Longsword
Specifications
- Type
- Two-Handed Sword
- Origin
- Europe
- Era
- 13th–16th century
- Notable Users
- European knights, men-at-arms, fencing masters
- Epoch
- Middle Ages
History
The longsword is a cruciform, double-edged sword with a grip long enough for two hands, wielded by European warriors from the late medieval period through the Renaissance. Typically 100–120 cm in total length, it was a versatile weapon capable of powerful cuts, precise thrusts, and half-swording techniques where the blade itself was gripped for close-quarters grappling. The longsword spawned a rich tradition of martial arts — the Fechtbücher (fight books) of masters like Johannes Liechtenauer, Fiore dei Liberi, and Hans Talhoffer document sophisticated combat systems that rival any Asian martial art in complexity.
Significance
If you think medieval European combat was just armored men bashing each other, read the Fechtbücher. The longsword's fighting systems are as sophisticated as anything from Japan or China. The HEMA movement has revived these traditions, and what they've found looks nothing like Hollywood.
More from the Middle Ages
18 weapons
54 Weapons. Five Epochs. One Poster.
The Longsword is one of 19 weapons from the Middle Ages featured on the poster.
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