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Beautiful hand made replica of a Polish karabela from the XVII century during the time of Jan Sobieski engraved with the Latin motto of his Polish Winged Cavalry -"Amor Patriae Nostra Lex" - Love Of Homeland Is Our Law.
Perhaps one of the most famous types of Polish sabres were the classical karabelas, which entered service around 1670. Most likely the name was coined after the Turkish terms Kara (dark) and bela (curse). This type of sabre was modelled after the swords of the Turkish footmen formations of Janissaries and Spahis, which used it in close quarters. Much lighter than the hussar szabla, the karabela has an open hilt with the pommel modelled after eagle's head. Such an anatomic grip allowed for easier handling of circular cuts while fighting on foot and for swinging cuts from horseback.
Their popularity and efficiency made the Polish nobles abandon the broadswords used in Western Europe.
Initially the karabela sabres were used mostly for decoration or as a ceremonial weapon worn on special occasions. Popularized during the reign of King Jan III Sobieski, the karabela became one of the most popular Polish cold steel weapons.
Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szabla
Perhaps Poland's most famous king, he was also arguably the country's most talented general. The son of a famous soldier, Jakub Sobieski, and grandson of Hetman Zolkiewski, his career path was chosen for him, and he became Grand Hetman in 1668. But his military successes marked him for better things and he was elected king in 1674, only the second native Pole to be elected king of Poland.
Sobieski's greatest moment came in 1683, when a Turkish army of 100,000 men laid seige to the Imperial capital, Vienna. After desperate pleas from the pope and the Hapsburg emperor, Leopold II, to "save Christian Europe from the rising tide of Islam", Sobieski marched for Austria with an army of 30,000 Poles. Once near Vienna, King Jan III was appointed commander-in-chief of the combined Polish and German Imperial armies.
The battle of Vienna took place on September 12, 1683. For much of the day Polish infantry fought to clear the wooded hills around Vienna from Turks. Only towards evening had enough space been made on the Vienna plain for the Polish-Austrian army to deploy. On a signal from Sobieski, the cavalry led by 3,000 Polish "winged" hussars smashed through the Turkish army led by Kara Mustafa, and poured into the Ottoman camp. The Turks fled in panic.
The Imperial capital was saved, the Turkish menace at last defeated. Sobieski became an international hero, and Poland received the thanks and praise of all Europe.
(From An Illustrated History Of Poland)
Trailer From The Film "The Battle Of Vienna"
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