This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Jan 20, Coralie rated it it was amazing. I have always hated choosing favorites. It's so painful and there are always so many choices! But this is easily one of my absolute favorite books of all time. It's well-written and inspiring. It's adventurous, thrilling, suspenseful, and insightful.
I'm at a loss for words, honestly. I can only present repetitive praises for this story, as old as time,told from a new point of view, Artka. Artka is our main character, a young boy whose punishment for his thievery is to either be enl I have always hated choosing favorites. Artka is our main character, a young boy whose punishment for his thievery is to either be enlisted in the kingdom's army or die Well, Artka fights with all his might against the supposedly evil magician and his faithful army that wield dangerous, glowing blue swords.
Soon Artka's world turns completely upside down as he learns that he may be fighting on the wrong side after all and that he has to leave everything he's ever known behind, including his beloved twin sister, Jeda. A poetic story laced with magic, love, intrigue, danger, and a truly worthy message. I can read this one over and over and over!!! William Starnes is currently reading it Jun 07, Princess Katie marked it as to-read May 25, There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Trivia About New Birth: No trivia or quizzes yet. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account.
Though Mameluke politics were marked by intrigue and violence, the regime was very successful. Militarily they were the only power able to defeat the Mongols, at the battle of Ain Jalut in , and they put an end to the crusader occupation of the Holy Land with the conquest of Acre in Both economically and culturally, Mameluke rule was the most successful period in the history of medieval Egypt. The Mamelukes remained a force to be reckoned with until their defeat by Napoleon at the battle of the Pyramids in Flemings 12th outing for Commander Bond. Minor spotting as to be expected.
Cover artist Richard Chopping Jonathan Cape ed. It was first published by Jonathan Cape in the UK on 1 April , eight months after the author's death. The novel was not as detailed or polished as the others in the series, leading to poor but polite reviews. Despite that, the book was a best-seller. The story centres on the fictional British Secret Service operative James Bond, who had been posted missing, presumed dead, after his last mission in Japan.
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Bond returns to England via the Soviet Union, where he had been brainwashed to attempt to assassinate his superior, M. The first draft and part of the editing process was completed before Fleming's death and the manuscript had passed through the hands of his copy editor, William Plomer, but it was not as polished as other Bond stories. Much of the detail contained in the previous novels was missing, as this was often added by Fleming in the second draft.
Publishers Jonathan Cape passed the manuscript to Kingsley Amis for his thoughts and advice on the story, although his suggestions were not subsequently used. The novel was serialised in , firstly in the Daily Express and then in Playboy; in a daily comic strip adaptation was also published in the Daily Express.
A loose adaptation of Ian Fleming's novel of the same name, the film has Bond sent after the Solex Agitator, a device that can harness the power of the sun, while facing the assassin Francisco Scaramanga, the "Man with the Golden Gun". The action culminates in a duel between them that settles the fate of the Solex. The script was written by Richard Maibaum and Tom Mankiewicz. The film was set in the face of the energy crisis, a dominant theme in the script.
Britain had still not yet fully overcome the crisis when the film was released in December The film also reflects the then popular martial arts film craze, with several kung fu scenes and a predominantly Asian location, being set and shot in Thailand, Hong Kong, and Macau. Part of the film is also set in Beirut, Lebanon, but it was not shot there. His health affected him badly during the writing process and he dropped from his usual rate of two thousand words a morning to a little over an hour's worth of work a day. As with his previous novels, Fleming used events from his past as elements in his novel.
From that time on he had associated trains with death, which led to their use as a plot device not just in The Man with the Golden Gun, but also in Diamonds Are Forever and From Russia, with Love. To show just how much all things original Bond are appreciated in the world of collectors the Walther pistol used by Connery in the poster of From Russia With Love, in , and also drawn in the man With The Golden Gun poster [as shown here] an air pistol,. It was 'said' to have been used by accident in fact as they couldn't find a correct Walther PPK on the day of the photoshoot.
Published by Jonathan Cape, The book is a collection of short stories published posthumously in the United Kingdom by Jonathan Cape on 23 June The book originally contained just two stories, "Octopussy" and "The Living Daylights", with subsequent editions also carrying firstly "The Property of a Lady" and then " in New York". The stories were first published in different publications, with "Octopussy" first serialised in the Daily Express in October Elements from the stories have also been used in the Eon Productions Bond films. The first, Octopussy, starring Roger Moore as James Bond, was released in as the thirteenth film in the series and provided the back story for the film Octopussy's family, while "The Property of a Lady" was more closely adapted for an auction sequence in the film.
The Living Daylights, released in , was the fifteenth Bond film produced by Eon and starred Timothy Dalton in his first appearance as Bond. On the morning of 12 August , Fleming died of a heart attack; eight months later, The Man with the Golden Gun was published. The story is told in the manner of "Quantum of Solace", with Bond as catalyst for story told in flashback, rather than as a main character for action.
Fleming originally titled "The Living Daylights" as "Trigger Finger", although when it first appeared, in The Sunday Times colour supplement of 4 February , it was under the title of "Berlin Escape". It was also published in the June issue of the American magazine Argosy under the same name As with his previous novels, Fleming used events from his past as elements in his novel.
