A distinguished two-handed sword from the trabant guard of Prince-Archbishop Markus Sittikus, Salzburg, circa 1612The double-edged blade of flattened hexagonal section, with undulating edges. Decorative etching with the Prince-Archbishop's personal coat of arms on both sides of the upper third, above which an unidentified smith's mark. The long ricasso with the original leather cover, the two lateral guards both stamped "Z.H." (Zeughaus or armoury), the Royal Bavarian coat of arms and the year 1849. Original blackened quillons with large, double guard rings and finger rests on both sides. Both sides embellished with finely etched tendrils. Stepped, leather-covered grip with ornamental iron studs and remnants of decorative fringe. Blackened, double tapered pommel. Length 177 cm.Markus Sittikus von Hohenems (1574 - 1619) was Prince-Archbishop of the Archbishopric of Salzburg from 1612 to 1619. The two-handed swords that were designed for his guard to mark his inauguration are very different types but all etched with the identical coat of arms. It is therefore believed today that they were older swords that were already part of the Salzburg inventory when they were assigned to his trabant guard in 1612.The inventory stamps on the guards can be traced to the holdings of the armoury of the city of Munich in 1849. Salzburg was occupied by Bavarian troops under Napoleon from 1810 to 1816. At this time, a large part of the local arsenal stock was transferred to Munich, where it remains to this day.Condition: II +