![Oakeshott types](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Oakeshott_types.png)
The Oakeshott typology is a way to define and catalogue the medieval
sword
A sword is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed ti ...
based on physical form. It categorises the swords of the European
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...
(roughly 11th to 16th centuries
) into 13 main types, labelled X through XXII. The historian and illustrator
Ewart Oakeshott
Ronald Ewart Oakeshott (25 May 1916 – 30 September 2002) was a British illustrator, collector, and amateur historian who wrote prodigiously on medieval arms and armour. He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a Founder Member of the ...
introduced it in his 1960 treatise ''The Archaeology of Weapons: Arms and Armour from Prehistory to the Age of Chivalry''.
The system is a continuation of
Jan Petersen's typology
Typology is the study of types or the systematic classification of the types of something according to their common characteristics. Typology is the act of finding, counting and classification facts with the help of eyes, other senses and logic. Ty ...
of the
Viking sword
The Viking Age sword (also Viking sword) or Carolingian sword is the type of sword prevalent in Western and Northern Europe during the Early Middle Ages.
The Viking Age or Carolingian-era sword developed in the 8th century from the Merovingian ...
, which Petersen introduced in ''De Norske Vikingsverd'' ("The Norwegian Viking Swords") in 1919. In 1927 the system was simplified by
R. E. M. Wheeler to only seven types, labelled I through VII. Oakeshott slightly expanded the system with two transitional types, VIII and IX, and then he started work on his own typology.
Among the many reasons for his typology, Oakeshott found date classification unreliable during his research. He wrote that the weapons' dates of manufacture, use, and retirement have been greatly obscured by trade, warfare, and other various exchanges combined with the weapons' own longevity.
Criteria of definition
Oakeshott's 13 sword types are distinguished by several factors, the most important of which characterize its blade: cross section, length, fuller characteristics, and taper. Taper is the degree by which a blade's width narrows to its point. This varies from blades of constant taper, the edges of which are straight and narrow to a point, to blades devoid of taper, the edges of which are parallel and finish in a rounded point. A
fuller is a groove that runs down the middle of a blade, designed to lighten the weapon.
TypeX swords typically have a fuller running nearly its entire length, TypeXXII blades have very short fullers, and TypeXV blades have none at all.
Grip length can vary within a type (such as with
#Type XIII).
Oakeshott's sword descriptions orient them with the point as the bottom and the
hilt
The hilt (rarely called a haft or shaft) of a knife, dagger, sword, or bayonet is its handle, consisting of a guard, grip and pommel. The guard may contain a crossguard or quillons. A tassel or sword knot may be attached to the guard or pommel. ...
at the top. This was inspired by his observation that many blades bearing inscriptions and crests had to be oriented this way to be read correctly.
Oakeshott types
Type X
OakeshottX describes swords that were common in the late Viking age and remained in use until the 13th century. The blades of these swords are narrower and longer than the typical Viking sword, marking the transition to the knightly sword of the
High Middle Ages
The High Middle Ages, or High Medieval Period, was the periodization, period of European history that lasted from AD 1000 to 1300. The High Middle Ages were preceded by the Early Middle Ages and were followed by the Late Middle Ages, which ended ...
.
This type exhibits a broad, flat blade, long on average. A very wide and shallow fuller runs down each side of the blade, fading just before the point (which is rounded). The grip's length is consistent with earlier Viking swords, averaging about . The cross-guard is about wide, is square in section, and it tapers towards the tips. In some rare cases, the cross is slightly curved. The
tang
Tang or TANG most often refers to:
* Tang dynasty
* Tang (drink mix)
Tang or TANG may also refer to:
Chinese states and dynasties
* Jin (Chinese state) (11th century – 376 BC), a state during the Spring and Autumn period, called Tang (唐) b ...
is usually very flat and broad, and it tapers sharply towards the
pommel. 10th century Norsemen referred to this type of sword as ''gaddhjalt'' (or "spike hilt"), referring to the strong taper of the tang rather than some visible characteristic of the pommel. The pommel usually takes either an oval Brazil-nut form or a disc shape.
