Only the samurai were permitted to wear the daishō, as it symbolised their social power and personal honour.īetween 12 to 24 inches long, a wakizashi had a slightly curved blade with a square-shaped hilt. Wakizashiv – An Auxiliary BladeĪ shorter sword than the katana, the wakizashi was worn together with the katana as daishō – literally translated as “big-little”. The pairing of a katana with a smaller sword was called the daishō. The katana was often paired with a smaller companion sword, such as a wakizashi or tantō. The samurai was considered synonymous with his katana, as bushidō dictated that a samurai’s soul was in his katana. The samurai could draw the sword and strike the enemy in one single motion. Strong enough to be used defensively but sharp enough to slide through limbs, the katana rose in popularity due to the change in nature of close-combat warfare. The best katana were made by master craftsmen who would repeatedly heat and fold the steel to produce blades of extraordinary strength and sharpness, Image Credit: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Their design became more elaborate and worn ornamentally rather than in battle.A katana modified from a tachi forged by Motoshige, 14th century As other types of sword became more popular, rapiers were used for show and as dress swords. However, the blade is quite flat and does not bend so it can still be effectively used for slashing. The rapier is primarily designed for thrusting. They were also used in the military as a side arm as late as the 17th century. The upper classes and noblemen would keep rapiers for duelling and self-defence. Slender in design, it featured a sharp, pointed two-edged blade and was particularly popular in Western Europe. Rapier swords became popular towards the end of the Medieval period. Broadswords were in use as early as the 6th century and remained popular into the 16th. There are three main types of broadsword most commonly used: the claymore, popularised in Scotland, sabre swords, and the basket-hilted broadsword, which featured an intricate basket-styled handle to protect the hand carrying it. Skilled swordsmen could use a broadsword to cause fatal wounds, sever limbs and decapitate enemies. The broadsword was double-edged and designed for cutting rather than stabbing. Read more about: Medieval History Exploring medieval melee weaponsĪ broadsword, also known as a backsword, is a fairly typical medieval sword, mainly used in battle in the early medieval period. A cutlass, made famous by pirates and seafaring folklore, is also a later 17th century cousin of the falchion. It was most effective for cutting and chopping rather than stabbing. It combined the weight and power of an axe with the versatility of use as a knightly sword.įalchions are seen throughout history from the 11th century to the 16th century. The blade is similar to a machete, as it gets broader towards the tip and was recognised as being especially versatile. It was popularly used in the early stages of the Hundred Years War by soldiers in full-plate armour, both on horseback and on foot.Īs the name suggests, the blade of the longsword was longer than average, around 90cm to 110cm, and is essentially a longer version of a standard arming or knightly sword.Ī falchion, taken from the Latin word ‘falx’, meaning ‘sickle’, features a one-handed, single-edged, heavy and short blade. It stood out as a distinctive type of sword by the 14th century. The longsword was one of the most popular choices of weaponry for European knights. ![]() It is the quintessential European sword which features a single-hand cruciform hilt and straight double-edged blade measuring around 70cm to 80cm. The knightly sword, or arming sword, is the common name for what we traditionally picture when we think of a sword. Read more about: Medieval History The deadliest medieval weapons Here we’re looking more closely at some of the most well-known swords of the era and how they were used. ![]() Many historians still rely upon the Oakeshott typology today. He created a unique classification system of the medieval sword which organised weaponry into thirteen understandable categories. He was a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and the Founder of the Oakeshott Institute. Ronald Oakeshott is one of the foremost experts on medieval arms and armour. Some swords were crafted with stabbing in mind, while others were for cutting and slashing. They were a sign of prestige for medieval knights and throughout the years, the blade and sword designs adapted to suit the military tactics of the period. ![]() Swords were an important status symbol in the Middle Ages. Manage provinces, gather armies, initiate diplomacy and dabble in espionage to become the true sovereign of your people and bring them glory. Will you rule over all? This article is sponsored by Knights of Honor II: Sovereign, a fresh take on medieval real-time grand strategy.
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