Brazilian Imperial Swords
Jan 23, 2023 20:45:29 GMT
Post by Jonathas Nunes on Jan 23, 2023 20:45:29 GMT
Hi, Today I will talk about Brazilian swords. More especific, Brazilian Imperial period swords. If this is not in the right topic, please tell me that I will move to the correct place.
I'm a brazilian collector and basically only swords used in here interests me. I have few years of collection and do not have all that I want. Some pics are from my collection and some are from the internet.
But, to show and understand when and where there were the Brazilian swords and sabers used, I need to add the historical context.
In 1808 King Dom João VI of Portugal flee from Napoleon to Brazil (the colony) and begins to reign from here. Suddenly, Brazil stops been just a colony and became the capital of the whole Portuguese empire. And Brazil it self became a kingdom with its own court and laws.
At this time, we basically used english model swords. The most famous is the 1796 Light Cavalry Saber. But at this point, theres really no regulation that is very restrictive. So the german Blucher and other similar sabers where imported and used.
One of the variations of the 1796LC very curved saber were very famous and called "rooster tail".
Other swords were also imported and used here like the English 1796 heavy calvary saber.
The "militia sword". This type of sword is relatively common in museums, although it is rare in the hand of collectors. It usually has an 18th century rapier blade, with a example in the National Historical Museum of a model dating from 1704. A new guard is placed on this blade, in the so-called “stirrup” way, with a “D” format.
In 1821 Dom João VI backs to Portugal because of the pression of the Portuguese court. And his Son Dom Pedro I stays here. In this time, The Portuguese court starts to pressure to reduce Brazil status to just a simple colony again wich was revolting the people too. In 1822 Dom Pedro I declared the Independence and became the first Emperor. The Emperor composes the Imperial National Anthem (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1lM0XmQxg0).
At that time, the 1796LC and its variations are still in use and were the Sabers used by the Guard of Honour in the moment of the Independence.
It was stabilsh the Mameluke Saber to Army Generals. And also stablish a 1822 pattern saber to the officers. But the 1796LC and variations continues to be used. Our Navy was also founded this year. And the firsts Officers dress swords from the navy was a smallsword (sometimes with a old rapier blade). But all the regulations were loose and that allowed for much variation. If you understand Portuguese or have curiosity to see a video in dept of this subject I'm leaving here a link about the variation on the Navy Swords of that time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFNh94D6F8Q).
In 1831 Pedro I leaves Brazil to fight against his brother in Portugal and is stablished the Regency Period until his son Pedro II gets legal age to rule. This marks also the new pattern for swords of the army. Infantry and Cavalry. This model has some variations, with curved blades, straight blades, double edge blades and with or without any Imperial symbols (the Officer sword often have a brasilian imperial cout of arms).
Because the country was past to sevaral types of problems and in need of a king figure, to pacify the people and the politicians. In 1840 starts the reign of Dom Pedro II with 14 years old. In 1852 we have new patterns for army infantry and cavalry swords. Still based in english swords, but these with more detailed regulations and the majority with the Emperor symbol or Brazil Imperial cout of arms. In 1852 was also stablish the Armys musicians short sword.
In 1856 we have a new regulation for the Officers Navy swords that are just 1845 pattern British navy sabers. And around this time and after we also have the naval Cutlass used by the navy men.
In 1864 begins the war against the Paraguay. Paraguay was ruled by a republican dictator that wants, amoung other things, to invande Brazil and was having much problems with Argentina and Uruguay (part of Brazil in the time). Dom Pedro II starts the war and was prohibited to go to the battles. So he signed himself as part of the homeland vollunteers.
In general, the swords used was the current pattern. So 1852 armys pattern swords.
In the need to more weapons, the army imported several bayonete swords and diverse firearms to infantry.
One group of Bahia region called "Zuavos Baianos" was formed by many men wich a good part was black free men and the swords used by them were the French Briquet Saber.
In 1881 a new pattern of cavalry saber was determined. Simpler and just marked the Emperor's PII symbol.
During all the Imperial time several diffent types of smallswords/court swords was used in the courts. Swords with imperial symbol or just comercial swords from catalog.
In 1888 the Isabel Princess, daughter of Pedro II freed the slaves while Pedro was traveling in Europe. The whole family was aways against the slavary and they created several laws in past decades to dimish and free slaves. The Free Womb Law (all people are born free), the Sexagenarian law (free after 60 years of age). The whole idea was to free all the slaves progressively without provoking a civil war.
But in 1889 a group of old slaves owners was really pist off with the Emperor. And he was also having problems with the Church because he accepted the Masons. Besides, the military was filled of posivistic ideology and they wanted the power, also inspired by the french revolution. So in 15 of november happend a Republican Coup without the knowllegde or support of the people.
In this time we have what we called "Converted Swords", the transitional swords from Imperial to Republic. Many of the imperial swords in used was "converted" to republican swords. And this were done in several forms, one was scraping the imperial symbols on the Guards and Blades (sometimes just the guard), other was complet removal of the symbol and other was fixing (or carving) some republican star over the imperial crown.
Dom Pedro II "the magnanimous". Emperor of Brazil, intellectual man, speeked fluently 7 idioms. A respected man by all the European royalty and even president Lincoln. Man that brought many advancements and tecnology to the country. One of the richest and promissing countrys of the time suffered a coup that put us in a very bad direction.
A couple of days later Dom Pedro II and his family was expelled in late night to Europe by the military without the most part of the people even know. Before enter the boat Pedro II grabs a little of sand and store it in a cloth to take a little of your beloved land with him.
Pedro II dies in Paris in 1891, 2 years after the coup. In his bedroom was found a box with sand and writed "It's my country's sand. May it be placed in my coffin if I die outside my homeland."
