Napoleonic Mameluke Saber – Universal Swords

When Napoleon invaded Egypt, he was faced by the Mamelukes – fabulous horsemen dressed in wild colors and fluttering sashes who possessed the fighting spirit and bravery of an older age. Originally formed as an elite warrior class by Islamic Caliphs, the Mamelukes were Christian Europeans purchased as slaves at a young age – they were converted to Islam and their life was given to martial training. In time the Mamelukes took control for themselves and Egypt was theirs for centuries before Napoleon.

Although outmatched by Napoleons veterans at the Battle of the Pyramids, their colorful last stand impressed Napoleon. Sabers and sashes flashing, they repeatedly charged Napoleons infantry, who formed into shoulder-tight square formations which repelled the cavalrymen. Fighting was fierce as saber clashed with bayonet and point-blank musket fire withered the Mamelukes. Thousands of the irreplaceable horsemen were shot into the sands that day and seven centuries of Mameluk rule was cast down. After Egypt was subjugated, Napoleon created a Mameluke light cavalry regiment of his Imperial Guard – many of whom would number among his personal guard. They served him and his army with loyal distinction – a Mameluke Lieutenant, Chahin, would endure more than forty wounds during his days with the Grande Arm.

The Mamelukes were most infamously depicted in in Goyas The Second of May where their use in putting down Spanish rebellion to Napoleons occupation is depicted. Mobs, furious both at Napoleon (and especially at his use of Middle-Eastern soldiers in the country that expelled the Moors in 1492) attacked the Mamelukes and French with animal ferocity. The Spanish were brutally repressed in reprisal. The Mamelukes were personally involved in this repression, as several of their number had been shot in the back during the riots. This was considered a severely unjust and ignoble death for such warriors and they took their revenge.

The Mamelukes fought the British in the Peninsular War and fought with distinction at the Battle of Austerlitz. After Napoleons fall, the Mamelukes were systematically murdered by French Royalists who remembered their proximity and favored status to the fallen Emperor.

When in Napoleons service, the Mamelukes carried a brace of pistols, a dagger and the famously curved Mameluke saber. Their sabers were vicious slashing weapons, their slicing power accentuated by the steep curve, their tips could also be used as surprisingly effective thrusting weapons, able to stab at angles difficult for the unaccustomed opponent to anticipate. It was a superb design for the fast-charging cavalryman.

This Napoleonic Mameluke sword has an unsharpened blade of tempered high carbon steel. The spine is etched with the signature of Klingenthal, the state-run sword manufactory of Napoleonic France – they would have manufactured these Mameluke saber blades to specially outfit Napoleons most colorfully exotic troops. Many French Officer’s also carried Mameluke sabers, as all things Egyptian were in vogue after Napoleon’s Egyptian adventure. The guard is made of brass and the grip is of wood sandwiched between the tang and brass mid-section. Brass pins hold the tang in place. The wood-core scabbard is tightly covered in black leather with overlaid brass accents and brass hanging rings.