Late Medieval Magistrate’s Sword from the Collections of Buchlov State Castle

Abstract

The collections of Buchlov State Castle include, among other things, a richly decorated late medieval long-sword that can be, based on its overall character, including maker’s marks on its blade, reliably interpreted as a so-called magistrate’s sword made around the turn of the 16th century in Passau, Bavaria. This article discusses the nature of its decoration in comparison with other similar preserved Central European magistrates’ swords of Passau provenance, as well as both the practical and symbolic function of these weapons.