10 Legendary Swords That Forged (and Broke) Empires
Swords are objects with a great deal of mystique surrounding them. They are commonly seen as symbols of authority, valor, justice, and other warrior virtues, and swords play a prominent role in many of our collective legends and myths. But a sword doesnt have to be Excalibur or Gramr to have a story worth telling.Here are ten legendary swords that really exist, some of which were ultimately responsible for the birth or death of empires. Whether they were used as weapons of war or as symbols of authority, these swords can be said to have contributed to major changes in the geopolitical landscape in one fashion or another.1. The Sword of GoujianThe sword of Goujian. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe Sword of Goujian, dating back to Chinas Spring and Autumn Period, was originally a gift to the King of Yue, who was named Goujian. During that period, there was constant conflict between the various Chinese states.Yue and Wu were allies through marriage, but the Yue wife fled her husband in Wu, starting a war that lasted eight years and ultimately led to the collapse of the Zhou Dynasty of China, and Yues victory over Wu. King Goujian was said to have used the sword pictured above to exact revenge upon the Wu kingdom after they captured and enslaved him for several years. The Sword of Goujian is perhaps the most well-preserved bronze age sword created, with a still-keen edge after 2,500 years.2. The Sword of MarsModel of Attila, the Attila Museum, Hungary. Source: Wikimedia CommonsNot all swords were used as actual weapons in fighting. Some were treated more like propaganda aids, such as the so-called Sword of Mars said to be held by the Hun leader Attila. The common story goes that Attila had been told that there was a prophecy of his finding the Sword of Mars, which would supposedly give him a representation of a divinely granted right to rule. It must be remembered that most people in ancient times were far more superstitious than today.A shepherd tending their flock noticed a sheep that had been wounded, followed the blood trail, found a sword in the grass, and took it to Attila as a gift. Attila seized upon the opportunity and bore the sword as a symbol of his divine authority. From 434 to 453, he presided over an empire that stretched across Eastern Europe, but it fractured upon his death.3. JoyeuseJoyeuse at the Louvre. Source: Wikimedia CommonsCharlemagne was the leader of the Franks and the Lombards in the 8th century. Hes considered to be one of the most famous, if not the most famous, medieval rulers, who established what we know as the Holy Roman Empire, starting with France. His weapon was a sword called Joyeuse, which literally means joyous. The sword was said to have magical properties such as glowing brightly enough to blind enemies, as well as protecting the wielder from poison. It was a practical weapon, and it was also Charlemagnes badge of office, and was later used for coronations of French kings for the next thousand years.The sword Joyeuse has ornamental decoration, such as a gilded hilt and pommel that were perhaps later added to the sword to preserve it; the blade is dated to the time that Charlemagne reigned. Currently, the sword is in the Louvre.4. LeggbitrPetersen Type X Viking sword, 10th century. Source: Wikimedia CommonsCommon wisdom holds that the age of the Vikings ended with the death of Harold Hardrada at the 1066 Battle of Stamford Bridge, but this was only the end of Norse domination of England. From 1093 to 1103, there was a Norse king called Magnus Barefoot, so named likely because of his penchant for going into battle with no armor on his legs, preferring instead to dress in Gaelic or Scottish clothing. Magnus Barefoot was considered to be perhaps the last gasp of the old warrior tradition of the Vikings before Scandinavia transitioned to the High Medieval Period, and much of his reign is written about in the Heimskringla Icelandic sagas. During his short reign, he expanded the territory of Norway further into the British Isles, specifically the Isle of Man, Orkney, some of Wales, and the Hebrides.His sword, called Leggbitr, was so named because of Magnuss fierce fighting ability and penchant for hewing the legs and feet of his enemies. It was likely of a similar design to other Viking age swords, specifically the Oakeshott Type X.5. TizonaTirzona, Sword of El Cid. Source: Wikimedia CommonsTizona is one of the swords (the other being Colada) of the Spanish knight Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, who you might know better as El Campeador or El Cid. During the latter part of the 11th century, when Diaz was active, the southern portion of the Iberian Peninsula was under Muslim rule, and the region was called al-Andalus.Diaz was, at first, a knight in service to King Sancho II, and later exiled by his successor, Alfonso VI, because Diaz had previously worked against him. After serving as a mercenary captain amongst the taifa