Auction 61
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Auction: Monday, May 2, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
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Lot Nr.3606

A rare sword from the Battle of Castillon 1453.

Found in Castillon-la-Bataille. Slender tapered blade with a central ridge on both sides. A copper inlaid mark on one side. The edges with losses due to corrosion. Straight cross-guard of round section with drop-shaped finials, and remnants of organic material at the joint with the balde, probably from a leather gasket. Robust tang with a massive fish tail pommel. Total length 114 cm, largest width of blade 4.8 cm.
Provenance: Dordogne or Lidoire in the vicinity of Castillon-la-Bataille. To date, 80 swords of medieval origin have been found at this site.
The Battle of Castillon put an end to the so-called "Hundred Years' War" between France and England. On 17 July 1453, the 60-year-old English commander Talbot ordered to attack the French position south of Castillon after receiving false information that the enemy was retreating and that an epidemic had broken out in the camp. However, the English attack failed, Talbot and his son were killed, and the remaining survivors tried to take flight in panic.
Cf. E. Oakeshott, "A river-find of 15th century swords", in Blankwaffen - Festschrift Hugo Schneider zum 65. Geburtstag 1982 (the type corresponds to no. 10/11) as well as E. Oakeshott, "Further notes on a River-Find of 15th Century Swords" in Park Lane Arms Fair catalogue 1984 and L. Thompson in "The sword treasure trove" in Man at Arms, Lincoln USA, August 1997.

Condition: III Limit: 20000 EURO
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