Editing Spatha (section)

===Norman swords===
{{Main|Knightly sword}}
The transition from the Viking Age ''spatha''-inspired sword to the [[High Middle Ages|High Medieval]] [[knightly sword]] took place between the 10th and 11th centuries. The main development was the growth of the front handguard into a full [[cross-guard]], and the reduction of the typical Viking Age lobated [[Hilt#Pommel|pommel]] into simpler brazil nut or disc shapes. The [[Sword of Saints Cosmas and Damian |sword]] of [[Otto III]], (total length 95.5&nbsp;cm), preserved as a relic in [[Essen]], is an example of the emerging arming sword, although it has been encrusted with decorations during the ensuing centuries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://freywild.ch/otto.html |title=Freywild - otto |access-date=2005-08-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050508184437/http://freywild.ch/otto.html |archive-date=2005-05-08}}</ref>