Neopolitan Schiavona of Third Coalition 1793-1806

[Jim McDougall]

This vintage schiavona of early to mid 18th c. I believe is likely one used by an officer of the Third Coalition, and quite possibly of Calabrian regions of Naples. These regions, particularly Reggio Calabria, Scilla, Bagnara and Palmi were fiercely loyal to the Bourbons, and were coastally proximate to the Sicilian coast.

During the turmoil of the French Revolution (1789) and subsequent revolutionary campaigns of Napoleons forces, many are unware of the remarkable scope of these actions, which indeed extended into Italy.

FERDINAND I (1751-1825) was the son of Charles III, and when his father became King of Spain in 1759, a regency was formed placing him as KING FERDINAND IV OF NAPLES and FERDINAND III OF SICILY. He was 8 years old.

In 1767 when he reached majority, he married Maria Carolina of Austria.

In 1793, Maria Carolina brought Naples into Austro-English alliance against the Revolutionary armies.
By 1799 Ferdinand, supported by Horation Nelson's naval force invaded Naples dismantling the French 'Parthenonian Republic'

The THIRD COALITION was formed with UK, Portugal, Holy Roman Empire (Maria Caroline was Austrian), Russia, Sweden, Naples and Sicily.

After Napoleons defeat of Russo-Austrian forces of this coalition in 1805 at Austerlitz, his forces moved through and took over northern Italian states, then on to Naples.

With this, Ferdinand and Maria Caroline were escorted to Sicily by Admiral Nelson, where they remained until Napoleon was defeated in 1815.
On his return to Naples, Ferdinand declared himself King of the Two Sicilies in 1816.However......it was as FERDINAND I !!! of the Two Sicilies (Naples & Sicily).


This is where all this complex geopolitical turbulence and monarchial madness bring the inscription on this blade into a conundrum.

For those of you still holding on:
This is a vintage form of the schiavona, of the trellis forms of c.1700-1740s probably later as newer forms appear around 1760s.

With the contributions of Udo, Keith and Fernando(RIP) these ideas seem compellingly plausible.

Fernando posted a sword, not schiavona, but with the FERDINAND IV OF THE TWO SICILIES etched on the blade. Best of all, a stamped regimental mark shows the sword to ROYAL REGIMENT OF MACEDONIA, which indicates Third Coalition.

It is noted that this regiment was comprised of Albanians and Macedonians. The Calibrian regions regions of Naples were primarily Greek settled, so these groups of course notably present. Again, these people were fiercely loyal to Ferdinand IV (of Naples) as their king. So as Ferdinand IV he was known, and the Sicilian designated title simply incorporated into TWO SICILIES.

My sword and the one posted gratefully by the late Fernando, show that this convention of inscribing blades with FERNANDO IV was indeed in place at the time of the THIRD COALITION.

So it may be presumed this much older schiavona was likely a heirloom, enlisted into service by a Neopolitan officer, most likely Calibrian, in the times and events of the Third Coalition forces c. 1805-06, and the blade etched accordingly in fervent loyalty to their king.