Swedish Officer’s Broadsword, ca. 1630, Thirty Years War

Description

What ostensibly began as a religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Bohemia in 1618, expanded and turned into the Renaissance equivalent of a world war. It ravaged Central Europe, primarily Germany, and resulted in the deaths of between 4.5 and 8 million soldiers and civilians from battle, disease, and famine. It was a particularly brutal conflict, with victorious troops often committing widespread acts of extreme cruelty on civilians. The largest example being the siege and sack of the Protestant City of Magdeburg in 1631, resulting in the death of around 20,000 of its defenders and civilians- around 80% of its inhabitants. In 1630, Swedish troops led by King Gustavus Adolphus entered the conflict . They inflicted a massive defeat on the Imperial forces at Breitenfeld, avenging the sack of Magdeburg just months before. While the Imperial forces under Count Tilly allowed wanton pillaging and plunder of the towns, largely because he lacked the funds to pay them, Adolphus prohibited his men from the plunder or destruction of the towns or private property. Adolphus defeated Imperial forces under Wallenstein at the Battle of Lutzen in November, 1632, who took over command after Tilly died of wounds suffered at the Battle of Rain. Always one to lead from the front, Adolphus found himself isolated behind enemy lines and was killed. To this day, Gustavus Adolphus is considered one of Sweden’s greatest heroes.

This sword is distinctively Swedish in its hilt design. It features vertically recurved quillons and a large heart-shaped side ring with inserted plate pierced with round holes, from which extends a flat bar screwed to the heart-shaped pommel with button; brazed thumb ring on reverse. The grip is wrapped with alternating fine and coarse twisted copper wire and finished with Turks heads top and bottom. The hilt is engraved on the obverse with foliage and faces, with a spread-winged angel on the pommel. Tapering 33 1/2” (85 cm) blade of flattened diamond section, engraved with mottoes, foliage, a falchion, and an exotic bird on its upper third on the obverse side. Blade with numerous shallow edge nicks, the engravings showing wear. Hilt very good with minor wear to the engravings A well-balanced sword which would have been carried by a Swedish officer during the Thirty Years War. Overall length 39 3/4” (101 cm).