11. Once Horses Were Downed, Sword and Shield Were Used
Sword and shield was a popular weapon combination for both military and civilian use. In Germanic kingdoms, where trial by combat was the most widespread, fencing academies sprung up to train moneyed and noble youth in the art of sword fighting to prepare them for duels. Swords, being an expensive and symbolic weapon of the gentry, were most often used by the upper classes. Lower class combatants would usually be provided with basic staves tipped with iron, war hammers, or cudgels. Lower class combatants were also equipped with a necessary leather shield.
While many modern imaginations now picture duels as pistols by the light of dawn, the bulk of trial by combat’s history was incredibly bloody and often included the gruesome death of horses in addition to the loss of human life. Even if horses were not involved, the actual trial by combat would have been awful to witness, with blade and blunt weapon combat between individuals who often were not evenly matched in terms of martial skill. The barbaric scenes of trial by combat in shows like Game of Thrones wouldn’t have been terribly far from the reality of the events. Although they were a public spectacle, they were far from family-friendly viewing.