Marian Głosek and Leszek Kajzer
Gladius, XII (1974), pp. 33-42
ISSN 0435-029X
THE SWORD FOUND AT OSIECZNA
IN GREAT POLAND
BY
MARIAN GLOSEK and LESZEK KAJZER
FEW specimens
specimens of Polish swords were studied in separate papers. An
exception is the Pólish
Polish kings' coronation sword called «Szczerbiec»,
<tSzczerbiecu,
which has abundant literature and still absorbs the scholars l1.. This
sword was first used during Wladislav Lokietek's coronation in 1320
1320
and from this time on it was permanently connected with the coronation
ceremonies of the Polish kings. Presently, it is one of the most precious
monuments kept at Cracow in the Wawel Castle Royal Treasury which
was greatly impoverished by war disturbances and numerous plunders.
I n the light of recent investigations «Szczerbiec»
ctSzczerbiec>>can be dated to the
In
13th century and connected with Boleslaw (t
1248)
(l'
1248) prince of SandoSandoMazovia, son of prince Konrad Mazowiecki. «Szczerbiec»
ctSzczerbiec)>is
mierz and Mazovia,
the only Polish medieval sword connected with a concrete historical
persono
person.
The subject of our paper is the sword found at Osieczna, distr.
Jt
I t was accidentally found in a lake, and the
Leszno, in Great Poland. It
circumstances of its discovery do not provide any exact data about this
specimen.
1).
specimen. The sword is actually
actually kept in the Museum at Leszno (Fig.
(Fig. 1).
The characteristic features of the sword are as follows: this is a
battle sword with a comparatively broad, two-edged blade, widest at
the top, contracting sharply to the distance of 4 cm.
cm. from the top of
the blade, and then tapering off to the point which is broken at the
113 or slightly
slightly more
C. 1/3
end. The fairly
fairly broad two-sided fuller occupies c.
end.
of the blade breadth, beginning at the tang and disappearing c.
C. 23 cm.
from the preserved end of the blade. The guard is straight, fairly,
fairly, short,
massive, square-like in section,
section, slightly tapered on both sides of the top
of the blade and slightly
fullero
fuller. The tang
slightly thickened on the axis of the fuller.
is broad, massive,
massive, broadest at the top of the blade, rectangular in section,
1
NADOLSKI: Szczerbiec
Polish Coronation
' A. NADOISKI:
Szczerbzec-- the Poltsh
Coronatzon Sword, in «The
<(The Journal of
183-184; the same,
Societya, vol.
v01 VI, no. 6, June 1969, pp.
pp. 183-184;
the Arms and Armour Society»,
vo!'
Szczerbzec (Epée
(Epe'e de sacre polonatse
archeologti «Acta
<tActa
Szczerbiec
polonaise Szczerbiec), in Nu
Na gramcach
granicach archeologii:
(Epee
105, there is also the former
Archaeologica Lodziensia»,
Lodziensia),, no. 17,
17, Lódí,
L6di, 1968,
1968, p. 105,
Archaeologica
Lodz,
literature
literature.
33
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Gladius, XII (1974), pp. 33-42
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Marian Głosek and Leszek Kajzer
,- .,
T: :
l~r
,
(
Irl~1
Iv
~t
¡
\\'-1
~
;xJ
~'
tj
\~,
tj
1
8
1--,
¡¿;
1
f-
;..-/
I
i
i
V
"
l
\ ~I
I ~I
J.~_1.
U- I
.,"',
-.:;
FlG.
FIG.
I.-The
from
FIG.l.-The
l.-The sword
sword /rom
from Osiec:zna,
Osiecma,
distr. Leszno
Leszno (des.
(des. .T.J. Wieczorek).
Wieczorek).
distr.
34
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Gladius, XII (1974), pp. 33-42
ISSN 0435-029X
slightly contracted and curved towards the pommel. The pommel is
nearly round, thick and faceted. The tang rivet of the hilt is invi(?).
sible (?).
DECORATIONS AND INSCRIPTION
Both the blade faces are covered with the remains of nearly identical
(probably hamhamdecorations and inscriptions made of yellow metal, set (probably
mered in)
cal"ved grooves. The metal has almost
in) into the previously carved
FIG. 2.-Crowned
2.-Crowned head
on the
2.-Crowncd
hcad 011
FIG.
swot
,d (Photo:
(Photo: K.
K . Pieszyriska).
Pieszyriska).
PieszyIÍska).
sword
decompletely disappeared and thus the content of the images can be de13 cm. from the
only. On
O n the fuller,
fuller, c. 13
duced from the engraved grooves only.
cm. in lenght,
top of the blade, there is a crowned head, 3,5 cm.
lenght, with the
2). On
O n the gently
top of the crown turned to\vards
to~rardsthe point (Fig.
