Toledo swords, sabers and medieval armours HISTORY OF THE TOLEDO SWORDS Toledo swords, for centuries, when the issue of a fight depended not only on the personal ability of the fighter, but also on another decisive factor - the perfection of his weapon - with Toledo swords exceptional steel were forged the most terrible arms in the world. Their extraordinary hardness made of each of these Toledo swords an invincible force in the hands of an expert swordsman. All European armies knew the superior quality of Toledo steel swords and many great warriors relied only on sabers of Toledan provenance. Their origin of the Toledo swords comes from the most ancient Spanish customs. More than 2,000 years ago, in the 5th century B.C. , Iberian blacksmiths already forged Toledo swords known as falcata which had an iron blade inside and a special design made to increase the bluntness of the slash. Due to their fame, these Toledo swords were choosen by Hannibal for his army and the Roman legions, defeated by those weapons, adopted them later and supplied their centurions with the dread Toledan swords blades. The Sun Door of the Toledo city.

The times of Excalibur kind of sword passed by. The Middle Ages blacksmiths exalted the office, as they relied more and more on technological progress and not only on the good quality of their steel. The Muslim armies feared the sword that had defeated them. They didn't revere only the hand of a Master - the Cid Campeador - but also the excellence of his weapon, a Toledan sword, of course! The Muslims adopted such a technics to produce their slender two-edged scimitars, transmitting their secret from one generation to the other. Then, the Toledan manufacturers would yield the famous rapiers so well popularized through d'Artagnan and his fellow Musketeers. Also todays Toledo is a quiet city with about 50,000 inhabitants, it has been for a time the capital city of the widest empire in the world, an empire where sun never set. Kings from all parts of the world have had Toledo swords and sabers forged in Toledo. Even Japanese Samurai were aware of the existence of Toledo swords steel as it had been introduced by the Spanish merchants that followed the steps of the Spanish and Portuguese Jesuits.

As Japan lived in a state of continuous civil war, it is not surprising that some of their Daimyos even came to Toledo to have their katana and wakizashi forged there. They knew how important was a perfect design and finish for the effectiveness of a sword of Toledo. One example of what was once the most noble art in the world is no doubt the gold inlaid hunting dagger of King Charles the Fourth, with the mark and the name of the smith who did it engraved on it. Toledan craftsmen can be rightfully proud of such a fine blade and splendid finish. This art is actually disappearing because swords have been replaced by another type of weapon, like pistols, guns, rifles. The internal structure of the blade and the mystery of its fabrication were a secret well kept by the manufacturers. It hasn't been unraveled until the 20th century! To make such an exceptional weapon, they had to forge at the same time and at a very hot temperature hard steel with high contents of carbon and soft steel. This way, they could obtain excellent mechanical properties as well as a better fastness to wear.

Tizona sword of the Cid Campeador An appropriate selection of raw materials, their adequate proportion in the blade and the forging of both types of steel at a temperature of 1454 ï¿½ F during the exact interval of time required, give the most perfect sword ever built in the world. In old ages, the blacksmiths used to recite psalms and prayers keeping always the same rhythm, in order to calculate the time that the blade would remain inside the furnace. This timing had to be respected to avoid any deviance: a longer time would melt the steel too much and on the contrary, a shorter one wouldn't let the metal reach its melting-point. Forging requires forcefulness and efficiency in a very short time. Then comes the following step: cooling with water or - sometimes - with oil, to get a clear and clean welded seam. In some cases, the blacksmith had to blow even 20,000 times in order to get a perfect tempering, but such a level of perfection wouldn't allow him to make more than 2 or 3 blades in a year!

In other parts of the world, craftsmen have tried to imitate the perfection of Toledo swords steel, but they all failed. Damascus steel was too hard, not at all flexible, because it contained only iron and carbon and wasn't refined of all the mineral impure elements. Swedish steel was based on a soft steel, carbureted in a furnace, surrounded by animal horns and hair, leaves, etc. and heated at a temperature of about 1650ï¿½ F. Swords were also manufactured in Solingen (Germany). There, they twisted together wires of different thickness and carbon contents in order to get a threadlike structure that combined hard and soft steel. the swords of Nimes (France) were also recognized for their good quality. Panoramic photo of the city of Toledo Guns Germs & Steel: Variables. Steel | PBS Early metal work fuels the development of steel In particular, steel has governed the destiny of ambitious Europeans. The conquistadors who swept through the New World were armed with steel swords forged in the Spanish city of Toledo.

Settler communities in North America and the Cape of Good Hope were able to capitalize on European-invented steel rails, steel locomotives and steel ships to transform their model European economies. From its creation in the forges of medieval Europe, through its key role in the Industrial Revolution, to the triumph of modern technologies, steel has always been one of the greatest agents of conquest of human history. Steel is an almost uniquely European technology. It would not have been possible without the earliest experiments with fire and minerals, conducted by Neolithic hunters and farmers over ten thousand years ago. Thanks to the dry environment of the Fertile Crescent, fire pits could be kept ablaze for several days, raising a temperature sufficient to transform limestone into plaster. Before long, this technology was applied to other mineral ores — copper technology brought forth the Bronze Age and iron technology the Iron Age. Once iron ore had been smelted, steel was only a matter of time. Those parts of the world that were too wet to keep an open furnace ablaze for several days could never make the leap to even the simplest pyrotechnology. The tropical jungles of Papua New Guinea, for example, could never sustain an open fire for more than a few hours.

