Angielski (ENG) 
Polski (PL) 
Knight Radosław
We met Radek long time ago when we started cooperation with the fans of theater games from Lublin who visited us during such games prepared for young people from Poland and abroad. Radek most often played the role of an 'independent character'. Among other things, he played the role of Bolesław the Brave, or a malevolent spirit... Theater games are not our friend's only passion. Today we will talk about another - knighthood...
HEureka Generator: Hi Radek. Thank you for agreeing to talk with us. When and why did you become interested in knighthood? Is it connected with your interest in history?
Radosław Łaszkiewicz: I have been interested in the historical reenactment for over 20 years, but about 10 years ago I started taking part in it. As it is usually the case, it started with an interest in medieval history, but also in my case it was influenced by role-playing and computer games.
HG: You are a member of knight's brotherhood. What kind of activity is it?
RŁ: This activity is manifold. What is common is that group members spend time together. On the one hand, we have outward-facing activities, such as participation in tournaments or reenactments of historical battles or other events. On the other hand, there are activities directed inwards, towards group members - such as various types of physical exercises (drills, fencing) or workshops, for example in sewing, during which you acquire basic skills in this field in order to be able to sew on a button or something more complicated. It also depends on the specific case, there are more or less active brotherhoods.
HG: To become a knight, it is probably not enough just to sign up for the list of members. How can you officially become a knight? Are there any contraindications? Do you need to pass a test? How did it look like in your case?
RŁ: You do not need a 'king' or other ruler to be knighted, another knight may do so. It is believed that you should be honored that way for your merits. In practice, young people were knighted also before the battle, i.e. in absentia. Nowadays, it is enough to be considered worthy of this honor, whether through many years of participation in the knight's movement, participation in tournaments, or in some other way. This is when the accolade ceremony takes place, during which the knight's oath is taken (photos attached).
When it comes to physical features, you definitely need to be prepared for various inconveniences. First of all, quite spartan conditions on trips, sleeping in a historic tent that does not keep warmth as much as the modern one or low level of sanitary facilities.
If someone wants to take part in various shows or reenactments of battles as a knight, good physical condition and endurance are definitely very useful. The elements of the equipment are always very heavy, they cannot be removed during the battle; and the events that take place in various weather conditions last several hours.
HG: Once you become a knight, what are your duties? Is there a code you must follow?
RŁ: Taking a knight's oath is a part of the accolade ceremony. It is long and the text, compiled by the Chapter of Polish Knighthood, is available on the Internet. It is a commitment to follow certain things, within reason of course. There is no tribunal to control this later, so in fact the only guardian is our own conscience. In everyday life, most often I follow phrase: 'Do not be impetuous, not to perform anger by a rash act'. It used to be different before, but now I try to remember it. Most of the knights I know are polite and calm people (of course, there are also 'violent' people in this environment, but they are definite minority).
Radosław Łaszkiewicz: I have been interested in the historical reenactment for over 20 years, but about 10 years ago I started taking part in it. As it is usually the case, it started with an interest in medieval history, but also in my case it was influenced by role-playing and computer games.
HG: You are a member of knight's brotherhood. What kind of activity is it?
RŁ: This activity is manifold. What is common is that group members spend time together. On the one hand, we have outward-facing activities, such as participation in tournaments or reenactments of historical battles or other events. On the other hand, there are activities directed inwards, towards group members - such as various types of physical exercises (drills, fencing) or workshops, for example in sewing, during which you acquire basic skills in this field in order to be able to sew on a button or something more complicated. It also depends on the specific case, there are more or less active brotherhoods.
HG: To become a knight, it is probably not enough just to sign up for the list of members. How can you officially become a knight? Are there any contraindications? Do you need to pass a test? How did it look like in your case?
RŁ: You do not need a 'king' or other ruler to be knighted, another knight may do so. It is believed that you should be honored that way for your merits. In practice, young people were knighted also before the battle, i.e. in absentia. Nowadays, it is enough to be considered worthy of this honor, whether through many years of participation in the knight's movement, participation in tournaments, or in some other way. This is when the accolade ceremony takes place, during which the knight's oath is taken (photos attached).
When it comes to physical features, you definitely need to be prepared for various inconveniences. First of all, quite spartan conditions on trips, sleeping in a historic tent that does not keep warmth as much as the modern one or low level of sanitary facilities.
If someone wants to take part in various shows or reenactments of battles as a knight, good physical condition and endurance are definitely very useful. The elements of the equipment are always very heavy, they cannot be removed during the battle; and the events that take place in various weather conditions last several hours.
HG: Once you become a knight, what are your duties? Is there a code you must follow?