(Fig. 2).
-maybe the
curved neck, bearing the traces of three horizontal lines -maybe
gown- there is mounted an almond-shaped male face,
face,
remains of the gownframed
framed with curly hair slightly tucked in and gently fal1ing
falling down to the
chin. The anatomic features
face include
level a little
Httle above the chin.
chino
fea
features
tu res of the face
inelude
35
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Marian Głosek and Leszek Kajzer
Gladius, XII (1974), pp. 33-42
ISSN 0435-029X
the
the mouth
mouth marked
marked with
with two
two half-arches,
half-arches, the
the eyes
eyes composed
composed of
of two
two not
not
conterminous
conterminous horizontal
horizontal strokes,
strokes, the
the lower
lower of
of which
which is
is distinctly
distinctly curved
curved
down,
down, and
and the
the nose,
nose, drawn
drawn with
with double
double strokes
strokes separating
separating gently
gently into
into
the
the eyebrow
eyebrow arches.
arches. On
O n the
the head,
head, on
on the
the prolongation
prolongation of
of the
the external
external
line
curls,
( ? ) crown,
crown, terminating
terminating in
in
line of
of the
the cuds,
curls, there
there isis aa high
high cone-shaped
cone-shaped (?)
three points
points crowned
crowned with
with lozenges.
lozenges. The
The two
two side-points
side-points are
are shorter,
shorter,
three
the central
central one
one surpassing
surpassing them
them by
by the
the length
length of
of lozenge.
lozenge. The
The oblique
oblique
Iozenge.
the
strokes of
of the
the lozenges
lozenges probably
probably mark
mark the
the additional
additional decoration
decoration of
of the
the
strokes
crown
crown tops.
tops. Right
Right behind
behind the
the crown
crown there
there isis aa ten-letter
ten-letter inscription
inscription
(height of
of the
the letters
letters c.
c. 11-12
11-12 mm.),
mm.), written
written in
in the
the capital,
capital, slightly
slightly similar
similar
(height
C.
to the
the uncial,
uncial, composed
composed of
of the
the letters
letters NRUDICNUDI,
NRUDICNUDI, ended
ended with
with aa cross
cross
to
with equal
equal arms,
arms, c.c. 66 mm.
mm, long.
long. (Fig.
(Fig. 3).
3). The
The end
end of
of the
the cross
cross arm
arm isis
with
FIG. 3.-Part
3.-Part
FIG.
3.-Parl
of the
the blade
blade with
with figure
fzgure and
and inscription.
inscription.
01
of
wilh
situated 36
36 cm.
cm. from
from the
the top
top of
of the
the blade.
blade. On
O n the
the vertical
vertical axis
axis of
of the
the
situated
64 cm.
cm. from
from the
the top
top of
of the
the blade,
blade, there
there isis aa circle
circle of
of c.c. 88 mm.
mm. in
in
sword, 64
sword,
tbere
cirele
diameter, containing
containing horizontal
horizontal strokes
strokes of
of 2-3
2-3 mm.
mm. placed
placed side
side by
by side,
side,
diameter,
which probably
probably are
are fragments
fragments of
of an
an equal-armed
equal-armed cross
cross inscribed
inscribed into
into
which
the circle.
circle. The
The figures
figures and
and inscriptions
inscriptions of
of the
the second
second face
face of
of the
the sword
sword
the
cirele.
are visible
visible less
less elearly,
clearly, though
though they
they are
are situated
situated analogically
analogically to
to those
those
are
clearly,
described aboye.
above. The
The details
details of
of the
the king's
king's head
head are
are indistinct.
indistinct. Only
Only
described
above.
the right
right eye,
eye, the
the externallines
external lines
lines of
of the
the cuds
curls and
and the
the crown
crown terminals
terminals are
are
external
curls
the
well marked.
marked. In
I n spite
spite of
of the
the fragmentary
fragmentary nature
nature of
of the
the inscription
inscription itit
welJ
well
permissible to
to think
think that
that itit consisted
consisted of
of different
different letters
letters than
than the
the
isis permissible
previous one.
one. These
These are:
are: ?,
?, U,
U, ?,?, CC or
or G,
G, ?,?, N,
N, D,
D, I,I, C,
C, 1.
L. Only
Only aa
previous
small fragment
fragment of
of the
the arm
arm of
of the
the cross,
cross, ending
ending the
the inscription,
inscription, isis visible.
visible.
small
O n the
the other
other hand,
hand, the
the circle
circle intersected
intersected by
by four
four unconnected
unconnected arms
arms of
of
On
clrele
the cross
cross isis more
more distinct.
distinct.
the
36
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Gladius, XII (1974), pp. 33-42
ISSN 0435-029X
MEASUREMENTS OF THE SWORD
Overall length
length 103
cm. (preserved);
(preserved); length
103 cm.
length of the blade 84,7 cm.