It was 'said' to have been used by accident in fact as they couldn't find a correct Walther.. Beautifully half morocco and gilt bound, with marbled end papers. Illustrator Hablot Knight Browne Phiz. Delightful presentation dedication on the inner leaf "to John Power Hicks from his affectionate wife Julia E.
Power Hicks" A chance to own a first edition first impression of one of the great classics of English literature. Printed and first read before the Crimean War in Russia, and the 'Charge of the Light Brigade' that became infamous in British military history. Original printing imperfections and flaws are detailed in Walter E. Smith and his wonderful work 'Charles Dickens in the Original Cloth'. Smith's comprehensive bibliography of each of Dickens's works enabled all to describe the bindings in detail; identifying them as original and therefore extremely sought after by discerning Dickens enthusiasts and general bibliophiles alike.
It was originally serialised between and Dickens thought it to be his best work. Like nearly all of Dickens' novels, Martin Chuzzlewit was released to the public in monthly instalments. Early sales of the monthly parts were disappointing, compared to previous works, so Dickens changed the plot to send the title character to America. This allowed the author to portray the United States which he had visited in satirically as a near wilderness with pockets of civilisation filled with deceptive and self-promoting hucksters.
The main theme of the novel, according to a preface by Dickens, is selfishness, portrayed in a satirical fashion using all the members of the Chuzzlewit family. The story starts thus; Martin Chuzzlewit has been raised by his grandfather and namesake. Years before, Martin senior took the precaution of raising an orphaned girl, Mary Graham. She is to be his nursemaid, with the understanding that she will be well cared for only as long as Martin senior lives. She thus has strong motivation to promote his well-being, in contrast to his relatives, who only want to inherit his money.
However, his grandson Martin falls in love with Mary and wishes to marry her, ruining Martin senior's plans. When Martin refuses to give up the engagement, his grandfather disinherits him. Martin becomes an apprentice to Seth Pecksniff, a greedy architect. Instead of teaching his students, he lives off their tuition fees and has them do draughting work that he passes off as his own.
He has two spoiled daughters, nicknamed Cherry and Merry, having been christened as Charity and Mercy. Unbeknown to Martin, Pecksniff has actually taken him on to establish closer ties with the wealthy grandfather, thinking that this will gain Pecksniff a prominent place in the will. Old Martin Chuzzlewit, the wealthy patriarch of the Chuzzlewit family, lives in constant suspicion of the financial designs of his extended family.
At the beginning of the novel he has aligned himself with Mary, an orphan, to have a caretaker who is not eyeing his estate. Later in the story he makes an apparent alliance with Pecksniff, who, he believes, is at least consistent in character. His true character is revealed by the end of the story. He is the closest relative of Old Martin and has inherited much of the stubbornness and selfishness of the old man. Young Martin is the protagonist of the story.
His engagement to Mary is the cause of estrangement between himself and his grandfather. By the end of the story he becomes a reformed character, realising and repenting of the selfishness of his previous actions. A classic and charming story by the maestro of Victorian fiction. The Personal History of David Copperfield, , Bradbury and Evans, first edition, first issue in book form Smith 9 , forty plates as called for, top page edges gilt, full morocco by Bayntun-Riviere. Engraved vignette title page dated is present. With Illustrations by H. True first issue with error points, including "screamed" for "screwed" on page line 20 usually lacking.
David Copperfield is the eighth novel by Charles Dickens. Many elements of the novel follow events in Dickens's own life, and it is often considered as his veiled autobiography. It was Dickens' favourite among his own novels. In the preface to the edition, Dickens wrote, "like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. And his name is David Copperfield. David was born in Blunderstone, Suffolk, England, six months after the death of his father. David spends his early years in relative happiness with his loving, childish mother and their kindly housekeeper, Peggotty.
When he is seven years old his mother marries Edward Murdstone. During the marriage, partly to get him out of the way and partly because he strongly objects to the whole proceeding, David is sent to lodge with Peggotty's family in Yarmouth. Her brother, fisherman Mr. Peggotty, lives in a house built in an upturned boat on the beach, with his adopted relatives Emily and Ham, and an elderly widow, Mrs. On his return, David is given good reason to dislike his stepfather and has similar feelings for Murdstone's sister Jane, who moves into the house soon afterwards.
David bites him and soon afterwards is sent away to a boarding school, Salem House, under a ruthless headmaster, Mr. There he befriends an older boy, James Steerforth, and Tommy Traddles. He is characterised in the book as having perseverance, but also an undisciplined heart, which is an important point of the latter part of the book. After being adopted by his aunt Betsey Trotwood, he is called "Trotwood Copperfield" in deference to her wishes. Throughout the novel he goes by multiple names: For those of captain's rank the gorget was gilt with the king's monogram under a crown in blue enamel, while more junior officers wore silver-plated gorgets with the initials in gold.
During the 18th and early 19th centuries, crescent-shaped gorgets of silver or silver gilt were worn by officers in most European armies, both as a badge of rank and an indication that they were on duty. These last survivals of armour were much smaller usually about three to four inches in width than their Medieval predecessors and were suspended by chains or ribbons. In the British service they carried the Royal coat of arms until and thereafter the Royal cypher. Gorgets ceased to be worn by British army officers in , and by their French counterparts 20 years later.
