preventing this. It would also limit the Ōdachi’s self-defense proclivity, instead making it more useful as a primary weapon on the battlefield. Some soldiers may have even been accompanied by a retainer whose job was to carry the blade and assist the Samurai in drawing it. One place it would have especially shined is as a horseback weapon - the longer reach offered by the blade would have given the horseman an advantage against foes on foot.

A few Ōdachi were made especially long - some over two metres, with the Norimitsu Ōdachi measuring over 3 and three-quarters metres!. These would have been too impractical for use on the battlefield, so they were more likely created as a showpiece by their forger. When a sword is forged, it is important that the entire blade be heated to the same temperature. While fairly easy today with modern technology, back then it was incredibly difficult, and this difficulty increased with the length. Thus only an expert swordsmith could make a high-quality Ōdachi.

A Symbol Raised High

2 months later, Yamamoto looked out on yet another battlefield. The respite in the capital came to an end all too soon, and it was not long before it was time to return to the countryside. This time, the battle would not be so easy. His scouts had alerted him to the position, composition, and size of the enemy forces a day earlier, and he had dispatched horseman during the night who had been traveling through the wee hours in order to reach a flanking position. They should be just out of sight, with a few men scouting ahead and waiting for his signal.

He motioned to his retainer, who unsheathed the Ōdachi and handed it to him. Examining the king’s gift, Yamoto lamented that his days as a fighter were over - the sword at over 3 shakas was too large for combat, but to use another sword would dishonor and offend the shogun. However, as his personal symbol, the sword would do even more damage due to the fear it would drive into his enemies and to the hope it would bestow into his own men. With all the men on both sides looking on, he raised it high for the first time. With a cheer, his men rushed forward.

Fun Fact

Because of their oddity, Ōdachi were used in ceremonies and as offerings to the gods.

Etymology

Ōdachi (おうだち/大太刀 in Japanese) is a synonym of the word Nodachi (のだち/野太刀). Ōdachi means “big Taichi”, and Taichi means “long sword”. So literally, Ōdachi means “big long sword”! Nodachi literally means “field Tachi”.

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source https://www.bladespro.co.uk/blogs/news/the-japanese-greatsword-the-odachi

The Swordmaking Legacy of Longquan: Shen Guanglong

A Town of Swordmsiths

In mainland China, in a beautiful mountainous region just north of the Tropic of Cancer, a small town is nestled with a long history - Longquan (pronounced LOW-ng-CHU-an). Legend has it that the first iron sword was forged there over 2500 years ago by the legendary smith Ou Yezi, who crafted 8 famous swords and gifted them to two Kings of the time. Since then, the sword-making tradition has been passed on in Longquan from father to son and is classified as an intangible cultural heritage of China.

One Family to Rule Them All

While the rest of the world was reeling from the breakout of World War I, the town of Longquan held a sword competition. All the best sword-makers in the town turned out, and the Shen family won the competition hands down. Their sword was not only able to cut through three copper coins (remember, swords are not made to cut metal), but also able to cut a competitor’s sword in twain. The next year they proved it was not a fluke by winning the Gold Award at another competition. After another five years, the Shen family won the National Art Contest for China, gaining the family national recognition.

The Shen family is not originally from Longquan, but Bihiu. The patriarch of the family moved to Longquan in 1896 to set up a weapons shop. It took almost 20 years of hard work before the first aforementioned competition victory. After their subsequent wins and resulting fame, 15 years later the second generation of the family was honored by being asked to make a sword for China’s president. This honor was repeated with later swords being given to Chairman Mao and US president Nixon, among many other foreign leaders. Their swords have since been used in several films and on television.

The Continuing Legacy 

Today, Shen Guanglong (in Chinese names, the family name comes first) is the fourth generation of the Shen family and current representative of the Shen legacy. He started learning swordsmithing very early, consistently skipping school until his parents gave in and taught him the family craft. While he never finished primary school, even though he wishes he had, under his direction, the Shen swordmaking shop has expanded into a factory with hundreds of workers. The family business now makes a wide variety of swords, from traditional Chinese Jian to Japanese Katanas. Consistently winning awards since 1980, including one as the best sword forger in all of China, the shop has managed to maintain its works’ high quality through its businesses’ expansion. Crafted mainly for export, all crafted swords are held to exacting standards and are quite expensive, often running four to five digits in price.

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source https://www.bladespro.co.uk/blogs/news/longquan-legacy-shen-guang-long