Single handed sword - Spatha

The Spatha is a weapon with a rich history, originally developed from Celtic long swords and later adopted by the Romans. The original Roman spathae were used by cavalry soldiers during the 1st century AD, while legionaries preferred shorter swords, such as the gladius. In the Middle Ages, particularly between the 9th and 11th centuries, the Spatha became popular throughout Europe.
This type of sword was widely used by Germanic tribes, Vikings, and Frankish knights. At that time, the Spatha was characterized by a long, parallel blade with sharply honed edges, making it ideal for both cutting and thrusting attacks. Thanks to its length and versatility, the weapon was effective against both infantry and cavalry.
The Spatha was primarily used in man-to-man combat and symbolized prestige and power. It was part of the equipment of warriors from the early medieval period, including nobles and fighters in the Frankish Empire, Anglo-Saxons, Normans, and Scandinavian warriors. Some spathae were richly decorated, making them status symbols often buried with their owners as part of funeral rituals.