31. An Excellent Weapon for Cutting and Thrusting
The transition from the Viking sword to knightly swords was completed by the eleventh century. While the Viking sword had a more rounded tip, the knightly sword featured a more slender and tapered blade with a sharper tip. Its center of mass was also closer to the hilt, which improved handling.
Typically used with a shield or buckler, the knightly sword was an excellently balanced, light, and versatile weapon, useful for both thrusting and cutting. It was the main weapon of the Crusader knights, and remained the most popular sword on European battlefields until the opening stages of the Hundred Years’ War. Its popularity finally waned in the fourteenth century, because of changing battlefield conditions – especially the introduction of plate armor, against which the knightly sword was ineffective.