Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-20
1t is Regarded as the Best
in the World.
A SPLENDID PAGEANT
CROWNS, SWORDS AND BANNERS
OF sovEREIGNs EXHIBITED.
Battalion of Wooden Horses in Battle
Array Bearing Figures of Cham
pions Wearing Suits of Mail.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
( Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star an
chicago Record Herald.

Special correspondence Of The Evening Star ana
chicago Record-lierald.
MADRID, November 10. 1903.
Spain has the finest armory in the world
ard next to the art gallery, 1t is the most
attractive place in Madrid 1t formerly
occupied a large building south of the pal
ace and when that was torn down its con-
tents were distributed between the artillery
and naval museums. the national library
and other places. but the best of the armor
and weapons were placed in a gallery that
used to he the guard room in the southern
wing of the palace.
Like almost everything else of the kind IN
Spain, it was founded by the publie-spirited
and comprehensive Charles v in 1865. and
much of its contents was gathered by his
orders Rare objects were purchased, and
Instructions were given to preserve impor-
tant works from the Royal Armory of To-
ledo and bring them here for exhibition,
for Charles took great deal of pride in
the work of his armorers. 1t is here illus
trated at It's best. The French army plum
dered the collection and took away some in
teresting and valuable things, which are
now in the museums of Paris. You wonder
they did not steal more. In 1884 many val
liable objects were lost in fire, but for
tunately the best specimens of armor (and
they are the finest made) the crowns
and swords of the sovereigns of Spain and
the banners they carried in battle were
saved.
The room contains a splendid pageant.
and persons of sentiment can imagine
themselves transported back to the middle
ages when chivalry was out on horseback.
clothed in suit of steel. bearing lances
aud shields and wearing the symbol of sal
walton upon its crested helmet
Battalion of Wooden Horses.
The center of the room is occupied by
battalion of wooden horses. clothed in bat
IL array and mounted by figures of the
Ing magnificent suits of steel, chased with
Irmarkabe skill and taste. inlaid with gold
and often studded with jewels. The walls
Of the room are covered with cases that
contain the swords and scepters and some
of the crowns of the sovereigns. The most
interesting of all the objects are the ar
NOR, helmet, saddle and sword of Boab-
iii. the last King of the Moors. who sur
rendered tire Alhambra to Ferdinand and
isabella and has been the subject OF so
many signs, so much romance and poetry,
and whose sad fate even Christian ma
tou can afford to regret. He was the
richest and most powerful of the SaracenS,
VT his children begged aims at the mosques
nf Morocco Near by is a beautiful Toledo
blade which belonged to Ferdinand. and
which he is said to have carried in the
wars against the Moor. and suit of armor
is said To have been worn by Isabella at
the siege of the Alhambra, but the histo-
rans question the truth of that statement.
Her name is engraved upon the visor of the
helmet. which. of course, counts for good
deal. Il may be that the story is true.
Joan of Are wore arrnor and led army
in battle and we know that Isabella was
nj the head of her troops during the en-
tire campaign. and was present at the sur
render of the Alhambra.
There numerous suits of armor de-
signed for children and beautifully made.
Some of them are so small that they could
not have been worn by children over ten
years old. and how such little ones could
have carried the weight of the metal is al
WAYS a mystery. Ordinarily armor makes
quite load for a strong. full-grown man
When fully clad for battle or tourney
both horse and rider, covered with coats
Of steel with shield and lance, make a
cargo of ton or more.
The Sword Presented to Isabella.
We saw the sword of Isabella and one
that was presented by her to Gonzalo de
Cordoba. the grand captain of Spain. 1t
IL now used sword of state, ard when
voting grandees of Spain become of age 1t
is taken from the armory to some church.
Where the oath OF allegiance to the king Is
sclt mnly taken with one hand upon the
hilt. Here also is the sword of st. Fer
dirand; the armor, the war saddle and the
sword of the Cid; two double handed
swords that carried by the Emperor
Charles v in battle. and he must have
been powerful man to swing them: the
swords of Pizarro. the conqueror of Peru,
and of Cortez, the cOnqueror of Mexico,
with their armors and saddles also. Armor
weighing forty-one pounds is said to have
" is a mistake. He never wore such .
thing. Beside it IS the armor in which
Charles V and Philip III. his son. had their
portraits painted by Titan. Both of the
portraits hang upon the walls of the art
gallery on the Prado. One belonging to
Philip II bears the arms of England, and
Is said TO have been presented to him by
his amiable spouse Bloody Mary.
Armor of Charles v.
ArmOr chain belonging to Charles COW
AT to Il 70 III Iy,aa
Il; consists of a shirt and pair of trunks
made Of finely wrought links of steel wire,
which only weighed ten pounds altogether.
He often wore it in battle. 1t was not only
bullet proof in those days. but could not
D. pierced by spear or an arrow.
During the latter years of his life Charles
suffered severely from the govt. and be-
side the effigy OF his war horse Is litter
in which his soldiers used to carry him
Wien the pain in his joints would not per-
Init MIN To ride
The history OF the Dutch republic is re-
called by the sword and armor of the great
DUKE Of Alva and the banner which was
planted At the door of his tent during the
wars in the low countries hangs over it,
have mentioned only a few of many in
terestiug articles in this collection. which
are important not only historical relics,
but As Illustrations of the high standard
which the armorers of Spain reached in the
fifteenth and sixteenth centuries
In the cases around the walls are several
CROWNS of captured kings. banners snatched
from the enemy in battle. and other tro-
pixies of the triumphs of Spain. In the case
near thr door is tine collection of mod
crn arms which belonged to the late King
Alfonso XII
Other Interesting Museums
There are several other museums in Mad
lid Of particular interest to military people
Thr Artillery Museum is crowded with evil
deu,r of the martial power and glory of
The Spanish army. and the Naval Museum
with trophies the Spanish fleets have won
from the sea. Upon the walls OF both mu-
seums are long lines of portraits preserving
the features of the men who made Spain
famous in past centuries who explored
other worlds and added them To the do
miuiun- of her kings-Columbus, Magellan,
Joan Sebastian ElcIno. Balboa. who dis
covered the Pacific ocean. and long list
OF sailors and soldiers brought down to the
n.i-.D... Il 49,. L..