Norman Swords
The transition from the Viking age spatha to the High Medieval arming sword took place between the 10th and 11th centuries. The main development was the growth of the front handguard into a full cross-guard, and the reduction of the typical Viking-era lobated pommel into simpler hazelnut or disc shapes. The sword of Otto I preserved in Essen is such an example of the emerging arming sword, although it has been encrusted with decorations during the centuries it was conserved as a relic (total length 95.5 cm).
Read more about this topic: Spatha
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“Many are called but few are chosen. There are sayings of Christ which suggest that the Church he came to establish will always be a minority affair.”
—Edward Norman (b. 1946)
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The student’s bower for gold, some fears unnamed
I had, my Country—am I to be blamed?”
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850)