#The Monarch Sword with Integrated Sword Belt

[kultofathena]

Darksword – The Monarch Sword with Integrated Sword Belt

The Monarch exemplifies the classic 13th century Type X medieval sword. The type X was in common usage from the time of the Vikings throughout much of the middle ages, and is recognizable for its broad blade with full-length fuller. This version has a distinctive “Brazil nut” pommel, common to the mid-1200’s and beyond but most clearly represented on the type X to type XI transitory blades. The Monarch has the long, tapered blade typical of the cut-and-thrust swords that evolved to counter the increasing advances made in armor protection, and the curved guard is consistent with the numerous surviving 13th century Brazil nut swords found in museums and collections. The Monarch is a classic design that will be a unique presence in any collection.

The blade of the Monarch is forged from mirror-polished 5160 high carbon steel which is differentially tempered to possess a hardened edge of 60 HRc steel and a flexing, shock absorbing core of 48-50 HRc hardness. The guard and pommel are of steel and the wooden grip is bound in leather. The blade is securely anchored into the hilt with a robust peen on the pommel. Included with the sword is a wood-core scabbard which is tightly bound in leather and completed with an integrated sword belt and a protective steel chape.

Since ancient tribal times, humans have tended to organize themselves into hierarchies. These would at first have been nomadic bands of hunter-gatherers, though as agriculture led to the rise of cities and more stabilized, centralized cultures there would be individuals who sought to lead. Those who led larger groups of people could gather immense amounts of power, and when that power gained enough momentum to pass the boundary of generations it created a monarchy.

Most records from early civilizations indicated monarchies were incredibly common, and typically follow the hereditary structure with the power passing from father to son. Many of these societies started in Mesopotamia or other areas close to the cradle of civilization, indicating monarchies were likely one of the first forms of human government. Monarchy swiftly spread from Humanity’s birthplace across the world, and everywhere it went it tended to have more or less the same characteristics.

In a monarchy, the monarch – typically a king, though queens could also sometimes rule – was a member of a dynastic royal family in which power passed from parent to child and monarchs tended to rule from the death of the previous king until their own death. When the currently seated monarch would die, the rule of the city-state or nation would pass to their heir – typically the eldest male child. When the eldest male child was not the most suitable ruler, or if no male children were to be had, different systems of hereditary succession could be used to determine the identity of the next monarch within the royal extended family – a nephew, a cousin, even an older relative. For this reason tracing royal lines can be a great deal more complicated than simply looking at parent to child passage of power. Further complicating the transition of power could be competing claims for the throne, where multiple persons with historical ties to the reigning family may make claim to the throne upon the death of the ruler. This led to countless wars of succession across human history, so which resulted in entire branches of royal families being liquidated by prospective kings in order to secure their future rule.

Monarchies brought several benefits to nations, despite the top heavy concentration of power. One of the benefits was continuity of rule, as upon the death of the previous ruler the next ruler is believed to already be king – even if they have not yet ascended the throne. Another benefit of a monarchical government especially in the West (though it would certainly appear in different forms elsewhere in the world) was the concept of the Divine Right of Kings. This religious dogma legitimized the rule of monarch by establishing a belief system in which the king had been appointed by God to fulfill the role of ruler for his people. That is, God has specifically chosen this ruler for these people, and it is the responsibility of the people to follow their King as God’s representative on earth. This has the added benefit of raising the king over the authority of any Earthly body of power, reducing or completely eliminating his accountability to anyone but god. With both politics and church behind the institution, monarchs ruled Europe for centuries almost without question.

Some kings were kinds and just, others were cruel and terrible – but both were mere mortals in the end, and those who took their so-called divine mandate to heart would accomplish some true good in the world. It would not be until the Age of Enlightenment that power would begin to transfer away from hereditary systems of absolute rule into the hands of the people without whom kings would have no power. Yet even to today, monarchs around the world continue to be heads of state.

The Darksword Armory Monarch is inspired by the those kings who became the best that their office would allow. A true example of a 13th Century arming sword, the Monarch shows the fruits of the evolution of the arms and armors of the Middle Ages. As armors dating prior to the 13th century were most commonly composed of mail armor made to withstand early medieval period weapons, there was rapid development of greater forms of protection. By the mid-13th century however, the advances in protective gear inspired a corresponding change in blade geometry. Finely tapered blades, with very pointy tips now served to pierce the weak points in heavily armored foes. The Monarch has one of these blades, double-edged with a long fuller and weighted for cut-and-thrust combat. Its simple, classic curved guard provides an elegant compliment to the no-nonsense blade. It is the Brazil nut pommel, though, that sets this piece apart. A feature indicative of the 13th century arming sword, this is our best rendition of the Brazil nut pommel, and we believe it is a perfect match for the rest of the sword. May the Monarch be the sword you have been looking for to inspire you to achieve the best you can in this world!