(preserved);
(preserved); length of guard
guard 15,2
15,2 cm.; breadth of blade 5,7 cm.; height
cm.; height of pomme15
cm.; breadth of pommel 5 cm.;
cm.;
of guard 0,8 cm.;
pommel 5 cm.;
length of tang 12,2
12,2 cm.;
cm.; largest breadth of tang 3 cm.
I n the light of the typology
In
typology of European swords as worked out by
A.
Bruhn Hoffmeyer 2 the sword from
from Osieczna can
can be assigned
assigned to
A. Bruhn
111, or -to
-to be more exactexact- to group IIIc. According to OakOakgroup III,
typology 3 we can
can assign
assign the blade of the sword
sword to type XII.
eshott's typology
an intermediary form
form between types 3 and 2, but the
The guard is of an
clasmassive pommel corresponds with type II according to the same clasmassive
sification system.
system. Accordingly,
Accordingly, the
the sword
sword can
can be defined as follows:
sification
follows:
I, 3 to 2. Five swords of this
are known from the Polish
type XII,
X I I , I,
thís type are
area
generalIy
R. E. Oakeshott did
area and
and generally
generally dated
dated as
as the 13th
13th century 4. R.
not establish a precise chronology for European swords of type X
II,
XII,
generally as from
12th century to
dating them generally
from the second half of the 12th
the first
first half of the 14th
14th century, though they are most frequent in the
13th
as13th century s.'. We think that the sword from Osieczna should be as13th century, though by comparing it with other swords
signed to the 13th
e. the second half of the 13th century,
of this type a more exact date, i.
i. e.
suggested.
can be suggested.
The representation of the king's head on the sword, drawn with a
soft line in spite of the considerable resistance of the material, is an
undoubted work of art.
art. The gentle curve of the neck, the light outline
face, make us see in this image
of the long cuds
curls and the shape of the face,
a fine
fine example of a king's portrait of the classic Gothic art.
art. The general
character of the representation
representatíon is close to
lO that of prince Henryk IV
Probus on his tombstone, dating from the turn of the 13th/14th cencenturies 6.'j. We think that the dating of the representation on the Osieczna
sword to the second
haH of the 13th
second half
13th century is very plausible, because
BRUHN-HOFFMEYER:
Middelaldevens
Kabenhavn, 1954,
2 A. BRUHN-HoFFMEYER:
Middelalderens tveaeggede svaerd, Kobenhavn,
1954,
vol.
vo1. 1,
1, p. 44.
OAKESHOTT:
The Sword
Swovd in the Age 01
o f Chivalry,
Chivalvy, New York/Washington,
Yorklwashington,
3 R. E.
E. OAKESHOTT:
The
of
1965. p.
D. 37.
37.
1965,
GLOSEK
NADOLSKI:
Miecze Svednioweczne
(with
4 'M.
M. Gl.OSEK
und A. NAOOLSKI:
srednioweczne z ziem polskich
polskich (with
ctActa Archaeologica
English summary: Medieval Sword from
Territories): «Acta
Iroll1
froll1 Polish Territories):
19, G
d i , 1970,
1970, catalogue nos. 3,
3, 4, 16,
16, 25, 60.
Lodziensia),,
no. 19,
Lodz,
Lódz,
Lodziensia», no.
OAKESHOTT:
op. cit.,
cit., pp.
37-40.
, R. E. OAKESHOTT:
op.
pp. 37·40.
37-40.
T. DOBRZENIECKI:
DOBRZENIECKI:
Wroctawski pomnik
1964; J. KE, T.
Wroclawski
pomnik Henryku
HenryRa IV, Warszawa, 1964;
KI::KJ::BLOWSKI: Pomniki Piusto'w
Bl.OWSKI:
Piastów
Piast6w Slqskich (with English summary:
StllI1mary: Monztments
Monuments of
01
of Silesian.
Piasts in the Middle Ages). Wrodaw-Warszawa-Kraków-Gdansk,
Wrodaw-Warszawa-Krak6w-Gdansk, 1971,
1971, pp. 44-72,
Wrodaw.Warszawa-Krakow-Gdansk,
44-72,
phot.
6-9.
photo 6-9.
37
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Marian Głosek and Leszek Kajzer
Gladius, XII (1974), pp. 33-42
ISSN 0435-029X
it is well placed in the art of
n the other hand, it is difficult
of this time. O
On
sorne definite workas well as risky to connect this representation with some
shop or even with a country. IIn
n this case we
\Ve should confine ourselves
to the statement that it represents the characteristic form of the 13th
centllry Gothic art and that its workmanship shows an artist not only
century
the style
style of
of the
bllt also eagerly accepting and understanding the
sensitive but
time.
crawn deserves attention. Its proportions
The representation of the crown
are Gothic.
