All these names describe the same bladed sword that was around from the 12th to the 16th century throughout Europe. In other parts of Europe, this sword had different names and was known as espadón (by the Spanish), montante (by the Portuguese), and spada lunga (by the Italians). Compared to the European longsword, the Zweihänder was generally a little longer (110cm) and weighed a little more (up to 1.5kg). The Zweihänder was also known as Beidihänder (“both-hander”), Doppelhänder (“double-hander”), Bihänder, or Bidenhänder. The Zweihänder Steel and Gold Italian Two-Handed Sword, 15th–16th century ( Source) The longsword features a double-edged blade that is around 1m in blade length, and it weighs just over 1kg. It was first produced in 1100 and was therefore around during the medieval and Renaissance periods. With a handle that looks like a cross, this sword is thought to originate from the knightly sword often seen in local folklore as mentioned above with King Arthur around the 15th and 16th century in England.Īlso known as a crusader sword, it is a symbol of authority. The European Longsword is perhaps the original longsword but with a cruciform hilt. In Europe, some of the popular examples of large swords requiring two hands to wield are: The European Longsword Practice Longsword with a Blunt Tip, ca.1575 ( Source) Based on the legend, King Arthur used two hands to withdraw the medieval knightly sword Excalibur, suggesting a certain strength that is required to wield the sword. It was first written by Sir Thomas Malory at the end of the 15th century who referenced 11th century folklore in England. Two-Handed European SwordsĪ popular legend is King Arthur drawing the sword Excalibur from the stone to prove that he was the rightful heir to the British throne. So as not to confuse ourselves with antiquarian names, sword origins, and fictional swords, let’s start by looking at the most popular European swords classified based on how the swords were held. These names arose during England’s ‘golden age’, known as the Elizabethan period during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I from 1558 to 1603, extending into the early 15th century. An example of a popular modern classification system of the European medieval sword is the Oakeshott typology which we will discuss more in depth near the end of the article.Įxamples of descriptive names given to the sword at the time are bastard sword (of dubious origin) and “two-handed” (requiring two hands to wield it). Others have been given names retroactively by historians and sword collectors looking to place the sword in the correct historical context. Some of the names we give to European swords originate from the time they were first made or to describe what they do. In this article, we rounded up some of the most popular European swords, as well as a few tips on how and where you can acquire them. Recently, some of the European swords from medieval times are enjoying a renaissance in the buyer’s market online, thanks largely to the popularity of TV shows such as Game of Thrones and Vikings that feature epic fight scenes. When we think of European swords, we often think of a knightly sword – the type of sword used to slay a dragon in mythical times. Classifying Medieval Swords: Oakeshott Typologyįor sword aficionados, adding to their collection involves first understanding the development and history of the sword over the centuries in Europe.The Influence of The Japanese Katana on The History Of European Swords.
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