“From Every Side Armed with a Cross Sign”. A Crusader’s (?) Sword from the Collection of the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest
“From Every Side Armed with a Cross Sign”. A Crusader’s (?) Sword from the Collection of the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest

Summary/Abstract: Despite strictly military character of Crusades, surprisingly there are only few swords and its parts which can be connected with this campaigns and its ideology. It is worth mention of a swords found in the Palestine: sword pommel of Pierre de Dreux, Duke of Brittany and two swords found in the waters of Atlit Castle and another at Dor castle as well as connected with Prussian Crusades: Ottokar’s II of Bohemia sword from Santok and swords found in River Tina and Pregoła. Another sword which can be connected with crusades or crusades ideology comes from the collection of Hungarian National Museum in Budapest. According to E. Oakeshott’s classification it represents type XVIa, K, 1. The sword can be dated to the 14th cent. The special issue about it is that it’s the only sword that bears a Jerusalem Cross sign on its blade. This symbol, which has clear crusading indications, was extremely popular among medieval knighthood. Trying to explain the Budapest’ sword riddle we should pay attention to historical events which its production can be connected with: the European journey of king of Cyprus Peter I de Lusignan, Templars, Teutonic Knights and Hospitallers houses in medieval Hungary, crusades organised against the Turks in the Balkans by Louis of Hungary and his claims for the crown of Kingdom of Naples and Jerusalem.

• Details
• Contents