Executioner Sword

[Victrix]

Originally Posted by corrado26

30 Stivers / Daalder - Margaret IV van Brederode

I think this is the solution:

Netherland talerAbbey of Thorn

Abbess Margaret of Brederode (Margaretha van Brederode) (1557-1577)


Year 1563
Obverse
Standing Madonna with baby Jesus and scepter behind coat of arms of Brederode
Script: Latin
Lettering: SANCTA ★ MARIA ★ THORENSIS ★ ECCLESIÆ ★
Translation: Saint Mary, Church of Thorn

From Grokipedia: “This expansion underpinned Thorn's political influence as an Reichsunmittelbarkeit entity, exempt from local feudal overlords and directly accountable to the emperor, allowing the abbess to exercise judicial and economic rights over approximately 35 km² of territory divided into administrative quarters.” The heads of state of these territories still needed to maintain law and order even if they were theocracies. The crown and spire signify Mary as the Queen of Heaven.

[Akanthus]

That's it.....sunk.....

[Perl]

Yes, either that or Polish Thorn - I'll see if I can find out more about the coat of arms, it's very unclear.

[Victrix]

The Swedes were notorious plunderers in the 30 year war. Vast fortunes were made from war booty. I’m sure they were in both Thorns. They seem to have occupied the Polish one in mid 1600s but its coat of arms is an angel apparently. The inscription seems rather like the Nertherland coin. One other clue is I have seen those crosses on a Hospitaller sword (Order of St John) so if either Thorn was a place for Hospitallers then that could be it.

[Oriental Armament Collection]

A sword specifically designed for beheading often doesn't have a tip, which is normal because it doesn't need a stabbing function. Its heavy weight makes it more effective for chopping. As for the era, I don't think it's a modern piece. I recently also purchased a Chinese beheading sword, which has a broad blade suitable for chopping.

[Akanthus]

The Seal of Thorn ( Poland / Germany / Prussia ) also shows Holy Mother Mary.For me the sword refers to this city.The tip of executioner swords mostly is cut off. This should clarify,that it was a dishonorable weapon.Dishonorable,because the profession of a executer was looked upon as not honest.In some cases you can find three holes to the end of the blade representing father, son and the holy ghost.( picture from google)

[corrado26]

The coat of arms on the blade is almost identical to the coat of arms on the Dutch coin. It is clearly and undoubtedly different from the depiction of the coat of arms on the Polish coin. In addition, the exact same saying that can be read on the Dutch coin is engraved on the blade. I don't understand how anyone can think of Poland in this situation.

[Perl]

It is most likely Thorn in Poland, because there it is documented that the Swedes were and plundered. It is also possible that Wrangel took this to Skokloster Castle as war booty and then that the sword ended up in Uppsala (60 km) from Skokloster. I bought it in Uppsala - but this is speculation, nothing I know - I will clean the sword and see if the coat of arms becomes clearer and give more information about the origin.

[Akanthus]

Victrix wrote that on the seal of Thorn there is an angel but i found one with Holy Mary .But not like the one on the blade.The sword certainly belongs to the city in the netherlands.
With " belongs to this city " i ment Thorn in the Netherlands.

[corrado26]

"The collection of weapons that Carl Gustaf Wrangel assembled at Skokloster was already renowned in his day and it still exists, as the only undivided part of his chattels, in the three rooms on the top floor where he arranged it in 1669".
This you can read in the foreword of the catalogue "Wrangels Armoury". In this catalogue page 344 is shown only one single executioner's sword made at Passau. So the sword in question here had certainly nothing to do with Carl G. Wrangel and his armoury collection in Skokloster.

[Victrix]

I’ve been to Skokloster on a guided tour twice. Amazing place. I think I even have a pic of the execution sword there. Von Wrangel was the commander but I’m sure he had a large group from the war with him. One of them could have brought the sword with him as war booty. Or von Wrangel might have gifted the sword when he was still alive. The univetsity town of Uppsala has lots of war booty from the 30 year war taken as war booty from Prague.