Author needs information on CASTILIAN and FRENCH swords (years 1050-1150) Date: Thursday, August 3, 1998
Subject: CASTILIAN and FRENCH swords (years 1050-1150).Hiya all!!
My name is Alfonso, and I am writing a book on a medieval epic poem. My research has to be complemented with some data about swords. So, I beg your help to send me any information you can get on CASTILIAN and FRENCH swords (years 1050-1150). I do not need data on artistic patterns but on the dimensions of the swords (that is, lenght, weight,...). Please send your messages to
al003391@llevant.uji.esThanx a lot!
Lee Jones replied (3 August 1998): By and large, French swords would have been very much mainstream European at the time and this description would apply: http://www.aiusa.com/medsword/virtmus.html#anchor329496
The Spanish swords are more complicated, Nicole, David, Medieval Warfare Source Book; Volume 2: Christian Europe and its Neighbors. (London: Arms and Armour Press, 1996) p. 161 - 163 seems to indicate, while describing all-iron Muslim hilts from Gibralter that "...in Iberia ... military technology had much in common with the Muslim world." These swords were straight (curved swords in the Muslim world are generally after the 13th Century), an example in the Royal Armouries (Leeds, England) is illustrated (inv. 67.12.23.1); dimensions are not given. Nicole also refers to Viking style swords as having been used in Spain by "both Muslim and Christian troops in the 10th-12th Centuries."
Numerous manuscript illustrations are reproduced, as well as comments on swords mentioned in epic poems, in Hoffmeyer, Ada Bruhn, "Arms and Armour in Spain: A short Survey: Vol. I The Bronze Age to the End of High Middle Ages" (Caceres, Spain: Instituto de Estudios Sobre Armas Antiguas, 1972) and Hoffmeyer, Ada Bruhn, "Arms and Armour in Spain II: A short Survey: From the End of the 12th Century to the Beginnings of the 15th Century" (Caceres, Spain: Instituto de Estudios Sobre Armas Antiguas, 1982):
Sword of San Fernando (Sevilla Cathederal) - 13th Century - blade = 83 cm.; may have been shortened. Sword of San Fernando (Real Armeria) - purely Spanish - blade = 88 cm., maximum width 7.3 cm. Sword of Sancho IV (Toledo Cathederal) - late 13th Century - blade = 83 cm., maximum width 5 cm. Sword of Fernando de la Cerda (Las Huelgas, Burgos) - late 13th Century -blade = 94 cm., maximum width 5 cm.
There were not lengths for the earlier ones, but there is a statement that there was not much change from 8th to 13-14th Century.
So...
Double edged, rounded point, single fuller on both sides, 78 to 94 cm, usually 5 cm. or so broad, about 1.5 kg. Hilt with simple crossguard and pommels of various forms.
I hope this helps...
Lee Jones