%0 Journal Article
%T Szczerbiec (the jagged sword) 每 the coronation sword of the kings of Poland
%A Biborski
%A Marcin
%A Stˋpi里ski
%A Janusz
%A ˋabi里ski
%A Grzegorz
%J Gladius
%D 2011
%I Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cient赤ficas
%R 10.3989/gladius.2011.0006
%X The paper presents the results of newest research on the Szczerbiec 每 the Polish coronation sword. Technological examinations revealed that the blade was manufactured of bloomery steel, with C contents of c. 0.3-0.6 %. The blade was thermally treated (quenched and tempered) in its part below the hilt. The X-ray revealed no pattern welding or composite structures. All this testifies to the authenticity of the sword as a genuine medieval weapon and not (as sometimes suggested in scholarship) a 19th c. replica. The pommel and the crosspiece were made of silver and then coveted with nielloed gold plates. A combination of typological, stylistic and epigraphic data suggests a date of c. 1250 for the sword. As suggested by the lavishness of ornament and inscriptions of the all-metal hilt, as well as by the rectangular cross-section of the grip, the Szczerbiec may have been influenced by swords of the Mediterranean (especially Iberian) cultural sphere. The swords of Sancho IV of Castille and L谷on, of Santa Casilda, of Friedrich II von Hohenstaufen, of the Comt谷s de Dreux and a sword from the Museo Arqueol車gico Nacional in Madrid seem to be especially relevant analogies. Of particular significance is a Hebrew or Hebrew-Latin inscription on the crosspiece, which fits into a tradition of Hebrew-inspired voces magicae. The first owner of the sword was in all probability Boles?aw Pobo?ny (the Pious), Duke of Great Poland (died 1279). For Duke Boles?aw the sword was his gladius iustitiae and a protective talisman. The weapon was then inherited (probably through marriage to his daughter Jadwiga c. 1293) by Duke Boles aw Pobo ny (the Short or the Ell-high) (the future King of Poland). It was in all probability Duke Vladislao  okietek who first used the sword as a coronation insignia. Este trabajo presenta los 迆ltimos resultados de la investigaci車n sobre la Szczerbiec 每 la espada de coronaci車n polaca. El examen tecnol車gico revela que la espada se fabric車 a partir de hierro forjado acerado con un contenido de carbono del 0.3-0.6%. La espada recibi車 tratamiento t谷rmico (templado y revenido) en la hoja por debajo del pu o. El examen radiogr芍fico no revela pattern welding o una estructura compuesta. Todo ello demuestra la autenticidad de la espada como una genuina arma medieval y no como una r谷plica del s. XIX (seg迆n se ha propuesto en ocasiones). El pomo y la guarda son de plata cubierta con placas de oro nielado. La combinaci車n de an芍lisis tipol車gico, estil赤stico y epigr芍fico sugiere una fecha de c. 1250 d.C. para la espada. La rica decoraci車n y las inscripciones del pu o
%K 13th century
%K Poland
%K Duke Boles aw the Pious
%K King W adys aw the Short
%K Sword
%K Coronation insignia
%K Archaeometallurgy
%K Epigraphy
%K Inscriptions
%K Ornaments
%K Song of Roland
%K Durendal
%K Talisman
%K Names of God
%K Hebrew
%K Latin
%K Voces magic
%K Siglo XIII
%K Polonia
%K Duque Boleslaw el Piadoso
%K Rey Vladislao
%K Espada
%K Insignia de coronaci車n
%K Arqueometalurgia
%K Epigraf赤a
%K Ornamentos
%K Cantar de Roland
%K Durendal
%K Talism芍n
%K Nombres de Dios
%K Lat赤n
%K Hebreo
%K Voces magicae
%U http://gladius.revistas.csic.es/index.php/gladius/article/view/239/245