European Swords

European Knights fought on horseback but unlike the Japanese Samurai they did not use archery as a weapon. Instead the European Knights used lances and heavy swords as their chief weapons. Why might there be such a difference in design?

Swords were often invested with special powers and given names such as Roland's Durendral, or Aruthur's Excalibur. Note the more pragmatic and functional aspects of these swords as compared to the more elaborate, though nonetheless lethal, Japanese swords.

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Source:New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. On the left, c. 1400 Morosini 37.75.225. On the right, executioner sword from Germany Riggs 19.25.120. Photographs by Bill Rednour.

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