[ms-meredith-milton]

POC in the Renaissance!

Check out this awesome painting I saw at the Met!  It’s Saint Maurice!

I really love Lucas Cranach the Elder--his Judith is especially fab--and I like this one, though like many early paintings of POC in the Renaissance his features don’t look very distinctively African.  (Early depictions of Balthazar, the African Magi, especially tend to look like the artist just grabbed a darker color palette but had had no contact with actual POC and colored a white dude in light brown.) 

But I’m especially intrigued that Cranach’s black St. Maurice is dressed as a follower of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, since Charles V DID have POC in his court.  Behold, this lovely portrait!  (I am totally obsessed with it and realized that I’ve never shared it on tumblr.)

Isn’t he gorgeous?  And clearly a man of some standing, given his ornate belt, right to carry a sword, and what looks like crimson velvet on his clothes.  (Also, obviously, that his portrait is actually being painted.)  Also, unlike (most) later European paintings of POC, this portrait isn’t exoticizing; he’s depicted just like any other Renaissance portrait of a white sitter.  I especially love his pensive gaze!  And the badge on his cap is a badge of the Virgin, a souvenir of a pilgrimage to Halle (Brabant), a favorite destination of pilgrims from the Brussels court. So he’s a practicing Catholic, integrated into court life.  Surviving records suggest he is one of Emperor Charles V’s bodyguards, since records describe a Christophle le More--an elite archer--attending the monarch. 

Anyway, I love art history!  (I’m in good company, right Steve?)

Hope you enjoyed seeing this!  

Portrait of an African Man (Christophle le More?), Jan Jansz Mostaert, c. 1525 - c. 1530 

[bertievi]

80 years ago today:

The coronation of Albert Frederick Arthur George Windsor. 

He officially became:

His Majesty, King George VI of the United Kingdom, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the seas, Defender of the Faith and Emperor of India

Wearing the Crimson Robes and adorned with the Imperial Mantle, he entered the Abbey and his coronation began. He was sat upon the Chair of Estate as the Archbishop administered the oath. Though the bishops who were supposed to hold out the words for the King could not find the correct page as the King knelt before the altar with his hand on the King James Bible, the Archbishop had offered out his own copy but later documents written by Albert reveal that the Archbishop had accidentally placed his thumbs over the words Albert was supposed to recite back to him, though luckily, he was familiar with them himself.

Once the oath was completed correctly, he was presented with the King James Bible from the Archbishop, which was decreed as him receiving ‘wisdom and royal law’. As the communion came to a purposefully interrupted end, the Crimson Robe was removed and he proceeded to the Coronation Chair as the anointing of the King began.

The ancient ritual placed the King in the centre of a covered medieval mosaic in Westminster Abbey which is adorned with precious stones and gems, marble and glass which were believed to give the monarch all the special powers the crown represented, though experts are still trying to work out the symbolism puzzles around it. At its centre sits a circular marble stone which holds similarity to the depictions of the ‘universe’ from so long ago as a representation that the monarch is crowned in the centre of the universe by the Grace of God. It serves as a reminder that their right to rule, duty and very life is to serve God. It is on this stone that Albert sat upon Edward I’s throne atop the Stone of Scone, as a sort of acceptance of such a call.

It is there that the anointing of the King took place. The Dean of the Abbey poured out the consecrated oil into the filligreed spoon. The Archbishop anointed him in the shape of a cross across his hands, head and heart. It symbolises being set apart for a purpose and equips the monarch with the grace to tackle the task and trials ahead.

Next was the investing, he was enrobed in the colobium sindonis, over which was placed the supertunica upon that ancient stage before the alter. The armills were placed upon his wrists representing England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales as were the gold bracelets of sincerity and wisdom. St George’s Spurs were brushed against his ankles by the Lord Great Chamberlain as the emblems chivalry, the Archbishop handed him the Sword of State, a recognition of his role as head of the armed forces. Though when the Lord Great Chamberlain attempted to attach it to his belt, he nearly smacked the hilt into the King’s chin. Albert himself corrected the blade and attached it properly. (I don’t know about you but given WWII that’s one hell of a thing to happen symbolically). Once it was recognised, the sword was removed as the ceremony continued.