Around 1890 and 1894 begins the firsts patterns and regulations for the republican swords. But I treat that in another post.
I'm a brazilian collector and basically only swords used in here interests me. I have few years of collection and do not have all that I want. Some pics are from my collection and some are from the internet.
But, to show and understand when and where there were the Brazilian swords and sabers used, I need to add the historical context.
In 1808 King Dom João VI of Portugal flee from Napoleon to Brazil (the colony) and begins to reign from here. Suddenly, Brazil stops been just a colony and became the capital of the whole Portuguese empire. And Brazil it self became a kingdom with its own court and laws.
At this time, we basically used english model swords. The most famous is the 1796 Light Cavalry Saber. But at this point, theres really no regulation that is very restrictive. So the german Blucher and other similar sabers where imported and used.
One of the variations of the 1796LC very curved saber were very famous and called "rooster tail".
Other swords were also imported and used here like the English 1796 heavy calvary saber.
The "militia sword". This type of sword is relatively common in museums, although it is rare in the hand of collectors. It usually has an 18th century rapier blade, with a example in the National Historical Museum of a model dating from 1704. A new guard is placed on this blade, in the so-called “stirrup” way, with a “D” format.
In 1821 Dom João VI backs to Portugal because of the pression of the Portuguese court. And his Son Dom Pedro I stays here. In this time, The Portuguese court starts to pressure to reduce Brazil status to just a simple colony again wich was revolting the people too. In 1822 Dom Pedro I declared the Independence and became the first Emperor. The Emperor composes the Imperial National Anthem (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1lM0XmQxg0).
At that time, the 1796LC and its variations are still in use and were the Sabers used by the Guard of Honour in the moment of the Independence.
It was stabilsh the Mameluke Saber to Army Generals. And also stablish a 1822 pattern saber to the officers. But the 1796LC and variations continues to be used. Our Navy was also founded this year. And the firsts Officers dress swords from the navy was a smallsword (sometimes with a old rapier blade). But all the regulations were loose and that allowed for much variation. If you understand Portuguese or have curiosity to see a video in dept of this subject I'm leaving here a link about the variation on the Navy Swords of that time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFNh94D6F8Q).
In 1831 Pedro I leaves Brazil to fight against his brother in Portugal and is stablished the Regency Period until his son Pedro II gets legal age to rule. This marks also the new pattern for swords of the army. Infantry and Cavalry. This model has some variations, with curved blades, straight blades, double edge blades and with or without any Imperial symbols (the Officer sword often have a brasilian imperial cout of arms).
Because the country was past to sevaral types of problems and in need of a king figure, to pacify the people and the politicians. In 1840 starts the reign of Dom Pedro II with 14 years old. In 1852 we have new patterns for army infantry and cavalry swords. Still based in english swords, but these with more detailed regulations and the majority with the Emperor symbol or Brazil Imperial cout of arms. In 1852 was also stablish the Armys musicians short sword.
In 1856 we have a new regulation for the Officers Navy swords that are just 1845 pattern British navy sabers. And around this time and after we also have the naval Cutlass used by the navy men.
In 1864 begins the war against the Paraguay. Paraguay was ruled by a republican dictator that wants, amoung other things, to invande Brazil and was having much problems with Argentina and Uruguay (part of Brazil in the time). Dom Pedro II starts the war and was prohibited to go to the battles. So he signed himself as part of the homeland vollunteers.
In general, the swords used was the current pattern. So 1852 armys pattern swords.
In the need to more weapons, the army imported several bayonete swords and diverse firearms to infantry.
One group of Bahia region called "Zuavos Baianos" was formed by many men wich a good part was black free men and the swords used by them were the French Briquet Saber.
In 1881 a new pattern of cavalry saber was determined. Simpler and just marked the Emperor's PII symbol.
During all the Imperial time several diffent types of smallswords/court swords was used in the courts. Swords with imperial symbol or just comercial swords from catalog.
In 1888 the Isabel Princess, daughter of Pedro II freed the slaves while Pedro was traveling in Europe. The whole family was aways against the slavary and they created several laws in past decades to dimish and free slaves. The Free Womb Law (all people are born free), the Sexagenarian law (free after 60 years of age). The whole idea was to free all the slaves progressively without provoking a civil war.
But in 1889 a group of old slaves owners was really pist off with the Emperor. And he was also having problems with the Church because he accepted the Masons. Besides, the military was filled of posivistic ideology and they wanted the power, also inspired by the french revolution. So in 15 of november happend a Republican Coup without the knowllegde or support of the people.
In this time we have what we called "Converted Swords", the transitional swords from Imperial to Republic. Many of the imperial swords in used was "converted" to republican swords. And this were done in several forms, one was scraping the imperial symbols on the Guards and Blades (sometimes just the guard), other was complet removal of the symbol and other was fixing (or carving) some republican star over the imperial crown.
Dom Pedro II "the magnanimous". Emperor of Brazil, intellectual man, speeked fluently 7 idioms. A respected man by all the European royalty and even president Lincoln. Man that brought many advancements and tecnology to the country. One of the richest and promissing countrys of the time suffered a coup that put us in a very bad direction.
A couple of days later Dom Pedro II and his family was expelled in late night to Europe by the military without the most part of the people even know. Before enter the boat Pedro II grabs a little of sand and store it in a cloth to take a little of your beloved land with him.
Pedro II dies in Paris in 1891, 2 years after the coup. In his bedroom was found a box with sand and writed "It's my country's sand. May it be placed in my coffin if I die outside my homeland."
Around 1890 and 1894 begins the firsts patterns and regulations for the republican swords. But I treat that in another post.
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