Historical Swords
The sword is a weapon that is loaded with rich
folklore, legend, history, and symbolism. Everyone, from small children to
enthusiastic collectors, is enchanted by the gleaming weapon portrayed in the
hands of noble knights and other warriors in films, books, cartoons, and video
games. Even more captivating are the swords that were carried by real men and
women during real conflicts; these are legitimate historical warriors who
wielded swords both large and small weapons. You may be surprised at what a
large role swords play in the carving out of history as you know it. The
following real-life swords and the people who owned them ought to fuel your
imagination and give you a history lesson that is actually interesting to learn
about. Pull up a chair and take the time to learn about some of the most
interesting historical swords (given in no particular order) that play such a
large role in the history of mankind.
The Seven-Branched Blade
This blade was made
during a Dynasty known as the Baekje Dynasty, a Korean kingdom flourishing in
the fourth century. The King of Baekje received the seven-branched sword as a
symbol of respect from inhabitants of the East. Historically, this sword acts
as a documentation of sorts, indicating that there really was a relationship of
some kind among the different countries throughout Eastern Asia during the
fourth century. Inscriptions on the blade are difficult to decipher, but they
may point toward who owned the blade in the centuries following the rule of the
King of Baekje.
The most unique thing
about this historical sword is its appearance. The Seven-Branched Blade looks
just like you would expect it to: it is about 75 centimeters long with six
spikes protruding from the main blade, resembling the branches of a tree. This fierce
looking weapon’s bark is definitely louder than its bite; the Seven-Branched
Blade was made to be ceremonial in nature instead of being used in combat. Now
located in a Japanese Shrine, the Seven-Branch blade remains shyly tucked away
from the public eye—but unwaveringly beautiful nonetheless.
The
Sword of Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte is a
name known by just about everyone. He is found in history books everywhere and
is one of the most pronounced characters in history. However, many people may
not be aware of Napoleon’s infamous historical sword. When Napoleon took over
political leadership of the French in 1799, he began a long stretch of years in
which conflict abounded. This military genius was a man who remapped the
landscape of war; it was easy to see that, to Napoleon, war was an art form.
Imagine for a moment
that you are on a French battlefield in the 1700s. Napoleon’s short stature
immediately sticks out to you among the hundreds of other men on the field. He
holds a pistol and sword in hand, smirking as he battles his opponents. You see
him draw his sword and are amazed to see it glinting in the sunlight—it is
obviously gold plated. The sword speaks volumes about the man wielding it—ruthless,
luxurious, and cold.
The fact that Napoleon
used a gold plated sword in battle indicates his love for luxury and admiration
of well-made artillery. In fact, Napoleon spent years beefing up his own
private collection of weapons. Money was no object to this mastermind, but he didn’t
buy the prized gold sword himself. It was presented to Napoleon as a gift on
his wedding day and quickly became Napoleon’s weapon of choice on the
battlefield. Interestingly, Napoleon’s sword was faithfully passed down
throughout the Bonaparte family tree for many years after Napoleon’s death. The
sword’s whereabouts today are unknown because it was sold to an anonymous
bidder at an auction in the year 1978.
Zulfiqar
This historical sword
has ancient Islamic origins, having been owned by an Islamic leader known as
Ali (related to the prophet Muhammad.) Ali was famous in his own right, ruling
over a portion of Islam for about ten years in the 600s. Some evidence
indicates that Muhammad presented the prized sword to Ali during a famous
battle after noticing Ali’s powerful presence on the plane of battle.
Interestingly, this sword is now considered very symbolic of the faith of the
Islamic people—the relic continues to hold claim to a great deal of respect
from many Islam.
Zulfiqar is not
available for the general public to view, but most people think that the sword
has a curved blade and appears to be a scimitar. Most notably, the blade is
said to feature a number of inscriptions. Supposedly, the two parallel blades
of this scimitar symbolize magical properties such as speed. However, some
sources indicate that the sword doesn’t have two parallel blades at all.
Obviously, a great deal of mystery enshrouds the Zulfiqar’s appearance, but the
Twelver Shia (the most prominent branch of Shia Islam) insists that the weapon
is present and accounted for, kept safeguarded in the famous Al-Jafr
collection. It is safe to assume that this historically significant weapon is
lying among many other priceless artifacts in the Al-Jafr collection.
The
Sword of Mars
This sword was
supposedly carried by Attila the Hun. Attila the Hun was a fierce man, and he
could hold his giant sword in a single hand as he aggressively cut down his opposition.
Historians suspect that the sword was named Mars not after one of the Roman
gods, but instead as a general reference to a war god’s sword. Attila was often
referred to as “the scourge of god,” indicating his desire to be viewed as a
warrior of divine importance. His image came across as both divine and violent,
and his sword played a large role in his image; the Sword of Mars was used as
both a slaying weapon and ruling scepter.
About 500 years later,
when Attila’s remains remained skeletal in the grave, a sword came to public
attention when an individual claimed to have Attila’s sword in his possession.
The sword is now in museum called Kunsthistorisches in Vienna.
The
Sword of Tomoyuki Yamashita
During World War II,
the Japanese general Tomoyuki Yamashita was known for claiming victory over
several British colonies. Known as “The Tiger of Malaya,” the general was as
ruthless as he was fearless. Yamashita was tried for many war crimes, including
accusations of massacre and other horrendous atrocities. He was sentenced to
death in a controversial sentencing that spurred law courts in the U.S. to
create new a new law known as the “Yamashita Standard.”
The man led a colorful
life, but one of his defining characteristics was the sword he carried at his
side. The blade of his sword was fashioned by the world-famous maker of swords
Fujiwara Kanenaga in the 1600s. The hilt of this historical sword is far more
modern, having been added sometime during the 1900s. When General Yamashita
surrendered to the United States, he surrendered his prized sword as well into
the hands of the well-known American General MacArthur. General MacArthur
promptly handed it over to a Military Museum located in West Point where it
remains available for public viewings up to present day.
Tizona
Tizona was the famed
weapon of El Cid, a military leader and ambassador around the year 1000. He was
born in a located in a tiny town near the capital. El Cid was a Spanish hero,
boasting many victories in the Spanish clash with the Moors. Considered one of
the best swordsmen and military minds of his time, El Cid was considered an
extremely valuable player in the military movements that took place in early
Spain. Like any great swordsman, El Cid was the proud owner of a great many
swords; however, one of them stands out from the rest of his admirable
collection: Tizona.
The blade of this
historical sword is partly comprised of Damascus steel, a very valuable metal
that was primarily manufactured throughout the Middle East. The sword measures
a little over 100 centimeters in length and weighs about 1 kilogram. Across the
side of the sword are two distinct inscriptions. One of the inscriptions lists
the date of the sword’s creation: 1002. The second inscription consists of a
Catholic prayer text known as Ave Maria. Today, Tizona is one of the
most-prized relics in Spain and is displayed at the Museo de Burgos.
The historical swords
listed above are beautiful pieces in the large puzzle of history. The lives of
sword owners are often very intertwined with their sword; this creates one of
the most unique bonds known to man. The thought of a man bonding with a piece
of metal so closely that it becomes an integral part of his history (and the
history of the world for that matter) is more than a little interesting. Take
the time to research other famous historical swords to access a little more
history. Anyone interested in swordsmanship will be fascinated by the many
historical swords documented since the dawn of recorded history.