Lacking sufficient conditions to allow them to even begin to experiment, the hunters of the New Guinean lowlands were trapped by their geography in a perpetual Stone Age — until the arrival of metal-bearing Europeans. The right conditions alone were not enough — budding ironmongers and steel-smiths also needed the right raw materials. Europe struck lucky. Steel's complex manufacture requires large quantities of iron ore and plentiful, carbon-rich forests, plus access to fast-flowing water for power and transport. All of which were readily available in Europe. From the earliest days of European civilization, the forests of Germany and northern Italy became the home to iron technology. The products they created were unique throughout the world — single plates of armor hammered from one sheet of metal; lightweight longswords with heavy counterweight pommels; and, delicate rapiers designed for popular duel. The development of steel forever changed the art of warfare These swords, from the Spanish espada robera, or sword of the robe, were invented in the late fifteenth century as an ultra-modern, ultra-chic dress-sword for the upwardly mobile. It was the pride of Toledo, a Spanish city that by the late Middle Ages rivalled any Italian or German city for sword manufacture.

Toledo steel was famous throughout the Old World — and soon became infamous throughout the New World. Geography gave European metallurgy another precious advantage. Thanks to what has become known as the 'optimal fragmentation principal,' the physical environment of Europe allowed a significant interplay of political independence, economic competition and technological collaboration. In other words, the geography of the European continent destined it to host thousands of communities, all jostling for power and prestige. By the mid-fifteenth century, the latest forging techniques were used to create the strongest, sturdiest, lightest and most flexible armor and swords. Geography had made it inevitable that this precious technology would be used by Europeans to perfect the art of war. Iron and bronze technologies were also common in the Far East; but without the competitive incentive of Europe, the applications of these materials remained fairly limited. Armor never developed the unique and versatile qualities of European plate armour. Swords remained relatively uniform in style, and thanks to the ease with which technologies could spread from east to west, innovative Asian inventions, such as gunpowder were rapidly snapped up by the voracious European war machine.

It has long been known that agricultural civilizations in Africa were producing iron long before the arrival of Europeans — the deadly, lightweight, Zulu Assegai was testament to the skill of native African ironmongers. But recent studies have also confirmed the independent production of steel in Africa as well — a technology previously believed to be uniquely European. Nevertheless, indigenous Africans were about 1,000 years behind their European rivals — and we will never know what they might have gone on to achieve, had the trajectory of African culture not been interrupted by colonialization. The Conquistadors won an easy Victory against inferior Inca weapons technology Civilizations in the Americas lacked equivalent iron resources — but were rich beyond imagination in copper, tin, and precious metals like silver and gold. This, after all, had been the incentive for European exploration — the search for Eldorado, the quest to seize a paradise made of gold. The invaders were not disappointed. Gold was so common in the land of the Incas, it was used purely for decoration and bore no inherent monetary value. Protected solely by bronze weapons and knives carved from stone, the Inca Empire fell easily to deadly Spanish steel.

The Industrial Revolution catapulted Europe into a position of unprecedented global domination over the course of the nineteenth century. Building on colonial conquest accrued over the previous 200 years, industrialization transformed the lands of the Americas, Africa and Asia into economic satellites of Europe — producing and consuming raw materials and manufactured goods to fuel imperial economies,spawning 'European' cities thousands of miles away from home. The British, French, Belgian, Dutch and German Empires of the late 19th and early 20th centuries would have been unthinkable without the awesome power of steel. Where to next? Find out more about technology go to the Story of... Writing . The History of Swords - Medieval Swords & Renaissance Swords & Replica Swords | Sword The History of Swords - Medieval Swords & Renaissance Swords & Replica Swords Read a short history about the evolution of swords throughout Western history - Early Period Swords, Medieval Swords, Renaissance Swords and Modern Swords. Copyright: Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC) The History of Swords A " sword " is a general term for an edged weapon longer than a " dagger ". The distinction between a sword and a dagger is usually arbitrary, but it is normally understoodthat the sword stemmed from the dagger after technological advances allowed the blade toextend longer.

The term "sword" encompasses many types of blades such as the sabre,rapier, scimitar and cutlass. The following article is a (very) brief history of swords in theWestern World. Early History The earliest swords are said to be made of stone during the Neolithic period. These primitive weapons gave way to the first flint daggers made of copper. Primitive swordswere first constructed in two parts: the blade and the handle, which were usually heldtogether with rivets.One of the greatest advances in the construction of swords and daggers alike camewhen the length of the blade was extended into the core of the handle (full-tang), therebycreating a sword from one piece of metal. The full-tang construction thus prevented the blade and hilt from separating during battle. As an aside, if you plan on buying a replica sword for a re-enactment or play, make sure that the sword has a "full-tang construction" toavoid embarrassing accidents during a sword fight.During the classical period, swords were usually short, straight and broad – thisstyle of sword is often referred to as the Imperial Gladiator Sword . The sword of choice by Roman warriors, the "gladius", clearly displayed such attributes.

A longer Roman swordalso existed (called the "spatha") but it wasn't as common as the gladius. Other styles of swords outside the Roman Empire were referred to as "ensis".The Franks, who would later rule over modern-day France, preferred longer swordssimilar to the Roman spatha. Unlike the Roman spatha, however, the Frankish sword wasconstructed out of soft-iron which made it unreliable in combat situations.By the end of the 6th century (after the fall of the Roman Empire), Viking raiderswere quickly becoming the trend-setters in the sword department. The sword styles thatViking raiders brought with them were quickly assimilated and refurbished in continentalEurope. In fact, the quintessential " knight sword " style is directly derived from the Viking swords . MIDDLE AGES By the 6th century, European swords had evolved from the broad Roman style tosomething heavier and more lethal. By now, we can distinguish 4 discernible componentsin mainstream European swords:(1) The pommel - usually a round piece of metal placed past the end of the hilt.