Gothic, and within the comDass
compass of this stvle
style one should
shollld seek analogies. ~
The
crawns fromLbefore
fram
from before the middle of the 14th century,
gies.
h e ' Gothic
G o t h i ccrowns
known from iconography and a few preserved monuments 7 (when the
fleurans became common) have typical fleur-de-lis
fleur-de-lis
characteristic high fleurons
terminals which should be expected to occur in the representation under
drawing.
discussion. However we seem to deal here with a schematic drawing.
This statement is supported by the only representation
representatíon of the crown
crawn
known from
which
swordwhich
fram the sword blade. IItt is presented twice on the sword
dates from
from
fram the second half
haH of the 13th
13th century and is connected with
the Bohemian king Przemysl Otakar I1
II and his second crusade against
círeles placed on both sides of the sword
s\Vord beneath
the Prussians s. The circles
consideraríon.
the fuller demand consideration.
consideration. We
W e think they are sword-marks,
sword-marks, i. e.
by the artisan or w
workshop,
marks made on the blade bv
o r k s h o ~ .where the blade
hough it is hard to
together and mounted.
mounted. Though
was finally polished, put toiether
reconstruct fully the original shape
shape of the mark because of the poor state
of its preservation, we can state that the combinations composed of
crosses and circles
cireles are among the most popular sword-marks
sword-marks in whole
Europe 9.
medieval Eurape
9.
Let us proceed now to analyse the inscription on the Osieczna
I n the
sword 10.
The letters on both sides are not equally preserved. In
l'.
inscription NRUDICNUDI, written mostly in capital, the first letter U
also
ascillates
oscillates towards the uncial.
uncia!' The inscri~tion
inscriotiuIl on the other side
inscriDtiuIl
si de is also
P. E.
E. SCHRAMM:
SCHRAMM:
Herrschaftszeichen
Staatssymbolik, in Schriften
Schriften der Mo7' P.
Herrsehaftszeiehen und StaatssYl71bolik,
Sehriften
Stuttgart, 1954,
1954, vo!'
vol. 3.
3.
vol.
numenta Germaniae Historica,
Histol'iea, Stuttgart,
8 H.
Prunksehwel't aus der
Kreuzzüge,
H. SEGER:
SEGER:Ein
Ein Prunkschwert
dev Zeit der Kreuzziige,
Kreurzuge, in «Schlesiens
ctschlesiens VorVorNF.n, Bd. 6,
6, 1912,
1912, p. 79;
79; P.
P. BOHM:
BOHM: Konig Ot/okars
Ottokavs
Ouokt1rs
zeít in Bild und Schrift NF.»,
zeit
Sehwert,
Schwert,
und W.
Schwert, in «Schlesiens
ctSchlesiens Vorzeit ...
...»,
n, Bd. 8,
8, 1924,
1924, p. 41;
41; B.
B. BRACKMANN
BRACKMANN
W. UNUNWERZAGT:Zantoch,
Zantoch, eine Burg in
in deutschen
deutschen Osten,
Osten, Leipzig, 1936,
1936, pp. 137-138;
137-138;
WERZAGT:
Zantoeh,
deutsehen
A. BRuHN-HoFFMEYER:
BRUIIN-HOFFMEYER:
op. cit.,
cit., vo!'
vol. 2,
2, p.
no. 93;
93; M.
GLOSEK
NADOLSKI:
A.
BRUHN-HoFFMEYER:
op.
vol.
p. 21, no.
M. Gl:.OSEK
und A. NADOLSKl:
op.
op. cit., catalogue no.
no. 54.
54.
, M. Gl:.OSEK:
Znaki ii napis)'
mieezaeh sredniowieczn)'ch
sredniowieezn)'eh
Polsee (Marks
GLOSEK:
napisy na mieczach
iredniowiecznych 10
zu Polsce
(Marks
U d i , 1971
1971
territories),, type writing,
writing, Lodz,
tel'ritories)
tód:i,
and inscriptions on sword from the Polish territories),
(in
(in press).
press).
JO
doc.
'O We'd like to thank doe.
doc. dr.
dr. R.
R . Rosin
Rosin of History Institute of University of
L6di for his help in the inscription
inscription analyzc.
analyze.
tód:i
Lodz
38
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ISSN 0435-029X
written in capital with an addition of uncial.
unciaL The letter U is completely
uncial, the next N is more uncial than capital.
capital. There remains the
question of deciphering the letters in this inscription. The first letter
-as follows from its distance to the next oneone- is the incomplete let-as
ter N with only one stroke preserved. Analogically, the third letter is
fragment, as is suggested by the empty place before the next
only in fragment,
letter G.
G . Its shape suggests that we deal with the letter A. The last
letter in this inscription is L, though it might be the fragment
D.
fragment of letter D.
