Another long sword variation that came around the same time as claymores was called the Flamberge also known as a “Flame-bladed sword” or “Wave-bladed sword” (Med. Weapons 9). Flamberges could either be two-handed or single-handed, although most were constructed to be two-handers (Med. Weapons 9). A Flamberge obtains its unique name directly from its appearance. This long sword has a characteristically undulating style blade, in which the blade takes on the shape of flames or waves rather than appearing as a straight line (Med. Weapons 9). The sword’s wave like construction was considered a useful attribute in combat (Med. Weapons 9). It may have been the case that the wave-shaped edges were more useful for attacking the wooden shaft of an opponent's pike; a very long thrusting spear used extensively by infantry, cutting off the tip and thus rendering the pike relatively harmless (Nardo 41). It is not known if the undulating blade on this weapon adds a significantly greater or lesser ability to cut, slice, or thrust against a human target. Similarly, they do not appear to especially weaken or strengthen the weapon (Nardo 41).
With the sword being the versatile and powerful weapon it is, knights needed some type of protection when going into battle against opponents, especially opposing knights. Protecting oneself in battle has always been a concern for any soldier, and medieval knights were no exception. It was their protective armor that helped define them as a military unit and social class. Throughout the medieval period, knights wore a variety of types of armor to protect them. As weaponry evolved, so did the armor meant to counter it (Eastwood 8). The earliest knights wore armor made tough from linen cloths that were stuffed with wool padding (Eastwood 8). When covered with wax or oil, it hardened and offered some protection against sword-based attacks (Eastwood 8). Leather armor was the cheapest and easy to obtain, but its defensive capabilities were not up to par for efficiency in battle (Eastwood 8).
Armor then began its shift from leather to metal. Among the earliest metallic armor to be worn by knights was chainmail armor (Eastwood 8). Chain mail was a lightweight metallic armor made of thousands of interlocking metal rings woven painstakingly by hand to form a shirt, coif, or leggings (Med. Armor 1). This could protect the wearer from sharp edges of weapons, but were almost useless to piercing attacks, such as arrows, that could go between the rings (Med. Armor 1). Because of the mild steel produced in medieval times each ring had to be riveted to keep all the rings from spreading and opening under the weight of the piece (Med. Armor 1). Underneath the metal armor the knight would wear a padded garment known as an “aketon” or “gambeson” (Med. Armor 1).
The addition of a breastplate prevented arrows from penetrating the chest (Med. Armor 2). Made of a solid but thin section of metal covering the torso, the breastplate was often complemented with chain mail over the extremities (Med. Armor 2). Full plate mail was then soon developed, primarily for mounted knights at first but then all knights soon came to switch to full plate mail (Med. Armor 2). The metal plates over much of the body made most movement laborious, requiring most knights to need the help of a squire for most complex actions (Med. Armor 2). However, these knights were almost unstoppable, and resistant to both bladed weapons and piercing arrows (Med. Armor 2). Full plate armor was then modified specifically for knights who participated in competitions known as jousting. “Jousting Mail” was specific armor made to defend against the chest and neck area (Med Armor 2). An especially thick plate was added to the vulnerable left shoulder as well (Med. Armor 2). Holes for the eyes were also decreased in size to prevent splinters from blinding the rider (Med. Armor 2).
