Sword Sancho IV

Sancho IV of Castile (1258-1295), nicknamed "el Bravo", proclaimed himself king of Castile and León in the Cathedral of Toledo (1284) on the death of his father, King Alfonso X, despite having been disinherited due to disagreements with he. He married María de Molina who would play an important role in her husband"s reign and during the minority of her son Fernando.

He died in Toledo (1295), aged 37, a victim of consumption, being buried in the Chapel of Santa Cruz of the Cathedral of Toledo that the same command to erect. In its place, Cardinal Cisneros (15th century) placed the main chapel of the Cathedral and moved the remains to the mausoleum on the side of the Epistle of the Presbytery carved by Diego de Copín.

The remains of King Sancho IV they were located in an archaeological exploration looking for the remains of Sancho II of Portugal (1947). They were mummified, in good condition, wearing a Franciscan habit, fastened at the waist by a Franciscan cord. The sovereign, who must have been over two meters tall during his lifetime, wore a silver-gilt crown adorned with Roman cameos and sapphires. Next to the corpse was a sword, with a gilded handle, and an inscription was engraved on the blade of the sword, of which only a few fragments were preserved, the blade being rusty in some parts. The length of the sword, which does not correspond to the high stature of the sovereign, and some documentary reference to the crown of his grandfather Ferdinand III suggest that he would have received both pieces by inheritance.

The sword

It is an important find, it is a classic rapier from the Middle Ages, 13th century, cut and pointed.

The sword was found in an excellent state of preservation. It is a sumptuous weapon for its time, worthy of a Castilian monarch. There is no mark or stamp of the swordsmith who forged it, since this custom was later among swordsmiths.

It is on public display in the Tapestry Museum of the Toledo Cathedral, along with the crown and the pillow of the same trousseau.

- Blade-Highlights the fineness of the carving and mirror polishing

Mount- Classic cross mount with slightly curved drooping arms and lobed pommel.
- Cross- A rich ornamentation is chiselled on both sides, possibly an Arabic inscription that is repeated without order.
- Fist- The decoration of the fist matches the rest of the weapon and the coat of arms of Castilla y León

Dadas the dimensions of the fist correspond to the hand of a man of medium build, so Sancho IV, judging by his remains, was a frankly tall man. This makes one wonder if the sword, as well as the crown, was inherited from his father as was customary.

- Pommel- All chiseled, displaying beautiful Arabian lacework on the two circles of its faces and on the lateral surfaces of the cones the same motifs as on the cross are repeated

- Total Length: 102 cm / 41 inches

Exclusive high-quality sword from the “Historical Swords” Collection manufactured by MARTO®

Certificate of Origin and Quality, Made in Toledo