In 1981 Oakeshott introduced SubtypeXa to include swords of similar blades that have narrower fullers, originally classified under type XI.
Type XI
![Albion Arn Film Sword 01 (8495473813)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Albion_Arn_Film_Sword_01_%288495473813%29.jpg)
Swords of this type were in use . It presents similarly to TypeX, with a short grip and a fuller that nearly runs the blade's entire length. In comparison, however, the blade is distinctively longer and more
slender, and it tapers to an acute point. The fuller is also narrower. The shape of typeXI blades is more suitable for slashing from horseback. Though it tapers to a point, it is generally too flexible for effective thrusting.
SubtypeXIa presents a broader, shorter blade.
Type XII
![Albion SaintMaurice XIII horizontal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Albion_SaintMaurice_XIII_horizontal.jpg)
Typical of the
High Middle Ages
The High Middle Ages, or High Medieval Period, was the periodization, period of European history that lasted from AD 1000 to 1300. The High Middle Ages were preceded by the Early Middle Ages and were followed by the Late Middle Ages, which ended ...
, these swords begin to show greater tapering of the blade and a shortened fuller, features which improve thrusting capabilities while maintaining a good cut. The
Cawood sword
The Cawood sword is a medieval sword discovered in the River Ouse near Cawood in North Yorkshire in the late 19th century. The blade is of Oakeshott type XII and has inscriptions on both sides. It most likely dates to the early 12th century. ...
is an exceptionally well preserved typeXII specimen, exemplifying a full-length taper and narrow fuller, which terminates 2/3 down the blade.
A large number of Medieval examples of this type survive. It certainly existed in the later 13th century, and perhaps considerably earlier, since the
Swiss National Museum
The Swiss National Museum (german: Landesmuseum)—part of the ''Musée Suisse Group'', itself affiliated with the Federal Office of Culture, is located in the city of Zurich, Switzerland's largest city, next to the Hauptbahnhof.
The museum bui ...
in
Zurich possesses an example that has a
Viking Age
The Viking Age () was the period during the Middle Ages when Norsemen known as Vikings undertook large-scale raiding, colonizing, conquest, and trading throughout Europe and reached North America. It followed the Migration Period and the Ger ...
–type hilt but clearly a typeXII blade.
The earliest known depiction of a typeXII sword in art is in the statue of the
Archangel Michael
Michael (; he, מִיכָאֵל, lit=Who is like El od, translit=Mīḵāʾēl; el, Μιχαήλ, translit=Mikhaḗl; la, Michahel; ar, ميخائيل ، مِيكَالَ ، ميكائيل, translit=Mīkāʾīl, Mīkāl, Mīkhāʾīl), also ...
in
Bamberg Cathedral
Bamberg Cathedral (german: Bamberger Dom, official name Bamberger Dom St. Peter und St. Georg) is a church in Bamberg, Germany, completed in the 13th century. The cathedral is under the administration of the Roman Catholic Church and is the se ...
, dating to . The
Maciejowski Bible
The Morgan Bible (mostly Morgan Library & Museum, New York, Ms M. 638), also called the Morgan Picture Bible, Crusader Bible, Shah Abbas Bible or Maciejowski Bible, is a unique medieval illuminated manuscript. It is a picture book Bible consist ...
() depicts other examples.
Subtype XIIa (originally classified as XIIIa) consists of the longer, more massive
greatsword
The English language terminology used in the classification of swords is imprecise and has varied widely over time. There is no historical dictionary for the universal names, classification or terminology of swords; a sword was simply a double e ...
s that appear in the mid–13th century, which precede the later long-swords and were probably designed to counter the improved
mail armor
Chain mail (properly called mail or maille but usually called chain mail or chainmail) is a type of armour consisting of small metal rings linked together in a pattern to form a mesh. It was in common military use between the 3rd century BC and ...
of the time.
Single-handed transitional typeXII swords have a grip about in length.
Type XIIa has a long grip similar to that of type XIIIa. The XIIa was originally a part of the XIIIa classification, but Oakeshott decided they "taper
dtoo strongly" and were "too acutely pointed" to fit appropriately.
