Hungarian Hussar sabres and Esterhazy

Jim McDougall · 24th February 2019, 06:26 AM

Thanks very much Glen for this additional insight, and notes on the five and seven ball hilts. I suspect you are right in that there were cross influences between Hungarian and French hussar sabres as we have found there were branches of the Esterhazy 'house' in France.
As always the 'plot' thickens!

Victrix · 24th February 2019, 12:08 PM

I’m not sure the decorations on the swords posted by Glen are intended to be the same variety as on Austro-Hungarian sabres from the 18thC. The balls (are they said to be ”pearls” in this context?) are combined with what appears to be some sort of foliage. This foliage may well represent a laurel of bay leaves which in Greek mythology is a sign of victory (Apollo), and in Roman days a sign of position. Napoleon wore a laurel wreath crown of gold when he was crowned ”Empereur”. In ancient Rome great scholars were also awarded laurel wreaths and the words ”baccalaureate” and ”bachelor” are apparently derived from the word baccalaureus, or laurel berry. Are the balls decorating Gen’s swords in fact laurel berries or olives, and are these also decorating Austro-Hungarian sabres from the 18thC?

The area of Hungary West of River Danube was a Roman province called Pannonia. Even today one can trace Roman symbolism in Hungarian culture. Some of this was sometimes clearly expressed during the period of neo-classisism in Hungarian arms in the 19thC. But given the different time periods and lack of foliage I think the decorations may show different objects.

24th February 2019, 12:08 PM	#2
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 755	I’m not sure the decorations on the swords posted by Glen are intended to be the same variety as on Austro-Hungarian sabres from the 18thC. The balls (are they said to be ”pearls” in this context?) are combined with what appears to be some sort of foliage. This foliage may well represent a laurel of bay leaves which in Greek mythology is a sign of victory (Apollo), and in Roman days a sign of position. Napoleon wore a laurel wreath crown of gold when he was crowned ”Empereur”. In ancient Rome great scholars were also awarded laurel wreaths and the words ”baccalaureate” and ”bachelor” are apparently derived from the word baccalaureus, or laurel berry. Are the balls decorating Gen’s swords in fact laurel berries or olives, and are these also decorating Austro-Hungarian sabres from the 18thC? The area of Hungary West of River Danube was a Roman province called Pannonia. Even today one can trace Roman symbolism in Hungarian culture. Some of this was sometimes clearly expressed during the period of neo-classisism in Hungarian arms in the 19thC. But given the different time periods and lack of foliage I think the decorations may show different objects. Attached Images

24th February 2019, 06:26 AM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,562	Thanks very much Glen for this additional insight, and notes on the five and seven ball hilts. I suspect you are right in that there were cross influences between Hungarian and French hussar sabres as we have found there were branches of the Esterhazy 'house' in France. As always the 'plot' thickens!