The common "knightly swords" of the high medieval period (11th to early 12th centuries) fall under types X to XII.


Type X is the Norman sword as it developed out of the early medieval Viking sword by the 11th century.


Type XI shows the development towards a more tapering point seen during the 12th century.

Type XII is a further development, typical throughout the Crusades period, showing a tapering blade with a shortened fuller.
Subtype XIIa comprises the longer and more massive "great-swords" which developed in the mid-13th century, probably designed to counter improvements in mail armour; these are the predecessors of the late medieval longsword (see also Cawood sword).


Type XIII is the knightly sword typical of the later 13th century.

Swords of this type have long, wide blades with parallel edges, terminating in a rounded or spatulate tip, and with a lens-shaped cross-section.

The hilts become somewhat longer, about 15 cm, to allow occasional two-handed use.

The pommels are mostly of the brazil-nut or disk shapes.

Subtype XIIIa has longer blades and hilts.
These are the knightly "great-swords", or Grans espées d'Allemagne which seamlessly develop into the longsword type in the 14th century.
Subtype XIIIb describes smaller single-handed swords of similar shape.


The form classified as type XIV develops towards the very end of the high medieval period, around 1270, and remained popular during the early decades of the 14th century.
They are often depicted on the tomb effigies of English knights of the period, but there are few surviving specimens.

Continuations of the knightly sword as the "arming sword" type of the late medieval period correspond to Oakeshott types XV, XVI and XVIII.
The common "knightly swords" of the high medieval period (11th to early 12th centuries) fall under types X to XII.

Type X is the Norman sword as it developed out of the early medieval Viking sword by the 11th century.

Type XI shows the development towards a more tapering point seen during the 12th century.
Type XII is a further development, typical throughout the Crusades period, showing a tapering blade with a shortened fuller. Subtype XIIa comprises the longer and more massive "great-swords" which developed in the mid-13th century, probably designed to counter improvements in mail armour; these are the predecessors of the late medieval longsword (see also Cawood sword).

Type XIII is the knightly sword typical of the later 13th century.
Swords of this type have long, wide blades with parallel edges, terminating in a rounded or spatulate tip, and with a lens-shaped cross-section.
The hilts become somewhat longer, about 15 cm, to allow occasional two-handed use.
The pommels are mostly of the brazil-nut or disk shapes.
Subtype XIIIa has longer blades and hilts. These are the knightly "great-swords", or Grans espées d'Allemagne which seamlessly develop into the longsword type in the 14th century. Subtype XIIIb describes smaller single-handed swords of similar shape.

The form classified as type XIV develops towards the very end of the high medieval period, around 1270, and remained popular during the early decades of the 14th century. They are often depicted on the tomb effigies of English knights of the period, but there are few surviving specimens.
Continuations of the knightly sword as the "arming sword" type of the late medieval period correspond to Oakeshott types XV, XVI and XVIII.
Knightly sword