Espada ropera

The espada ropera was a sword developed in the mid-15th century in Spain. The name referred to swords worn by civilians, as opposed for those meant for battlefield use. Compared to earlier swords, the espada ropera was lighter, thinner, and more ornate. It was first mentioned in an inventory of Don Álvaro de Zúñiga in 1468.

Overview

The espada ( espade lit. sword ) ropera was the forerunner of, and in Spain a contemporary of, the rapier. In fact, the French term "épée rapière" is a derivative of "espada ropera". The espada ropera distinguishes itself from the rapier in that its blade, though thin, could be used to make effective cuts. These swords were manufactured in Toledo.

It is a sword that stands between a rapier and a long sword and it is also considered to be the starting point of the light-blade lineage. Espada ropera has a cross-guard and despite the fact that the sword is narrowed it maintains an effective cutting edge.

Origins

The name of this sword "rapira" ( _es. espada ropera) means "sword of the robes". This is why it is considered to be a dress sword, mainly civilian clothing and not very often worn by warriors.

According to Claude Blair (a keeper of metalwork; helped by other authors wrote a series of publications concerning the early metalwork) the etymology of the term "espada ropera" probably comes from _es. ropera, which means "wearing"; or it may also be the word _es. raspar, which means "to scratch". This is why experts consider that espada ropera was more a clothes accessory than a weapon. Although its country of origin is Spain, the name was spread all over Europe.

Despite the fact that wearing a sword, while being dressed as a civilian, was a rarely seen feature in the Middle Ages, this fashion became very popular in Europe during the 15th century.

In "The Book of the Sword", its author, Richard Francis Burton stated the origins of espada ropera. It has its roots in prehistoric times and Richard Burton traces its origin till the evolution of the Roman Empire. He described the advantages of the swords when being in one-on-one combat. In this case the espada ropera is a more effective thrusting weapon than a cutting one [cite book| first=Richard | last=Burton | title=The Book of the Sword | date=1884] .

Dimensions

Espada ropera was a narrow and long sword, in comparison with other swords of the 15th century. It had a weight of 2 or 3 pounds. Espada ropera was about three or five centimeters wide and from 80 to 130 centimeters long. Its blade was straight and it was used mainly for thrusting and rarely for cutting.

This sword was intended for settling personal disputes; these were called duels. It was rarely used in battlefield because of its blade which was not intended to resist in the battle. However, espada ropera was used in battle as a replacement of the cutting sword while being in one-on-one combats.

ee also

*Rapier
*Colichemarde
*Fencing

References

External links

* [http://www.myarmoury.com MyArmoury] - Additional information on other European arms and armour.