Station: [13] The Pomeranian Sword

You are looking at the sword of Duke Boguslaw X of Pomerania, also known as the Pomeranian Sword.

This sword is closely associated with the rule of Pomerania. Duke Boguslaw X lived from 1454 to 1523. Pope Alexander VI Borgia bestowed the sword upon him as a sacred sword. Later, it became a symbol of rule over Stettin.

With the end of the House of the Griffin, the significance of the artifact changed once again. After the dynasty died out in 1637, parts of the collections of the Dukes of Pomerania, along with Hinterpommern, passed to the Electorate of Brandenburg. Thus, they came into the possession of the House of Hohenzollern.

From this point on, at the latest, the sword was regarded as an imperial regalia. It now symbolized sovereignty over the Duchy of Pomerania. Thus, it was incorporated into the Brandenburg-Prussian crown treasury.

Even the end of the monarchy did not initially change this. The Pomeranian Sword remained the property of the House of Hohenzollern. But its story was not yet over.

After 1946, it was stolen from the Dutch Palace in Berlin. The precious scabbard was lost in the process. It was not until 1952 that the sword was repurchased in London.

Thus, this sword tells not only of a duke and a papal conferment, but also of power, ownership, and an eventful journey through the centuries.