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Weapons and Military Equipment Found in the German Settlement Area
repertoire lacks in spears, helmets, shields and chain mail 60 . These items have
otherwise been documentarily attested, the most frequent references mentioning their
use during the famous battle between King Béla IV and his son Stephen, which took
place in the autumn of 1264, under the walls of the royal fortress of Codlea, and
where the Transylvanian Saxon counts (Gräfen /comites) Chyl from Câlnic and Teel,
son of Ebl, from Braşov 61 had participated. The documents state: “on the occasion of
the fight in which was captured Lawrence, son of Kemen, faithful to the same King
Béla, persecutor of Duke Stephen (son of Durugh, who joined
Duke Stefan – editor’s note) throwing himself into battle before all the others,
defeated a brave knight with his spear, and sent his shield to the King for his royal
comfort” 62 , for “sending this shield was for us ... a source of joy since it was the first
sign of our victory and triumph” 63 ; and, in the same battle from Codlea, Alexander,
ban (leader) of Severin, “without fear of death, throwing himself into danger before
all the others, killed some with the spear, others with the sword (editor’s
underline)” 64 .
60
In specialized literature only a few mentions of occasional discoveries appear, unfortunately without
any description or dating details, which makes it impossible for us to mention them here, for ex.
fragments of chain mails discovered during archaeological research in the fortress on Măgura Codlei or
the lost helmet from Săsăuş (Covasna County) discovered in a grave next to a sword dated in the 13 th
century, but the sword has no description or illustration which could justify the suggested dating (B.
Lorand 2003, p. 311) (v. nr. cat. 27).
61
Ub. I, no. 127; DIR. C, veacul XIII, no. 108.
62
DIR. C, veacul XIII, no. 82.
63
DIR. C, veacul XIII, no. 96. This mention confirms once more that the arms and armours, the shield in
our case, were the main gifts given to the winner after a battle. As commonly known, they also
represented an important part of the plunder, the winners gathering them from the fallen opponents on
the battle field, as can be seen on the Bayeux Tapestry (for more on losing the sword in battle and
awarding it to the winner, see Z. K. Pinter 1999, p. 41-42).
64
DIR. C, veacul XIII, no. 95.
85