The armor used in the Middle Ages was gradually perfected, until at length the knight became a living fortress (Plate 1). A Medieval Knights Armor was vital on the Battlefields of the Middle Ages (Plate 1). The Knights Armor provided essential body protection from the various weapons which were used in battle including the two-handed sword, bow and arrows, crossbow, battle axe, mace, dagger and lance (Plate 1). A Medieval knight’s armor was designed and developed to protect them from any new, and even more lethal, weapons that were introduced during the violent period of the Middle Ages (Plate 1). Medieval suits of armor were extremely expensive to produce (Plate 1). A knight’s suit of armor had to be tailor-made to fit the knight exactly (Plate 1). Any Incorrect sizing of a suit of armor would be extremely dangerous as it could hamper the knight’s ability to fight (Plate 1). The knight’s suit of armor was also a status symbol (Plate 1). The better quality of the armor, the more important was the Knight (Plate 1). A knight’s suit of armor was strong enough to protect the knight, but light enough to allow quick movement on the battlefield (Plate 2). Medieval plate mail armor was a complex series of garments, chain mail and iron plate (Plate 2). It was highly important to keep the head and neck protected when doing dangerous activity, and this was especially true for medieval knights, who served as warriors for their kingdom (Plate 2). Each helmet had a visor that was detachable, and that was specialized to protect the eyes and face (Parts 1). In the 13th century, medieval knights' helmets were known as bassinets, and attached to the bottom of the helmets was a skirt that served as protection for the neck (Parts 1). There were four major pieces used to protect a knight's arms and hands (Parts 1). For the hands, a knight wore gauntlets (Parts 1). Gauntlets consisted of ringed metal plates that protected the fingers (Parts 1). The piece of armor used to protect the lower arm was known as the vambrace (Parts 1). For the upper arm and shoulder, a knight wore a rerebrace, and the armpit was protected by the attached besagues (Parts 1). Besagues were round shield-like pieces attached to the shoulder pieces of the armor (Parts 2). Body armor consisted of tough metal pieces to protect the chest, upper and lower back, hips and abdomen (Parts 2). The large piece of armor defending the chest was known as the breast plate (Parts 2). Protecting the upper back was a piece known as the backplate (Parts 2). For the lower back, hips and abdomen, there was a ring of armor known as a fauld (Parts 2). Faulds were attached to the bottom of the large breast plate and completely encircled the lower torso (Parts 2). Knights wore sabatons on their feet, which were boots that consisted of riveted iron plates (Parts 2). Spurs were attached to the heel of the sabatons so the knight could command his horse during battle (Parts 2). For the calf and ankle areas, knights wore plate armor known as greaves (Parts 2). Protection for the kneecap and thigh came from plate armor as well (Parts 2). These plates were called poleyns on the kneecap, and cuisses on the thigh (Parts 2).
To this defensive equipment, the knight added a shield for increased defensive capabilities. Medieval shields were developed to protect a knight or soldier from the direct blows from the weapons of their enemies (Byam 40). Medieval shields were also used as weapons. The se of the shield as an actual weapon demanded hours among hours of practice to increase skills, strength and agility in relation to medieval swords and shields (Byam 40). Medieval shields were decorated with symbols which were used as a means to recognize the knight, both at tournaments and on the battlefield (Byam 40). This form of recognition was necessary as a knight’s armor included a visor which covered the face of the knight (Med. Armor 2). The decoration on a shield, or shield symbols, allowed knights to be easily recognized (Byam 40).
Shields also evolved throughout the Middle Ages as much as swords and armors did. The style of different shields changed as different types of body protection were developed (Byam 40). A kite shield was a distinct type of shield from the 10th–14th centuries. It was either a reverse teardrop shape or later on, flat-topped (Med. Armor 3). Believed to be an evolution of the simple round shield purely to guard one whole flank of a rider when in combat, the shield gained popularity amongst professional knights as it allowed them to guard their foreleg when in a close combat (Nardo 42). It was either flat in section, or featured a gradual curve, to better fit the contour of the human torso (Med. Armor 3). The kite shield featured leather straps used to grip the shield tight to the arm (Med. Armor 3). This allowed a greater degree of weight distribution along the arm, rather than the weight pulling on the wrist like former shields (Med. Armor 3). Another well known and widely used shield during the Middle Ages was called the buckler. A buckler was a small shield that came before the kite shield and was used by knights and soldiers alike before plate mail came about. A buckler was a small shield, 15 to 45 cm in diameter that was gripped to the wrist and generally used in companion with a short sword or a variation of the short sword (Med. Armor 4). The buckler had a variety of roles when it came to swordplay; this shield was used for five strong aspects:
∙ Hand protection: The primary use of the buckler was to protect the sword hand.
∙ Deflector: The buckler's lightness and curved center made it excellent for deflecting attacking blades. Such a deflection would leave the attacker open for a rapid counter-attack.
∙ Blinder: The light blades used in conjunction with the buckler depended on rapid movements, which meant that a single second was an important advantage. The wielder of the buckler could use the buckler to shield his sword-hand's position from view, keeping his opponent from guessing his next strike.
∙ "Metal fist": A buckler could be used to directly attack an opponent by punching with either its flat face or its rim.
∙ Binder: The buckler could be used to bind an opponent's sword hand and weapon as well as their buckler against their body. The buckler was also very useful in grappling, where it allowed an opponent's arms to be easily wrapped up and controlled.
