FAMOUS WEAPONS WITH PROVENANCE

[fernando]

Sword of Portuguese hero Dom Nuno Alvares Pereira 1360-1431.
Military Constable of the Kingdom for Dom João I, he played the major rule that defined Portuguese indepence continuity, in the decisive battle of Aljubarrota in 1385 (among others). The compensations of Dom João for his victories were so vast that he became one of the richest men in Portugal. He was the founder of the House of Braganza, at the time one of the richest in Europe.
Having later decided to devote his life to religion, he rejected all his wealth and retired to the Convent of Carmo in 1423, to be a monk, where he stayed until he died with 71 years.
He was beatified by the Pope Bento XV in 1918 and recently canonized by Pope Bento XVI in 2009.
Having this sword been found among the wreckage of the convent after the 1755 earthquake, the monks decided that it should be held by the hand of Saint Elias image, during the anual Corpus Cristi procession. As it appeared to be too large for the purpose, the monks decided to cut off part of the blade.
Only in 1854 King Dom Pedro IV ordered its transfer to the Royal Archives, where it stayed until 1915, when it was moved to the Military Museum.
With a 7 cms. blade width and a (present) weight of 2400 grams, it is noticeable the number of perforations made to make it lighter for battle.
Images kindly provided fo this purpose by Ensign Officer Ana Soares of the Military Museu.

.