any info' on Cross Fourchee on a C13/14th sword ????

[monacoauctions]

Anyone know the significance of the "cross fourchee" or "cross fourchy" as it can be spelt ? I have a sword with an inset silver disc on both sides with this design; this is not the regular style cross you would expect to find; normally you would expect to see a "cross potent" or "cross crosslet". Can't seem to find any information on what this particular style of cross signifies. Does this style particularly apply to one country or nationality ?

The sword is C13th or very early C14th, unusual pommel that is riveted construction, hollow and inside it contains something, probably a piece of bone or holy relic, whatever it is inside is not metalic. There are 2 silver discs, each set into a recess. One one side of the pommel is an engraved Arabic inscription which i havnt been able to get translated yet. This would normally mean that it was captured by moslem forces in battle and dedicated later to a moslem shrine or mosque. There are a number of known swords engraved like this taken during the crusade in Egypt dedicated to the armoury at Alexandria.

[Silver Searcher]

The only thing I can say is that the cross fourchee(meaning forked) is a Heraldic symbol, I would think the date you stated would be about right, I wouldn't have said it was Crusader orientated :P it seems the the Crusader cross(also known as the Jerusalem cross) was used, and exsisted for over two hundred years after the Crusade.

But I suspect you already know this :P I thought the discs were coins at first inlaid, but there are no legends visible did you find, or buy this Item......... but it's a very interesting piece thanks for showing it If I can dig anything else up I will let you know I have posted a picture of a Heraldic Pendant I found with a near same symbol, perhaps from the Knights Templar, like your Sword.

SS

[Mackaydon]

The use of the cross fourchee far predates the Crusades. It was the design of a cross erected on Golgotha (Calvary) by Theodosius II in 420 AD. Two years later, the cross fourchee image appeared on one of his coins.

The same fourchee cross image can be found on Heraclius coins in 610 and 641 AD.
Don.....


Source: (pp. 16/17)
http://books.google.com/books?id=WZV...ed=0CAgQ6AEwAA

[monacoauctions]

Thanks ! the pendant is C13/14th from the look of it ? i havn't seen this style of cross on anything Templar but i suppose it could have been used as a variation on the cross potent by them. I wondered if the Fourchee style was favoured by a specific country, there dont seem to be that many depictions of it on English graves or armourials. More popular in France or Italy perhaps.
I'm shure that this sword isnt Templar, with the arabic inscription it may well have been a crusaders sword that was captured/dedicated, it is bang on the right style for the end of the crusading era. The only other idea i had was that it could be a Spanish sword and the arab inscription was engraved by Moors, again its the right era ?? I do have some Templar pieces and a lot of reference material but can see no uses of the Fourchee thus far. Any info' appreciated on this one as i'm in the dark !