The pommel served as a counterpoise to the blade for increased maneuverability.(2) The grip/handle - this is where you would grab the sword from. The trend during the Early Period and into the Middle Ages was to increase the length of the handle to allowa double-handed grip. Later on during the Renaissance and the Modern period, handlelength became increasing unimportant.(3) The crossbar - the crossbar (sometimes referred to as "guard") was added between the handle and the blade for balance as well as for protection to the hand. Later on,as medieval armor and metal gauntlets became increasingly unpopular, the guard becamemore and more elaborate and protective to shield the vulnerable hand.(4) The blade - straight, pointed, and double edged, the blade sometimes featured acentral groove (sometimes called "blood groove") running down the middle for lightnessand strength.Something else the Scandinavian Vikings brought with them was the innovation of carbon steel. Whether by accident or not, Vikings started using carbon steel through atechnique called "strip welding" in their making of swords.

With strip welding, you takeseveral bundles of metal, hammer them together, cut them, bend them, and hammer themagain - thereby carbonizing the blade material and making it many times stronger.All in all, medieval swords were swinging weapons to be used with tremendousforce. The medieval swords used during the Middle Ages were an entirely offensiveweapons, relying on their medieval shields and body armor to protect warriors. This is a significant contrast with the Renaissance rapier that will come some centuries later, withwhich finesse and tactic predominate over brute force. RENAISSANCE SWORDS As civilization started anew, medieval knights were starting to realize that their long, heavyswords were no good for close combat. At the same time, improvements in commerce andtrade also gave rise to high-quality sword craftsmanship. Cities such as Toledo, Spain andSolingen, Germany became famous for their high-caliber swords. Much like Germany nowsells us BMWs and Mercedes', back then Germany exported their swords all over theknown world.During the first half of the 16th century, swords experienced rapid changes acrossEurope. The rapier , a long, narrow blade with an intricate guard design, soon grew in popularity.

It became customary for gentlemen all over Europe to wear a rapier at all times,which inevitably increased the number of duels everywhere. The civilian sword of the 16thcentury, along with a higher incidence of dueling completely revolutionized the art of sword fighting during the Renaissance.In medieval times you could probably survive by swinging and hacking with your huge sword, but if your opponent is a skilled swordsman, swinging your sword could leaveyou open to attack. Therefore, sword fighting evolved from brute force to strategic thrusts, parries and feints. By the 17th century, the civilian rapier had reduced in size even further and was now called the "smallsword". Surprisingly, one of the most prominent purposes of the smallsword was...fashion. Civilians would decorate their smallswords according to their taste, current fads, family tradition, etc...Elsewhere, specialized swords had not disappeared.

The broadsword was stillwidely used in German and Swiss armies, and the famous Scottish claymore was still used About Top 10 Famous & Deadly Swords & Their History - Toptenz.net Toptenz.net Posted by Bryan Johnson on November 1, 2010 in History | 714,997 Views | 80 Responses The first sword appeared during the Bronze Age. It was made of copper and was uncovered at the Harappan sites in present-day Pakistan. By the Middle Ages iron and steel swords were being mass produced and used in battle. Soldiers were trained in swordsmanship and prepared for combat. It was before the era of guns and high powered artillery and face to face fighting was the norm. During this time in history, all of the royal generals, kings, and emperors owned personal swords. These weapons were manufactured by the greatest sword makers of the time. Many historical manuscripts document events surrounding significant swords. This article will be examining ten world famous swords that still survive today. Mythological and legendary swords will not be listed. 10. Tomoyuki Yamashita’s Sword Tomoyuki Yamashita was a general of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.

He became known during the war after conquering the British colonies of Malaya and Singapore, ultimately earning the nickname “The Tiger of Malaya.” After the end of World War II, Yamashita was tried for war crimes relating to the Manila Massacre and many other atrocities in the Philippines and Singapore. It was a controversial trial that ended with a death sentence for Tomoyuki Yamashita. The case changed the United States rules in regards to command responsibility for war crimes, creating a law known as the Yamashita Standard. The Sword During his military career, Tomoyuki Yamashita owned a personal sword that contained a blade manufactured by famous sword maker Fujiwara Kanenaga sometime between 1640 and 1680. The weapon had its handle remade in the early 1900s. The Samurai sword was surrendered by General Yamashita, along with his army, on September 2, 1945. It was taken by General MacArthur and given to the West Point Military Museum where it remains today. The sword is one piece in a great collection of military arms housed at the West Point Museum. 9.

Curved Saber of San Martin José de San Martín was a famous Argentine general that lived from 1778-1850. He was the primary leader of the southern part of South America’s struggle for independence from Spain. San Martín is a South American hero and the 1st Protector of Perú. Under the lead of San Martín, Peruvian independence was officially declared on July 28, 1821. In the state of Argentina, the Order of the Liberator General San Martin is the highest decoration given out. The Sword One of the most cherished possessions of José de San Martín was a curved sword that he purchased in London. San Martín admired the saber’s curved blade and felt that the weapon was maneuverable and ideal for battle. For this reason, he armed his cavalries of granaderos with similar weapons, which he deemed important for charge attacks. The curved sword stayed with San Martín until his death and was then passed down to the General de la Republica Argentina, Don Juan Manuel de Rosas.

In his will San Martín referred to the sword as “The saber that has accompanied me throughout the War of Independence of South America.” In 1896 the weapon was sent to the National Historical Museum in Buenos Aires where it remains today. In the 1960s the sword was stolen on two separate occasions and this caused museum operators to build a screened gazebo to protect the artifact. 8. Seven-Branched Sword The Baekje Dynasty was an ancient kingdom located in southwest Korea. At its peak in the 4th century, Baekje controlled colonies in China and most of the western Korean Peninsula. They were one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla. In 372, King Geunchogo of Baekje paid tribute to Eastern Jin and it is believed that a Seven-Branched Sword was created and given to the king as a sign of praise. The Sword The weapon is a 74.9 cm long iron sword with six branch-like protrusions along the central blade, which is 65.5 cm. The sword was developed for ceremonial purposes and was not built for battle.