Thus, in our opinion the inscription would read NUAGNNDICL. Most
seem to be patterned
of the letters in each inscription are shaded and seem
after lapidary writting. The whole represents the Romanesque writting,
except the letter D in the first inscription, which definitely refers to the
Gothic writing.
As mentioned above,
aboye, the inscription on the sword from
from Osieczna
belongs to the camparatively
comparatively numerous group of inscriptions, in which
( D I G ? ) runs. This group was discussed
the group of three letters DIC (DIG?)
by R.
R. Wegeli l',
11, who analysed 9 swords with these inscriptions.
Though
specimens have been localized,
localized, it seems
seems permissible to connect
only few specimens
loca!ized,
them with North Europe. The recent finds also can confirm the thesis
that they were used and perhaps produced in the area which included
12.
Mecklenburg, Brandenburg and North-West Poland 12.
Osieczna specimen differs from swords of the DIC group in
The Osieczna
having the king's head engraved on it, which has no analogies in the
CO-appearanceof the inscription DIC with
European material 13.
13.
The co-appearance
the figurative
figurative representation places our specimen among the most interesting European swords.
swords. The figurative images
images on medieval swords are
generally very rare and that is why they should be discussed. As an
11,
example we
\Ve ought to mention the sword of emperor Albrecht n,
Il, made
c. 1438,
1438, and kept until the Second World War in Berlin's
in Passau c.
C.
dics-shaped pommel are covered with
14.
Both sides of its dies-shaped
dics-shaped
Zeughaus 14.
eagle on the first, and a rampant
coats of arms, with the figure
figure of an eagle
lion on the second.
second. The most interesting swords for us are those with
!ion
secando
" R. WEGELI:
WEGELI: Inschriften
mittelalterlichen Schwertklingen, in
11
I nschrilten
nschriften aul
auf mittelalterlichen
ín ctzeitschrift
«2eítschríft
«2eitschrift
1902-1905, pp. 177-183,
177-183, 218-225,
218-225, 261-268,
fiir
Waffenkunde),, Bd. 3, 1902-1905,
für Historische
fur
Hístorísche Waffenkunde»,
261-268,
290-300.
290-300.
l2
SCHOKNECHT:
Bemerkenswerte mittelalterliche
mittelalterliche Neufunde
12 U. SCHOKNECHT:
Neufunde
Neulunde aus dem Bezirk
Neubrandenburg,
1970, Berlin,
1971,
ín Bodendenkmalpflege
Badendenkmalpflege
Bodendenkmalpllege in Mecklembuvg,
Mecklemburg, Jhb.,
Jhb.,
]hb., 1970,
Berlín, 1971,
Neubrandenburg, in
D. 284;
284: the same,
same. Ein Fund mittelalterlicher
mzttelalterltcher Wallen
Waffen van
von Leuetzow.
Wismev.
p.
Waffen
Levetzaw,
Levetzow, kreis Wismer,
;here, Jhb.,
1967, p. 283.
]hb., 1967,
there,
Jhb.,
l 3 The analogy
analogy is also
also unknown to dr.
dr. O.
0. Gamber,
Gamber, the Keeper Waffensammlung
IJ
5. 09.
09. 1972
1972 in the authors' possession.
ín Viens.
in
Víens. Letter of 5.
l4 M
J . BINDER:
BINDER:Eill
Ein Kontgschwert
ctzeitschrift für
fiir Historische
14
M.. J.
Konigschwert im Zeughaus,
Zeughaus, in
ín «2eitschrift
fUr
6, 1912-1914,
1912-1914, p. 25.
25.
Waffenkunde,,, Bd.
Bd. 6,
Waffenkunde»,
39
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Marian Głosek and Leszek Kajzer
Gladius, XII (1974), pp. 33-42
ISSN 0435-029X
figurative
figurative motifs
motifs on
on blades
blades similar
similar toto the
the Osieczna
Osieczna specimen.
specimen. Worthy
Worthy
Habsof note
note isis the
the sword
sword connected
connected with
with the
the German
German king,
king, Rudolf
Rudolf 1II Habsof
burg
Both sides
sidesofof its
its
burg the
the meritoricus
meritoricus creator
creator of
of his
his house's
house's power
power 15.15. Both
blade are
are covered
covered by
by thirteen-letters
thirteen-letters inscriptions
inscriptions with
with two
two coats
coats ofof arms
arms
blade
thirteen-Ietters
beneath: one
one with
with the
the figure
figure of
of the
the eagle,
eagle, the
the other
other \vith
with rampant
rampant líon.
lion.
with
lion.
beneath:
An interesting
interesting specimen
specimen isis the
the sword,
sword, probably
probably derived
derived from
from South
South
An
kept prepreGerman workshops
workshops and
and connected
connected with
with Przemysl
PrzemyslOtakar
Otakar n
German
IlI116,16, kept
sently atat Vienna
Vienna (Waffensammlung
(WaffensammlungA34W).
