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Medieval and Renaissance Sword History
The term ‘sword’ originates from the old English word ‘sweord.’ Terms for this weapon are also found in Old High German, Middle Dutch, Old Norse, Old Saxon, and other ancient languages. Clearly, the sword was part of culture and society beginning thousands of years ago. In fact, the first bladed weapons are thought to originate in the Bronze Age. Though technically a sword is double-edged, some long single-edged weapons may also be referred to as swords simply because of their length.
By the Iron age, swords had been developed throughout Europe. The Hittites, the Mycenaean Greeks, and other ancient cultures from the 13th to the 8th century BC are known to have had iron swords at their disposal. Iron swords were slightly better in terms of strength and hardness when compared to earlier bronze swords, but were still prone to bending in battle. Both the Greek and Roman empires had arsenals of iron swords.
The medieval sword’s development began with the Roman ‘Spantha.’ This long sword was ineffective against armor, though there was comparatively little armor in the Roman period. Sword construction in the medieval period involved several craftsman, such as the forger of the blade, the polisher, and the person who constructed the hilt of the sword. Because metal chemistry was not well understood, in this era swords varied widely in their quality.
Around the tenth century, the use of properly tempered steel became much more common, and knife blades achieved a consistently high quality. Damascus steel, developed on the Indian subcontinent as early as the 5th century BC, became highly prized because of its properties and high quality. Blades made with this steel were known for a very hard cutting edge. From around 1300 to 1500, this type of steel became very popular for weaponry. Other swordmaking techniques were also brought to Europe. Scandinavian Vikings introduced carbon steel, a very strong metal for the making of swords.
The sword was developed from the Spantha in conjunction with new fighting techniques and new armor styles. During the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, not only armor but also swords saw great improvements. Sword blades became much longer, and could be used with two hands. This new type of sword was known as a longsword, and it often measured four feet or even longer. Its extreme reach and improved cutting abilities made it very useful in battle. The grip was sometimes wrapped with animal hide for a better grip and to make it harder for an opponent to knock it from the user’s hand. From the thirteenth to the sixteenth century, many manuscripts survive covering longsword combat techniques, providing extensive information on their use. Other swords besides the longsword also became important, including the Estoc. The estoc sword was known for its armor piercing capabilities, and was designed with a very sharp point. It was nearly edgeless, making it useless for slashing motions, and was meant only for thrusting through armor. Swords became longer and heavier throughout this period.
When compared to medieval swords, Renaissance swords were smaller, thinner, and shorter. The extremely long swords of centuries past were not good for close combat fighting. As the metal industry grew, new sword technologies allowed for thinner and lightweight swords. Throughout the modern age, swords fell in military importance, though they evolved into civilian sidearms. The shortsword, much shorter than the swords seen in earlier centuries, became a fashion accessory in Europe by the seventeenth century. The smallsword and the rapier remained popular as dueling swords into the mid-18th century.
James Shaw,
Monday, October 5th