They were still worn to a limited extent in the Imperial German Army until , as a special distinction by officers of the Prussian Gardes du Corps and the 2nd Cuirassiers "Queen". Officers of the Spanish infantry continued to wear gorgets with the cypher of King Alfonso XIII in full dress until the overthrow of the Monarchy in Mexican Federal army officers also wore the gorget with the badge of their branch as part of their parade uniform. This practice ended in The gorget was revived as a uniform accessory during Germany's Third Reich, seeing widespread use within the German military and Nazi party organizations.
During World War II, it continued to be used by German military field police, which wore metal gorgets as emblems of authority. German police gorgets of this period typically were flat metal crescents with ornamental designs that were suspended by a chain worn around the neck. Following the German example, the Finnish Defence Forces still use a metal gorget as a distinguishing mark of the duty conscript of a company; the main task is guard duty at the entrance and security within the barracks.
Good original cast whitemetal example of sound weight. The unit can trace its origins to the Volunteer Medical Staff Companies formed in the nineteeth century. These saw service in the Boer War. Following the formation of the Territorial Army in units saw service in the World Wars. The unit tartan has for some years been Graham of Montrose, worn originally by the Pipes and Drums of the 2nd Scottish General Hospital from These are the three medical elements of the Field Hospital. Founded by Marshal Semyon M.
The legendary commander of the Red Cavalry during the Russian Civil War of against the defeated White armies of the fallen Tsar Nicholas II, the colourful, swashbuckling, walrus-moustached Budenny was a sort of latter day Prussian Marshal Gebhard von Blucher, whom he strongly resembled in character. At 8 am on the cold, blustery morning of November 7, , the 24th anniversary of the Russian Communist Bolshevik Revolution of , a dashing lone horseman galloped out of the Spassky Gate of the Kremlin onto snow-covered Red Square.
Marshal Semyon Mikhailovich Budenny died at age 90 on October 26, , and was buried with full military honors in the Kremlin Wall beside his revered former leader, Josef Stalin. Photo in the gallery of the Schiffsstammabteilung Der Ostsee officers and men. One places it through an outside door's recess cut for the latch lifter, pushed through, the latch lifter drops down to hook upon the inside latch, and as it is pulled up and thus opening the door from the outside.
The lady of the house would wear it around her girdle on a hook. They were such an important and highly symbolic part of a well-to-do lady's life, they were often buried with her upon her death, along with brooches or buckles. Die Alamannen, Stuttgart, for discussion of male and female grave assemblages of this period.
From the family collection of a London gentleman; formed in the late ss; thence by descent. The latch lifters are typical of female grave assemblages along with brooches, beads, buckles and other items of personal adornment" Total length 10 inches long. Officer's Cap Badge Single pin mount. The 8th Punjab Regiment had its origins in the Madras Army, where its first battalion was raised at Masulipatam in Four more battalions were raised in In , they were designated as the 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd and 33rd Regiments of Madras Native Infantry.
In the early 19th century, these battalions were engaged in fighting the Marathas and took part in a number of foreign expeditions including the Anglo-Burmese Wars. Between and , they were reconstituted with Punjabi Muslims and Sikhs as Burma Battalions and permanently based in Burma to police the turbulent Burmese hill tracts. Under the Kitchener Reforms of , they were redesignated as the 89th, 90th, 91st, 92nd Punjabis, and 93rd Burma Infantry. Their long list of honours and awards includes the Victoria Cross awarded to Naik Shahmed Khan of 89th Punjabis in The 89th Punjabis had the unique distinction of serving in more theatres of war than any other unit of the British Empire.
All battalions served in Mesopotamia, while 93rd Burma Infantry also served in France. The 92nd Punjabis were made 'Prince of Wales's Own' in for their gallantry and sacrifices during the war During the Second World War the 8th Punjab Regiment again distinguished itself, suffering more than casualties. The regiment raised a further nine battalions. Two of its battalions, the 1st and 7th, were captured on Singapore Island, when the British Commonwealth Army surrendered there to the Japanese on 15 February Two men from the 8th Punjab Regiment received the Victoria Cross: By the end of the war, the Regiment consisted of 14 Battalions.
The King'sLiverpool had six territorial battalions within the city, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th. The 6th catered for the middle class, 5th, 7th and 9th for the respectable working class, while 8th Irish and 10th Scottish recruited men with links to the respected country. The battalion was formed on 30th April when due to the Boer War, it became clear there was a need for men to volunteer their service. It was raised from the higher educated and professional young Scotsmen of city of Liverpool and named the 8th Scottish Volunteer Battalion, The King's Liverpool Regiment.
