The Sword of Saint Maurice

This long and slender single handed sword is a reproduction of the one housed in Vienna that dates from the late 11th to early 12th Centuries. This version of the sword leaves behind the likely later additions to the grip and envisions what an earlier version of the sword may have looked like. Certainly a coronation sword of the Holy Roman Empire the hilt is adorned with the Arms of the Empire eagle crest on one side of the pommel and the personal arms of Otto IV (1198-1218) on the other. The guard is engraved with 'CHRISTUS VINCIT, CHRISTUS REGNAT, CHRISTUS IMPERAT.' (Christ Conquers, Christ Reigns, Christ Rules) used in an antiphon of the coronation anthem as well as a war cry used in the Third Crusade. A solid wood core scabbard is included.