Help needed - sword with inscription "Frincia"

Jim McDougall · 4th July 2008, 05:20 AM

Just looked in Wagner, "Cut and Thrust Weapons", 1967:
p.348-349, in plate 32 is a 'FRINGIA' hussar sabre of 18th c. Austria, with the word engraved on one side of blade, a sun and half moon with human faces between two stars. The author offers some interesting speculation on the source for the word, suggesting the Latin word 'frangere' (=to break, smash) but this seems unlikely. Also offered are initials from regal titles,
FRedericus (III, Holy Roman Emperor 1415-93) Rex (Hungariae) IN Germania Imperator Augustus. ....but this seems reaching!
It is noted that this term and its variations Frindia, Francia occur on 17th and 18th c. blades, used in Poland and Hungary, and even occurs as early as on the sword of King of Poland Stephen Bathory (1532-1586).

While nothing conclusive on the origin of the term, it seems clear that it is well established on Hungarian and Polish swords from 16th-18th c. in a number of variants. It would appear this may be an East European version of the Andrea Ferrara mystery!!

4th July 2008, 05:20 AM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Just looked in Wagner, "Cut and Thrust Weapons", 1967: p.348-349, in plate 32 is a 'FRINGIA' hussar sabre of 18th c. Austria, with the word engraved on one side of blade, a sun and half moon with human faces between two stars. The author offers some interesting speculation on the source for the word, suggesting the Latin word 'frangere' (=to break, smash) but this seems unlikely. Also offered are initials from regal titles, FRedericus (III, Holy Roman Emperor 1415-93) Rex (Hungariae) IN Germania Imperator Augustus. ....but this seems reaching! It is noted that this term and its variations Frindia, Francia occur on 17th and 18th c. blades, used in Poland and Hungary, and even occurs as early as on the sword of King of Poland Stephen Bathory (1532-1586). While nothing conclusive on the origin of the term, it seems clear that it is well established on Hungarian and Polish swords from 16th-18th c. in a number of variants. It would appear this may be an East European version of the Andrea Ferrara mystery!!