In 1870 a Shinto priest named Masatomo Kan discovered two inscriptions on the Seven-Branched Sword. One of them states “At noon on the sixteenth day of the eleventh month, fourth year of Taiwa era, the sword was made of 100 time’s hardened steel . Using the sword repels 100 enemy soldiers. Appropriate for the polite duke king.” The Seven-Branched Sword contains many statements, but the most controversial involves the phrase “enfeoffed lord,” used when describing the King of Wa as a possible subservient to the Baekje ruler. The sword is an important historical link and shows that a relationship did exist between the East Asian countries of this era. The original Seven-Branched Sword is currently housed in the Isonokami Shrine in Nara Prefecture of Japan . It is not on display to the public. 7. Wallace Sword William Wallace was a Scottish knight who lived from 1272-1305. Wallace is known for leading a resistance against England during the Wars of Scottish Independence, which were waged during the late 13th and early 14th centuries.

During his lifetime, William Wallace was appointed the Guardian of Scotland. He led an infantry of soldiers who engaged the enemy in hand to hand combat. The prize possession of many of these soldiers was their sword. In order to survive on the battlefield one had to be a talented swordsman. In 1305, William Wallace was captured by King Edward I of England and was executed for treason. Today William Wallace is remembered in Scotland as a patriot and national hero. His sword is one of the most famous in the world. The Sword The William Wallace sword is located at the National Monument in Stirling, Scotland. The shaft of the sword measures 4 feet by 4 inches in length (132cm) and it weighs 6.0 lb (2.7 kg). The sword is said to be the weapon that Wallace used at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 and the Battle of Falkirk (1298). The pommel on the sword consists of an onion-shaped piece of gilded iron and the grip is wrapped with dark brown leather. The hilt or handle that is currently on the Wallace sword is not the original. It is believed that the sword has been modified on separate occasions.

After the execution of William Wallace, Sir John de Menteith, governor of Dumbarton Castle, received his sword. In 1505, King James IV of Scotland paid the sum of 26 shillings to have the sword binned with cords of silk. It is said that the sword underwent many changes, which might have been necessary because Wallace’s original scabbard, hilt and belt were said to have been made from the dried skin of Hugh Cressingham, who was an English commander. 6. Tizona Sword El Cid is a man that was born circa 1040 in Vivar, which was a small town about six miles north of Burgos, the capital of Castile. The Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval empires of the Iberian Peninsula. During his lifetime El Cid became a successful military leader and diplomat. He was named the chief general of the army of Alfonso VI and became a Spanish hero. El Cid was the king’s most valuable asset in the fight against the Moors. He was a skilled military strategist and strong swordsman.

The Sword El Cid owned and used many different swords in his lifetime, but the two most famous are Colada and Tizona. Tizona is a sword that was used by El Cid to fight against the Moors. The weapon is one of Spain’s most cherished relics and is believed to have been forged in Córdoba, Spain, although considerable amounts of Damascus steel can be found in its blade. Damascus steel was primarily used in the Middle East. Tizona is 103 cm/40.5 inches long and weighs 1.1 kg/2.4 pounds. It contains two separate inscriptions, with one listing a manufactory date of 1002 and the other quoting the Catholic prayer Ave Maria. Tizona is currently on display at the Museo de Burgos in Spain. 5. Napoleon’s Sword In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte became the military and political leader of France after staging a coup d’état. Five years later the French Senate proclaimed him emperor. In the first decade of the 19th century Napoleon and the French Empire were engaged in conflict and war with every major European power.

Ultimately, a series of victories gave the French a dominant position in continental Europe, but as history would later repeat itself, in 1812 the French began their invasion of Russia. The decision to invade Russia marked the turning point in the fortune of Napoleon. In 1814, the Sixth Coalition invaded France and Napoleon was captured and exiled to the island of Elba. He would escape, but ultimately died in confinement on the island of Saint Helena. Historians regard Napoleon as a military genius and a man who made strong contributions to the operational art of war. The Sword On the battlefield Napoleon carried a pistol and a sword. He owned a large collection of arms and artillery. His weapons were one of a kind and included the best materials. In the summer of 2007, a gold-encrusted sword that once belonged to Napoleon was auctioned off in France for more than $6.4 million dollars. The sword was used by Napoleon in battle. In the early 1800s, Napoleon presented the weapon to his brother as a wedding gift. The sword was passed down from generation to generation, never leaving the Bonaparte family.

In 1978, the sword was declared a national treasure in France and the winner of the auction was not identified. 4. Sword of Mercy The Sword of Mercy is a famous weapon that once belonged to Edward the Confessor. Edward the Confessor was one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings of England before the Norman Conquest of 1066. He ruled from 1042 to 1066 and his reign has been characterized by the crumbling disorganization of royal power in England. Shortly after Edward the Confessor’s death, the Normans began to expand into England, led by the infamous William the Conqueror. The Sword The Sword of Mercy has a broken blade, which is cut off short and square. In 1236, the weapon was given the name curtana and has since been used for royal ceremonies. In ancient times it was a privilege to bear this sword before the king. It was considered a merciful gesture. The story surrounding the breaking of the weapon is unknown, but mythological history indicates that the tip was broken off by an angel to prevent a wrongful killing.

The Sword of Mercy is part of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom and is one of only five swords used during the coronation of the British monarch. The weapon is rare and is one of only a small number of swords to survive the reign of Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell is known for ordering the melting down of ancient artifacts for scrap gold and metal. During the British coronation, the Sword of Mercy is wielded as the monarch bestows knighthood upon the recipient of honor. 3. Zulfiqar Scimitar Zulfiqar is the ancient sword of the Islamic leader Ali. Ali was the cousin and son-in-law of the prophet Muhammad. He ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661. By some historical accounts, Muhammad gave Zulfiqar to Ali at the Battle of Uhud. Muhammad admired Ali’s power and strength on the battlefield and wanted to present him with the cherished weapon. The sword is a symbol of the Islamic faith and is admired by millions of people. Zulfiqar is a scimitar, which refers to a West Asian or South Asian sword with a curved blade.

