19th century Philippine Halberd from Spanish Colonial Guard

[mdp10003]

The Albarderos were the personal bodyguards of the Spanish Captain-General (Governor) in the colonial times in the Philippines.

Actually, the Guardias del Virreyes operated in Spanish colonies in Latin America. I found out from the book "Legislación militar aplicada al ejército de Filipinas" published in 1879 that in Spanish Philippines, the guards were the Guardias de Albarderos del Real Sello (Halberdier Guards of the Royal Seal), which operated from 1589-1867. They were replaced in 1874 until presumably the end of the Spanish colonial regime in 1898 by the Guardias del Capitan General (Guards of the Captain-General).

In both cases, they were a small unit (20-30 men), who were drawn from the best soldiers in the regular army and were entrusted with protection of the governor. Two halberdiers usually accompanied the governor (with their halberds) when he left the palace.

[Battara]

I saw these earlier - nice picture and great info. Thanks!

[mdp10003]

I was contacted over the weekend by the deputy director of the National Museum of the Philippines, and they are very interested in acquiring at least one of the halberd heads I was fortunate enough to win in auction. I am leaning towards donating one to the National Museum, where they can find their way home in Manila. I am just doing due diligence to see if they really need this in their collection, and what its likely fate would be in their collection. (Sorry, Robert).

[KraVseR]

Thanks! I find few images, this is Alabarderos de la Guardia del Virrey or not?

[mdp10003]

I am not certain - they are certainly Albarderos, but probably not Virreyes (which means viceroy), since that unit was discontinued.

[Battara]

Yes check on what the museums will do. I was told that some of my things should go to a museum other there as national treasures (according to Antique Road Show) but not now since they may go in through the front door and out the back door!

[David]

This may be one of the fellows you are looking for since he is carrying your halberd.

[David]

Not to dissuade you further, but while this is certainly part of the history of the Philippines in colonial times, were these not Spanish weapons welded by Spanish guards? Were they more likely to have been forged in the Philippines or Spain? By Europeans of Filipinos?
You would also be right to investigate exactly what they actually need in their collections and what the fate of this piece would be in their hands. I was just doing some research and was greatly disappointed to discover that while the Metropolitan Museum of Art has about 200 keris in their arms & armory collection not a single one of them is actually on display (and only about a half dozen have been photographed for their online collections gallery). Also, many museums have notoriously paid rather poor attention to the care and maintenance of their edged weapons collections, especially when they end up in draws in the basement instead of on display.