A34W). ItIt isis dated
dated by
byO.
0 . Gamber
Gamber
sently
the years
years between
between 1253
1253 and
and 1278.
1278. On
On one
one of
of its
its faces
faces there
there isis the
the
toto the
inscription TEVDIS
TEVDIS and
and an
an obliquely
obliquely placed
placed heraldic
heraldic shield,
shield, crowned
crowned
inscription
with the
the pot
pot helmet
helmet with
with the
the crest
crest terminating
terminating inin aa plume.
plume. On
On the
the
with
plumeo
other face
face there
there isis the
the inscription
inscription RC
RC or
or GFBNA,
GFBNA, and
and the
the crowned
crowned
other
rampant lion.
lion. Another
Another sword
sword connected
connected with
with Przemysl
Przemysl Otakar
Otakar n,
11,
Il,
rampant
and
was
17.
On
and mentioned
mentioned above,
above, '\Vas
was found
found atat Santok
Santok".
On both
both its
its faces,
faces,
the top
top of
of the
the blade,
blade, there
there are
are two
two coats
coats of
of arms,
arms, one
one with
with the
the
atat the
Przemyslides' crowned
crowned lion,
lion, the
the other
other with
with aa cross.
cross. Under
Under the
the latter,
latter,
crosS.
Przemyslides'
on the
the face
face of
of the
the blade,
blade, there
there isis aa badly
badly preserved
preserved reversed
reversed drawing.
drawing.
on
ItI t presents
presents aa heavy
heavy armoured
armoured knight
knight on
on horseback,
horseback, with
with aa pot
pot helhelmet
met over
over which
which aa crown
crown has
has ben
ben placed.
placed. Above,
Above, there
there isis aa rampant
rampant
lion (?),
(?), and
and further
further on,
on, figures
figures of
of three
three heavy-armed
heavy-armed men
men holding
holding
líon
lion
spears, with
with heads
heads covered
covered with
with pot
pot helmets
helmets crowned
crowned with
with gems.
gems.
spears,
There isis consensus
consensus of
of opinion
opinion that
that this
this drawing
drawing represents
represents Przemysl
Przemysl
There
Otakar
Il,
Otakar n,
11, leading
leading aa crusade.
crusade. ItI t isis believed
believed that
that this
this sword
sw,ordwas
was ofofto the
the king
king of
of Bohemia
Bohemia by
by the
the Teutonic
Teutonic Knights
Knights during
during his
his raids
raids
fefered
red to
fered
against the
the Prussians.
Prussians. The
controversial.
against
The dating
dating of
of the
the sword
sword isis controversia!.
controversial. ReRecently itit has
has been
been connected
connected with
with the
the second
second crusade
crusade undertaken
undertaken by
by
cently
Przemysl
Il
Przemysl Otakar
Otakar n
I1 inin 1267
126718.18. AA close
close analogy
analogy isis represented
represented by
by the
the
(?), dated
dated toto the
the second
second
sword (mentioned
(mentioned by
by R.
R. Wegeli)
Wegeli) of
of type
type xn
XI1 (?),
sword
XII
half of
of the
the 13
13th
century, kept
kept atat the
the turn
turn of
of the
the 19th/20th
19th/20th centuries
centuries
th century,
half
the Szczecin
Szczecin Museum
Museum and
and probably
probably found
found inin the
the neighbourhood
neighbourhood of
of
inin the
Szczecin
Szczecin19.19. Both
Both faces
facesof
of its
its blade
blade bore
bore majuscular
majuscular inscriptions
inscriptions reading
reading
DICNLACDICLA (one
(oneof
of these
these had
had an
an additionalletter
additional letter
letter EE atat the
the end).
end).
DICNLACDICLA
additional
The letter
letter CC may
may be
be -as
-as inin many
many cases
casesof
of the
the inscriptions
inscriptions of
of the
the group
group
The
DIC- deciphered
deciphered asas G.
G. One
One of
of faces
faces bears
bears the
the representation
representation of
of an
an
DIC-0 .GAMBER:
GAMBER:
Die mittelalterlichen
mittelalterltchen Blankwaffen
Blankwaffender
dev Wiener
Wienev Waffensammlung,
Waffensammlung,
"'' O.
Die
~(Jahrbuchder
der Kunsthistorischen
Kunsthistorischen Sammlungen
Sammlungen inin Wien»,
Wienn, Bd.
Bd. 57,
57, 1961,
1961, N.
N. F.,
F,
inin «Jahrbuch
Bd. 21,
21, p.p. 19.
19.
Bd.
'6l6 [bid.,
Ibid.,
Ibid.,p.p. 20.
