Hi all,

Just curious if you could point me to any period illustrations showing men at arms and knights in the medieval period carrying more than one weapon? For example, two swords, a falchion and an arming sword, etc. I'm not saying dual wielding, just referencing a very well-equipped knight, for example, who might be packing a little extra. Or, where a knight in a prebattle situation might be choosing between multiple swords. I know I've seen some but can't find them in my image library.

Many thanks,

Bob

Well...there`s this guy.

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No that doesn't happen just like you don't see people with 2 rifles today.
All swords are much of the same, there no reason to carry 2.
Now you might carry a small short sword and a big two handed sword.
But the short sword is a back up weapon.

Are you specifically looking for two+ swords, or just multiple weapons in general?

German man-at-arms 1498 by Albrecht Dürer was a quick Google Find clearly showing a Lance and Sword (link is Wikipedia, but it's a better quality copy of the image from a dozen versions I saw):
[ Linked Image ]

Wikipedia link clearly showing a spear and sword. 16th century Icelandic man-at-arms. Picture is to depict Eiríkr Rauði, who is equipped somewhat anachronistically, from the 17th century book Groenlandia by Arngrímur Jónsson:
[ Linked Image ]

thearma.org essay on leg wounds HERE states this is from a German 15th century manuscript and shows a knight with axe and sword:
[ Linked Image ]

These are all just quick google image search. I'm sure you could find more with a bit more digging. I'm sure there's also plenty of other people on these forums who could give you more information. However, again, specificity over whether you're looking for specifically multiple swords, or any combinations of multiple weapons would help in the providing images and whether what you're looking for exists.

For a post-medieval example that clearly has elements of "fantasy" (but not in the modern sense of the word!) check out Paulus Hector Mair's Geschlechterbuch der Stadt Augsburg

http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/bsb00...p;seite=10

It was common for cavalry soldiers to carry lots of weapons. For example, some 16th-century Spanish men-at-arms carried lance, estoc, arming sword, hammer, and dagger. Lance, sword, and mace was the iconic French standard for men-at-arms. Turkish and other steppe-style cavalry might carry bow, lance, saber, mace, and dagger, sometimes with an arquebus as well.

There is an old Persian (I believe) instruction manuscript that instructs Calvary men to use first their lance in battle, then their mace, and lastly their sword.

Here's the portion of the Bayeux Tapestry which shows the saxon on the far left carrying a spear, sword, shield, and daneaxe.

[ Linked Image ]

The 13th century Scandinavian "King's Mirror" recommended that a knight have two swords, one worn on his belt and one attached to the saddle. I seem to recall there was a myArmoury thread with a couple of depictions that showed this but I can't seem to find it.

I, myself, wouldn't feel comfortable--for lack of a better term--without going into battle with not at least a shield, spear, dagger, sword, and maybe an axe....not to mention armor. The spear would be the first line of attack, followed by shield and axe, with the sword as a last-ditch effort. The dagger would be the 'coup-de-gras' for any fallen foe. Old-school, baby. ;) Way old.....McM

Firearms are a different matter as the reload times for muzzle loaders make carrying a spare pistol a wise idea.