Sword of Portuguese King Dom Dinis (1279-1325)

[fernando]

Originally Posted by CSinTX

Interesting. It looks like something we would likely misidentify as "fantasy". Hopefully we can see the blade later.

This is no blog nor any sensationalist media, Rick. It is the Public TV chanel; those persons are not trying to play tricks.

[CSinTX]

Originally Posted by fernando

This is no blog nor any sensationalist media, Rick. It is the Public TV chanel; those persons are not trying to play tricks.

My point was that sometimes maybe we are wrong.

[M ELEY]

I agree. CSinTX. Some of the late medieval swords had a 'fanciful' look to them that could throw you if you didn't see them literally being removed from their tombs. I recall seeing the intact blade of some early English king from the 1400's and it was like this one in many ways.

Fernando, thanks for posting this great footage!

[Philip]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

I agree. CSinTX. Some of the late medieval swords had a 'fanciful' look to them that could throw you if you didn't see them literally being removed from their tombs. I recall seeing the intact blade of some early English king from the 1400's and it was like this one in many ways.

Fernando, thanks for posting this great footage!

The decoration may look "fanciful" at first blush but in essence the proportions of hilt to blade length, the relative narrowness of the quillons, and the wheel pommel with large flattened central bosses is quite reminiscent of those features on the sword of Giovanni de' Medici (d 1353) which was recovered from his tomb in Florence early in the last century. This sword was in pretty dreadful as-found condition, having suffered more deterioration during its internment, but has since been cleaned and conserved to the point at which the blade is essentially intact, with original edge and tip contours, albeit with the expected corrosion pits. I can't wait to see what Dom Dinis' sword will look like after conservation is completed.

You can see "before" and "after" photos of Giovanni de' Medici's sword in plates 44.52 in Boccia/Coelho, Armi Bianche Italiane.

[Teisani]

Originally Posted by Philip

You can see "before" and "after" photos of Giovanni de' Medici's sword in plates 44.52 in Boccia/Coelho, Armi Bianche Italiane.

This one? https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F..._ante_1351.JPG

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A few more photos of the Dinis sword.

https://observador.pt/2022/10/26/esp...itu-na-europa/

https://capeiaarraiana.pt/2022/10/27...lo-do-monarca/

[kronckew]

The sword belt looks in remarkable condition!

[fernando]

Could it be due to the tomb beig well sealed ?
I gather that Kings had court swords and battle swords. Not that Dom Dinis was much of a military;
For ones perusal, he has only been on the battle field a couple times. His preferences were more on the culture side. A great troubadour, with plenty songs written and a couple of them with his own music. Apparently the first Portuguese monarch truly literate; he established the Portuguese language as the official language of the court, and created the first Portuguese University. One of his great dids was to prevent Portuguese Templars to be extinguished and condemned to death by Pope Clement. He managed to receive a bull from Pope Johhn XXII (Ad ea ex quibus), changing the name of the Order of the Temple to that of the Order of Christ, saving the knights live and their wealth.

[Philip]

Originally Posted by Teisani

This one? https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F..._ante_1351.JPG

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]

Yes, it’s the one I had in mind

[Teisani]

For me, the fact that the colour is partially preserved is a real treat. More proof that people back then liked shiny and colourful things as well . I hope the blade is just as well preserved.