Crusader Sword

The First Crusade took place between 1096 and 1099, led by the Roman Catholic church under Pope Urban II as a military expedition. What followed were a series of crusades that ran for nearly two centuries (1096-1272), the last being led by Edward I.

With the influence of the Catholic church, all men at arms were bound to use the cruciform sword, with its symbolic cross section, forever historically tied to the imagery of the Crusading Knights. The cruciform guard was imposed by the church to remind all soldiers of their Christian religion and the ‘greater’ purpose of the war.

This Crusader sword, like many of its historical counterparts, is regarded as the quintessential sword of the crusading knight. Richly ceremonial due to its symbolic shape, the Cruciform swords of the Crusading period were designed with proportions of perfection of form and harmony. Some sources speak of “divine proportions”; a complex geometry which flowed to represent the harmony of nature. The formula of these ‘proportions’ were used to create ‘golden triangles’ and ‘golden rectangles’ which were commonly applied to architectural designs. The simple yet elegant sword, topped with the circular wheel pommel, was carefully fitted to a blade offering exceptional reflex, balance and control. The sword is responsive, quick, resilient yet flexible. When in hand, the sensation, is that of an extension of ones arm. Although minimalistic, the crusader sword is of stunning complexity.