Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

ariel · 23rd April 2021, 07:32 PM

The story goes that it was Chaka who “ invented” Iklwa. Perhaps, it is really true. But Iklwa was only an instrument of his real invention: instead of ineffectual and largely symbolic exchange of throwing spears at a respectable distance, he demanded close combat with the intent to kill. Realistically, Iklwas and old throwing spears were equally deadly: no matter where at the torso you stick your blade , at the depth of 2-3 inches you hit a vital organ. Iklwa with its oversized blade became more frightening and killed right away instead of in 5 minutes.
But the important novelty was his re-tooling his army: instead of ritualistic line-to-line hour long throwing spears back and forth he invented concepts of the center and surrounding flanks with close contact and with annihilation of the enemy on site. Iklwa was no longer a spear: it became kind of a sword with long handle, akin to Indian Bhuj or Yakut Batyjya. Hand-to-hand weapon instead of line-to- line.
Chaka was like Genghiz Khan, who reinvented his army on the principles of speed, tight control by the leader, feints and slaighter.
There is a book by a Russian emigree Michael Prawdin , who lived in Germany and published a book there about Mongol Empire in 1938 ( highly recommended!!!). It became a standard reading by the German General Staff. Apparently, Guderian took these principles into his concept of mobile tank warfare instead of a static one during WWI.

Good ideas never die.

23rd April 2021, 07:32 PM	#23
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The story goes that it was Chaka who “ invented” Iklwa. Perhaps, it is really true. But Iklwa was only an instrument of his real invention: instead of ineffectual and largely symbolic exchange of throwing spears at a respectable distance, he demanded close combat with the intent to kill. Realistically, Iklwas and old throwing spears were equally deadly: no matter where at the torso you stick your blade , at the depth of 2-3 inches you hit a vital organ. Iklwa with its oversized blade became more frightening and killed right away instead of in 5 minutes. But the important novelty was his re-tooling his army: instead of ritualistic line-to-line hour long throwing spears back and forth he invented concepts of the center and surrounding flanks with close contact and with annihilation of the enemy on site. Iklwa was no longer a spear: it became kind of a sword with long handle, akin to Indian Bhuj or Yakut Batyjya. Hand-to-hand weapon instead of line-to- line. Chaka was like Genghiz Khan, who reinvented his army on the principles of speed, tight control by the leader, feints and slaighter. There is a book by a Russian emigree Michael Prawdin , who lived in Germany and published a book there about Mongol Empire in 1938 ( highly recommended!!!). It became a standard reading by the German General Staff. Apparently, Guderian took these principles into his concept of mobile tank warfare instead of a static one during WWI. Good ideas never die.