[David Clark]

I came across a painting call "Communal fight in Bologna" while looking up heraldry coloring and I noticed the two opposing forces weapons of choice. Why is why side armed with spears and other predominantly swords? Is it representing competing factions or possibly social strata (rich vs poor)?

[Craig Peters]

David Nicolle in Italian Medieval Armies 1000-1300 mentions that, by the late 13th century, some of the communes were even issuing standardized uniforms and military equipment to their members as a method of strengthening solidarity. Additionally, there were measures taken in some cities to prevent or limit the wearing of liveries, for the reason that easily recognizable liveries tended to exacerbate feuds between rival factions.

[Michael Ekelmann]

You can see more spearmen coming up the street on the sword side. Reminds me of a SCA battle "Spears to the front!"