The first Commanding Officer was Colonel C. Woven cloth shield in Blue Red and Gold. An offshoot of this club formed the Kiel Football club the Kieler Sportvereinigung Holstein von e. V, just after WW1, and they continued to play successfully right until the end of WW2. This badge came as a WW2 souvenir from a British Serviceman of WW2, who fought in Germany until , and then transferred to the Military Police to continue to serve during the occupation till He was stationed in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
It was worn in conjunction with the Nazi Sports badge, which is also for sale in our gallery. In colour patinated bronze, possibly Austrian. In the Norman through to the Plantagenet eras, War Axes were often the weapon of choice of Kings of England in battle.
Henry 1st was the fourth son of William the Conqueror. Considered by contemporaries to be a harsh but effective ruler, Henry skilfully manipulated the barons in England and Normandy. In England, he drew on the existing Anglo-Saxon system of justice, local government and taxation, but also strengthened it with additional institutions, including the royal exchequer and itinerant justices. Normandy was also governed through a growing system of justices and an exchequer.
Many of the officials that ran Henry's system were "new men" of obscure backgrounds rather than from families of high status, who rose through the ranks as administrators. Henry encouraged ecclesiastical reform, but became embroiled in a serious dispute in with Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury, which was resolved through a compromise solution in He supported the Cluniac order and played a major role in the selection of the senior clergy in England and Normandy. The early years of Stephen's reign were largely successful, despite a series of attacks on his possessions in England and Normandy by David I of Scotland, Welsh rebels, and the Empress Matilda's husband, Geoffrey of Anjou.
In the Empress's half-brother Robert of Gloucester rebelled against Stephen, threatening civil war. Together with his close advisor, Waleran de Beaumont, Stephen took firm steps to defend his rule, including arresting a powerful family of bishops. When the Empress and Robert invaded in , however, Stephen was unable to crush the revolt rapidly, and it took hold in the south-west of England.
Captured at the battle of Lincoln in , Stephen was abandoned by many of his followers and lost control of Normandy. Stephen was freed only after his wife and William of Ypres, one of his military commanders, captured Robert at the Rout of Winchester, but the war dragged on for many years with neither side able to win an advantage.
Henry Iind was an energetic and sometimes ruthless ruler, driven by a desire to restore the lands and privileges of his royal grandfather, Henry I. During the early years of the younger Henry's reign he restored the royal administration in England, re-established hegemony over Wales and gained full control over his lands in Anjou, Maine and Touraine.
Henry's desire to reform the relationship with the Church led to conflict with his former friend Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury. This controversy lasted for much of the s and resulted in Becket's murder in Henry soon came into conflict with Louis VII and the two rulers fought what has been termed a "cold war" over several decades.
Henry expanded his empire, often at Louis' expense, taking Brittany and pushing east into central France and south into Toulouse; despite numerous peace conferences and treaties no lasting agreement was reached. By , he controlled England, large parts of Wales, the eastern half of Ireland and the western half of France, an area that would later come to be called the Angevin Empire.
A 13th Century Iron Head Battle Mace Years Old, On Later Haft Pineapple shaped lobes on circular head with large mounting hole through which the haft slots [it is now fitted to a haft for display as its original rotted away centuries ago as usual]. The type were also used as a Flail Mace. Once the hollow iron head was filled with lead and a chain mounted hook placed within it, a chain could be added to the end of a similar wooden haft. This subsequent mace head weapon could thus then became a flail, often called a scorpion at the time.
This iron mace head has flattened pyramidal protuberances, and is possibly English. Made for a mounted Knight to use as an armour and helmet Crusher in hand to hand mortal combat upon his war horse, or then dismounted. It would have been used up to the 15th to 16th century.
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It was also wryly known as a 'Holy Water Sprinkler'. King John The Ist of Bohemia used exactly such a weapon, as he was blind, and the act of 'Flailing the Mace' meant lack of site was no huge disadvantage in close combat. Although blind he was a valiant and the bravest of the Warrior Kings, who perished at the Battle of Crecy against the English in On the day he was slain he instructed his Knights [both friends and companions] to lead him to the very centre of battle, so he may strike at least one blow against his enemies.
His Knights tied their horses to his, so the King would not be separated from them in the press, and they rode together into the thick of battle, where King John managed to strike not one but at least four noble blows. The following day of the battle, the horses and the fallen knights were found all about the body of their most noble King, all still tied to his steed. During the Middle Ages metal armour such as mail protected against the blows of edged weapons. Solid metal maces and war hammers proved able to inflict damage on well armoured knights, as the force of a blow from a mace is great enough to cause damage without penetrating the armour.
Though iron became increasingly common, copper and bronze were also used, especially in iron-deficient areas. It is popularly believed that maces were employed by the clergy in warfare to avoid shedding blood sine effusione sanguinis. The evidence for this is sparse and appears to derive almost entirely from the depiction of Bishop Odo of Bayeux wielding a club-like mace at the Battle of Hastings in the Bayeux Tapestry, the idea being that he did so to avoid either shedding blood or bearing the arms of war.
One of the Crusades this type of mace may have been used was the Crusade of , which was in territorial terms the most successful crusade since the First. Called by Pope Gregory IX, the Barons' Crusade broadly spanned from and embodied the highest point of papal endeavour "to make crusading a universal Christian undertaking.
