Duke of Alba

The 16th century is a time of innovation in the arms sector. We are talking about the time when the Renaissance was in its peak throughout the European continent. In these years, aesthetic and beauty prevailed over strength and, naturally, this principle was also applied to the swords of the 16th century.

On the battlefield, strategy began to gain importance over the soldier’s courage. Armor was also lightened as it had fewer components.

The blades of the sixteenth century swords had four different parts:

• The tang: part that adapts to the grip.
• The ricasso: happens to the handle and is where the blade has a greater width and thickness.
• The body.
• The tip.

The garnish was composed of:

• The Pommel: which could be round, cylindrical or square.
• The characteristic cross on European swords.
• The guard and counter guard, which were made up of iron plates, which could be flat or concave and which were positioned perpendicular to the grip. From these came other pieces that surrounded the ricasso.

But, in addition to this model described - the most characteristic of this time - the soldiers and knights used other variations. The models wielded by the former were simple and only incorporated the guards. As for the knights, they had more guards to try to imprison the opponent's weapon and thus disarm him. In addition, these used to incorporate decorative motifs.

Other characteristic models of this era are the rapier longer, with a wide and rigid blade, and which was used in a complementary manner; and the greatsword, also wide and straight, but with a sharp point and cutting edges that was characteristic of German soldiers and was later adopted by the Swiss and the Spanish.