RŁ: Taking a knight's oath is a part of the accolade ceremony. It is long and the text, compiled by the Chapter of Polish Knighthood, is available on the Internet. It is a commitment to follow certain things, within reason of course. There is no tribunal to control this later, so in fact the only guardian is our own conscience. In everyday life, most often I follow phrase: 'Do not be impetuous, not to perform anger by a rash act'. It used to be different before, but now I try to remember it. Most of the knights I know are polite and calm people (of course, there are also 'violent' people in this environment, but they are definite minority).
HG: There are many events where knights can show their fighting skills. Are such skirmishes dangerous?
RŁ: In the beginning, I would like to point out that the word 'skirmishes' can refer to duels or group clashes. Generally, all skirmishes are not too dangerous with the appropriate level of protection. The most common injuries are abrasions or bruises, and occasionally more serious injuries, especially in the areas of hands or ankles, which are usually the least protected and most susceptible to injuries. Certainly, the probability of such injuries is higher in the case of group clashes than in duels.
HG: Do you use sharp weapons?
RŁ: Sharp weapons are used only in strictly controlled conditions. When it comes to clashes, these are only 1:1 duels, carried out very slowly and, of course, in appropriate pads. Such duels are very sporadic. It is mainly about presenting the difference between sharp and unsharpened weapons, how different we can use them. It is much more common to present such weapons at demonstrations rather than in combat, for example by cutting bottles filled with water or tatami mats, so that everyone can see how dangerous a sharpened weapon is.
RŁ: In the beginning, I would like to point out that the word 'skirmishes' can refer to duels or group clashes. Generally, all skirmishes are not too dangerous with the appropriate level of protection. The most common injuries are abrasions or bruises, and occasionally more serious injuries, especially in the areas of hands or ankles, which are usually the least protected and most susceptible to injuries. Certainly, the probability of such injuries is higher in the case of group clashes than in duels.
HG: Do you use sharp weapons?
RŁ: Sharp weapons are used only in strictly controlled conditions. When it comes to clashes, these are only 1:1 duels, carried out very slowly and, of course, in appropriate pads. Such duels are very sporadic. It is mainly about presenting the difference between sharp and unsharpened weapons, how different we can use them. It is much more common to present such weapons at demonstrations rather than in combat, for example by cutting bottles filled with water or tatami mats, so that everyone can see how dangerous a sharpened weapon is.
HG: How accurately does such a reconstruction reflect the realities of those times? Is there anything that cannot be recreated at all?
RŁ: This is the subject of constant disputes. New archaeological finds and research made by scientists make it necessary to revise the views on this subject from time to time. Due to the passage of time and the fact that many source materials have not survived or have been destroyed, it is impossible to recreate an event with precision down to the detail. It is possible to present an up-to-date view of what a given event from a given historical period looked like. In the reenactment we rely on finds and sometimes descriptions / illustrations from medieval written sources (or other works, for example sculptures).
Both of these sources have their drawbacks. In the case of archaeological finds (or museum exhibits), the problem is the passage of time, the influence of weather conditions or (sometimes) human interference, and therefore it is often very difficult to recreate objects from organic materials (fabrics, leather, wood), since only their remains have survived. On the other hand, when it comes to messages or illustrations, one can never be sure how accurate they are, whether the author described a given thing precisely and whether they added something from themselves. You can try to verify this by comparing, for example, images or messages of different authors from the same period. This is not always possible and can be tedious. That is why much of what the reenactors wear and use is largely a dominant mainstream or view of what was in force in a given period; a view, but with the risk of error, which may be verified by some newly found materials.
As an example, I can give the history of women's underwear in the Middle Ages. Neither the illustrations (which show women either fully dressed or fully naked) nor the descriptions say anything about it (it also shows the position of women in medieval society). Therefore, it was assumed that in addition to the outer garments and the bottom one, the so-called 'giezło', women did not wear anything else (although men had shirts and short or long pants, i.e. 'braies', which are very often present in the illustrations, as it was a popular outfit especially for the lower states during the summer heat). Only a discovery from Austria, made in 2012, allowed to revise this view.
HG: What spectacle do you remember the most?
RŁ: Of course it is "Days of Grunwald". Most of the photos come from this show. It is definitely one of the largest events of this type in Europe and in the world. The event lasts over a week, and the culmination is Saturday's reenactment of the Battle of Grunwald, attended by hundreds of reenactors and thousands of spectators. Being applauded by such a large audience really compensates for all the sacrifices.