Although the crusaders did not achieve any glorious military victories, they used diplomacy to successfully play the two warring factions of the Muslim Ayyubid dynasty As-Salih Ismail in Damascus and As-Salih Ayyub in Egypt against one another for even more concessions than Frederick II gained during the more well-known Sixth Crusade. For a few years, the Barons' Crusade returned the Kingdom of Jerusalem to its largest size since This crusade to the Holy Land is sometimes discussed as two separate crusades: Additionally, the Barons' Crusade is often described in tandem with Baldwin of Courtenay's concurrent trip to Constantinople and capture of Tzurulum with a separate, smaller force of crusaders.
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This is because Gregory IX briefly attempted to redirect the target his new crusade from liberating the Holy Land from Muslims to protecting the Latin Empire of Constantinople from heretical Christians. Despite relatively plentiful primary sources, scholarship until recently has been limited, due at least in part to the lack of major military engagements. Although Gregory IX went further than any other pope to create an ideal of Christian unity in the process of organizing the crusade, in practice the crusade's divided leadership did not reveal a unified Christian action or identity in response to taking a cross.
The type as were also used as a Flail Mace, with the centre mount being filled with lead and a chain mounted hook, when it was not mounted on a haft, as this mace is. Flattened pyramidical protuberances, possibly English or East European. Made for a mounted Knight to use as an Armour and Helmet Crusher in mortal combat. King John The Ist of Bohemia used exactly such a weapon, as he was blind, and the act of 'Flailing the Mace' meant that his lack of site was no huge disadvantage in close combat.
A superb late Medieval matchlock swivel cannon barrel used on the back of a camel or war elephant. Light cannons that could be used on the battlefield were the mainstay of the Mughal artillery corps, including the shaturnal, similar to swivel guns, but carried on the backs of camels and even in the howdahs of elephants. Akbar, widely considered the greatest of the Mughal emperors was thirteen years old when he ascended the throne in Delhi, following the death of his father Humayun.
It took him nearly two more decades to consolidate his power and bring parts of northern and central India into his realm.
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There are original paintings [copied in the gallery] showing Akbar's matchlocks and artillery being used in combat. Towards the end of Akbar concentrated his forces around the fort of Ranthambhor, held by a vassal of the Maharana of Chittor, Rao Surjan Hada of Bundi. This fort had been attacked earlier in , but that Mughal army had been defeated by the Rajputs. The fort of Gagraun, to the south of Bundi, had however been captured that year. Now after the capture of Chittor Akbar could turn once again to Ranthambhor.
With old Jaipur Arsenal Armoury store mark. Photographed on a stand, not included. A 18th Century Culloden Period Scottish Basket Hilted Sword An 18th century Scottish basket hilted back-sword of heavy grade combat form with traditional full open basket, with inset oval opening for the holding of reins when on horseback and heart piercings thoughout each panel, and it has a high bun pommel, and original shagreen grip with wire binding.
Armourer stamped blade, with the running wolf [or fox] mark of Solingen or Passau. In its original leather scabbard, the blade and scabbard are of combat-reduced length. Some few still surviving swords from Culloden have very similarly reduced length blades due to tip damage in the Jacobite rebellion, including the most similar surviving sword of Thomas Milne of Muretoune, supporter of Charles Stuart.
The Jacobite rising of , also known as the Forty-five Rebellion or simply the "45", was an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for his father, James Francis Edward Stuart. It took place during the War of the Austrian Succession, when the bulk of the British Army was in Europe, and proved to be the last in a series of revolts that began in , with major outbreaks in , and Charles launched the rebellion on 19 August at Glenfinnan in the Scottish Highlands, capturing Edinburgh and winning the Battle of Prestonpans in September.
At a council in October, the Scots agreed to invade England after Charles assured them of substantial support from English Jacobites and a simultaneous French landing in Southern England. On that basis, the Jacobite army entered England in early November, reaching Derby on 4 December, where they decided to turn back. Similar discussions had taken place at Carlisle, Manchester and Preston and many felt they had gone too far already. The invasion route was chosen to take them through areas considered strongly Jacobite but the promised English support failed to materialise, they were far from home and outnumbered by three government armies, each larger than their own.
While the decision was supported by the vast majority, it caused an irretrievable split between the Scots and Charles. Charles escaped to France, but was unable to win support for another attempt, and died in Rome in The Jacobite cause did not entirely disappear after but the exposure of the key factions' conflicting objectives ended it as a serious threat. Many Scots were disillusioned by Charles' leadership while areas in England that were strongly Jacobite in like Northumberland and County Durham provided minimal support in Irish Jacobite societies continued but increasingly reflected opposition to the existing order rather than affection for the Stuarts and were absorbed by the Republican United Irishmen.
The hilt has a loss of quillon and half langet. A scarce sword from a most turbulent era of French history.
Used from the era of France's alliance to America in the Revolutionary War of , right through the French Revolution There are several such swords in Smithsonian in America. French participation in North America was initially maritime in nature and marked by some indecision on the part of its military leaders. In American and French planners organized an attempt to capture Newport, Rhode Island, then under British occupation.
