Schiavona

The Schiavona was a Renaissance sword that became popular in Italy during the 16th and 17th centuries. Stemming from the 16th-century sword of the Venetian "Doge guard", the name came from the fact that the guard consisted largely of Istrian and Dalmatian Slavs - Slovenians and Croats (Schiavoni).

Type

Classified as a true broadsword, this war sword had a wider blade than its contemporary civilian rapiers. It was basket hilted (often with an imbedded quillon for an upper guard) and its blade was double edged. A surviving blade measures 93.2 cm × 3.4 cm × 0.45 cm and bears two fullers or grooves running about 1/4 the length of the blade. Weighing in at around 1.1 kg, this blade was useful for both cut and thrust. The name "Schiavona" means "big slave", or "enslaver", which is what gives the sword this name. [* [http://www.myarmoury.com/feature_spot_schia.html Spotlight: The Schiavona and its Influences] (myArmoury.com article)] The schiavona became popular among the armies of those who traded with Italy during the 17th century and was the weapon of choice for many heavy cavalry.

Mortuary Sword

A similar weapon was the cut-and-thrust mortuary sword which was used after 1625 by cavalry during the English Civil War. This (usually) two-edged sword sported a half-basket hilt with a straight blade some 90-105 cm long. These hilts were often of very intricate sculpting and design. In the 19th century it was conjectured that the ornate markings were meant to commemorate King Charles I, the executed English king. However this style of hilt predates the execution of Charles (1649). [http://www.myarmoury.com/review_ac_mort.html]

Another possible origin of the name comes from the half-basket guard itself, which often bears a passing resemblance to a human rib cage.

This sword was Oliver Cromwell's weapon of choice; the one he owned is now preserved in the Royal Armories Museum in London. Mortuary swords remained in use until around 1670 when they fell out of favor and were replaced with the smallsword. [http://www.myarmoury.com/review_ac_mort.html] However it would inspire the later cavalry sabre adopted during the 18th century and used to deadly effect during the Napoleonic Wars. [Image [http://www.sword.cz/schiavona1.jpg]

References