Late medieval swords from Southeastern Europe

[Reventlov]

Here is another distinctive sword in the Hungarian National Museum. The oblong octagonal pommel is similar to previous examples, but of higher quality with an inset emblem (possibly a coin?). The blade is again type XXb. The quillons have extended from an S-shape to a closed figure-8. Probably this coincides with the development of the famous German katzbalgers in the 16th century. The hilt has another cuff-like metal "rainguard" as seen on other presumably Hungarian swords posted above.





The museum has another very similar but much plainer example.


An overall very similar sword comes from the Dresden Armoury. The multi-fullered blade is stamped with distinctive knot-like marks that suggest an Italian origin, perhaps Belluno specifically. The marks on the first sword are likewise Italian in style.




A painting of c. 1505-15 in the Museum of Lower Austria shows a very similar sword (only a different pommel), and of course figure-8 guards are well-documented in Germany in this period. The painting and the Dresden sword have quillons which end in distinct knobs, which is seen in many other German artworks. These are absent in the two Hungarian swords, so perhaps this is a regional peculiarity within the international trend.

[Teisani]

Excellent finds Mark!
I can agree that the knob-ends on the quillons seem to be a germanic trait (Austrian to be more precise).
The last sword has some very interesting fullers. Namely, 3-4 fullers, very narrow, very close together. This type of fullers will become quite common on sabre/dusack and backsword blades (of Austrian or North Italian manufacture) later on. Checkout these two Hungarian sabres, my guess from the 1550s to the 1590s. Also notice the gold wire wrap, another common trait on these mid-to-late 16th century Hungarian (and sometimes Polish) sabres. Makes me wonder if the wire wrap on the first sword you posted is a later addition.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...9&postcount=39
https://skd-online-collection.skd.mu...s/Index/284576

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I found this one, but can't get mo info on it.
https://www.pius-kirchgessner.de/05_...e/Petrus_2.htm



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One thing that puzzles me is the lack of one-handed examples, other than those on Dobromir's frescos.

[Teisani]

St Paul. C. 1465. Painting on Swiss stone pine. By Michael Pacher (ca. 1435-1498). https://www.alamy.de/st-paul-c-1465-...8&searchtype=0

Blade looks like a candidate but the rest...not so much.

[Teisani]

Saint Paul. Woodcut, c1530, by Hans Sebald Beham. Very poor detailing unfortunately.

[Reventlov]

Originally Posted by Teisani

Excellent finds Mark!
Also notice the gold wire wrap, another common trait on these mid-to-late 16th century Hungarian (and sometimes Polish) sabres. Makes me wonder if the wire wrap on the first sword you posted is a later addition.

I think this is possible - here is another sword in the same museum, overall rather different, but the grip is so similar. According to descriptions, the date of 1523 is inscribed somewhere on the fittings. The quillons are another variant of the S-curve, very broad and ribbon-like, with a number of international parallels in the 16th century - a topic for later.

Originally Posted by Teisani

I found this one, but can't get mo info on it.
https://www.pius-kirchgessner.de/05_...e/Petrus_2.htm

I can't add anything specific, I don't see any references on that page... Will just say that this and Sebald Beham's woodcut show features that are very common in Germany around this time, long, straight or curved quillons with knobby terminals, various forms of "scentstopper" pommels, or disc pommels, and semi-circular, flap-like rainguards. I hadn't seen the woodcut before, so it's interesting to see what seems to be the multi-fullered blade... good to show and remember how these features are never exclusive to one region, no matter how they might seem stereotypically "Hungarian" or whatever.

Originally Posted by Teisani

One thing that puzzles me is the lack of one-handed examples, other than those on Dobromir's frescos.

There are some, I will share another day. Mostly from further south, around Bosnia and Serbia. The sabers and large swords really do predominate within Hungary/Transylvania apparently.

[Teisani]

That last sword with gold wire wrap is even more interesting. Other than the wrap being reminiscent of later sabres, this one also has "sabre-like" scabbard fitting. Checkout these scabbards.
The

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The main altar at the church St. Johannes und St. Martin in Schwabach. Finished in 1508. Another example that these multi-fullered blades were quite widespread, local details being more in the hilt.
https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwabacher_Altar

[Teisani]

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-an...-19832752.html

[Teisani]

https://www.willhaben.at/iad/kaufen-...ert-645496344/
82cm blade

[Teisani]

Found it! Kirche St. Peter und Paul in Heinfels, Austria https://www.heinfels.at/kirche-st--peter---paul.html

However, only the building of a church by the Gorizia construction works around 1470/80 can be ascertained with certainty.

[Reventlov]

Originally Posted by Teisani

That last sword with gold wire wrap is even more interesting. Other than the wrap being reminiscent of later sabres, this one also has "sabre-like" scabbard fitting. Checkout these scabbards.

Yes, very similar! I am not very knowledgeable about sabers and post-medieval swords, so I didn't make this connection.

Originally Posted by Teisani

The main altar at the church St. Johannes und St. Martin in Schwabach. Finished in 1508. Another example that these multi-fullered blades were quite widespread, local details being more in the hilt.

I think this one is one is quite interesting because it also seems to show cuff-shaped rainguard, integrated into the hilt, like several of the Hungarian swords

Originally Posted by Teisani

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-an...-19832752.html

This one seems to have circulated through several auction houses, here is one instance: https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-50...ssummary&lid=1

Originally Posted by Teisani

https://www.willhaben.at/iad/kaufen-...ert-645496344/

This one I am more dubious about, some proportions of the hilt seem off to me...

[Reventlov]

To follow up on my earlier post on examples with Italian makers' marks, another important example is this one in Toronto, which I have seen in person. It was donated to the Mamluk armoury in Alexandria in 1436-37, giving a firm reference point for the earliest appearance of blades of this type.

[Teisani]

Hungarian King Ulaszló II grants Balázs Érki CoA. 1514 https://adatbazisokonline.mnl.gov.hu...s/adatlap/3823

[Teisani]

This may be relevant to our discussion.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...&postcount=126

[LeonymusBosch]

Hey, here's 25 medieval swords from Croatia which were exhibited in Zagreb two years ago.

The exhibition catalogue of the swords is available (in a bit lower quality) to download if you follow the link and press the folder icon.

https://www.hismus.hr/media/tours/ma...avno/index.htm

Unfortunately, only the Croatian version is available for download online.


There's a couple of interesting Schiavonescas in there