The attempt failed, in part because Admiral d'Estaing did not land French troops prior to sailing out of Narragansett Bay to meet the British fleet, and then sailed for Boston after his fleet was damaged in a storm. In , d'Estaing again led his fleet to North America for joint operations, this time against British-held Savannah, Georgia. About 3, French joined with 2, Americans in the Siege of Savannah, in which a naval bombardment was unsuccessful, and then an attempted assault of the entrenched British position was repulsed with heavy losses.
Support became more notable when in ; 6, soldiers led by Rochambeau were landed at Newport, abandoned in by the British, and they established a naval base there. Rochambeau and Washington met at Wethersfield, Connecticut in May to discuss their options. Washington wanted to drive the British from New York City, and the British force in Virginia, led first by turncoat Benedict Arnold, then by Brigadier William Phillips, and eventually by Charles Cornwallis, was also seen as a potent threat that could be fought with naval assistance.
These two options were dispatched to the Caribbean along with the requested pilots; Rochambeau, in a separate letter, urged de Grasse to come to the Chesapeake Bay for operations in Virginia. De Grasse received these letters in July, at roughly the same time Cornwallis was preparing to occupy Yorktown, Virginia. De Grasse concurred with Rochambeau, and sent back a dispatch indicating that he would reach the Chesapeake at the end of August, but that agreements with the Spanish meant he could only stay until mid-October.
The arrival of his dispatches prompted the Franco-American army to begin a march for Virginia. De Grasse reached the Chesapeake as planned, and disembarked troops to assist Lafayette's army in the blockade of Cornwallis. The arrival of a British fleet sent to dispute de Grasse's control of the Chesapeake was defeated on September 5 at the Battle of the Chesapeake, and the Newport fleet delivered the French siege train to complete the allied military arrival.
The Siege of Yorktown and following surrender by Cornwallis on October 19 were decisive in ending major hostilities in North America. Starting with the Siege of Yorktown, Benjamin Franklin never informed France of the secret negotiations that took place directly between Britain and the United States.
Britain relinquished her rule over the Thirteen Colonies and granted them all the land south of the Great Lakes and east of the Mississippi River. However, since France was not included in the American-British peace discussions, the alliance between France and the colonies was broken. Thus the influence of France and Spain in future negotiations was limited.
A 's Brass Hilted Boy's or Midshipman's Sword An interesting boy's or midshipman's sword from the period of the American revolutionary war. Cast brass rococo hilt, with shell guard and knuckle bow. Overall length 36 inches. There is a picture in the gallery by Thomas Rowlandson of a similar sword worn by a young boy officer [midshipman] of the Royal Navy in the 18th century.
In the 18th century there were no regualtions for sword patterns, so a sword such as this would have been perfect and worn by a young junior naval officer. The rank of midshipman originated during the Tudor and Stuart eras, and originally referred to a post for an experienced seaman promoted from the ordinary deck hands, who worked in between the main and mizzen masts and had more responsibility than an ordinary seaman, but was not a military officer or an officer in training.
The first published use of the term midshipman was in The word derives from an area aboard a ship, amidships, but it refers either to the location where midshipmen worked on the ship, or the location where midshipmen were berthed. By the 18th century, four types of midshipman existed: Some midshipmen were older men, and while most were officer candidates who failed to pass the lieutenant examination or were passed over for promotion, some members of the original rating served, as late as , alongside apprentice officers without themselves aspiring to a commission.
By , all midshipmen were considered officer candidates. The everage age of entry in the 18th century was 12, but some of younger age were certainly known of. With Copper Gilt Hilt A most attractive sword based on the Light Dragoon sbare but slightly shorter for the benefit of an officer that fought on foot. The hilt is beautifully engraved with Union flag shield nd stands of arms, the lion's head pommel and wire bound fishskin grip.
The blade has fine engraving with royal cyphers and crest of the king. There is a lot of dark blue remaining and gilt within the engraving. Old repair to the knucklebow. In untouched condition for likely years. With obvious signs of combat use and wear but a good honest example of an original Peninsular War and Waterloo British infantry officer's sword of the Napoleonic Wars.
They revolutionized European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly owing to the application of modern mass conscription. The wars are traditionally seen as a continuation of the Revolutionary Wars, which broke out in during the French Revolution. Initially, French power rose quickly as the armies of Napoleon conquered much of Europe.
In his military career, Napoleon fought about 60 battles and lost seven, mostly at the end. The great French dominion collapsed rapidly after the disastrous invasion of Russia in Napoleon was defeated in , and then once more in at Waterloo after a brief return to power. Before a final victory against Napoleon, five of seven coalitions saw defeat at the hands of France. France defeated the first and second coalitions during the French Revolutionary Wars, the third notably at Austerlitz , the fourth notably at Jena, Eylau, and Friedland and the fifth coalition notably at Wagram under the leadership of Napoleon.
These great victories gave the French Army a sense of invulnerability, especially when it approached Moscow. But after the retreat from Russia, in spite of incomplete victories, France was defeated by the sixth coalition at Leipzig, in the Peninsular War at Vitoria and at the hands of the seventh coalition at Waterloo. The wars resulted in the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire and sowed the seeds of nationalism that would lead to the consolidations of Germany and Italy later in the century.
