Which Medieval Sword Should You Wield?

By: Zoe Samuel
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Which Medieval Sword Should You Wield?
Image: Colin Anderson/Photographer's Choice RF/Getty Images

About This Quiz

The phrase "medieval sword" brings to mind many images. All of those images are legitimate, but none can hold the claim to the "most medieval" because the period contains a broad swathe of specialist weaponry designed for different purposes in different wars fought by different nations for different reasons in different climates. A sword designed for unarmored dueling would do little good in the battles fought during The Second Crusade.

What sort of person are you? Do you see yourself as someone stalking the streets of an Italian city, where wearing a sword was forbidden, and any such weapon would need to be concealed? Or do you see yourself on the battlefield, a Swiss mercenary fighting for whoever pays you the most? Are you an elite duelist who sees fighting more as a sport than as a way to make a living? Or do you feel a kinship with the Viking north-men, plundering, murdering, and worse in their raiding trips to the south? Do you see yourself serving a greater purpose as a king's bodyguard, or as an assassin climbing into a castle keep to fulfill a contract?

Take a few minutes to answer some questions for us and we will tell you exactly what medieval sword you should wield!

How important are results?
They are the most important thing.
They're important, but means are as important.
I don't get paid by results. I get paid by the hour.
Not important

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What profession would you want if you were living in the middle ages?
Butcher
Landlord
Fletcher
King

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Do you feel strongly about your opponents in life?
I see it as zero sum game.
They're mostly just rivals.
I feel nothing for them.
I don't have opponents.

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How adaptable are you?
I'm a bit of a specialist.
Very, within my forte
Very adaptable
Not at all

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Which medieval government would you least object to?
A regional principality
A Protestant one
The Holy Roman Empire
Anyone where I'm on the top rung of society

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How important is beauty?
Totally unimportant
Very important
A little important
I like beauty.

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How lazy are you?
Not lazy at all
I'm too disciplined to be lazy.
I'll do as much as I'm asked, but no more.
Ha! Very

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How much do you mind the cold?
I love it.
I hate it.
I'm OK with it.
I don't even go outside in the winter.

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How much time are you willing to spend in classes?
As much as needed
Quite a lot
A bit, if I can afford them
Not any

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What is your vice of choice?
Greed
Pride
Envy
Sloth

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Do you mind why you fight?
No
I'd never fight for money.
I wouldn't want to be doing anything immoral.
Yes! I don't want to fight.

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Do you see yourself as an elite?
Just within my profession
Yes, totally
I'm a proletarian.
I like to seem like one.

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How far are you willing to travel for work?
A few hundred miles at most
A short commute
I'll go anywhere.
I like to work from home.

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Do you prefer to be alone or part of a team?
I don't mind.
I like to work alone.
I need a team.
I'd like my team to do the work for me.

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How much do you enjoy high culture?
Not at all
Very much
Rarely
I spend most of my days doing that.

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How much do you worry you might actually experience real danger?
Every time I lie down to sleep
Not often
Most days
Never

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How much do you love your job?
I don't know if I love it, but I'm very good at it, and not much else.
I adore my job.
It's a job. It's better than the alternatives.
I don't have a job.

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How efficient are you?
Very
Mostly
I try to be efficient, but the perfect is the enemy of the good.
Totally inefficient

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Would you seek laurels only to rest on them?
I don't care about laurels.
Laurels are nice, but they crumble as they age.
I have no chance of getting laurels.
Yes. Get it done once and retire.

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Do you like cute nicknames?
I love them.
I like cool nicknames.
I like simple names.
No, nicknames take something away from people.

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How desperate are your struggles?
They don't get more desperate.
None are life or death
Fairly desperate
I don't have struggles.

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What would your goal be, if you hired a personal trainer?
Stamina and toughness
Speed
Strength
I'd want to look good naked.

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What medieval war interests you the most?
The little skirmishes between German princes that lasted for centuries
The 100 Years War
The Second Crusade
The Episcopal Inquisition.

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What medieval profession interests you the most?
Mercenary
Fleet owner
Farmer-soldier
Man of leisure

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Which medieval city would you most want to live in?
Geneva
Amsterdam
Budapest
London

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Which cultural achievement of the middle ages is your favorite?
Triplex armor
Spring steel
Stirrups
Point perspective

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Which medieval historical figure do you find most fascinating?
Girolamo Savonarola
Leonardo DaVinci
Richard The Lionheart
Armand Jean du Plessis, AKA Cardinal Richelieu

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What is the most important virtue of a medieval king?
Ruthlessness
Wisdom
Riches
Power

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Do you believe in witches?
Yes, and werewolves
No. That's ridiculous.
Yes! And vampires! And werewolves! And The Devil!
No, just Druids

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Would you join a Crusade?
No, there's not enough money in it.
No, I'm not religious, or Catholic.
Sure!
Maybe once

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You Got:

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