Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim McDougall
Curious, I looked further online and having wondered how this Austrian weapon had come into Algeria, as noted it was likely captured in the important siege in 1683 by the Ottomans. Apparently these were glaives which were polearms distinct to the Hartschieren-Leibgarde in Austria from 16th c. well into 17th as traditional arms in these units and distinct from the others with halberds.
One auction entry described an example with the sequential number 74, which appears to have been the highest number recorded (as per Leibrstkammer in Vienna). Thus perhaps these may have been limited to that number and used traditionally for some time prior to the presumed 1683 capture, and interesting in the presumed 1663 production of this one.
Again compounding the intriguing background of this example!
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Thank you again, Jim. I really appreciate you taking the time to look further into its background. The connection with the Hartschieren-Leibgarde and the possibility that these glaives entered Ottoman hands following the events of 1683 is certainly a compelling avenue of research. It would provide a very plausible explanation for how an Austrian court weapon eventually found its way into Ottoman Algiers.
I also found the sequential numbering particularly interesting. If these weapons were indeed produced in relatively limited numbers for a specific corps, it makes surviving examples all the more significant. It’s fascinating how each new piece of information seems to add another layer to the history of this remarkable glaive.