Falchion of Emir Boabdil Last Nasirid King of Granada

Editor's Note: Text below provided as translated by Google from the original French text.

Main exchange area between the West and the East in the Middle Ages, Spain and particularly Andalusia becomes the crucible of Moorish civilization. The Army Museum preserves and presents a remarkable example with sword called the emir Boabdil (1459-1533). Last ruler of the Nasrid kingdom of Granada, Boabdil leaves the city in March 1492 after the victory of the Catholic Kings and went into exile in Laujar de Andarax in Almeria before finally joining Fez in Morocco.

Unique to Muslim Spain, this type of sword known as "jineta" is recognized by its characteristic garde and its quillons curved towards the blade. The latter, right and single-edged, forged Damascus steel in which the units are still discernible. In the tradition of Islam, each side of the cruise node (2 Visual) has epigraphs cartridges with invocations to Allah and his prophet Muhammad: "There is no God but Allah / and Muhammad is his prophet."

The animal heads adorning the quillons evoke the genet, which gave their name to these weapons. The rocket is carved, while the spherical head is pierced by the tang of the blade covered in its end with a little golden cap.

Date: End of the fifteenth century
Author Unknown
Materials: iron, gilt, silver, ielle[niello?], ivory and wood
Techniques: Damascus and engraving
Place of creation: Granada, Andalusia (Spain)
Height:
0.88 m
Width:
0.13 m
Weight: 1.22 kg
Inventory No: J PO 680
Background: Was part of the ancient collection of Georges Pauilhac, acquired by the Army Museum in 1964

Source: www.musee-armee.fr/collections/base-de-donnees-des-collections/objet/epee-dite-de-boadbdil.html