Depending on the time period, a knight could have more than one sword. An arming sword (also called a Knight's or Knightly sword) refers to the single handed cruciform swords of the Middle Ages. They are to be seen in period artwork and many museum examples survive. Typically used with a shield or buckler they were the standard military sword of the knight (merely called a war sword) until technological changes led to the rise of the long sword or bastard-sword during the 14th century (while examples exist before this, they became dominant in a knight's training syllabus around this time). After these longer swords came into use, an arming sword would be kept as a backup, for use when the longer swords were not available. This sword is thought to have directly lead to the development of the side-sword of the Renaissance. A silver statue of an armoured knight, created as a trophy in 1850 For the chess piece, see knight (chess). ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Indo-Persian Dhal Shield A shield is a protective device, meant to intercept attacks. ... A buckler (French bouclier shield, from old French bocle, boucle boss) is a small shield gripped in the fist -- it was generally used in hand-to-hand combat during the Middle Ages, as its size made it poor protection against missile weapons (e. ... The term long-sword is ahistoric in the sense that it refers to a different kind of sword depending on historical context. ... A bastard sword is commonly thought a generic name for a large number of straight-bladed European swords used with either one or two hands. ... A side-sword was a type of war sword used by infantry during the Renaissance of Europe. ... By Region: Italian Renaissance Northern Renaissance -French Renaissance -German Renaissance -English Renaissance The Renaissance was an influential cultural movement which brought about a period of scientific revolution and artistic transformation, at the dawn of modern European history. ...
The sword is in chivalry the ensign or symbol of knighthood.
So highly was the sword esteemed in the Middle Ages as a part of a knight's equipment that special names were given to those of the most celebrated heros, which have been transmitted to us in the ballads and romances of that period.
In Freemasonry, the use of the sword as a part of the Masonic clothing is confined to the advanced degrees and the Degrees of Chivalry, when, of course it is worn as a part of the insignia of knighthood.