He was adored with Robe Royal and Stole Royal, religious symbols of his devotion to God and symbols of his position as Head of the Church of England, before he was handed The Sovereign's Orb, his recognition of a Christian world. As fast as it was handed to him, it was taken away as the The Sovereign’s Ring was placed upon his finger, symbolising his marriage to the nation. Next he was handed The Rod of Equity, a sceptre with a dove on top which endowed him with peace in his left hand. Then The Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross was put in his right hand, which brought him mercy.

While he was left still holding those sceptres, the Archbishop retrieved St Edward’s Crown and after a prayer, went with the Dean and other high ranking bishops back to the waiting King. There was a delay when the archbishop could not find the thread that marked the back of the crown, he turned and examined it but could see no thread, yet placed the crown upon Albert’s head regardless and said another prayer. George VI had been crowned King.

After the benediction, George VI stood to head towards his throne, unsure if his crown would remain on his head as he did so. To his discomfort, he felt a tug at his robes and noticed that one of the bishops was stood on it. The King did not hesitate to tell him to ‘get off’ which he said rather sharply. Though by that point, Albert apparently felt protected. He later told the Archbishop that he had something of a religious experience in that he felt ‘no fear as ‘Someone Else’ was with him throughout the proceedings.

Members of the peerage who were present paid homage to the King one by one, next was the clergy which did so together lead by the Archbishop. Then his mother, daughters, and siblings paid homage individually. He watched a much shorter ceremony for his wife Elizabeth whom was anointed, invested, crowned and enthroned as well.

Once his wife was recognised as Queen Consort, he proceeded into St Edward’s Chapel, followed by the bearers of the Sword of State previously mentioned, Sword of Spiritual Justice, Sword of Temporal Justice, and the Sword of Mercy (named: Curtana, and famously has a blunted tip). The swords represent the virtues of the King. He was able to take off St Edward’s Crown, the bracelets, the Robe Royal and Stole Royal, which were then replaced by the purple surcoat and the Imperial Robe of Purple velvet. On his head was placed the Imperial State Crown and in his hands he carried the Sovereign’s Orb and the Sovereign’s Sceptre before he headed back down the Abbey to return to Buckingham Palace in a Royal Procession.

Later he was to give an eight minute coronation speech, broadcast live to his people at home and abroad, it read as follows:

“It is with a very full heart I speak to you tonight. Never before has a newly crowned King been able to talk to all his peoples in their own homes on the day of his coronation. Never has the ceremony itself had so wider significance for the dominions are now free and equal partners with this ancient kingdom. And I felt this morning that the whole empire was in very truth, gathered within the walls of Westminster Abby. I rejoice that I can now speak to you all wherever you may be.

“As greeting old friends in distant lands and as I hope new friends in those parts where it has not yet been my good fortune to go, in this personal way, the Queen and I wish health and happiness to you all. And we do not forget at this time of celebration those who are living under the shadow of sickness or distress. Their example of courage and good citizenship is always before us and to them I would send a special message of sympathy and good cheer.

“I cannot find words with which to thank you for your love and loyalty to the Queen and myself. For your goodwill in the streets today and your countless messages from overseas and from every quarter of these islands have filled our hearts to overflowing. I will only say this; that if in the coming years I can show my gratitude in service to you, that is a way above all others that I should choose.

“To many millions the crown is a symbol of unity by the Grace of God and by the will of the free peoples of the British commonwealth I have assumed that crown. In me as your king invested for a time of a duty of maintaining its honour and integrity, for it is indeed a grave and constant responsibility. But it gave me confidence to see your representatives around me in the Abby and to know that you too were enabled to join in that infinitely a beautiful ceremony. Its outward forms come down from distant times but its inner meaning and message are always anew for the highest of distinctions is the service of others. And to the ministry of kingship I have in your caring dedicated myself with the Queen at my side in words of the deepest solemnity, we will, God helping us, faithfully discharge our trust.

“Those of you who are children now will I hope retain a memory of a day of carefree happiness such as I still have the day of my grandfather’s coronation. In the years to come some of you will travel from one part of the Commonwealth to another and moving that within the family circle will meet many who sought our colours by the same memories whose hearts unite in devotion to our common heritage. You will learn I hope how much our pre-association means to us, how much our friendship with each other and with all other nations on earth pick up the cause of peace and progress.

“The Queen and I will always keep in our hearts the inspiration of this day. May we ever be worthy of the goodwill which I am proud to think surrounds us at the outset of my reign. I thank you from my heart and may God bless you all.”