RŁ: This is the subject of constant disputes. New archaeological finds and research made by scientists make it necessary to revise the views on this subject from time to time. Due to the passage of time and the fact that many source materials have not survived or have been destroyed, it is impossible to recreate an event with precision down to the detail. It is possible to present an up-to-date view of what a given event from a given historical period looked like. In the reenactment we rely on finds and sometimes descriptions / illustrations from medieval written sources (or other works, for example sculptures).
Both of these sources have their drawbacks. In the case of archaeological finds (or museum exhibits), the problem is the passage of time, the influence of weather conditions or (sometimes) human interference, and therefore it is often very difficult to recreate objects from organic materials (fabrics, leather, wood), since only their remains have survived. On the other hand, when it comes to messages or illustrations, one can never be sure how accurate they are, whether the author described a given thing precisely and whether they added something from themselves. You can try to verify this by comparing, for example, images or messages of different authors from the same period. This is not always possible and can be tedious. That is why much of what the reenactors wear and use is largely a dominant mainstream or view of what was in force in a given period; a view, but with the risk of error, which may be verified by some newly found materials.
As an example, I can give the history of women's underwear in the Middle Ages. Neither the illustrations (which show women either fully dressed or fully naked) nor the descriptions say anything about it (it also shows the position of women in medieval society). Therefore, it was assumed that in addition to the outer garments and the bottom one, the so-called 'giezło', women did not wear anything else (although men had shirts and short or long pants, i.e. 'braies', which are very often present in the illustrations, as it was a popular outfit especially for the lower states during the summer heat). Only a discovery from Austria, made in 2012, allowed to revise this view.
HG: What spectacle do you remember the most?
RŁ: Of course it is "Days of Grunwald". Most of the photos come from this show. It is definitely one of the largest events of this type in Europe and in the world. The event lasts over a week, and the culmination is Saturday's reenactment of the Battle of Grunwald, attended by hundreds of reenactors and thousands of spectators. Being applauded by such a large audience really compensates for all the sacrifices.
HG: Let's get back to the equipment for a moment. Where do modern knights stock up on weapons and other essentials? Are there blacksmiths and armorers in your community?
RŁ: Let me put it this way: in Poland, until around 2010, there were times when the reenactment required much more effort than today, because there were practically no such craftsmen. You had to sew costumes by yourself or ask your friends to do it, basing on the patterns commonly used at the time, which after many years turned out to be inconsistent with historical realities. There were people involved in e.g. artistic blacksmithing. However, they did not have much experience or knowledge about the production of historical weapons, hence the swords weighing several kilograms. There are many examples like that. You can still find photos on the Internet showing how it looked like back then. Initially, when you couldn't find wide range of historically accurate equipment, I consulted all orders before buying with more experienced people to make sure that the item was 'historical'. After this not very interesting period, which I know mainly from stories, for about 10-12 years there have been manufacturers and craftsmen in Poland and abroad producing clothes, armaments or all other types of equipment. They often are also enthusiasts dealing with a given historical epoch, so they can be trusted to comply with current views on how a given thing looked like, what it was made of and how it was made at that time. There are also entire online stores where you can conveniently buy all the necessary equipment, and then use it without any embarrassment or risk of being accused of 'non-historicity' (which in this environment is probably the biggest insult).
HG: Wearing armor is probably not the most comfortable thing to do. How much did the heaviest armor you put on weighed?
RŁ: This, of course, is changeable. My set (which is presented in the photos) weighs about 15 kilograms to my eye, including the sword and shield. The initial set weighed a few kilograms more. It is generally very important to balance the protection level and the weight of all this equipment.
RŁ: Let me put it this way: in Poland, until around 2010, there were times when the reenactment required much more effort than today, because there were practically no such craftsmen. You had to sew costumes by yourself or ask your friends to do it, basing on the patterns commonly used at the time, which after many years turned out to be inconsistent with historical realities. There were people involved in e.g. artistic blacksmithing. However, they did not have much experience or knowledge about the production of historical weapons, hence the swords weighing several kilograms. There are many examples like that. You can still find photos on the Internet showing how it looked like back then. Initially, when you couldn't find wide range of historically accurate equipment, I consulted all orders before buying with more experienced people to make sure that the item was 'historical'. After this not very interesting period, which I know mainly from stories, for about 10-12 years there have been manufacturers and craftsmen in Poland and abroad producing clothes, armaments or all other types of equipment. They often are also enthusiasts dealing with a given historical epoch, so they can be trusted to comply with current views on how a given thing looked like, what it was made of and how it was made at that time. There are also entire online stores where you can conveniently buy all the necessary equipment, and then use it without any embarrassment or risk of being accused of 'non-historicity' (which in this environment is probably the biggest insult).
HG: Wearing armor is probably not the most comfortable thing to do. How much did the heaviest armor you put on weighed?