Meanwhile, the global Spanish Empire began to unravel as French occupation of Spain weakened Spain's hold over its colonies, providing an opening for nationalist revolutions in Spanish America. As a direct result of the Napoleonic wars, the British Empire became the foremost world power for the next century, thus beginning Pax Britannica. An early candidate is 9 November , the date of Bonaparte's coup seizing power in France. However, the most common date is 18 May , when renewed war broke out between Britain and France, ending the one-year-old Peace of Amiens, the only period of general peace in Europe between and Most actual fighting ceased following Napoleon's final defeat at Waterloo on 18 June , although skirmishing continued as late as 3 July at the Battle of Issy.
The Second Treaty of Paris officially ended the wars on 20 November Some thirty-four regiments of fencible cavalry regiments were raised in and , in response to an invasion scare. At the same time, a large number of troops of volunteer cavalry were raised on a county level, consisting of local gentry and yeoman farmers; from the latter they took the description yeomanry.
These troops formed into yeomanry regiments, organised broadly by county, around ; their history thereafter is complex, with many disbanding, reforming, and changing title intermittently. However, most remained in existence throughout the nineteenth century, seeing occasional service quelling riots and helping to maintain public order. The founder of the dynasty of barrel makers was the legendary Lazarino Cominazzo, first recorded in the accouints of Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, for , as Lazari[no] da Gardo[ne].
The most gifted of them in the second half of the 17th century was Fortunato Cominazzo , who signed himself as Lazarino Cominazzo and was noted for the extreme lightness of his barrels. Unfortunately, as a Brescian chronicle records: On 29 October there was great trouble and revolution in the district of Gardone, Val Trompia, in the course of which both quarrels and murders frequently took place.
Many members of the family lost their lives at the same time, while others fled the area only to return in Due to his fame other makers inscribed his name to their barrels in order to elevate their pistols to his esteemed level. Very nice working order and fine condition for age. It is engraved with the two kanji under the chrysanthemum mon on the kodzukatana [blade] that likely reads "raijo" meaning "remove thunder". Original early examples such as this are rare and highly collectable. Not to be confused with much later Meiji period copies. This is only the second early example we have had in 25 years.
Beside their use for horse-healing, they are known as throwing-knifes shuriken or hidden knives. These were used as both horse bleeder tools and sometimes a backup weapon or "property marker" for samurai. Found on mountings sometimes in place of a kogai, Umabari "horse needle". The kodzuka handle portion is engraved with many Japanese characters from a poem. Poetry on Bushi horsemanship that starts "Excellent famous horses". It is believed their principle region of use for these was in the province of Higo, but they were carried elsewhere as time progressed.
It is said there are numerous stories about badly wounded Ronin on the battlefield who would use their Umabari to attack one more foe as the victors moved among the fallen samurai warriors to finish those who were thought helpless. Just over 8 inches long. Embossed steel cup with acanthus leaf scrolling and left and right hand gadrooning, rolled scroll edging.
Long spiral writhen quillons. Wire twist grip with elaborate wire binding. Compressed, cut, cushion shaped pommel. Blade 32 inches long. Made in the 19th century. Removed knuckle bow in it's working life. A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.
Duels in this form were chiefly practiced in early modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period 19th to early 20th centuries especially among military officers. During the 17th and 18th centuries and earlier , duels were mostly fought with swords the rapier, later the smallsword , but beginning in the late 18th century in England, duels were more commonly fought using pistols; fencing and pistol duels continued to co-exist throughout the 19th century.
The duel was based on a code of honour.
Duels were fought not so much to kill the opponent as to gain "satisfaction", that is, to restore one's honour by demonstrating a willingness to risk one's life for it, and as such the tradition of duelling was originally reserved for the male members of nobility; however, in the modern era it extended to those of the upper classes generally.
On rare occasions, duels with pistols or swords were fought between women; these were sometimes known as petticoat duels. Legislation against duelling goes back to the medieval period. The Fourth Council of the Lateran outlawed duels,mnand civil legislation in the Holy Roman Empire against duelling was passed in the wake of the Thirty Years' War. From the early 17th century, duels became illegal in the countries where they were practiced. Dueling largely fell out of favor in England by the midth century and in Continental Europe by the turn of the 20th century.
Dueling declined in the Eastern United States in the 19th century and by the time the American Civil War broke out, dueling had begun an irreversible decline, even in the South. Public opinion, not legislation, caused the change. Iron combat axe head of iconic backswept form with elongated rectangular socket mount, on likely a later haft. His reign lasted for 49 years from until his death in Aurangzeb was a notable expansionist and during his reign, the Mughal Empire reached its greatest extent, ruling over nearly all of the Indian subcontinent.
During his lifetime, victories in the south expanded the Mughal Empire to 4 million square kilometres, and he ruled over a population estimated to be over million subjects, with an annual yearly revenue of more than ten times that of his contemporary King Louis XIV of France, around 39 million pounds almost 3 billion rupees in Under his reign, India surpassed China to become the world's largest economy, nearly a quarter of world GDP in Aurangzeb is considered one of India's most controversial kings. Some historians argue that his policies abandoned his predecessors' legacy of pluralism and religious tolerance, citing his destruction of Hindu temples and execution of a Sikh guru, while other historians question this, arguing that his destruction of temples has been exaggerated and were politically motivated, and noting that he built more temples than he destroyed, also destroyed Islamic mosques, paid for the maintenance of temples, employed significantly more Hindus in his imperial bureaucracy than his predecessors did, and opposed bigotry against Hindus and Shia Muslims.
