Arms

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Medieval Arms and Armor
The Medieval period witnessed one of the most extensive increases in the development of arms, armor, and warfare in the history of man. Centuries of feudal war and crusades fueled this growth as ideas were being improved or becoming obsolete. Weapons were created to outperform armor; armor was created to outperform arms; and the cycle continued. All the while, the logistics of how to transport and maintain these elements also required reform. Tactics that had been used for centuries required revision due to new technologies. The same terrible fact of war, however, remained.
When most people think of “medieval”, they probably imagine castles and knights; and with good reason. The knights or men-at-arms were a driving force of medieval armies. They were the professional soldiers that lead, conducted, or ceded battles. They trained for battle, and invested in the best equipment. Under the feudal system, however, they in turn answered to the king or lord which was responsible for their public standing. Naturally, much innovation would come from time spent attempting to make sure the knight would have the most edge in battle.
Arms
Swords & Melee Weapons
The sword, the standard weapon of war for millennia, was still the main weapon in this time frame. However, toward the latter High Middle Ages, it was becoming obsolete. From approximately 800 – 1300 A.D., the arming sword1 was the most prominent style of sword in use at the time. Called the “arming sword” due to its being the basic sword for arming military members, its characteristics were usually a cruciform shape and hilt with a medially sized blade. It is thought to be a hybrid of the shorter and wider Roman gladius with the longer Germanic straight sword...

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...mingly due to their versatile ability to slash, stab, or be used in conjunction with pikes and spears. Glaives were poles with a cutting edge protruding from the tip. Lances were usually spears that had been adapted to use on horseback. A conic hilt was usually added to allow the user to brace against impacts.
Gunpowder Weapons
Arriving in Europe during the 1300’s, gunpowder weapons changed the elements of warfare drastically. One of the first gunpowder weapons to be used in Europe was the hand cannon9. The basic design was a miniature, cannon like structure mounted on the end of a pole. It would be fired by touching an ignition source to the powder inside. They were inaccurate and impractical. They did, however, serve as a base from which to improve. Various developments in their gunpowder and mechanics over the 1400’s allowed for the Harquebus10 and field cannon.

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