RŁ: This, of course, is changeable. My set (which is presented in the photos) weighs about 15 kilograms to my eye, including the sword and shield. The initial set weighed a few kilograms more. It is generally very important to balance the protection level and the weight of all this equipment.
HG: Do you need somebody's help when you put it on?
RŁ: Most of the equipment elements have drawstrings, belts and buckles that need to be fastened or tied skillfully so that nothing 'falls off' during the event. Some of them are in hard-to-reach places, for example on the back, so it is very advisable to get help from a page or another person while putting them on. As a rule, removing is a bit simpler and help is no longer needed.
HG: Have you ever had a problem getting out of your armor? Or some other funny situation related to your profession?
RŁ: Not necessarily with the armor itself, but in 2015 I returned to reenactment after a break of more than a year, without any prior preparation and exercises. Of course I started from participation in the largest event, i.e. the Days of Grunwald. In addition, I had problems with the helmet cover, which was constantly falling and effectively limiting ventilation, which turned out to be deadly in the heat of July. I managed to make it to the end of the staging and get off the battlefield, but later a team of paramedics noticed me, they stripped me of everything and I returned to the camp in only my underwear. The photo from 2015 shows me during this staging (it was before the battle). The photo comes from the Polish Press Agency, later it was published on various websites.
RŁ: Most of the equipment elements have drawstrings, belts and buckles that need to be fastened or tied skillfully so that nothing 'falls off' during the event. Some of them are in hard-to-reach places, for example on the back, so it is very advisable to get help from a page or another person while putting them on. As a rule, removing is a bit simpler and help is no longer needed.
HG: Have you ever had a problem getting out of your armor? Or some other funny situation related to your profession?
RŁ: Not necessarily with the armor itself, but in 2015 I returned to reenactment after a break of more than a year, without any prior preparation and exercises. Of course I started from participation in the largest event, i.e. the Days of Grunwald. In addition, I had problems with the helmet cover, which was constantly falling and effectively limiting ventilation, which turned out to be deadly in the heat of July. I managed to make it to the end of the staging and get off the battlefield, but later a team of paramedics noticed me, they stripped me of everything and I returned to the camp in only my underwear. The photo from 2015 shows me during this staging (it was before the battle). The photo comes from the Polish Press Agency, later it was published on various websites.
HG: Can being a knight be treated as a profession? When you take off your armor, do you go back to your normal life as if you were coming home from work, or does being a knight mean something more to you?
RŁ: There are people who make a living from it, although not many. When I say 'they make living from it', I mean participating in various types of commercial shows, flix recordings or motion capture, or running schools or fencing classes (in various formats). There is also a group of people who are engaged in crafts and make equipment for themselves and others. The vast majority, however, lead a 'normal' life, doing something completely different on a daily basis, devoting themselves to their hobbies in their free time.
HG: How would you encourage someone to take part in a historical show, even as a spectator?
RŁ: First of all, I would like to encourage everyone who is also close to history to an adventure with the reconstruction movement of their favorite historical period. It doesn't have to be the Middle Ages, it doesn't have to be a first or even last row fight. You can really be whoever you dream of - a Viking, an early medieval warrior, a knight from the 15th century, a monk from the 14th century, a 17th-century Polish noblewoman, a Napoleonic soldier or an officer of the Polish Army from the Second Polish Republic. In fact, your imagination is the limit.
HG: Thank you very much for the interview. Perhaps thanks to you, some of our readers will take a similar path, following the footsteps of the old days. We wish you a lot of fun with your hobby!
RŁ: There are people who make a living from it, although not many. When I say 'they make living from it', I mean participating in various types of commercial shows, flix recordings or motion capture, or running schools or fencing classes (in various formats). There is also a group of people who are engaged in crafts and make equipment for themselves and others. The vast majority, however, lead a 'normal' life, doing something completely different on a daily basis, devoting themselves to their hobbies in their free time.
HG: How would you encourage someone to take part in a historical show, even as a spectator?
RŁ: First of all, I would like to encourage everyone who is also close to history to an adventure with the reconstruction movement of their favorite historical period. It doesn't have to be the Middle Ages, it doesn't have to be a first or even last row fight. You can really be whoever you dream of - a Viking, an early medieval warrior, a knight from the 15th century, a monk from the 14th century, a 17th-century Polish noblewoman, a Napoleonic soldier or an officer of the Polish Army from the Second Polish Republic. In fact, your imagination is the limit.
HG: Thank you very much for the interview. Perhaps thanks to you, some of our readers will take a similar path, following the footsteps of the old days. We wish you a lot of fun with your hobby!