Type XIII
This typifies the classic
knightly sword
In the European High Middle Ages, the typical sword (sometimes academically categorized as the knightly sword, arming sword, or in full, knightly arming sword) was a straight, double-edged weapon with a single-handed, cruciform (i.e., cross-shape ...
that developed during the age of the
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated, supported, and sometimes directed by the Latin Church in the medieval period. The best known of these Crusades are those to the Holy Land in the period between 1095 and 1291 that were in ...
. Typically, examples date to the second half of the
13th century
The 13th century was the century which lasted from January 1, 1201 ( MCCI) through December 31, 1300 ( MCCC) in accordance with the Julian calendar.
The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan, which stretched from Eastern Asia to Eastern Eu ...
. Type XIII swords feature as a defining characteristic a long, wide blade with parallel edges, ending in a rounded or spatulate tip. The blade cross section has the shape of a lens. The grips, longer than in the earlier types, typically some 15 cm (almost 6 inches), allow occasional two-handed use. The cross-guards are usually straight, and the pommels Brazil-nut or disk-shaped (Oakeshott pommel types D, E and I).
Subtype XIIIa features longer blades and grips. They correspond to the knightly
greatsword
The English language terminology used in the classification of swords is imprecise and has varied widely over time. There is no historical dictionary for the universal names, classification or terminology of swords; a sword was simply a double e ...
s, or , appearing frequently in
14th century
As a means of recording the passage of time, the 14th century was a century lasting from 1 January 1301 ( MCCCI), to 31 December 1400 ( MCD). It is estimated that the century witnessed the death of more than 45 million lives from political and n ...
German, but also in Spanish and English art. Early examples of the type appear in the
12th century, and it remained popular until the
15th century
The 15th century was the century which spans the Julian dates from 1 January 1401 ( MCDI) to 31 December 1500 ( MD).
In Europe, the 15th century includes parts of the Late Middle Ages, the Early Renaissance, and the early modern period.
M ...
. Subtype XIIIb describes smaller single-handed swords of similar shape.
Very few examples of the parent type XIII exist, while more examples of the subtype XIIIa survive. A depiction of two-handed use appears in the
Tenison (Alphonso) psalter. Another depiction of the type appears in the
Apocalypse of St. John manuscript of c.1300.
The "greatsword", within the context of the late medieval
longsword
A longsword (also spelled as long sword or long-sword) is a type of European sword characterized as having a cruciform hilt with a grip for primarily two-handed use (around ), a straight double-edged blade of around , and weighing approximatel ...
, is a type of "outsize(d) specimen", specifically the type XIIIa. The weapons were referred to by a variety of names, as in ("big swords of Germany").
The larger subtype XIIIa sword has a grip approximately long.
Type XIV
![Albion Yeoman Medieval Sword 5 (6242639881)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Albion_Yeoman_Medieval_Sword_5_%286242639881%29.jpg)
Ewart Oakeshott describes swords of Type XIV classification as
Eight of the nine examples Oakeshott provided of type XIV in ''
Records of the Medieval Sword
A record, recording or records may refer to:
An item or collection of data Computing
* Record (computer science), a data structure
** Record, or row (database), a set of fields in a database related to one entity
** Boot sector or boot record, ...
'' have the distinct blade profile of a very acute triangle, with only one specimen showing an accelerating taper toward the end of the blade.
Type XV
![Albion Poitiers Medieval Sword 2 (6093792068)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/Albion_Poitiers_Medieval_Sword_2_%286093792068%29.jpg)
Straight tapering blade with diamond cross-section and a sharp point. Type XVa have longer, narrower blades and grips sufficiently long for two-handed use. In contrast to type XIV, these are more greatly designed for thrusting above cleaving, their appearance coinciding with the rise of plate armor. However, blades of similar cross-section and profile can be found well before the Middle-Ages and after, meaning this blade form should not solely be assigned the purpose of defeating plate armor.
Many Type XV fall within the terminology of swords commonly called "bastard" or "hand-and-a-half swords" in reference to the longer grips that allowed both one and two handed use, though swords with grips of only around 5 inches would not be considered among these.