20.
17" Compare
Compare annotation
annotation no.
no. 8.8.
18 Recently
Recently M.
M. Giosek
Glosek has
has been
been proposing
proposing this
this date.
date. Marks
Marks and
and inscriptions
inscriptions... .
The other
other suggestions
suggestions connect
connect this
this sword
sword with
with 1255.
1255.
The
R. WEGELI:
WEGELI:
op.cit.,
cit, pp.
pp. 265-267;
265-267;The
T h e literature
ltterutzlre 011
on this
thzs s/Uord
szuord ists collected
collected by
by
19l9 R.
op.
literatllre
0/1
sword
M Glosek,
Gtosek, ibid.,
ibid., catalogue
catalogue no.
no. 59.
59.
M.
ibíd.,
40
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Marian Głosek and Leszek Kajzer
Gladius, XII (1974), pp. 33-42
ISSN 0435-029X
aboye the inscription, near
eagle, the other, a rampant lion, both engraved above
the top of the blade. IItt is clear
cIear from the above
aboye examination that most
of the swords provided with figurative representations
represenrations of symbolic character are connected with concrete historical persons placed at the top
feudal hierarchy.
of the feudal
Summing up the results of our considerations we think that the
sword from Osieczna can be connected with the representative of the
feudal hierarchy from the area of East Germany and West
top of the feudal
Poland in the second half
haH of the 13th century.
Having left the solid ground
grollnd of facts, we can now try to connect the
Osieczna sword with a concrete historical person.
persono As it seems, this
should be a person distinguished by exorbitant ambitions and acting in
13th century.
the broad area of the Odra zone in the second half
haH of the 13th
1I t is difficult to look for such a person among the representatives of the
East German feudal lords, for in the so called
caIled great interregnum period
( 7 1291)
(1254-1275) and also during Rudolf Habsburg's (t
(1254-1275)
1291) reign the
whole East Germany was controlled
controIled by Magdeburg archbishops. On
the other hand, on the territories on the opposite side of the Odra, there
were in the second haH
half of the 13th century two historic persons, who
royal crown. The first is the Piast prince, Henryk IIV
V Probus
aimed at a royal
(1257/8-1290)
Silesian line who was brought up at the Bohemian
(125718-1290) of the SiIesian
court. From 1270
1270 he was the prince of
king Przemysl Otakar's I1
II court.
Wrodaw,
Wroclaw, and from 1288,
1288, temporarily, the prince of Cracov, thus being
the ruler of the
rhe town which in the
rhe 13th
mentaliry 'was
\vas
13th century mentality
was connected
Henwith the supreme power in Poland and with the royal crown. Henryk IV Probus coronation
coronarion projects are known from the not very reliable
reIiable
chronicIe of Ottokar of Styria ",
chronicle
20, and their most full
fuIl reflections
ref1ections can be
found on the sarcophagus tombstone of the young prince, who was laid
to
St. Cross Church in Wroclaw
<(Cracovian)>
rest in St.
ro resr
Wrodaw 21. The crowned «Cracovian»
eagle presented
presenred on the tombstone
tombsrone is on the heraldic shield on the left
So far it is the only
only representation
ro the
rhe prince's head. So
representarion of this kind
to
in the
rhe whole rich iconography associated with this
rhis ruler.
rulero
We think that more attention
attenrion should be paid to the Piast Prince of
(1257-1296) who in 1295
1295
the Great Polish 1ine,
e. to
line, i.
i. e.
ro Przemysl I1
II (1257-1296)
crowned his efforts by coronation
coronarion as the Polish king. Many things
indicate
indica te that
rhat he set store by a symbolic assertion
asserrion of his royal aspirations.
1290 he abandoned his father's
Of great importance is the fact that in 1290
coat of arms, i.
e. the
seals from the
i. e.
rhe lion. On the
rhe two seals
rhe same year he is
*'20 O.
0. OSTE.RRElCHlSCHE
OSTEKREICHISCHE
REIMCHRONIK:
4 M . G.
G . H.
H. Deutsche Chronikem>,
Chronikenn, vo!.
V,
OSTE.RRElCHlSCHE.
RElMCHRONIK: «M.
vol. V,
1890.
1890.
" Compare annotation no. 6.6.
11
41
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Marian Głosek and Leszek Kajzer
Gladius, XII (1974), pp. 33-42
ISSN 0435-029X
represented with the heraldic shield emblazoned with the crowned eagle,
eagle,
i. e. the so called «Cracovian»
i.
<(Cracovian)>eagle
cngle 22.
22. Of particular interest is the so
called second seal,
seal, i.i. e.
useJ. from October 1290
untill the coroe. the seal, used
1290 until1
coroH.
nation of Przemysl n.