It is said that Ali used the sword at the Battle of the Trench, which is a famous siege attempt on the city of Medina. During the battle, Muhammad, Ali, and other Muslim defenders built trenches to protect Medina against the much larger confederate cavalry. The Sword A few conflicting images of the famous scimitar sword exist. Some of them describe the weapon as having two parallel blades, emphasizing its mystical abilities and speed, while others portray Zulfiqar as a more traditionally-shaped scimitar. Some historical drawings depict the sword with a split, V-shaped blade. According to the Twelver Shia, the weapon survives today and is kept in the possession of Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi. The weapon is part of the famous collection called al-Jafr. Al-Jafr is a mystical Shia holy book. It is composed of two skin boxes that contain the most important artifacts from the time of Muhammad and Ali. The collection has been passed down over the generations, with each new Imam receiving it from his dying predecessor. The contents of Al-Jafr are quite impressive, but they are not made available for public viewing.

One section of the book describes the Islamic rules , directives and matters surrounding wars, including a bag that contains the armor and weapons of Muhammad. Zulfiqar is said to sit among the priceless artifacts. 2. Honjo Masamune Masamune was a Japanese swordsmith that is widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest metallurgists. The exact dates for Masamune’s life are unknown, but it is believed that he worked from 1288–1328. Masamune’s weapons have reached legendary status over the centuries. He created swords known as tachi and daggers called tant?. The swords of Masamune have a strong reputation for superior beauty and quality. He rarely signed his works, so it can be hard to positively identify all his weapons. The Sword The most famous of all Masamune swords is named Honjo Masamune. The Honjo Masamune is so important because it represented the Shogunate during the Edo period of Japan. The sword was passed down from one Shogun to another for generations. In 1939 the weapon was named a national treasure in Japan, but remained in the Kii branch of the Tokugawa family.

The last known owner of Honjo Masamune was Tokugawa Iemasa. Apparently Tokugawa Iemasa gave the weapon and 14 other swords to a police station in Mejiro, Japan, in December of 1945. Shortly thereafter in January 1946, the Mejiro police gave the swords to Sgt. Coldy Bimore (U.S. 7th Cavalry). Since that time, the Honjo Masamune has gone missing and the whereabouts of the sword remains a mystery. Honjo Masamune is one of the most important historical artifacts to disappear at the end of World War II. 1. Joyeuse Charlemagne is a man that was born circa 742. He is one of the greatest rulers in world history and became King of the Franks in 768. In 800 he was named Emperor of the Romans, a position that he held for the remainder of his life. In the Holy Roman Empire he was known as Charles I and was the first Holy Roman Emperor. During Charlemagne’s lifetime he expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire, which covered much of Western and Central Europe.

Charlemagne is regarded as the founding father of both the French and German monarchies, as well as the father of Europe. The Sword Joyeuse is the name of Charlemagne’s personal sword. Today, there are two swords attributed to Joyeuse. One is a saber that is kept in the Weltliche Schatzkammer in Vienna, while the other is housed at the Louvre in France. The blade on display at the Louvre claims to be partially built from Charlemagne’s original sword. The sword is made of parts from different centuries, so it can be hard to positively identify the weapon as Joyeuse. The hilt of the sword indicates a manufactory date around the time of Charlemagne. The heavily sculpted gold pommel is made in two halves and the long gold grip was once decorated with diamonds. Charlemagne’s sword appears in many legends and historical documents. Bulfinch’s Mythology described Charlemagne using Joyeuse to behead the Saracen commander Corsuble as well as to knight his friend Ogier the Dane.

After the death of Charlemagne, the sword was said to have been contrarily held by the Saint Denis Basilica and it was later taken to the Louvre after being carried at a Coronation processional for French kings. Swords are cool, unless you are in a gun fight. If weapons are your thing, then take a look at these unusually large handguns . | Permalink Good Call, Your right that would be a great addition, I had a hard time coming up with famous American swords, but many do exist from the Civil War era. I did a search for the sword and came across The Museum of the Confederacy’s (located in Richmond’s historic Court End neighborhood). The museum has collections totaling more than 15,000 items in a wide variety of categories. Not everything can be displayed at once, but it says that you can call and make an appointment to view any artifact. The Museum’s collection of swords and sabers, numbering more than two hundred pieces, includes examples of U.S., foreign, and Confederate manufactured weapons. Both J.E.B Stuart and John Bell Hood carried French officer’s cavalry sabers, while Gen.

Richard Taylor carried a foot officer’s sword made by Thomas, Griswold & Company of New Orleans. Of the presentation swords in the collection, the most famous belonged to Gen. Robert E. Lee. Worn as part of his full dress uniform for his meeting with Ulysses S. Grant, it is often referred to as the “Appomattox sword.” Given to Lee by an anonymous Marylander in 1863, the sword was made by Devisme in Paris, France, and includes the inscription: Aide toi et dieu l’aidera (“Help yourself and god will help you” or “God helps those who help themselves”). This is the sword that you mentioned and it is one of the most famous in US history. Lee surrendered the sword in April of 1865 after the Battle of Appomattox Court House. Gen. Lewis Armistead’s sword, carried at the battle of Gettysburg, is also part of the museum’s collection. Commanding one of the three brigades in Pickett’s division, Armistead led his troops during “Pickett’s Charge” with his hat raised high on the point of this sword.

Armistead was mortally wounded in the charge and died two days later. The veterans of the unit that defended Cemetery Ridge against the charge returned the sword to the Pickett Division Association during a reunion at Gettysburg in 1906, and it was donated to the museum that same year. | Permalink Dear Bryan, first of all: we have got a problem. You say you don’t speak Spanish, and I must say I don’t speak nor write English. Nevertheless, I do think we will be able to understand eachother in our own languages, each of us. Toledo as to its above all historical importance as well as a touristic destination, is a Spanish city about 90 km south of Madrid. It was Spain’s imperial capital where in its time Christian, Jew and Moslem cultures lived together without any serious problems, something that nowadays seems a fairy tale. The city is part of the World’s Mankind Heritage. The Alcázar de Toledo, in our days home to the Army Museum, has its origin in a fortress built by the Romans, having been modified and modernised by following invasions as the Visigoths and Arabs.