∙ Sight light: In France, a type of buckler was created that had a small door in it. In this small door was a hole that the soldier would put a candle in to provide light (Med. Armor 4).
Each use recognizes the shield's small size and maneuverability when dealing with light blades. Other variations of the traditional round shield include the heater shield, the pavise, and the targe. Heater shields, strongly associated with jousting knights, were smaller as they complimented full suits of armor and were suited to horseback (Med. Armor 5). The pavise were wall shields used by crossbow men. This type of tall shield was reserved for hand-to-hand combat (Med. Armor 5).
Over the centuries the weapons that Medieval Knights wielded changed dramatically. These changes were mostly due to improvements in the technologies of blacksmithing and metalworking. Apart from the sword another standard weapon of a knight were:
∙ The Dagger, although this was not a popular weapon because it was considered to be sneaky and for assassins. In later centuries the dagger regained some of its esteem as a ceremonial and dress weapon for show and display
∙ Axe - This was an effective weapon in that it had a blade on one side and a hammer or pick on the other for a variety of striking options. It also often had a piercing point at the bottom of the handle for close in fighting. .
∙ Halberd - This was a pole arm weapon that was often six feet long or more. It was an effective weapon in that it often had a slicing blade like an axe, a pointed end for stabbing and a hook for pulling at the opponent.
∙ Poleaxes - Very much like the regular axe but mounted on a long pole.
∙ War hammer - This weapon was a natural extension of the blacksmith hammer. It had a hammer on one end which could deliver a shocking blow and on the other end it often had a pick like point that could be used to penetrate the armor of an opponent (Med. Weapons 16).
A Medieval Knight had many weapons to choose from and to master and this mastery of weapons was the most important training that a knight undertook (Med. Weapons 16). It was something that he worked on for his entire life (Med. Weapons 16). And although the sword was his primary weapon he was almost always proficient at many of the other weapons too (Med. Weapons 16).
Knights were important social figures and rich, wealthy knights were held of high social statuses, but the medieval knight’s primary function was on the battlefield (Eastwood 3). Armored in full plate mail, equipped with fine weapons and the knowledge and expertise of each weapon, the knight was a feared opponent (Eastwood 3).
Knights rode their horses in battle and formed the cavalry. They were heavily armored and can be thought of as a medieval tank of sorts. In large battles, knights, supported by a variety of infantrymen such as bowmen and halberdiers, would storm across the field in a sweeping charge designed to rout their enemies. Ideally, their fleeing, scattered opponents would then be picked off and the battle won. However, such maneuvers required exact timing and immense discipline and self-control on the part of participating knights. Many such charges failed because some knights were too impatient to wait for an order from the lord (Eastwood 5).
Battle was what a knight trained and yearned for from his first days as a page (Eastwood 3). Fortunately for the knight, there was never any shortage of battles in medieval Europe, providing a virtually infinite number of training grounds for fresh knights eager to hone their offensive and defensive skills, amass wealth, and gain fame (Eastwood 3).
It was with great secrecy that medieval knights received specialized training in swordsmanship (Zohorsky 32). Only a few German and Italian masters were regarded as possessing the knowledge and skill to train knights (Zohorsky 32). To ensure a knights ability to succeed in battle or jousts, these revolutionary techniques were at times custom developed as an additional advantage (Zohorsky 32).
To increase security, most of the instruction was oral with only a few manuals produced as summary notes for a knight to review in the years to come (Zohorsky 32). Just as modern day soldiers are trained from secret manuals, knights training manuals were always kept in secret hidden places to ensure the methods and theories with which they train were not disclosed outside the knighthood or discovered by an enemy (Zohorsky 32). As a knight became proficient with a sword and other weapons, he also developed a greater sense of distance and timing which set him apart from his contemporaries who were not trained. Knights were also taught more than how to just cut effectively, but how to cut with extreme precision at full force (Zohorsky 33). When you consider a knight’s skill in personal combat, distance, timing, cutting and thrusting techniques, it's easy to understand why they were such an overpowering warrior (Zohorsky 33). Just as tanks and helicopters are a distinct advantage in warfare, knights dominated the battlefields of the Middle Ages (Zohorsky 33).