It was at the end of his reign that the downfall of the Mughal Empire began. Rebellions and wars eventually led to the exhaustion of the imperial Mughal treasury and army. He was a strong-handed authoritarian ruler, and following his death the expansionary period of the Mughal Empire came to an end. Nevertheless, the contiguous territory of the Mughal Empire still remained intact more or less until the reign of Muhammad Shah. A 's Essex Regt. Thus, before , SS officers often chose this all steel and black P-Hilt sabre as it's black and steel configuration was ideal for their service uniform.
We show a photograph circa with one officer on the left carrying the degan, and the two others with the steel and black P-Hilt. Generally it was known as the cavalry sabre due to it's regular cavalry pattern form and used by the German cavalry regiments on horseback. Due to the early uniform of the SS being black and silver the choice remained limited, generally, to the pattern of military swords available that utilized these colours.
The predominant colour normally used, and chosen by the regular Army officers, was brass [or gold] with black. The private purchase swords, generally chosen by those serving in the SS, were this sword or the Prinz Eugen. Very nice clear focusing optics, a little dusty inside, with original neck strap, Carl Zeiss Jena maker marking. Made for the London market in the 's but used by a German officer in WW2. Possibly as a private purchase piece on a visit to London before the war, or by a German university student in London who later became an officer of the Reich.
The firm of Carl Zeiss was founded in Jena in and grew to be the most dominant optical and fine mechanical firm in the world at the beginning of the twentieth century through Lahti L is a semi-automatic pistol designed by Aimo Lahti that was produced from to just after the war. About pistols were made in four production series. The weapon had a bolt accelerator to improve reliability in cold conditions or when fouled.
This kind of system was rare for pistols. It also resembled the German Luger P08 pistol. Finnish military designation 9. It was reliable, accurate and sturdy pistol, but also one of the largest and heaviest 9-mm military pistols ever manufactured. Structure of the this strong looking pistol had its week point: Powerful submachinegun-ammunition often used by Finnish troops with these pistols could crack the pistols slide quite easily.
As all 9 mm x 19 ammunition manufactured during World War 2 in Finland was hot loaded submachinegun-ammunition using this ammunition also pistols of same calibre unfortunately wasn't exactly unusual during World War 2 and years after it. When the slides of L broke down in larger numbers Finnish military soon found itself needing replacements for them. Because of this many series of replacement slides were manufactured for Finnish military after World War 2. Most of these pistols all but series 4 have shoulder stock attachment lugs.
While the Finns developed and tested wooden shoulder stocks and wooden shoulder stock holsters for these pistols, these were never manufactured in real numbers and the pistols were issued without them. The practice was common up to the 20th century and may still be practised in isolated Naga tribes of Burma. Many of the Naga warriors still bear the marks tattoos and others of a successful headhunt. The simple wood handle is wrapped with basketry towards the blade. Differential corrosion has disclosed the blade to have a piled structure.
The single edged blade, with a slightly convex curved edge, is illustrated edge up. The flat face of the blade is shown in the full length view and in the blade detail photograph; the side of the blade shown in the detail photograph of the handle has an indistinct bevel, occupying about two-fifths of the blade's width, where the blade thins to form the edge. Serpentine lamination to the blade. One photo is of a Kachin villager wearing a near identical sword-dao photographed with Lt.
A Naga is laying out his family skull trophies, a tree of Naga skulls in a national museum, and the last photo is of Naga tribesmen in All for information only. Painted in faded pale Russian blue-grey. Said, from family history, to have been used by an officer of the 17th Lancers who acquired it from various kit captured from a Russian baggage train. The British officer then used it for his gun case and military kit during this campaign, and later by his sons.
The last picture shows the bottom rear strap loops for mounting the trunk on the rear of a horse drawn baggage coach. Adapted with a turned walnut handle to create a hand held, thrusting sword, ideal for close combat action without it's rifle. Possibly for use in conjunction with a pistol. An ingenious and effective method of creating a hand effective bayonet that without such a fitting would be a redundant weapon without it's rifle to affix to.
A beautiful flask but non working action due to spring. The most unique feature of their design was the boxlock mechanism. Unlike most firearms which have the hammer located off to the side of the pistol, a boxlock pistol had the hammer located directly on top of the pistol. While the hammer obstructed the aim of the user, this system had the advantage of making the gun more compact and concealable than other pistols.
The first boxlock pistols were flintlock and where later made in percussion lock. Unlike modern firearms, these pistols were not mass produced, but were hand made in gunsmith's workshops. Spring lacking, opening to seam. Priced for decoration only. A 19th Century Indo Persian Saif [Shamshir] Traces of silver inlay to the steel hilt and a finely made sword of around years old. The word has been translated through many languages to end at scimitar.