King Alfonso VI, having conquered the city, made it his residence and so did Carlos I, and Felipe II after the rebuilding works of 1535. It was destroyed during the Succession War, around 1770. In 1771, Carlos III gave it over to the cardinal Lorenzana to have it transformed into a charity house. However, the building suffered a new desaster by Napoleon’s troops who set it on fire in 1810. Consequently, the fortress was completely rebuilt in 1882 which is when it became the Military Academy’s headquarters. But once again it suffered a stroke of misfortune because another fire destroyed the building seven years later. And once again it was rebuilt, with the same anterior function, till the siege during the Civil War. After new rebuilding works during the 1950ies and preserving the ancient structure of the building, it became the Siege Museum and now, too, holds part of the Army Museum starring among its collection arms from the famous Toledo arms factory, such as the historical swords Tizona (XI century), Boabdil’s sword (XV century), and Mebemet Al’s Alfanje (XV century).

As to Boabdil’s magnificent sword I can tell you that it’s made of steel, gilded silver, enamel and ivory (97 cm). The scabbard is made of wood, leather, gilded silver, enamel and silver threads (77 cm). The “tahalí” is made of silk and silver. Let me know how I can manage to send photos. I’ll now continue in Spanish: “En la batalla de Lucena 888/1483, Muhammad XII, Boabdil, fue apresado por las tropas de Diego Fernández de Córdoba, a quien los Reyes Católicos cedieron las armas e indumentaria atribuidas al prisionero. Éstas fueron conservadas por sus descendientes, hasta que la Marquesa Viuda de Viana dividió el legado en su testamento en 1901. Una parte ingresó en el Museo de Artillería en 1906 y el resto quedó en posesión de su hijo, quien lo presentó al Rey Alfonso XIII e ingresó en la Real Armería en 1927.

La guarnición de esta espada, relacionada con Boabdil, consta de un pomo esférico coronado por un prominente botón cónico y empuñadura tripartita con dos virolas flanqueando una pieza de marfil tallada. El arriaz curvo se caracteriza por un perfil superior ondulado, con ausencia de cabezas de animales en su curvatura máxima y decoración calada al exterior de sus brazos, no en el interior. Estos rasgos diferencian un tercer grupo de jinetas que incluye las de la colección Campotejar, del Museo Arqueológico Nacional y de la Real Armería de Madrid. La hoja es posterior. La vaina está formada por dos piezas de madera forradas de cuero, brocal, contera y dos abrazaderas con festones trilobulados. Dos cabos fijados en las argollas de las abrazaderas conservan parte de un tahalí de seda.

Su decoración se enriquece mediante hilos de plata dorada bordados, paneles con palmetas en el reverso de los cabos y por las bandas laterales del tahalí, limitadas en color verde albergando almenas negras escalonadas sobre fondo rojo. La decoración del conjunto responde a un patrón geométrico que concibe la empuñadura y la vaina como un mismo plano, donde combina estrellas de ocho puntas y crucetas enmarcadas por bandas de filigrana. Las virolas, los brazos del arriaz, las estrellas y las crucetas están esmaltadas en blanco y rojo como colores centrales, mientras que el negro y el verde actúan como fondos. Dicha gama proporciona una riqueza cromática en la que destaca la utilización del verde, color de mayor presencia en las piezas del grupo.

También son rasgos distintivos la ausencia de emblemas y la presencia de inscripciones en alabanza a la divinidad, realzadas en esta espada por el predominio de las estrellas como símbolo de la realidad divina.”. | Permalink Hello, Bob: I was born in Granada and am living in Madrid. My wife is German. So you see all you mention is very close to me. As to the Toledo swords, they have always been very famous throughout History due to their steel’s quality. They say that it’s due to having been tempered in the river Tajo’s waters which circumflows Toldedo. Nobody who comes to Spain can “conquer” any of the cities you mention in just one day. But for whoever comes to visit us I would recommend Granada with her Alhambra, her cathedral and many other monuments, as well as Córdoba with its ancient Mosque, Sevilla with its cathedral (all of these in Andalusia), then the ancient town center of Cáceres in Extremadura and the Roman city of Mérida.

Furthermore, the equally Roman city of Segovia with its grand aqueduct and Gothic cathedral and – above all- the Alcázar with its historical arms collection. Besides, there are the city of Ávila with its famous ancient walls, as well as one of the oldest European universities in the city of Salamanca, Burgos with its famous cathedral and some other Castilian spots. And if the visitor wishes for landscpes and natural sceneries, there are the regions of Asturias (capital Oviedo), Cantabria (capital Santander) and Vizcaya (Capital Bilbao) and Guipúzcoa (capital San Sebastián), apart from the Pyreneesto fall in love with. Galicia (North of Portugal) with its landscapes and delicious cuisine and sea food would not disappoint anybody either. Madrid and Barcelona, of course, are two more destinations very worth a visit. And in all these cities the enthusiast of ancient swords will find fascinating ancient armory. From the Phoenician to the Carthage and Roman ones to, of course, the Arab and Castilian ones. Spain, as all this world’s nations, cannot be conquered in one day.

| Permalink Bryan, what a great article. Often great respect is paid for the swords of great men. For example, many think of the fictional sword Excalibur of King Arthur. I might mention that the reason for Charlemagne being viewed as the father of Europe is that he’s better known as the Frankish king who saved Europe from total Muslim domination. El Cid of course did the same for northern Spain. Those efforts continued for several centuries and were known as the Crusades. Unfortunately, many of the Crusades were poorly led and became little more than pillaging raids. But they were meant to free European lands, including what we now call Turkey and Palestine, from Islamic domination. By the way, the last of the Roman Empire, called the Byzantine Empire, fell around 1450 when Roman forces from Constantinople lost a battle at a small unknown village of Kosovo, not far from another obscure town named Sarajevo. It was that loss and the later reconquest of southern ports in Spain that allowed Columbus to sail for a new route to India and China and thus discover for Europe, again, the New World.

