Chronological listing of Polish-Lithuanian and Hungarian sabers

[Teisani]

7 - "Gothic" sabre (1470?-1520?) at the Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum Budapest

This is probably the oldest Hungarian sabre known. It also has the earliest depiction of a hussar, on the scabbard. Most likely originaly Ottoman sabre (from 1470-1500?), later (probably during the 1510s) its scabbard was modified to incorporate the hussar depiction. Another reason to classify this as Hungarian rather than Ottoman is the representation of Adam & Eve on the scabbard. So not much is known about this one. The best source of info on this one, I've found is "SZABLYÁK A KÉSŐ KÖZÉPKORI MAGYARORSZÁGON by KOVÁCS S. Tibor" https://library.hungaricana.hu/en/vi...g=270&layout=s

There are a few other ottoman swords with similar hilts around the world (Turkey, Russia, and USA).

[Teisani]

8 - Szikszó sabre

Discovered in Szikszó, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Hungary. Currently resides at the Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum, Budapest. Can find no other info on it.

https://sites.google.com/site/hagyom...zablya-szikszo

[Teisani]

9 - Bebek György sabre

Bebek György (lived 1529-1567), became a prisoner of the Ottomans in 1562 but was released in 1565 from captivity and given this sabre by sultan Suleiman I the Magnificent.

For his own salvation, György Bebek secretly offered Hally Pasha, who had contact with the Luminous Padisah, 50 Turkish prisoners, 10 thousand gold ducats, and many silver and gold adornments, which his worried wife, Mistress Zsófia Patócsy, sent to the Porta in Stambul. As a result of this "carrot", George Bebek was led from his place of detention to the Divan, the highest political center of the Ottoman Empire, on March 6, 1565. He was dressed in an expensive kaftan so that he could pay homage to the Sultan in a dignified manner. Bebek kissed the hand of Suleiman I, who sternly urged him to be a supporter of his Hungarian vassal, John Sigismund, and served him afterwards. At Suleiman's behest, the court officials brought forth a splendid Arabian thoroughbred, which was surrounded by a shiny, expensive horse tool. Other pashas gave him another four horses. In order not to go home as a beggar, bags of money were placed in the pockets of his robes, totalling 10 thousand ospora (aka acpe, Turkish silver coins). Among the gifts was handed over a superb saber, the main character of this article.

The blade has an inscription: Amel-i Mohammed Misri (the work of Mohammed of Egypt)
Total Length: 94cm
Blade width: 3.3cm
Weight with scabbard: 2kg

Source: https://www.szadvar.hu/2021/07/bebek-gyorgy-szablyaja/

[Teisani]

9 - Bebek György sabre (continued)

Personal opinion...Bebek's sabre seems to be a typical (my estimates 1540s to 1590s) boot hilt, with wire wrap, long quillons (about same length as the handle). Yet it was a gift from the Sultan. The question is whether:
- the Sultan had craftsmen that could make Hungarian style hilts.
- it was a looted by the Ottomans, later gifted to Bebek.
- the sabre's original hilt and scabbard was changed later between the 1565 (release date) and 1567 (year of death). My opinion no likely but who knows.

Really interesting... Bebek's sabre looks very, very similar to this sabre in Sultan Mehmed IV (1642 – 1693) portrait in 1682. I really wonder if this painting is authentic (no idea if yes or no), or why would the Sultan be wearing a Hungarian sabre, 100 years out of date. Really strange! Anybody else have any idea/opinions about this painting?

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehmed...med_IV_(2).jpg

[Teisani]

10 - Knyaz (prince) Fyodor Mikhailovich Mstislavsky (? - 1540)

This one is a Muskovite sabre, reminescent a bit of some sabres depicted in the "Battle of Orsha" painting. On the blade's spine there is the incription "Сабля Князь Федора Михайловича Мстиславскаго/Saber of Prince Fyodor Mikhailovich Mstislavsky". The blade is made by "Abdul-Ali Qasim from Egypt". Looks like a typical Ottoman sabre of the era, except for the flat end-cap.
Total length: 102cm --- Blade length: 86.36cm --- Blade width: 5.65cm (8cm at the yelman) --- Thickness: 0.8-1cm --- Quillon: 22cm --- Languettes: 10cm --- Weight with scabbard: 2.6kg
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Мстисл...ич
https://pikabu.ru/story/istinno_boga...vskogo_4919872
https://mayak-parnasa.livejournal.com/1227109.html

[Teisani]

11 - Two more Muscovy sabres? They look a bit like some of the sabres in the "Battle of Orsha painting".

[Teisani]

12 - Ottoman/Mamluk sabre (probably from early or mid 16th century??).. It's hilt is reminiscent of some sabres depicted in some portraits, like Jan Zamoyski's (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Za...n_Zamoyski.PNG) & Jan Daniłowicz's(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Da..._Ruthenia).PNG). Portraits also posted above.

The blade is very similar in nature to a group of 15th-century blades which have been housed in the imperial armoury in Istanbul for centuries, which are all identified as being Mamluk in origin. These swords would have been brought back to the capital city by Ottoman forces after they had battled the Mamluk armies in Syria and Egypt during the late 15th and early 16th centuries, ultimately defeating them at Ridanieh in 1517. (See U. Yucel, Islamic Swords and Swordsmiths (Istanbul, U.I.C. Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture, 2001), pp.93-113 for various published examples from this group of slightly curved swords with blades of Mamluk provenance and hilts attached later by Ottoman craftsmen, all part of the collection held in Topkapi Palace.) The blades were later remounted with a variety of different hilt forms by Ottoman craftsmen. It is likely that this sword received the same treatment and was refitted with furniture made to appeal to Turkish taste. The foliate ornamentation on the metal fittings is typical of the style present on many of the weapons and objects of decorative art emerging from the workshops of the Ottoman court during the 16th century. The empty indentations visible on the mounts would probably have housed precious or semi-precious stones. The hilt, scabbard clasps and chape closely resemble another set attached to one of the sacred swords in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul which is said to have been associated with 'Abu'l Hasene (Abu Hasan), scribe of the Prophet of God’, and is thought to have been remounted by court craftsmen around 1560. The hilt form with its long spatulate quillons is similar to others produced and illustrated during the reign of Suleiman I (Suleiman the Magnificent), Sultan of the Ottoman Empire 1520-1566. (See Ricketts and Missillier, 'Splendeur Des Armes Orientales' (Paris: Acte-Expo, 1988), p.157.)

Blade Length 817 mm
Scabbard Length 830 mm
Scabbard Weight 0.457 kg
Sword Length 960 mm
Sword Weight 1.154 kg

Source:https://collections.royalarmouries.o...c-object-31132