[MR] History Blog: Coventry's Civic Sword

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Today the History Blog reports on Coventry's Civic Sword, and it is a sword
with a fascinating story. The English Crown granted various cities rights
to civic swords, which were carried before mayors in processions and waved
around for other ceremonial purposes. Coventry had this right sometime
before 1384 when a sword is mentioned in documents. By 1460 the original
sword had been replaced by an elaborate new model with all sorts of keen
ceremonial doo-dads added. The rights were withdrawn and the sword was
confiscated by a royally cheesed-off Edward IV after Coventry supported the
Lancastrian side in the War of the Roses. The sword disappeared from
history, until 1897 when the hilt with just a stub of the blade reappeared
in a London trash heap.

What is left of the sword is part of the Burrell Collection held in
Glasgow. It is currently on loan to Coventry's Herbert Gallery.

The illustrated story is at http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61740 .

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