Master knights discouraged defensively blocking another sword because it was not a strong offensive move and would be perceived as excessively passive (Nardo 51). When in combat with six or even eight opponents at once, defensive blocking of another sword did not work (Nardo 51). There simply was not enough time to block and then deliver a responding cut (Nardo 51). The key to fighting multiple opponents was to rely on footwork, shield and armor for defense while counter-cutting (Nardo 51). The art of counter-cutting involves uniting movements, so they are both offensive and defensive at the same time (Nardo 51). Each one of the knight’s offensive cuts would also serve as a defense against the opponents blows (Nardo 51). For knights trained and mastered in the art of the long sword, the weapon was prized for its versatility and killing capability (Med. Weapons 2). Since knights could not also wield a shield along with a long sword, it was expected that most knights trained in using the weapon offensively, but also include defensive techniques to their fighting style (Byam 32). For instance, a knight well trained in using a long sword would learn to be able to block by holding the handle with one hand while placing the other hand on the flat portion of the blade (Nardo 40). This technique utilizes the heavier, wider blade as a small shield to parry or block an opponent’s swings for a short instance (Nardo 40). Also, when knights exerted force on the blade with the hand during this blocking technique, it allowed the knight a chance to throw his opponent off balance; then swiftly moving his “blocking hand” back to the handle for an offensive counter (Nardo 40). Since long swords were much heavier than short swords it took longer to regain posture in time for a defensive position against a counter attack (Nardo 40). Executing such techniques in rapid succession required constant training and practice among knights (Nardo 40).
Medieval Knights were the most powerful and feared on the battlefield. Knights came to be exceptional warriors mastered in the usage of a wide range of weapons from close combat weapons like the sword to long combat weapons like the pole arm. Knights were equipped in various plates of armor making them almost unstoppable forces against regular enemies. As tactics and strategies evolved throughout the Middle Ages, so did the knight; excelling in fierce and swift combat strategies and techniques for most situations. Knights spent their whole lives gaining expertise in the use of the lance, swords and daggers as well as mastering maneuverability in heavy armors. The Medieval Knight was the most feared on the battlefield and highly respected in social stature; no other class of warriors could dare compare.
Annotated Bibliography
Byam, Michele. Arms and Armor. New York: DK Publishing. 1988. Arms and Armor explores the origins, workings and uses of all weapons from the Stone Age to the Wild West era. This includes all weapons used during the Middle Ages by the Knight.
Eastwood, Kay. The Life of a Knight. New York: Crabtree Publishing Company. 2004. The Life of a Knight is a book based exactly on its title, a typical day of a knight. I t describes a knight in warfare and explores aspects of their life such as clothing and “suiting up” armor.
Gravett, Christopher. Eyewitness Books Knight. New York: DK Publishing. 1993. Gravett’s book focuses predominately on a typical knight’s lifestyle, from weapons and arms to chivalry and religious life. The details and descriptions accompanied with many actual illustrations are crucial parts of information needed when writing about the medieval knight’s armor.
“Medieval Armor: Armor of a knight.” Knights and Armor. http://www.knightsandarmor.com/armor.htm 2011. 1-2. This website fully breaks down the armor of a knight. It explains and describes each part of armor a knight wears.
“Medieval Weapons.” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_medieval_weapons 4-12-2011. 1-16. This Wikipedia Article lists each and every type of weapon used during the middle ages. It breaks down each category of the sword, dagger, etc.
Nardo, Don. The Middle Ages. New York: Lucent Books. 2003. The Middle Ages discusses all weapons used in the historical middle age warfare period. It introduces and explains the weapons, tactics and the evolution of medieval weapons.
“Parts of a Knight Armor.” Middle Ages. http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/knights-armor.htm 2004. 1-2. This website also dives into the origin and parts of a knights armor. It explains each piece of metal worn and what it protects.
“Plate Armor.” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_armour 3-24-2011. 1-3. This Wikipedia article offers and in-depth history to armor throughout the Middle Ages. It also describes how the armors were made, which was the most effective in battle, etc.
“Sword.” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sword 4-13-2011. 1-3.
Zohorsky, Janet R. Medieval Knights and Warriors. New York: Lucent Books, 2003. Medieval Knights and Warriors includes bibliographical references to 4 particular knights from history. The book further goes into analyzing their lifestyles and battles techniques, among other things.
