Mobile-Net

Medieval Swords

 

The Medieval Swords were the knightly weapons par excellence. During the history of mankind, no other weapon carried so many symbols as the sword, and, in this context, the Medieval swords are a special case. The swords are indissolubly related to the most solemn ceremony of Chivalry, the Consecration of the Knight.

Medieval Swords Parts

The two essential parts of the Medieval swords are the blade and the hilt. The prolongation of the blade which fits into the handle is the tang; the upper portion near the hilt is the ricasso. The essential portions of the hilt are the quillons, which cross at right angles between the blade and the handle to protect the hand; the grip, which is self-explanatory, and the pommel, the expanded piece at the end of the grip.

Medieval Swords History

Medieval Swords in the Pre-Norman Period

During the Pre-Norman Period, the swords in use throughout Europe were of the Scandinavian type, and may be divided into three classes:

(1) those having the character of a broadsword, with parallel sharp edges and an acute point, and the tang only for a grip; (2) a similar variety having a cross guard; and (3) a sword with the blade slightly curved.

Medieval Swords after the Norman Conquest

From the Norman Conquest till the end of the 12th Century, the grip of the swords was usually of wood, covered with skin, but sometimes of bone. The cross-guards began in a simple projection, but increased as time went on; together with the pommel, they were at times highly ornamented, inlaid with precious stones. The sheaths were usually of leather, stiffened with a wood framing.

The blade of the swords of this period was always two-edged, and about forty inches in length; the quillons were generally straight, in other cases curved towards the blade, as in the Great Seal of King Henry II; the grip varied perhaps more than any other part, being at times almost double handed. The shape of the pommel takes many forms: round, hemispherical, square, lozenge, trefoiled or cinquefoiled.

Medieval Swords in the 13th Century

The swords of the 13th Century resembled those of the preceding century. The blade was straight, broad, double-edged, and pointed. The type is well shown in the Second Seal of King Henry III. The cross-piece was usually curved towards the blade. Sometimes the curved guard threw out a kind of cusp in the middle. The crossbar was at other times straight. A variety of the straight guard forms also a cusp over the centre of the blade.

The pommel of the Medieval swords of the period takes many forms: the round, the trefoil, the cinquefoil, the rosette, the lozenge, the conical, the pear-shaped, the square, and the fleur-de-lis, as in the Seal of King Edward I. The round is either plain or ornamented on its sides: in the latter case the ornament is usually a cross, or a shield of arms. The plain round pommel is generally wheel-formed; that is, it has a projection in the centre something like the nave of a wheel. The sacred symbol of the Cross is very frequently found on the circular pommel.

he handle of the Medieval Swords is sometimes of a highly enriched character. That of King John, on his monument in Worcester Cathedral, represents a sword in which both the pommel and cross-bar were inlaid with precious stones. The sheath also occasionally exhibits enrichments. These are either metal harnessing of Gothic patterns, similar to the architectural designs of the day, or the scabbard is embellished from end to end with a series of shields of arms.

Medieval Swords in the 14th Century

The swords of the 14th Century were straight, broad, and acutely pointed, with a simple cross-piece for guard, thus retaining the characteristics of the previous century. The length of the blade was not uniform, there were blades of 2 feet and 8 inches, but also of 2 feet and 1 inch.

The cross-piece was usually either straight, or curved towards the blade. More rarely it curves in the opposite direction, or has an angular form. The first kind has varieties in which the centre is cusped, or the extremities are molded into foils or volutes. The pommel offers great diversity of form. It is round, wheel-formed, trefoil, lozenge-shaped, angular, conical, pear-shaped. The pommel is sometimes charged with a cross, or contains an escutcheon of arms. The blades were often covered with Latin inscriptions.

The Swords of the 15th Century

During this period, the swords maintained the same characteristics.  The pear-shaped pommel may be considered as defining the type  for this century.

Of a distinct category are the swords used mostly by the more humble soldiers.

Medieval Swords used by lower ranks

The Falchion was chiefly used by archers and men-at-arms. It had a blade wide at the point; the edge was curved and convex, the back concave. The Cultellus was a short sword, and is not often mentioned or represented. It was designed especially for the use of foot soldiers when rushing upon knights who had been dismounted in a cavalry charge, or for the close encounter of infantry against infantry.

Swords used by civilians

Among the Medieval swords, the Anelace was very popular with the civilians.It was a long dagger which was secured to the person by a chain. It is often represented upon effigies and brasses of civilians in the 14th and 15th centuries, and at times assumed very large proportions. The handle is as a rule made in the fashion of that of the cinquedea, from which it was probably derived. The latter is a dagger or short sword which had its origin in Italy; the blade is generally of the width of five fingers at the hilt (whence the name); the quillons always bend towards the blade; it was two-edged, and averaged from eighteen to twenty inches in length.

The Medieval swords remained to this day the symbols of honor, courage, faith, and religion, which were the pillars of Knighthood itself.

Historical Armouries
Historical Armouries Reproductions - Fine reproductions of authentic functional Arms & Armour, Medieval Arms and Armour Reproduction and Restoration. Rentals for Magazine, Film and TV.

www.historicalarmouries.webs.com

 

About the Author

Historical Arms and Armour Institute was established a few years ago by a group of dedicated men, who hold to their heart and have great concern towards our rich European culture, especially that of Malta, The Island of the Great Siege of 1565, the island where the era of the Knight was eased out., Amongst others Historical Arms and Armour Institute have Master craftsmen and Master armourers who have been producing functional authentic replicas of Arms and Armour for the past twenty-five years of experience in professional consultancy in all the stages required for manufacturing of Arms and Armour. Historical Arms and Armour Institute have produced pieces of armour, for local museums such as The Palace Armoury, Palazzo Falzone and also for the Malta International Airport, of which a showcase with our armour is on display at the Arrivals section (look it up on your next trip to Malta). Historical Arms and Armour Institute have also been commissioned by Heritage Malta to recreate missing pieces for original armour presently on display at the Palace armoury and in European Union. Historical Armouries at Historical Arms and Armour Institute, educate and teach all that one needs to know about period arms and armour, how it was made, how it works, what was its function, when it was used, who used such armour, etc. Historical Arms and Armour Institute have also introduced a New Adult course on production of authentic Arms and armour, the first of its kind in Europe. This course is spanned over 3 years and we are on the 3rd year now. Our students have learned how to make maille armour, and shields, have also learned a lot about Arms and Armour in general and of course a comprehensive study of historical battles, war tactics, and function of siege weapons. Historical Armouries also cater for the movie industry, should any movie company require our services with regards to arms armour or man power, we can accommodate them locally, which makes things much easer and economic for the movie makers in question. In the very near future we shall be introducing historical re-enactments of all sorts, including a museum and library, close to our workshops.

BodyGuardz™ Dry Apply

« Previous12345...399400Next »