Type XVI
![Albion Prince Medieval Sword 7 (6243301064)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Albion_Prince_Medieval_Sword_7_%286243301064%29.jpg)
A flat cutting blade which steadily tapers to an acute point reinforced by a clearly defined ridge, making it equally effective for thrusting. This type somewhat resembles a more slender version of type XIV. These swords appear in the contemporary artwork of
San Gimignano
San Gimignano () is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, north-central Italy. Known as the Town of Fine Towers, San Gimignano is famous for its medieval architecture, unique in the preservation of about a dozen of ...
and many other works. Blade length c.7080cm. Sub-type XVIa have a longer blade with a shorter fuller (usually running down and rarely exceeding of the blade). The grip is often extended to accommodate one and a half or two hands.
Type XVII
![Albion Landgraf Medieval Sword 4 (6092063615)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/Albion_Landgraf_Medieval_Sword_4_%286092063615%29.jpg)
Characterized by a long, evenly tapering blade, hexagonal cross section, two-handed grip. Stiff, and suited toward thrusting. Oakeshott found some to be heavy swords, some examples weighing more than 2kg, used for combat against armored opponents. Some of these blades however were light-weight, including a sword that Oakeshott studied at the Fitzwilliam museum of Cambridge. In use c.13601420.
Type XVIII
![Albion Kingmaker Medieval Sword 06 (7312968776)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/Albion_Kingmaker_Medieval_Sword_06_%287312968776%29.jpg)
Tapering blades with broad base, short grip, diamond cross-section. In distinction from type XV, these blades almost always feature a raised mid-rib that reinforces the blade for thrusting, and in the examples given in ''Records of the Medieval Sword'', they can be seen to have a less linear and consistent taper along the edge of the blade, sometimes showing a subtle increase of the taper toward the point.
Subtype XVIIIa: narrow blades with a longer grip. Subtype XVIIIb: Bastard swords with a longer blade and long grip; were in use . Subtype XVIIIc: shorter grip, broad blade; c.90. Subtype XVIIIe: Narrow, long blade with extended ricasso more narrow than the blade and very long grip.
Type XIX
15th century swords which were often one-handed, though two-handed examples exist. These have relatively narrow, flat blades of hexagonal cross-section, nearly parallel edges with little profile taper, narrow fullers, and a pronounced
ricasso
A ricasso is an unsharpened length of blade just above the guard or handle on a knife, dagger, sword, or bayonet. Blades designed this way appear at many periods in history in many parts of the world and date back to at least the Bronze Age—ess ...
. The ricasso often presents increased blade decoration. Additionally, several blades of this type bear
Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...
inscriptions as well as finger loops below the guard.
Type XX
14th to 15th century "hand and a half sword" or "two-handed" swords, often with two or more fullers, sometimes reducing to one fuller partway down the blade. The edges of these blades are nearly parallel or only slightly tapered until reaching a final slope to a point. These are
Bastard swords, and nearly always have a hand-and-a-half grip or Two-handed swords, with room for two hands. Subtype XXa: narrower blades with a more acute and linear taper, though these can still be distinguished in part by their multiple fullers.
Type XXI
![Sword Vinkler XIV c](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Sword_Vinkler_XIV_c..png)
Broad heavily tapering swords, similar to the fashionable Italian civilian of the late 15th century. Usually longer and less broad than the .
Commonly presents with two or more fullers that continue nearly the full length of the blade. Also usually features downward (toward the blade) curved cross (quillions). The distinction away from a is largely based on size alone. A variation of the classic grip is not uncommon, though many have grips are more conventional to other European swords of the time period.
Type XXII
![Sword Boeheim Dresden](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Sword_Boeheim_Dresden.jpg)
Broad flat blades, some sharing a moderate to heavy taper with Type XXII though not as heavily or consistently. These are often flat/spatulate in cross section with the exception of 1–2 narrow fullers that only extend a short distance beyond the handle. The proportions, history of surviving examples, and often ornate decoration indicate these may have mostly served a ceremonial role more than as weapons of war.
Mid 1400s–1500s.
References
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