The man’s armour shines in the midday sun, lances and horse harnesses clatter. Nobleman Gottfried von Bouillon rushes on to meet the enemy Seljuk army on July 1, 1097 A.D., next to him his knights. As one of the first crusaders in the Middle Ages, the Duke spread fear and terror among his enemies. The equipment of the heavily armoured riders was especially impressive. But what is a crusader and what is his typical gear?

In the course of European history, the sword has undergone many changes. While the swords of the Lazio period were still relatively uniform and simple, over the centuries, diverse and complex sword forms developed. The following article gives you a brief overview of the most important stages of development of European swords.