"Salus Vienna Tua" on sword

[Foxbat]

What does it mean and what is the origin of that sword?

[A Senefelder]

This is identicle to one that I owned ( and unfortunately sold some years ago for taxes ). It is I believe a sword from a member of the guard of the Doge of Venice dating I think to the first half of the 18th century. My initial IDing came from several examples in auction catalogs ( an older Museum of Historical Arms was one, a Fagan Arms was another ) but after listing it on ebay I heard from a number of folks, some who sent me pics of thier examples telling me the same thing as above about it.

[fernando]

The inscription "Salus Viena Tua" is Latin for (roughly) "You Saved Wien", a motto attributed by the Polish king Jan III to Austrian Franciszek Jerzy Kolschitzky whom, under his task of food supplier, has spied on the Turkish forces and provided information during the battle of Wien (1683).

[Foxbat]

Thank you all responders, but the question continues. I have the second sword of that kind in my collection, and that one is all-iron, with iron, not ivory, inlay, and with no etching or any inscription on the blade. There is the description of that sword in Calamandrei's book - see the scan of the page. It indicates the later period, that of Pope Paolo VI.

Should we, then, presume that this particular model was in use over long period of time, with modifications? Or that, perhaps, the all-steel model versus ivory reflected the rank of the bearer?

[Jim McDougall]

This is a most interesting court sword, but I am very puzzled by this strange attribution. I hope this isnt taken wrong, but for us 'old timers' these resources, Museum of Historical Arms and of course the well known Fagan catalogs were quite notorious as the origins of a number of rather fanciful classifications now over four decades ago. Certainly they served well as a benchmark for future research on many weapons forms, much as many of the venerable references, but that research often revealed revised positions accordingly.
The Doges of Venice effectively ended as elected officials with the Napoleonic conquest in 1797, and the weaponry and mystery associated with some aspects of this office are well known, most notably the Council of Ten and the famed schiavona swords of the Dalmatian bodyguards.

This sword, of which I am uncertain as far as dimensions, seems to be a commemorative item, and does resemble the also notorious stilettos of Venice which became known as bombardiers stilettos as they were used by gunners in Venetian service. The configuration with pronounced quillon block and short symmetrical quillons resembles that of these stilettos.

My question is why would this motto referring to the Ukrainian hero of the seige of Vienna in 1683, to whom this motto is ascribed by the Polish King Jan Sobieski, be significant to a member of the Doges palace guards, and on a commemorative weapon which appears to be of 19th century with this motif apparantly acid etched. This type etching, while certainly known earlier, seems to have become popular later in the 18th century. It is worthy of note that the Historismus period, most notably toward art and philosophy also affected classical revival interests in other fields as well.

[Fernando K]

Hello:

The Latin inscription should be translated as "your health care"

Affectionately. Fernando K

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Fernando K

Hello:

The Latin inscription should be translated as "your health care"

Affectionately. Fernando K

Most unlikely; you wouldn't commend a guy for heroic services with such kind of motto.
Salus means salvation in Latin
Viena Wien is... as still is in castillion, portuguese...
Tua means yours.
So you may only 'mount' the phrase with these three words .

.

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

My question is why would this motto referring to the Ukrainian hero of the seige of Vienna in 1683, to whom this motto is ascribed by the Polish King Jan Sobieski, be significant to a member of the Doges palace guards, and on a commemorative weapon which appears to be of 19th century with this motif apparantly acid etched. This type etching, while certainly known earlier, seems to have become popular later in the 18th century.

Those are my questions exactly. The two samples that I have seem to have come from very different periods, while maintaining great similarities.

[Norman McCormick]

Hi,
Your safety/survival 'is' Vienna = Salus Vienna Tua.
Regards,
Norman.