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Video: 5 historical swords that have come down to our time and their almost fantastic stories
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
Swords have always been a special weapon, keeping the honor and pride of their owners. It was they, according to legends, who most often brought good luck in battles. Today, with battles already largely transferred to the digital world, swords are still admired. Some of the historical blades can still be seen with your own eyes, especially since legends are sometimes created in our time.
Stalingrad Sword
This ceremonial weapon was forged in England as a gift to the Russian people and in admiration for the courage displayed by the Soviet defenders of Stalingrad. The initiator of the creation of the sword was King George VI. After his personal approval of the sketch, the work was overseen by a panel of nine experts from the Goldsmiths Guild of Great Britain. The sword was forged by hand from first-class Sheffield steel, the handle is covered with 18-carat gold, the inscriptions in Russian and English are etched on the blade: “TO CITIZENS OF STALINGRAD • STRONG AS STEEL • FROM KING GEORGE VI • IN THE SIGN OF A DEEP RECOVERY”
A funny legend is connected with its presentation. It is believed that Stalin dropped the sword during the ceremony, or rather, it fell out of its scabbard, and Voroshilov, who was standing nearby, tried to grab the relic, but did not have time. Fortunately, the unique weapon was not damaged. This incident took place on November 29, 1943 at the Soviet embassy in Tehran during a meeting of representatives of the Big Three. Today the sword of Stalingrad is exhibited in the Museum of the Battle of Stalingrad in Volgograd and everyone can see it.
Sword of Mercy (Curtana)
The history of this weapon, sacred to the English kings, really goes back centuries - the first mention of the ceremonial sword under the name Curtana (from the Latin Curtus "short") refers to the reign of Henry III - it was used at the coronation in 1236. Although research confirms that it could have been forged much earlier, in the 11th century, and belonged to Edurd the Confessor. According to legend, it was with this weapon that the semi-mythical hero Tristan wounded the giant Morgolt - the sword was broken, supposedly, just then, and its fragment got stuck in the villain's skull. According to another legend, the end was broken off by an angel, who thus prevented a brutal murder and exclaimed: "Mercy is better than revenge!"
During the years of the English Revolution, the Sword of Mercy was incredibly lucky. Most of the royal arms were sent to be melted down at the direction of Oliver Cromwell, but Curtana survived, and today it is one of the elements of royal insignia. It is still used during the coronation of English monarchs, and the broken end means the ruler's mercy to his subjects.
Saint Peter's sword
This relic has been kept in Poland for over a thousand years. According to legend, the sword of St. Peter is precisely the weapon with which the apostle, during the taking of Christ into custody, cut off the right ear of the high priest's servant, Malchus. The Savior healed the slave, thereby showing another lesson in mercy even in the face of death. Of course, modern historians do not one hundred percent identify the sword stored in the Poznan Museum of Archdiocese with the same legendary weapon. Researchers from the Museum of the Polish Army in Warsaw believe that the sword of St. Peter could well have been made in the 1st century AD on the outskirts of the Roman Empire, but this opinion is not shared by everyone, so it is possible that a medieval forgery is kept in Poland.
Wallace's sword
After the execution of the hero in 1305, the personal weapon of the fighter for the independence of Scotland was transferred to the commandant of Dumbarton Castle. Then the sword "floated up", being mentioned in historical documents, then it was lost for several centuries, but in the 19th century it turned out that it was kept in the Royal Arsenal. In 1888, the historic relic was moved to the Wallace Monument in Stirling. Although historians are also not sure of its authenticity, visitors always admire the huge noble weapon (the length of the sword, including the hilt, is 163 centimeters). According to legend, it was this sword that brought William Wallace victory in several battles that have become part of the history of England and Scotland.
Saber of Napoleon
The luxurious saber was solemnly presented to Napoleon at the end of 1799 "for the Egyptian campaign." The inscription is forged on the damask blade: “N. Bonaparte. First Consul of the French Republic”. Today the weapon is on display in the collection of the State Historical Museum in Moscow. Confirmed historical facts tell how it got to Russia.
When the former emperor was sent to the island of Elba, in 1814, he was accompanied by the export of emissaries from the victorious countries. The representative from Russia was the first adjutant of Alexander I, Count PA Shuvalov. It soon turned out that Napoleon really needed protection: in Avignon, an angry crowd threw cobblestones at the carriage, shouting "Down with the tyrant!" Count Shuvalov helped the arrested man, literally covering him with his chest from the attackers. Further Count Shuvalov traveled in the costume of Napoleon, and the former emperor rode in simple clothes.
Saying goodbye to his savior aboard the frigate "Invincible", Bonaparte, most likely, gave him one of the few valuable things that remained with him - a richly decorated saber. For more than a hundred years, the weapon was owned by the descendants of Pavel Andreevich Shuvalov, until in 1918 the Red Army soldiers confiscated it. It is interesting that the precious weapons even managed to fight on the fronts of the Civil War and only many years later were transferred to the Museum of the Red Army and Navy.
One of the most famous, albeit legendary, swords is, of course, Excalibur. Several years ago, the Girl found a similar sword in the lake from the tales of King Arthur.
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