Byzantine Swords

Emperor Theophilus orders the Eparch of Constantinople to execute the accomplices of Michael II Travlos

Madrid, National Library, Codex Vitr. 26-2, fol. 102ro, 12th century.

Skyllitzes Matritensis, fol. 31r.
Miniatures:

Thomas the Slav talks with the Saracens (top)
Thomas' troops defeat the imperial army (bottom)

Extensive use of Paramerion - slightly curved swords that are generally represented as single edged, though a double edged variant may have existed. Additionally there is extensive use of the buckler, which in a Byzantine context would have meant a leather clad (front and back) wicker core - centre gripped shield (however the centre grip was held with straps rather than a wooden bar; the average diameter of Byzantines bucklers would be around 18 inches.

From the Skylitzes Manual.

These beautiful Macedonian frescos display a number of Byzantine sword types.

Superlative Byzantine sword blade housed in the Belgrade Military Museum.

Thank you to Peter Raftos for this wonderful find.

From Peter: "As part of an exhibition in the UK called Byzantium 330 – 1453 at the Royal Academy of Arts - Main Galleries between 25 October 2008 – 22 March 2009 a Byzantine sword blade was put on display. Dated to the fourteenth or first half of the fifteenth centuries it was described as Steel, forged, engraved; gold, casting; inlaying (damascening)- L 1110 mm. It was on loan from the Museum of Belgrade and has an interesting tang. I was unable to find out anymore at the time."