Sword of state

Swords of different Ottoman Sultans on display at the Topkapi Palace.

A sword of state is a sword, used as part of the regalia, symbolizing the power of a monarch to use the might of the state against its enemies, and his duty to preserve thus right and peace.

It is known to be used in following monarchies:

• Reichsschwert of the Holy Roman Empire
• Kingdom of Denmark, see Danish crown regalia
• Joyeuse, used for the sacre of the king of France. Reputed to be the sword of Charlemagne.
• Kingdom of Hungary
• Kingdom of Bohemia (Czech Republic) – Sword of Saint Wenceslas
• Kingdom of England, later Great Britain, yet later United Kingdom see Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom
• Kingdom of the Netherlands, see Dutch Royal Regalia (made in 1840 for enthronements)
• Kingdom of Scotland, see Honours of Scotland
• Kingdom of Sweden, see Swedish Royal Regalia, where it is the oldest of the Vasa regalia
• Kingdom of Poland – Szczerbiec
• Kingdom of Mysore – Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar, ending with the Krishnaraja Wodeyar II
• Kingdom of Thailand or Siam- the Sword of Victory, one of the five Regalia of Thailand.
• The former Kingdom of the Isle of Man (now a British Crown dependency), bearing the triskelion symbol, annually used on Tynwald Day
• The Kingdom of Georgia
• Shangfang Baojian of all Chinese dynasties
• The Eodo of Taejo of Joseon Dynasty, Korea
• The Sword of Osman, given to Sultans of the Ottoman Empire;
• Kusanagi, kept by the Emperor of Japan;
• In the former sultanate of the Maldives, being invested on the Monarch in a traditional gong ceremony
• Also in the Malay world, notably in
  • the sultanate of Perak, where it gave the name to a 'national' order of knighthood
  • Sarawak (on Borneo)

By analogy, it can even be used in republics, as in the Senate of the state of South Carolina in the United States of America.

See also

• Sword of justice – similar part of regalia
• Ceremonial weapons – several types can be part of regalia
• Sword of the State – a title