Szczerbiec
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Szczerbiec is the ceremonial sword used in the coronations of most Polish monarchs from 1320 to 1764. It now is displayed in the treasure vault of the royal Wawel Castle in Kraków, as the only preserv
Obverse side of Szczerbiec (perspective-distorted)
Reverse side of Szczerbiec (perspective-distorted)
Szczerbiec on display in the Wawel Castle treasure vault
Jan Matejko, Boleslaus the Brave and Sviatopolk at the Golden Gate of Kyiv (1883)
Bolesław I the Brave
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Bolesław I the Brave, less often known as Bolesław the Great, was Duke of Poland from 992 to 1025 and the first King of Poland in 1025. He was also Duke of Bohemia between 1003 and 1004 In Latin his n
Szczerbiec
…into English would be "the Notching/Jagging Sword" — as "a sword that is meant to notch/jag other weapons". The legend links Szczerbiec with King Boleslaus I the Brave who was said to have chipped the sword by hitting it against the Golden Gate of Kiev during his intervention in the Kievan succession crisis in 1018…
One of the earliest Polish coins featuring the supposed effigy of Bolesław with the inscription Bolizavs - gnezdvn civitas, c. 992–1000
Bolesław's replica of the Holy Lance, Wawel Hill, Kraków
Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor depicted in the Seeon Evangeliary, c. 1014–1024
Coronation of the First King, as imagined by Jan Matejko