Austrian Foreign Minister promises Scanderbeg’s personal military armament will return to Tirana next November for the independence centenary.
TIRANA, June 20 – Skanderbeg’s helmet and sword, which have been on a longtime exhibit in Austria may return to Albania next November when the country marks the 100th anniversary of independence. The news was announced to Albanian Foreign Minister Edmond Haxhinasto by his Austrian counterpart Michael Spindelegger during a visit in Vienna last week.
“We hope that we will be able to bring to Albania Skanderbeg’s helmet and sword. We will make all the necessary arrangements so that the grand event of November 28 takes place in Tirana and I will try to take part,” said Michael Spindelegger as quoted in a statement by the Albanian Foreign Ministry.
A national hero, Skanderbeg who in the 15th century era successfully managed to keep the Ottoman army away from Albania for more than 20 years, is a symbol of unity also used by Renaissance writers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Skanderbeg’s repeated defeats of overwhelmingly larger Ottoman forces were attributed to his first-hand knowledge of Turkish military tactics and his brilliant leadership and battle strategies. Yet, all that remain of Scanderbeg’s personal military armament are his helmet and sword which are now preserved in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria. How Scanderbeg’s personal belongings turned up in Vienna so far away from his native land of Albania is attributed to the 16th Century Archduke Ferdinand II of Tirol and, especially, his secretary, Shrenke, according to Frosina.org.
The first mention of Scanderbeg’s sword and helmet was in a letter dated October 15, 1578, from the Duke of Urbino to Archduke Ferdinand stating that he would send the helmet and sword to Ambras.
In 1605, Ambras castle including the armory was sold to the Austrian Emperor where Scanderbeg’s sword and helmet remained until 1806 when they were transferred with the rest of the military artifacts collection to Belvedere castle and finally, in 1888, to the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna where they have remained on display to the present day.
It is believed that Scanderbeg’s helmet and sword were brought to Italy by his wife and son and other members of his family who had emigrated to Italy after Scanderbeg’s death in 1468 where they were eventually acquired by the Duke of Urbino.
Ceremonial helmet
Italian, circa 1460 Bright steel, bells of Italian design. Lower border and neck protection removed where corrosion and cracks have appeared. These have been covered by a sown-in leather band under which the former coverlet of gold silk remains. Adjusted copper headstrap bound by gold ornamental borders decorated with six rosettes of which the copper gilt original is in the neck – the remaining five are restorations of the 16th century. Between the rosettes inscription: in/per/ra/to/re/bt. helmet ornament in the form of a goat’s head of embossed, engraved gilt sheet copper with gilt ornamental border. A hole in the helmet originally served for fastening Scanderbeg’s crest.
Oriental sword
Near East, 15th century Wide, double-edged blade with rounded tip. At the head of the front side are gold inlaid leaf ornaments – a circular medallion and a band of indecipherable Arabic script. Later grip of Turkish style with blackened handle hood parrying rod with leather-covered handle. Even later sheath of black leather with pressed knotted pattern and simple ornamental iron carrying strap as well as positioning strap. On the reverse side, red oil-painted incription of the Ambrasian armory: “Sk’anderwech.”
