10 Famous Swords that Changed History

10. Honjo Masamune - Considered one of Japan’s greatest swordsmith’s, Goro Nyudo Masamune made a number of incredible blades, though the most famous one he ever forged was likely the Honjo Masamune This was the sword that during the Edo period in Japan, represented the Shogunate, the military dictators who ruled the country.

9. Curved Saber of San Martin - During South America’s fight for independence against Spain, many military leaders rose to fame. One of those leaders was San Martin, an Argentine general who was known as the first protector of Peru after he helped them gain independence on July 28th, 1821. Before arriving in South America, San Martin visited London where he bought a curved sword that he would come to rely on and appreciate so much that he armed his cavalries with similar blades.

8. Zulfiqar - Both cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad the prophet of Islam, Ali ibn Abi Talib was better known simply as Ali. He was the leader of the Islamic Caliphate in the Middle East between 656 and 661 AD. An admirer of Ali’s abilities in battle, Muhammad gave him a great sword, a scimitar called the Zulfiqar. Now there are conflicting stories about exactly how the sword looked, though the most popular seems to be that it was a curved weapon with a split roughly half way up that made it seem like a double-bladed scimitar.

7. Seven-Branched-Sword - Given as a gift in 372 AD to a Yamato ruler in Japan by King Geunchogo of the Baekje Dynasty in modern day Korea. The Seven-Branched Sword was likely not a combat-ready weapon, but one of ceremony and display. The famous sword is made of pure iron and is 74.9 centimeters long with six smaller extensions which curve out from the main blade, curling upwards in the same direction.

6. The Sword of Goujian - Found in a tomb in Hubei, China in 1965, the sword of Goujianis a relic that dates back to a time between 771 and 403 BC. It belonged to Goujian, a famous emperor who apparently took back his kingdom a decade after it fell to a neighboring state. Upon it’s discovery, archaeologists were shocked to find that even though it had been in the tomb for thousands of years, there was no trace of serious wear on the blade which was still very sharp.

5. Tizona - Born in Vivar, Spain in 1043, Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, more commonly known as El Cid or The Lord, was a military leader who was famous for his many victories over his enemies. Almost as famous are his two swords Colada and Tizona, which he used to cut down forces from Moors, Barcelona, and Aragon. Tizona is said to have been forged in Cordoba, Spain with steel from various sources, including Damascus steel from the Middle East.

4. Napoleon’s Sword - Considered a strategic genius, Napoleon Bonaparte was a statesman and military leader during the French Revolutionary War that was granted the title of Emperor of the French from the French senate in 1804. During his rule, Napoleon expanded his empire, toppling many regimes by personally attending battles with his pistol and sword at his side. That sword was a cavalry-style blade and is said to have been made from the finest metals available at the time.

3. The Wallace Sword - The sword used by the guardian of Scotland himself, William Wallace, this two-handed sword is a whopping 1.63 meters long and weighs 2.7 kilograms, making it a truly deadly weapon in the hands of someone strong enough to swing it. It’s length added to the legend that Wallace was a giant man and fell every enemy that he faced with a single swing. Truth be told, it did take down a number of large English soldiers during the wars of Scottish independence, specifically in the Battle of Sterling in 1297 and the Battle of Falkirk in 1298.

2. Joyeuse- The sword of Charles the Great, better known as Charlemagne, Joyeuse was carried by the leader until his death in 814 AD. The sword is over one meter in length with an 82.8 centimeter blade, and weighs almost 1.6 kilograms. As Charlemagne’s personal sword Joyeuse, which means joyous, was used to battle enemies, execute prisoners, and knight loyal followers.

1. Curtana - The Sword of Mercy - Many stories surround the sword used by British monarchs during coronations. Some say it originally belonged to a knight of the round table named Tristan, while others believed it was Edward the Confessors. But unlike many legendary swords, Curtana’s blade is missing nearly 2.5 centimeters of it’s tip which is squared off as a blunt object. It’s purpose is strictly ceremonial, not violent, which is why it’s been given the nickname “The Sword of Mercy”.

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