11. The «Cracovian»
Kracoviann crowned eagle on the shield
of this seal is closely
dosely connected with
\Vith the prince's
prince's claims
daims
claims to Cracov which
H
I1 changed his seal
seal into
he had just lost. After his coronation, Przemysl n
one of the majestic type, with visible attributes of royal authority.
authority. The
obverse of
oi this seal shows the crowned eagle on the shield, surrounded
by a legend reading + REDDIDIT
IPSE . P/OTENS
P jOTENS .. V/ICTRICIA
V
VjICTRICIA
jICTRICIA ..
REDDIDIT .. IPSE.
SIGNA.
SIGNA . POLONIS. In
I n spite of the badly preserved copy of the seal
and the controversy as to the middle words the words <(reddidit..
«reddidit. ... signa
Polonis)>clearly
Polonis»
dearIy underline the importance
importance of the restoration of the Polish
H 23.
Kingdom
Kingdom and the aspirations of Przemysl n
I1
Czarnkow, the Polish chronicler
14th century,
Janko of Czarnkaw,
chronider living in the 14th
H.
left another interesting mention connected with Przemysl
11. Namely,
Przernysl n.
1371, a storm destroyed a part of the Poznan cathewhen on March 31, 1371,
( ? ) presenting this ruler was destroyed «
G...
. .. quod
dral, a polichromy (?)
foramina per testudinem capellae regalis impetu
faciens imagines
impew suo faciens
regis Przemislai et reginae in parietibus elevatas et depictas concusconcussi
t. .. » 24.
sit...>>24.
I t should also be mentioned that probably during his stay at Cracow
It
IT, with the consent of the bishop of Cracow, Pawel of PrzePrzePrzemysl n,
H,
mankow, took the crown and other royal insignia,
mankaw,
insignia, kept in the Wawel
Castle treasury since Boleslaw Smialy's coronation, which took place in
1066, and deposited them in the Gniezno cathedral treasury,
Cracow in 1066,
having used them on June 26, 1295,
1295, i.
e. on the day
i. e.
day of his coronation as
decothe king of Poland 25. We think that the sword under discussion, decorated as it is by the image of a crowned monarch, may be regarded as
I1
an expression of the not yet fulfilled coronation ambitions of Przemysl n
H
from the years 1290-1295.
1290-1295, Though the hypothesis is doubtless attractive
from
we
only by future researches and new
\Ve believe that it can be confirmed only
finds.
finds.
+
PIEKOSINSKI:
Pzecz~cze
wzeko'w srednich,
irednzch, Krakow,
Krakbw, 1899,
1899, p.
p 134,
22 F.
F. PIEKOSINSKI:
Pieez{!cie
Piecz{!cie polskze
polskie wieków
wiek6w
srednieh,
Kraków,
134,
nos 201,
201, 205, fig.
152, 3; compare the
1252, there, fig.
108
nos.
fig. 152,
rhe seal
seal of Przemysl of 1252,
fig. 108.
b i d , p. 144,
144, nos. 216, 217, figs.
figs. 160-161.
160-161.
B I
Ibid.,
''24 Joannes
Chrontcon Polonorum, elaborated
elaborated by J.
J . Szlachtowski,
Szlachtowski,
Joannes de Czarnkow Chronicon
Szlachrowski,
v01 II,
11, Warszawa, 1961,
1961.
in Monuments
Monumenta Polontae
Poloniae Hisfovtca,
Historiea,
Historica, ed. A. Bielowski, VD!.
vol.
JI,
651.
p. 651.
2' O.
0 BALZER:
BALZER.K~dlestwo
v01 I,
I, pp. 237-238;
237-238, J.
7. BASZKIEBASZKIE25
Kr6lestwo
Królestwo Polskze,
Polskie, Lwbw,
Lwów, 1919,
Lwow,
1919, vo!.
vol.
Powstanze zlednoczonego
(nu przetomze
III i X
IV
WICZ: Powstanie
zjednoezonego
zjednoczonego Pahtwa
Pa!lS!wa Polskzego
Polskiego (na
przelomie X
XIII
XIV
1964, p. 262; the
czasdw Eokzetka,
1968;
wzeku), Warszawa, 1964,
wieku),
rhe same, Polska ezas6w
czasów
Lokietka, Warszawa, 1968;
JASINSKI:
Tragedza rogozinska
rogozzliska 1296
1296 r.r na
nu tIe
wzelkopolsko-brandebursK. JASINSKI:
Tragedia
tle rywaltzacp
rywalizacji
rywalizaeji wielkopolsko-brandeburskzel o0 Pomorze Gda·iskie,
Gda ;skze, in «Zapiski
aZapiskl Historyczne~,
v01 XXVI, 1961.
1961
kiej
Gda'hkie,
Hisroryczne», vo!.
Historyczne,>,
vol.
"
42
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