Glaive of the Bodyguard of Giovanni Battista Bourbon del Monte (1541–1614)
An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art
The long, knife-like blade has a convex cutting edge and flat back sharpened near the tip, with two molded spikes at the base. The back edge terminates in an ornamental scroll in the form of a dolphin, and a long, upward-curving parrying spike projects at an acute angle from the back. The lower half of the blade is etched on either side with a decorative cartouche enclosing the arms of Bourbon del Monte (azure, three fleurs-de-lis or, with a bend, gules overall), surmounted by a seven-pointed crown, above a figure of a warrior in Roman armor. The octagonal socket and the side straps are etched with strapwork, rosettes, and tiny figures of warriors within oval medallions. The wooden shaft of flattened octagonal section is studded with gilt-brass nail heads beneath which are traces of the original fabric covering. Italian staff weapons of this particular type, variously called fauchards in French, falcioni in Italian, are basically the same weapon as the German Kuse (see acc. nos. 04.3.97 and 25.188.18), but with the addition of a decorative spike on the back edge and two short spikes or lugs at the base of the blade. Like the Kuse, these glaives were carried by palace guards and, judging from the large number decorated with the arms of Venetian families, were particularly favored in Venice. This example is one of eleven similar glaives from the Duc de Dino collection which bear the heraldic arms of the ancient Tuscan family Bourbon del Monte, marquises of Monte Santa Maria. However, the similarity of the del Monte arms with those of the cadet branch of the French Bourbon family lead Cosson in 1901 to identify these glaives as French and made for the bodyguard of Louis II de Bourbon, Duke of Montpensier (1513–1582). This error was perpetuated in arms and armor literature for seventy-five years, until corrected by L. G. Boccia. Giovanni Battista Bourbon del Monte (1541–1614) had a long military career in which he served in Africa, France, and Flanders, as well as in Italy. In 1587, Giovanni Battista entered venetian services as captian-general of the infantry and inspector of fortresses on the mainland. These glaives, so common in Venice, were therefore probably carried by Giovanni Battista's Venetian bodyguard. The Metropolitan Museum possesses a fragmetnary amor of Giovanni Battista Bourbon del Monte (acc. no. 14.25.710) which also dates to about 1590, during the period of his Venetian service. The armor and the series of glaives bearing the del Monte arms were quite possibly made in Brescia, chief supplier of arms to the Venetian Republic.
Arms and Armor
An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art
The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.