The Top Legendary Swords in History

Legendary Swords in History

The known legendary swords from stories are those that come from various tales. These are all fueled by legends of conquest and bloodshed.

There are a lot of famed swords in history that have developed and grown into amazing weapons. They have turned into mythical pieces that blend fact and fiction. Soon, these became inseparable aspects of the swords.

As time passed, the weapons can be pieces claimed as legendary swords brought to life. Others come with very bizarre tales that a lot of people often question. Yet there will never be another piece that can leave an impact in history as these legendary blades.

What was the Sword in the Stone?

The Sword in Stone and the Excalibur are legendary swords. A lot of people claim these two swords to be the same weapon. Excalibur is a mythical sword that King Arthur owned. This is a piece described by having magical powers. It is also linked to Great Britain’s rightful sovereignty.

Though the thought of as one, the Sword in Stone and Excalibur are often portrayed as separate blades. The Excalibur was linked to the Arthurian legend and was also the Caledfwlch in Welsh.

The few surviving accounts related to Arthur state of two separate legends. These share details about the sword’s origin. The first legend is the Sword in the Stone which appeared in the poem ‘Merlin’ by Robert de Boron. Here, only Arthur, who is the rightful king, can draw the Excalibur successfully from the stone.

As Arthur neared death, he tells Sir Bedivere to take the sword back to the lake by tossing it into the water. Yet Bedivere considered the sword to be too precious. So instead of throwing it away, he only pretends to do so. Each time, Arthur asked the man what he saw upon throwing the sword.

When he says that the sword submerged and vanished, Arthur scolded him. Though reluctant, Bedivere threw the sword into the water. But before it even touches the water, a hand reaches out from under, takes the sword, then pulls it back down.

The legend continues where Arthur and three queens, leave via death barge to Avalon. One day, Arthur would only return to save Britain from threats. Malory recorded two types of the legend in his Le Morte d’Arthur, calling both swords as Excalibur. Something that confuses many.

The Kusanagi – A Sword Eaten by a Snake?

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Another legendary story is about a sword in the snake. This is the Kusanagi, a blade kept in the body of an 8-headed snake killed by the God of sea and storms. The sword of Kusanagi is part of Japan’s Imperial Regalia, an icon of the ancient imperial family. It’s said that they descended from the sun goddess – a symbol of the family’s divine right to rule.

There are claims that this legendary sword is in Nagano prefecture’s Atsuta Shrine. Yet it isn’t on public display; hence, no one had seen this for centuries.  The weapon is often used for ceremonies like the imperial coronation. However, it is always wrapped in cloth covers.

People today have never seen the Kusanagi. It is only recorded in oral history collections and documents. Authorities succeeded in keeping the sword a secret to the whole world. They did this by never denying or confirming its existence. The only official mention of the Kusanagi was after The Second World War.

The Cursed Muramasa Blades

Muramasa was a famous Japanese smith who prayed to the gods. He prayed that his creations become great and powerful destroyers.

Due to the exceptional quality of his swords, legends state that the gods did grant his request. They imbued the swords with a bloodthirsty spirit that should be sated with battle. If not, it would drive the user to murder or worse, commit suicide.

There are many stories of those who used Muramasa’s blades. And all of them had either gone mad or ended up murdered. People believed the swords were all cursed. Thus, were completely banned by the imperial edict.

This edict came from the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. He condemned these swords after these almost killed his entire family.

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Tokugawa’s grandfather fell because of a Muramasa blade. Then, both he and his father were badly wounded by the smith’s blades. Not only that, but both his wife and adopted son were both executed using the said cursed blades.

But were the blades of Muramasa really cursed? Or it was likely that Tokugawa’s troubles with the swords were all due to their popularity. Muramasa was not the man’s real name, but the school of swordsmiths he established.

Is there a Sword that Defied Time?

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Discovered in an excavation in the year 1965 was the Sword of Goujian. This was in a tomb located in Hubei, China. Experts believe that it is a sword from 771 – 403 BC.

It has become a legendary sword due to its untarnished form. Plus, it was a sword buried for over two millennia in damp conditions. When an archaeologist tested its edge, it was sharp, thus, cutting his finger and drawing blood as well.

The legendary sword of Goujian has full decorations made of copper, bronze, tin, and bits of iron. It featured engravings close to its hilt, and it stated there that it belonged to a famous emperor. This was Emperor Goujian, the ruler of the state of Yue.

This blade has defied the tests of time. And because of its mythical endurance, it was a sword regarded as China’s state treasure. It is on display at the Hubei Provincial Museum.

Which Joyeuse is the Real, Legendary Piece?

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King Charlemagne’s legendary sword was the Joyeuse. They claim that it changed colors thirty times a day, and was bright enough to outshine the sun. In 1271, two blades called the Joyeuse were part of ceremonies like the French Coronation.

Since the swords are both considered as the Joyeuse, it is still a mystery as to which is the real one.

The sword found in the Louvre has undergone heavy modifications in its lifetime. Its oldest part is the pommel, which came from the 10th or 11th centuries according to recent tests. Since King Charlemagne died in the year 813, this puts it out the lifetime of the Holy Roman Emperor.

The other contender is the Saber of Charlemagne, kept in Vienna’s Imperial Treasury. It is still unknown how the blade became part of the Imperial Regalia of France. However, the saber dates from the early 10th century, which is closer than the Joyeuse.

The saber was a piece that Hungarian smiths designed. This opened the door for more legends. Some claimed that it was also the Sword of Attila. This was the sword that Mars, the God of War, gave Attila the Hun.