of Al-Andalus and later recalled to service under Alfonso, Diaz took over the city of Valencia. His sword, Tizona (Firebrand), was said to have a magical power to frighten foes, but it is more likely that Rodrigo Diaz was an expert at unconventional and psychological warfare, as well as being an exceptionally skilled swordsman.6. The Wallace SwordStained glass Wallace Monument at Stirling. Source: Wikimedia CommonsIf youve seen Braveheart, you already know what the Wallace Sword is, even though it isnt explicitly named. There was a William Wallace, and he did use a massive claymore in combat against the English at the Battle of Stirling and Falkirk, but thats about as far as the movie gets things right.John Balliol, the appointed king of Scotland after Alexander IIIs death, made an alliance with France. Edward I, the king of England, invaded Scotland in retaliation and directly annexed it. William Wallace, who was a noble, not a peasant, inspired Scots to rebel against the English with his victory through using Stirling Bridge as a strategic chokepoint and his fearsome use of the iconic claymore. Since then, the Wallace Sword has been reconstructed piece by piece to preserve it.After Wallace fought at Stirling and later Falkirk, he went to Europe to seek allies against the English. When he returned to Scotland, he was captured and executed, but his legacy helped to undermine English control of Scotland.7. The Sword of OsmanTomb of Osman I. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe Sword of Osman, crafted for Osman I, the 1299-1324 ruler of Anatolia and founder of the Ottoman Empire, was not created as a weapon; instead, the sword was a powerful symbol. Within two weeks of assuming the mantle, a new sultan would be girt with this sword, intended as a reminder that the sultan should first and foremost be a strong and valiant warrior.Indeed, it was through Osmans military conquests, specifically over the Seljuk sultanate and the fading vestiges of the Byzantine Empire at Nicea. The bulk of Osmans forces came from his consolidation of the splintered kingdoms that had been attacked by Hulegu Khan. The Sword of Osman currently resides in the Imperial Treasury in Topkapi Palace.8. Janggeom of Yi Sun-sinBust of Yi Sun-sin. Source: Korea Open ArchivesAdmiral Yi Sun-sin had an illustrious career in the Joseon-period Korean navy, and is considered a national hero because of his astute command and victory against the invading Japanese naval forces during the 1592-1598 Imjin War. Although more known for his strategic planning and some inventions (notably the geobukseon, or turtle ship), he was also an adept close combatant. Admiral Yis fighting acumen caused a devastating defeat for the Japanese forces, paving the way for Tokugawa Ieyasu to eventually make his bid for the shogunate.Admiral Yi studied the warrior arts from a young age, particularly swordsmanship. He had two janggeom swords commissioned for his use. These swords were crafted with a mix of Japanese and Ming design elements and forging techniques. Both swords are full-length weapons, so it is unlikely that Admiral Yi would have used both at once. Instead, he commissioned them and had each engraved with a short poem swearing his dedication. Currently, the swords reside at Hyeongchungsa Shrine.9. Honjo MasamuneThirty-Six Poems, Image of swordsmith Masamune, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 1856. Source: Ukiyo-e.orgIf theres one name you can associate with Japanese swordsmithing, it is Masamune. There was a swordsmith who lived in the late 13th century named Goro Nyudo Masamune, who is famous for having perfected the art of blending hard martensite steel into softer pearlite, creating artistically striking and structurally sound designs for swords. In fact, his swords were crafted using the soshu-kitae method that involved seven separate layers of steel, considered the most complex ever forged.The most well-known Masamune sword is the Honjo Masamune, which was gifted to the Tokugawa shogunate and passed down. The Tokugawa shogunate lasted almost 250 years, by far the longest and most stable shogunate until the end of samurai rule. After World War II, the Honjo Masamune was lost, having been turned in to a police station to comply with the requirement that all weapons be confiscated.10. The Sword of Jos de San MartnThe sword of Jos de San Martn. Source: Wikimedia CommonsJos de San Martns sword is considered a national artifact of Argentina; it is a curved saber that was used as a cavalry weapon. San Martn was an Argentine-born military leader who helped to end the Spanish colonization of both Argentina and Peru.He was active as a general from 1812 through 1818, and is noted for his skill with cavalry tactics and for his ability to maneuver an army through the harsh terrain of the Andes Mountains to fall upon the Spanish and defeat them just outside Santiago.
English
Arabic
Spanish
Portuguese
Deutsch
Turkish
Dutch
Italiano
Russian
Romaian
Portuguese (Brazil)
Greek