The Sword of State, also referred to as the Papal Sword, is a ceremonial sword that serves as part of the Honours of Scotland but ceased being formally used in 2022. It was presented to the King of Scotland by Pope Julius II in 1507 and continued to be used as the sword of state for Scotland until 2022 when it was deemed to fragile to continue to be used and was replaced by the Elizabeth Sword.

History

The Sword of State was gifted to King James IV of Scotland in 1507 by Pope Julius II alongside a consecrated cap as part of the blessed sword and hat traditionally given to Roman Catholic monarchs.[1][2] James IV adopted the sword to be used as the sword for Scottish coronations and kept them in Edinburgh.[3] He was formally invested with the sword on Easter Sunday 1507 in the Abbey of Holyrood.[4] It subsequently gained the nickname of the "Papal Sword".[5] In August 1536, James V ordered the goldsmith Adam Leys to repair the sword, using silver from melted-down English groats.[6]

During the Anglo-Scottish Civil War in 1650, the Honours were removed from Edinburgh owing to Oliver Cromwell's English forces laying siege to Edinburgh Castle.[7] The sword was removed to Dunottar Castle though this was also besieged. Christian Fletcher then smuggled the Honours out in linen baskets though the sword was broken in two to make it easier to hide.[8] They were then buried in Kinneff before the coronation of Charles II in 1660 allowed for the sword to be returned to Edinburgh where Fletcher was awarded 2000 merks for their return.[7][8] Following the Union of the Crowns of England and Scotland, the sword along with the rest of the Honours were locked away until 1818 when they was rediscovered by Sir Walter Scott.[7]

In 2007, to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the sword being gifted, the First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond held a reception at Edinburgh Castle and stated "Scotland should never hide its treasures again".[2] In 2022, it was deemed that the sword was too fragile to continue to be used in official ceremonies so the Scottish Government commissioned the Elizabeth Sword to replace it.[9] The Scottish Sword of State remained on display at Edinburgh Castle.[7]

Design

The sword is made of steel and was designed by the Italian goldsmith Domenico da Sutri.[10] It contains Christian imagery. The handle was made of oak and based on Julius' Papal coat of arms with oak trees and acorns inlaid to symbolise the resurrection of Jesus and the church. The blade contains representations of Saint Peter and Saint Paul with the Latin text: "JULIUS II PONT MAX" (Julius II Supreme Pontiff) inlaid in gold upon it. The scabbard was covered in red velvet and silver-gilt mounts of acorns, oaks, dolphins and the Papal arms.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Charles Burns, 'Papal Gifts to Scottish Monarchs: The Golden Rose and the Blessed Sword', Innes Review, 20:2 (Autumn 1969), pp. 150–194. doi:10.3366/inr.1969.20.2.150
  2. 1 2 "500th anniversary of Scotland's Sword of State". Scottish Government. 23 November 2007. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2023 – via Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ Goodare, Julian (2008). Sixteenth-Century Scotland: Essays in Honour of Michael Lynch. BRILL. p. 57. ISBN 9789047433736.
  4. ↑ Buchanan, Kate (2016). Medieval and Early Modern Representations of Authority in Scotland and the British Isles. Routledge. ISBN 9781317098133.
  5. ↑ "King to receive new sword named after late Queen during Scotland visit". The Independent. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  6. ↑ Andrea Thomas, 'Coronation Ritual and Regalia', Julian Goodare & Alasdair A. MacDonald, Sixteenth-Century Scotland (Brill, 2008), p. 57: James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland, vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1905), pp. 285–286.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Sword of State; Domenico da Sutri; Pre 1507; 16th century; Edinburgh Castle". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  8. 1 2 "The story of the Honours of Scotland - our Crown Jewels". The National. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "Honours of Scotland: King Charles to be presented with new sword". BBC Newsround. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  10. ↑ Campbell, Gordon (2009). The Grove Encyclopedia of Northern Renaissance Art. OUP USA. p. 79. ISBN 9780195334661.
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