Broadsword

The Broadsword was a double-edged, straight-bladed sword of medieval Europe, designed to bash armor and break bones. It was the Close-Range weapon of the Knight.

Description

The Broadsword had a straight, double-edged blade. Around three feet in length, the sword had a single-handed cruciform hilt with a pommel.

Stats

• 3-4 feet
• 4-5 lbs
• Tempered steel

Uses

The Broadsword was the signature weapon of knights, who wore it even when not in armor. It was designed to be used in either one or both hands. Not an overly heavy sword, it was still capable of breaking bones through sheer blunt force trauma when striking an armored opponent. However it was still sharp and could easily cut through flesh and bone.

Bronze or Iron Swords existed in Celtic tribes. Romans were the first Europeans to develop steel swords; the Spatha was a Roman longsword. Swords like this may have evolved into the Viking Long Sword. The Normans improved this sword's metallurgy and design into the Norman Broadsword. The broadsword was made of high quality steel, unlike previous European swords. An ordinary Broadsword cost 12 oxen or 15 male slaves durring the historical period in which it was used. Only the nobles and Knights were allowed to use swords; peasants were outlawed from doing so. The broadsword was considered to be the Knight's crucifix as it had the shape of one.

Mythbusting the Medieval Sword [1]

Trivia

• The Grunwald Swords are two broadswords named after the Battle of Grunwald on 15 July 1410. Ulrich von Jungingen of the Teutonic Order taunted Polish King Władysław II Jagiełło by giving the swords to the Polish–Lithuanian Alliance; which in Medieval times was used to declare a challenge to an opponent. Władysław managed to win the battle however, and the Grunwald Swords were kept by Poland as war trophies: infamously called the 'Sword of Violence' and the 'Sword of Pride'.
• A broadsword was used by Lieutenant Colonel Mad Jack on World War 2.

See Also

• Norman Broadsword
• Claymore