Also, the last of European lands were not liberated from Islamic rule until 1924 with the fall of the Ottoman Empire Caliphate. The sword awarded by Congress to Commodore Stephen Decatur if it still exists would be a great addition to the comments on the line of swords that participated in keeping the West free from total Muslim domination or Dhimmitude. Remember, our first war after the Revolutionary War was against Islamic forces which we have euphemistically called the Barbary Pirates. The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand was meant to start a regional war to free the Balkans from Islamic domination and WW2 was an extension of WW1. WW3 might well be caused by a Muslim power with a nuclear weapon. | Permalink My apologies for not being clearer. I was trying to explain why certain other swords might deserve an honorable mention and to explain the greater importance of Charlemagne and the importance to this day of his actions. I wasn’t claiming Muslims caused WW2 but WW2 was an extension of WW1 caused by the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. The reason for the assassination was to start a war between Austro-Hungary and Russia so as to expel Islamic Caliphate from the Balkans.

Due to interlocking treaties, events spiraled out of control. It would be more accurate to say the unfair Treaty of Versailles was the proximate cause of WW2. To understand modern Europe and even America we have to understand the history of the breakup of the Roman Empire and the Islamic invasion of Europe and the resulting turmoil. Also we can’t ignore Hitler. A WW3 needn’t be nuclear but there’s no doubt some islamic countries desire to get nuclear weapons in order to attack Israel and Western interests. It’s not animosity or bigotry to say that from its beginning the US has had numerous conflicts with Islam or that much of Europe from Spain to the Caucus Mountains in Russia, northern italy to the Baltic States, N. Africa to Turkey to Palestine and to western India and China were invaded and conquered by Muslim armies. It’s simply a matter of history. If one understands the Islamic doctrines of Dar al-Harb, Bar al-Islam, and Dhimmitude one realizes modern times haven’t changed that much other than the degree of technology we have. However, WW3 could as easily start from missteps between the US and China or N. Korea throwing a nuke at S. Korea or japan.

So I’d say that we should still be concerned about the possibility of a major war in the future and it need not start in the Mideast. Too bad we couldn’t have the leaders of countries wanting to fight put in an arena for an old fashioned sword fight with the survivor winning for his country. And of course the swords would go to museums. But you’re correct we shouldn’t hold to animosity. The whole concept of democracies is meant to encourage peace and trade between nations, even formerly bitter enemies, while preventing aggression. Thus we admire swords but hope we don’t have to use them in anger. History of Swords from Toledo * Ap. Correos 424 * 45080 Toledo (SPAIN) For centuries, when the issue of a fight depended not only on the personal ability of the fighter, but also on another decisive factor - the perfection of his weapon - with Toledos exceptional steel were forged the most terrible arms in the world. Their extraordinary hardness made of each of these swords an invincible force in the hands of an expert swordsman. All European armies knew the superior quality of Toledos steel and many great warriors relied only on sabers of Toledan provenance.

Their origin comes from the most ancient Spanish customs. More than 2,000 years ago, in the 5th century B.C. , Iberian blacksmiths already forged swords known as falcata which had an iron blade inside and a special design made to increase the bluntness of the slash. Due to their fame, these swords were choosen by Hannibal for his army and the Roman legions, defeated by those weapons, adopted them later and supplied their centurions with the dread Toledan blades. The times of Excalibur kind of sword passed by. The Middle Ages blacksmiths exalted the office, as they relied more and more on technological progress and not only on the good quality of their steel. The Muslim armies feared the sword that had defeated them. They didn't revere only the hand of a Master - the Cid Campeador - but also the excellence of his weapon, a Toledan sword, of course! The Muslims adopted such a technics to produce their slender two-edged scimitars, transmitting their secret from one generation to the other.

Then, the Toledan manufacturers would yield the famous rapiers so well popularized through d'Artagnan and his fellow Musketeers. Also todays Toledo is a quiet city with about 50,000 inhabitants, it has been for a time the capital city of the widest empire in the world, an empire where sun never set . Kings from all parts of the world have had swords and sabers forged in Toledo. Even Japanese Samurai were aware of the existence of Toledos steel as it had been introduced by the Spanish merchants that followed the steps of the Spanish and Portuguese Jesuits. As Japan lived in a state of continuous civil war, it is not surprising that some of their Daimyos even came to Toledo to have their katana and wakizashi forged there. They knew how important was a perfect design and finish for the effectiveness of a sword. One example of what was once the most noble art in the world is no doubt the gold inlaid hunting dagger of King Charles the Fourth, with the mark and the name of the smith who did it engraved on it. Toledan craftsmen can be rightfully proud of such a fine blade and splendid finish.

This art is actually disappearing because swords have been replaced by another type of weapon, like pistols, guns, rifles. The internal structure of the blade and the mystery of its fabrication were a secret well kept by the manufacturers. It hasn't been unraveled until the 20th century! To make such an exceptional weapon, they had to forge at the same time and at a very hot temperature hard steel with high contents of carbon and soft steel. This way, they could obtain excellent mechanical properties as well as a better fastness to wear. An appropriate selection of raw materials, their adequate proportion in the blade and the forging of both types of steel at a temperature of 1454 º F during the exact interval of time required, give the most perfect sword ever built in the world. In old ages, the blacksmiths used to recite psalms and prayers keeping always the same rhythm, in order to calculate the time that the blade would remain inside the furnace. This timing had to be respected to avoid any deviance: a longer time would melt the steel too much and on the contrary, a shorter one wouldn't let the metal reach its melting-point. Forging requires forcefulness and efficiency in a very short time.

