Sword of State
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A sword of state is a sword, used as part of the regalia, symbolizing the power of a monarch (or their constitutional government) to use the might of the state against its enemies, and their duty to preserve thus right and peace.
It is known to be used in following monarchies (list probably incomplete) :
- Reichsschwert of the Holy Roman Empire[citation needed]
- Kingdom of Denmark, see Danish crown regalia
- Joyeuse, used for the sacre of the king of France. Reputed to be the sword of Charlemagne.
- Kingdom of Hungary[1]
- Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary
- Kingdom of England, later Great Britain
- Kingdom of the Netherlands, see Dutch Royal Regalia (made in 1840 for enthronements)
- Kingdom of Scotland, see Honours of Scotland
- Kingdom of Sweden, where it is the oldest of the Vasa regalia
- The former Kingdom of the Isle of Man (now a crown dependency), bearing the triskelion symbol, annually used on Tynwald Day
- The Transcaucasian Kingdom of Georgia
- The sword of Osman, given to Sultans of the Ottoman Empire;
- Kusanagi, kept by the Emperor of Japan;[2]
- In the former sultanate of the Maldives, being invested on the Monarch in a traditional gong ceremony
- Also in the Malay world, notably in
By analogy, it can even be used in republics, as in the Senate of the state of South Carolina in the United States of America.
[edit] References
- ^ Hastings, James. encyclopedia of religion and ethics, 635.
- ^ Websters
[edit] See also
- Sword of Justice - similar part of regalia
- Ceremonial weapons - several types can be part of regalia
- Sword of the State - a title