Then comes the following step: cooling with water or - sometimes - with oil, to get a clear and clean welded seam. In some cases, the blacksmith had to blow even 20,000 times in order to get a perfect tempering, but such a level of perfection wouldn't allow him to make more than 2 or 3 blades in a year! In other parts of the world, craftsmen have tried to imitate the perfection of Toledos steel, but they all failed. Damascus steel was too hard, not at all flexible, because it contained only iron and carbon and wasn't refined of all the mineral impure elements. Swedish steel was based on a soft steel, carbureted in a furnace, surrounded by animal horns and hair, leaves, etc. and heated at a temperature of about 1650º F. Swords were also manufactured in Solingen (Germany). There, they twisted together wires of different thickness and carbon contents in order to get a threadlike structure that combined hard and soft steel. the swords of Nimes (France) were also recognized for their good quality. But everywhere there were forgeries as the fame of Toledan swords was unique in the world.

If you could convince the buyer that the sword you were trying to sell him was an authentic Toledan sword that came all the way from the world capital of steel forging, you had done a really good deal. But of course, you had better disappeared before he tried it! At use, nothing could equal Toledan steel. History of Swords from Toledo * Ap. Correos 424 * 45080 Toledo (SPAIN) For centuries, when the issue of a fight depended not only on the personal hability of the fighter, but also on another decisive factor - the perfection of his weapon -, with Toledo’s exceptional steel were forged the most terrible arms in the world. Their extraordinary hardness made of each of these swords an invencible force in the hands of an expert swordsman. All European armies knew the superior quality of Toledo’s steel and many great warriors relied only on sabers of Toledan provenance. Their origin comes from the most ancient Spanish customs. More than 2,000 years ago, in the 5th century B.C.

, Iberian blacksmithes already forged swords known as falcata which had an iron blade inside and a special design made to increase the bluntness of the slash. Due to their fame, these swords were choosen by Hannibal for his army and the Roman legions, defeated by those weapons, adopted them later and supplied their centurions with the dread Toledan blades. The times of Excalibur kind of sword passed by. The Middle Ages blacksmithes exalted the office, as they relied more and more on technological progress and not only on the good quality of their steel. The Muslim armies feared the sword that had defeated them. They didn’t revere only the hand of a Master - the Cid Campeador - but also the excellence of his weapon, a Toledan sword, of course! The Muslims adopted such a technics to produce their slender two-edged scimitars, transmitting their secret from one generation to the other. Then, the Toledan manufacturers would yield the famous rapiers so well popularized thru d’Artagnan and his fellow Musketeers.

Also today’s Toledo is a quiet city with about 50,000 inhabitants, it has been for a time the capital city of the widest empire in the world, an empire “where sun never set”. Kings from all parts of the world have had swords and sabers forged in Toledo. Even Japanese Samurai were aware of the existence of Toledo’s steel as it had been introduced by the Spanish merchants that followed the steps of the Spanish and Portuguese Jesuites. As Japan lived in a state of continuous civil war, it is not surprising that some of their Daimyos even came to Toledo to have their katana and wakizashi forged there. Thay knew how important was a perfect design and finish for the effectiveness of a sword. One exemple of what was once the most noble art in the world is no dubt the gold inlaid hunting dagger of King Charles the Fourth, with the mark and the name of the smith who did it engraven on it. Toledan craftsmen can be rightfully proud of such a fine blade and splendid finish. This art is actually disappearing because swords have been replaced by another type of weapon, like pistols, guns, rifles.

The internal structure of the blade and the mystery of its fabrication were a secret well kept by the manufacturers. It hasn’t been unraveled until the 20th century! To make such an exceptional weapon, they had to forge at the same time and at a very hot temperature hard steel with high contents of carbon and soft steel. This way, they could obtain excellent mechanical properties as well as a better fastness to wear. An appropriate selection of raw materials, their adequate proportion in the blade and the forging of both types of steel at a temperature of 1454 ï¿½ F during the exact interval of time required, give the most perfect sword ever built in the world. In old ages, the blacksmithes used to recite psalms and prayers keeping always the same rythm, in order to calculate the time that the blade would remain inside the furnace. This timing had to be respected to avoid any deviance: a longer time would melt the steel too much and on the contrary, a shorter one wouldn’t let the metal reach its melting-point. Forging requires forcefulness and efficiency in a very short time.

Then comes the following step: cooling with water or - sometimes - with oil, to get a clear and clean welded seam. In some cases, the blacksmith had to blow even 20,000 times in order to get a perfect tempering, but such a level of perfection wouldn’t allow him to make more than 2 or 3 blades in a year! In other parts of the world, craftsmen have tried to imitate the perfection of Toledo’s steel, but they all failed. Damascus’s steel was too hard, not at all flexible, because it contained only iron and carbon and wasn’t refined of all the mineral impure elements. Swedish steel was based on a soft steel, carbured in a furnace, surrounded by animal horns and hair, leaves, etc. and heated at a temperature of about 1650ï¿½ F. Swords were also manufactured in Solingen (Germany). There, they twisted together wires of different thickness and carbon contents in order to get a threadlike structure that combined hard and soft steel. the swords of Nimes (France) were also recognized for their good quality. But everywhere there were forgeries as the fame of Toledan swords was unique in the world.

If you could convince the buyer that the sword you were trying to sell him was an authentic Toledan sword that came all the way from the world capital of steel forging, you’d done a really good deal. But of course, you’d better disappeared before he tried it! At use, nothing could equal Toledan steel.

Question: What Spanish city became famous in the middle ages for swords and fine steel?
Answer: Toledo